Over the years, openness in adoption has changed dramatically. Since 1980, when New Life Adoptions began providing adoption services, the norm has gone from solely closed adoptions to nearly all adoptive placements having some level of openness. In some cases, these are very open adoptions in which birth families babysit, have overnight visits, or even...
When we began our first adoption journey in 2015, we were walking in faith that along with our savings and careful budgeting, God would provide the funds to meet the financial expectations of the adoption. The month before our son was born, it was clear that our final payment would not happen without some intentional...
The anticipation of the holidays and the new year ahead can feel invigorating and exciting. However, this time of year can also bring up a variety of difficult feelings for many people, including those who have been touched by adoption – birth parents, adoptees and adoptive parents. It is important to deal with these feelings,...
Placing my daughter for adoption was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. It was not made quickly or easily. It took months of counseling with my wonderful and caring social worker at New Life Adoptions, much prayer, and deep thought. As my pregnancy progressed, I grew to love my baby more...
November is recognized as National Adoption Month. Originally, only one week was designated to honor and create awareness about adoption, but it has now been expanded to National Adoption Month for over 20 years. In the month of November, those who have been touched by adoption can come together to promote awareness, share how adoption...
How we talk about adoption matters, so it is valuable to know where these phrases come from. What words or phrases do people use when talking about adoption? Did a mom “put up” her baby, “give up” her child, or “place her child for adoption?” How we talk about adoption matters, so it is valuable...
When Elise came along, it gave me a softer side but also gave me a strong side and a more protective side. Going through everything we had to go through for her, it gave me a confidence that there’s nothing I can’t go through and succeed in. The adoption journey is so unique to each...
Early on in the adoption journey, families considering building their family through adoption see the amount that adoption can cost and ask, “How will we pay for this?” For many, the answer is fundraising to pay for part or all of their adoption process. So what does adoption fundraising look like? We asked some of...
It’s a simple truth, but it’s often forgotten. Words have power – a superpower even. Their power goes far beyond the naming of things. We can bless and curse anything with a word, and the ramifications of our words go far beyond what we will ever know or understand. In heaven I am certainly going...
Social media has dramatically changed the way communication looks in an open adoption. There are many different platforms for messaging, sending pictures and posting updates in the palm of your hand, and the possibilities for sharing are constantly changing. People are sharing their lives through social media more frequently, so how do we navigate this...
