Foster Care Needs Help

I tell ya, people come in my life and people go out of my life. This past year, one woman came into my life who has helped me see things differently, taught me to take some time to explore what it is that is out there and to recognize that there are many more possibilities through adoption than I could have ever imagined.


I am speaking about Jane Ballack, the chief editor of Adoption Voices Magazine and the author of Your My Second Momma, Aren't You blog. She is one incredible beacon of light, not just for me as a writer but for many others out there who need and want to understand all the different facets of adoption. She writes her truths and is not afraid to share anything with anyone, especially when it comes to adoption.

She posted on her blog yesterday about Foster Care and included a writing from her husband that explained the impact that one little video had on him while he was waiting for Jury Duty, of all things! Curious as a cat I watched the two minute video. So glad I did.

I know several adoptees that came out of the Foster Care System through the Internet and I have to say they are some pretty spectacular people! I cannot imagine growing up and not having someone there to say "Good Job!" or "It will all be alright" or "Come here so I can hug and kiss you silly." I cannot imagine that because I had love growing up. But when you see that there are so many out there who do not have that kind of love, stability or happiness in their lives it hits home and makes me think, how many kids could be helped if people knew that Foster Care is not an evil entity? How many kids could wake up in the morning knowing that someone was waiting for them to open their eyes just so they could hug them? How many kids walk around wondering if they will ever feel unconditional love, wondering if they will have to go their whole adolescence alone?

The thought makes me want to go out and adopt them all. But alas, I just cannot do that. No one can. However, if one would just consider Fostering a child then there might be a way to help many children who would cherish a family. Any family that they could call their own.

Take a moment to watch this video that was shared on Your My Second Momma. Aren't You. And if it does not appeal to you, please share it with others you know because they may not know of all the children looking for families.

Say Yes

Raging About Adoption Education

Not long ago a blog I follow posted an interesting piece about raising adopted children. Her delima happened on a playground when she had to help her son out a bit when some kids started to rattle him about being adopted. She is a brilliant writer, funny and thought provoking with a touch of common sense that will sneak up and bite ya.

I commented on the post because as she often does, her words blew me away. Her compassion is rich, yet she is not afraid to point out what matters to her to anyone, regardless of the looks she may be the recipient of. Her simple post about manners in adoption sparked a 2 week debate from all kinds of people. Of course those in adoption. And those out of adoption. The point raised as to whether someone outside of adoption should make their own children aware of what adoptive families are like was the controversy. It was a fascinating read, and to be honest I looked forward to seeing the alert that someone new had commented. It was a good conversation, from all sides. I would have made you aware of it earlier, but there are things that have been pressing and I just have not had the proper time on this computer to say hello, how you been, sorry I've been gone and did ya hear about this?

If you have some time, this is the link to her post. And if you have room on your blog roll I would recommend adding her. She is a mom first, and everything else second. That is the point of view she gives. It is refreshing, and she will make you ponder things, that is for sure. I would love to know your thoughts on this if you have them.... Happy Summer!

Rage Against The Minivan ~ Parents, please educate your children about adoption so mine don't have to
  Oh and I know flamingos have nothing at all to do with this post, they just remind me of summer :)

Sharing Enough

Most of my readers know by now that when I find something that I think is worthy, then I share it. Today is one of those days.


Early this week I was reading some of the blogs that I follow when I came upon a new post from The Happiest Sad, authored by Jill Elizabeth. It caught my attention because she was writing about how she tries not to get involved with the negative talk in adoption, something that I too try to avoid. Then, as she wrote she explained her thoughts on the word enough. 


I was floored by what she wrote and by the end I was smiling because I too could agree with what she was saying. I asked if I could please share her thoughts and she was kind enough to give me permission to share here on this blog.


So today I give you Enough. Thank you Jill Elizabeth for sharing your heart, and thank you for helping so many of us feel not so alone.

Adoption Ain't For Sissies!

True statement above, huh? Well, actually it is the name of a blog (I am a little jealous that she thought of that name for her blog because I think it is perfect, and sorry I did not take it first!)  that is currently participation in Bloggers Unite! Adoption Awareness Month and I could not be happier to introduce you to this fantastic blog!

Besides the fact that there is a great quote from Tori Amos to lead off the blog, there are some amazing posts from this adoptive Momma and I love her zest for life. Something else I love about her? Well, here is a direct quote from her post:
 "Her (Kelsey's) love of life pours out of everything she does. And that makes me want to be the Charlotte York to her Carrie Bradshaw and cavort around NYC with her drinking virgin martinis (because I don't drink... nor really do I watch SATC) and shopping for designer shoes :)"


I LOVE that! I also love the show! So thank you Jill for joining and adding your thoughts to this group of bloggers, I think there will be many more following you in the future! I certainly hope you will visit her and take in all she has to offer!


I give you......
Adoption Ain't For Sissies!

Another Voice From Bloggers Unite, Musings Of The Lame

Okay, I see National Adoption Awareness Month as a way for all of the voices of adoption to speak about their truths, their concerns and their desire to see changes within a system that has reached criticism of global proportions. I am always willing to tell you my more positive side because I know that people need to know that there is hope that their adoptions will be one of respect, knowledge and acceptance of one's origins. But I am also willing to tell you the not so positive side of my adoption story because it needs to be heard, so that if in someway it can get others thinking about a change then things are good. There are many areas that can be improved upon in adoption, no doubt about it.

So today I am sharing with you a blogger that I have long followed, have long admired and have long appreciated the brutal honesty with which she writes. She joined Bloggers Unite and offered a post that she had written some time ago, but raises questions that will have you thinking for a long time. Her voice comes from my side, but her advocating is different than mine. Same, but different. I think she is one hell of a writer and I am grateful that she took the time to join a group that only benefits from her thoughts and point of view.

Claud is well known in the blogging world and she is oh so honest about her journey and her mind! Musings of The Lame is her blog and as I said, I have been following her almost from the start of my blogging career. However, if you keep reading (and this is a spoiler alert that it is long) you will eventually see that she is fair to every story in adoption, no matter the outcomes she is only trying to help people understand the life better. I hope you will read this post titled It's Not About You, But It Is

Adoption of Jane

Bloggers Unite has been one of the best things I have ever accomplished thus far! For something that I was not sure of how to run, organize or try to put a mission statement to, I was not really sure how it would turn out. Well, I have met some great people over there and just cannot get enough of their thoughts, their stories or their amazing strength.

Adoption Of Jane is one such blogger whom I have long been reading, and was not at all surprised that she joined the group. She is too fantastic to describe, and she was oh so generous to tell the whole truth with humor and courage. I thank her so very much for joining and creating this beautiful post for the group. Thank you, and I give you ...

I Remember ...  Adoption Of Jane

Thinking Out Loud

Advocating Adoption must include all sides of the story. This is just such a mind! I met Michael through my Bloggers Unite page a few months back, got a message one day that he had joined. As I always do, I went to his blog and got to know him a little. Intelligent, hip, hilarious at times and always thought provoking, I found his voice a great one. Now, his blog is not about adoption, it is just about him and his thoughts (with a passion for politics!). Every once in a while, he mentions adoption, but it does not define his writing.

He commented on a few posts of mine and I soon realized that somewhere along the way his parents accepted his life, and helped him accept it as well. He would tell me that he liked my positive yet honest point of view and cherished that there was mother out there who was not afraid to let it all hang out. I saw more and more of him as the last couple of months went by and soon I began to really appreciated when he read my posts.

Well, he posted a WONDERFUL contribution for the Blogger Unite event, and it still has me thinking almost 4 days later. He has such a great way of thinking about things, and really shares his true thoughts and feelings about adoption, not to mention his heart in this post . I love it so much that I asked his permission to share with all of you.

I thank you Michael for sharing and embracing the person that you are. I can only hope that your voice can have an impact on others the way it has me.

I give you,
Michael Lockhart of Thinking Out Loud.
Photo courtesy of Daniel Wallock.