Welcome, New Members!

We’ve had a few new members ask to be added to the blogroll in the past week or so … Please help me welcome them!

Judy at “International Mom” writes for multi-racial and multi-cultural families.

Val at “I Am My Kids Mom” writes for adoptive families with young adults.

I’d like to alert you to this marriage resource “Hannah’s Tears” founder Therese Garcia sent my way today: The Alexander House offers support (and perspective) for troubled marriages. Under the patronage of Pope John Paul the Great!

Also “Tucked Beneath His Wing” for those in the throes of infertility, or grieving a miscarriage.

Be sure to check them out!

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Miracle Monday: 40 Reasons We’d Do It Again … Thoughts on Adoption

With Valentine’s Day freshly behind us — a time for married couples to renew their love for one another and Hallmark and Godiva to make their shareholders smile — I’d like to reprise a tribute of a different kind.

I wrote this a couple of years ago, but the feelings are the same. It is the dearest wish of my heart that more couples would consider adoption. With more than 500,000 children currently in the U.S. needing temporary or permanent homes, there are ample opportunities for generous souls to reach out.

Foster-Adoption is not without its challenges. You hear all kinds of horror stories about kids who have been abused and/or neglected who have difficulty bonding with their new families. Sadly, you don’t hear so much about the “happy endings” (and I count my family’s among them): Children who outgrow the worst of their behavioral issues, and grow up to be loving, affectionate kids. NORMAL kids. Happy kids.

Of course, it does no good to go in “blind.” Information is power, and letting couples know up front that some struggle with the transition … and then go on to form happy families … Well, that is information worth knowing. Forewarned is forearmed.

Having said that, I do believe that there are many good reasons for considering adoption. And here are my top forty reasons why Craig and I would adopt Christopher and Sarah all over again if we could. (And hopefully do it a little smarter the second time around.) 

EMN listed as “Best Pick Adoption Site”

Check it out! Extraordinary Moms Network has been listed in the top 10 best adoption sites … Head on over and give it your vote, and see if we can bump it up a bit!

Thanks to those of you who are already spreading the word!

While on the site, I noticed a link to a site called “Big Momma Hollars,” and clicked … an amazing woman, a single mother, who has adopted 39 kids! I especially appreciated this post about whether to separate (for the safety of the other kids) a particularly troubled youngster. As someone who has had to make this tough call, I appreciate Big Momma’s no-nonsense POV. Thanks, Big Momma!

“My Mass Kit”: Much more than a toy!

“A Tool for Vocations”  is the title of the review that is running today at “Faith and Family Live”.

According to Lisa, “The Wee Believers “My Mass Kit” is a wonderful teaching tool I shared with you a few months ago about the wonderful ‘My Mass Kit’ being developed by a new Catholic company, Wee Believers. This week, I had the opportunity to review this wonderful product firsthand and am so happy to share with you my love for the Kit. First off, I almost hate to call this a toy because it truly is a high quality teaching tool. Intended for little hands, the Kit includes twelve plush, cleanable pieces and a detailed instructional booklet contained in a durable, canvas case. Crucifix, Chalice, Thurible, Finger Bowl, 2 Cruets, 2 Candles, Paten (cotton/polyester blend), Corporal & Purificator (cotton cloth), and play Hosts (foam).” Retails for $85.

Weekend Ponderings: “Make me clean, Lord.”

From the first chapter of Mark, the Gospel reading this weekend:

A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said,
“If you wish, you can make me clean.”
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched him, and said to him,
“I do will it. Be made clean.”
The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Then, warning the him sternly, he dismissed him at once.
He said to him, “See that you tell no one anything,
but go, show yourself to the priest
and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them.”

Have you ever wondered why Jesus didn’t just send the man home — why He insisted that the leper receive the blessing of the priests before returning home? Surely, Jesus knew that the man was well, that he was not going to endanger his family or his community by returning home. Why did He send the leper to the priest?

In Mathew 18:18, we read an encounter between Jesus and His apostles that gives us a clue: “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

This is the basis for sacramental confession. When the guilt of wrongdoing weighs upon us, there is nothing quite like the exhilarating release of hearing the absolution of the priest who reminds us of the loving forgiveness of God … to make us whole again.

Lent is coming soon. It’s a great time to avail ourselves of the sacraments, even if it’s been a while since we last went. Tuck a copy of the act of contrition in your sleeve and go … or ask the priest to help you. Believe me, you won’t be the first to do so.

Just go … you’ll be glad you did!

The Right to Motherhood: Faith & Family Live!

This morning Danielle Bean was leading a spirited discussion: The Right to Motherhood: Faith & Family Live!

The discussion is about Nadya Suleman, the single California mother who recently gave birth to octuplets, and has six additional children — all born through IVF. And none growing up with a father. (The “donor” recently married someone else.) Nadya is saying she plans to be off welfare as soon as she finishes school …

When asked the reason she had six embryos implanted in her womb (producing eight children), she gushed about “always wanting a large family.” While this woman’s desire to preserve the life of the embryos created through the assisted reproductive technology is commendable, the whole story is a study in disordered thinking that has become so endemic in our society… Most notably, the belief that parenthood is an individual “right” rather than a joint responsibility shared by the mother and father who bring a child into the world. 

Several individuals at F&F called for the woman to relinquish the children for adoption, so that they might have a mother and a father. In truth, this may be the best option for the sake of the children — at least some of whom, by virtue of the circumstances of their birth, will continue to have special needs.

However, this strikes me as one of those situation for which even the “best option” is less than satisfactory. How much better if someone (her parents, perhaps) had given this woman a “reality check” before she went back to that clinic! 

I can’t help but wonder … Does she plan to stop at 14?

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Anniversary Memories: Care to Share?

Craig and I are planning our 10th anniversary trip to Seattle/British Columbia this summer.

(If you have leads on good places to go/eat/stay, I’d love to hear them!)

What’s your favorite wedding anniversary memory? Care to share that, too?