November 16, 2023
by Maralee
Comments Off on What to be “Aware” of During Adoption Awareness Month
November is Adoption Awareness Month and this year the word “awareness” is really sticking out to me. There have been seasons where I thought of it as “Adoption Positivity Month” and then years later it felt like “Adoption Shame and … Continue reading
December 2, 2021
by Maralee
Comments Off on Adoption is Not the Happy Ending. It’s the Beginning.
*These were my remarks to honor the Nebraska Governor’s proclamation of National Adoption Awareness Month at our state capital.* When we first pursued adoption, it was because we wanted to be parents and that was not working out in the … Continue reading
November 14, 2017
by Maralee
1 Comment
November is National Adoption Awareness Month. I’ve written several half-finished pieces that just feel so incomplete as I try to say something about the importance of adoption in the life of my family. We are a decade into this adoptive … Continue reading
November 29, 2012
by Maralee
7 Comments
Adoption can be a really daunting process to start. It can be a major financial investment and feels so very risky as you decide to love a child you didn’t birth and with the understanding you may experience a lot … Continue reading
November 28, 2012
by Maralee
12 Comments
We like to talk about adoption in happy terms. What a blessing it has been to me to get to parent my amazing kids and I’m SO thankful adoption makes that possible. It has been a beautiful event in the … Continue reading
November 27, 2012
by Maralee
2 Comments
The cost of adoption is something that universally comes up in adoption conversations. Sometimes it’s from an insensitive stranger who feels compelled to ask, “How much did he cost.” Sometimes it’s the shock of a couple who thought because there … Continue reading
November 26, 2012
by Maralee
25 Comments
I had a conversation with a pastor who was looking to start a ministry to recruit foster parents and support foster children and families in crisis within his church. We were talking about the needs of these different groups and … Continue reading
November 21, 2012
by Maralee
Comments Off on The Transracial Adoptee’s Voice
This week as part of National Adoption Awareness Month we’ve been thinking through transracial adoption. I am really glad to be able to share the story of a friend of mine who has such great insight into this topic as … Continue reading
November 20, 2012
by Maralee
2 Comments
As transracial adoption becomes more and more common, you may be wondering if it would be a good fit for your family. Here are some practical questions I’d encourage you to ask yourself before deciding to take the next step: … Continue reading
November 19, 2012
by Maralee
7 Comments
As the last step in our adoption process, Brian and I travelled to Liberia to pick up our son. When we boarded the plane in Knoxville for the first leg of our journey it was a flight made up entirely … Continue reading