March 29, 2022
by Maralee
Comments Off on Some Thoughts on Our (Maybe/Hopefully/Probably) Last Homestudy
I should definitely be cleaning right now. In less than two hours a woman will be coming to judge my home (very literally) and I’m sure I should go take the clean laundry out of the dryer and get it … 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
May 28, 2020
by Maralee
2 Comments
I’ve been reading the story of a family that just breaks my heart. They very publicly crowdsourced funds for the international adoption of a child. They very publicly brought him home and talked in detail about his history. They very … Continue reading
October 10, 2019
by Maralee
Comments Off on What I Would Go Back and Tell Myself The Day We Adopted
Dear Maralee, Today you will become a mother. I know they told you you would meet your baby son tomorrow, but the orphanage administrator decided it will be today. She will not tell you this until she walks into the … Continue reading
September 4, 2019
by Maralee
Comments Off on “Mom. You’re the one who decided to adopt a black kid.”
This last Sunday my son asked me if I’d try out a new hairstyle on him. I had been watching youtube videos on how to do this particular style. I’d bought the products necessary. His hair is finally long enough … Continue reading
July 9, 2019
by Maralee
2 Comments
It has been a beautiful blessing in my life to be able to witness a lot of adoption ceremonies. Each time I’m present to hear the legal language, listen to the parents answer questions, and watch the faces of the … Continue reading
July 3, 2019
by Maralee
Comments Off on The Kind of Mom They Made Me
I have a serious issue with baking bread. In my mind the world is divided into two kinds of women: those who bake bread and those who don’t. I have happily been in the “those who don’t” category for my … Continue reading
September 26, 2018
by Maralee
1 Comment
I came home late from a work meeting the other night. I snuck into the rooms of my sleeping children and kissed their sweet cheeks. As I tiptoed into the room of my six-year-old it struck me how big he’s … Continue reading
September 12, 2018
by Maralee
2 Comments
Three of my kids celebrate the anniversaries of their adoptions this month. It’s a time of year we tend to have a lot of big and small conversations about adoption within our family. We talk about what know about their … Continue reading
July 27, 2018
by Maralee
Comments Off on Adoption and The Truth as Best We Knew It
Last night my son brought out the adoption scrapbook I made for him just before we flew across the globe to bring him home. We’ve looked through that book together many times. We’ve wondered at the pictures of the tiny … Continue reading