Droopy Eyelids, Small Kidneys, & Stiff Muscles... Parenting the Child With Special Needs

Droopy eyelids, small kidneys, & stiff muscles.

A *very* basic summary of the past few weeks in our house.

There's a definite ebb and flow to life as the parent to a child who has special needs...

it seems as if weeks and weeks go by when your *normal* is just that... normal... manageable....

When the 'disorders' and 'delays' somehow disappear in the *normal* that is your day to day...

your errands, and meal times, and play dates, and nap-times, and car-time sing-a-longs.

And then the flow.

The flow....

is never a flow.

It's more like a dam bursts....

literally...

One routine follow-up... one check-up... one meeting...

it bursts your bubble of *normal* and throws off everything you *think* you know.

Our ebb is over.

Hello flow.

Three years old is tough, friends...

in the world of every toddler, it's difficult... but in the world of a child who has special needs....

it's a turning point.

The past few weeks have been full of our *normal*, routine check-ups with various specialists (we have 17), a few new follow-ups, regular therapy sessions, as well as yearly evaluations, and pre-school testing and IEP meetings.

Our flow.

Hunter is a trooper... he works hard through every therapy session, patiently follows directions for whatever specialist is examining him, and keeps himself occupied while we discuss *findings* and *recommendations*.

And those things... we discuss them as if he's not there... as if he's not listening and comprehending.

As if.

Lately, my head spends most of the day analyzing and dissecting my son's movements and actions and sounds... It's impossible not to let the words of his team of professionals slither their way in to our *normal*....

and interrupt our ebb.

So we flow...

my mind flows daily... and nightly, too... my anxiety is high as I anticipate the next meeting or evaluation, the next appointment or set of labs....

it's all consuming, this flow.

And it's so easy to think that this... this flow... is only affecting us... mommy and daddy. We're the ones who understand the implications of every diagnosis and ever recommendation... we're the ones who handle the follow ups and make arrangements for the other kids who can't come to certain appointments... we're the ones who consider what the future looks like for him and for our family while we juggle the necessary therapies and schedules to make sure he is receiving every possible resource that's available to him.

The flow.

A few weeks ago we posted a private plea for prayer on our personal Facebook pages... we were feeling desperate as we awaited lab results that would tell us if our son was in the middle stages of kidney failure. All labs we had received at that time led us to believe that his one healthy, growing kidney was failing... and when you have one kidney and that kidney fails...

the flow.

A few days later, Hunter was released from Physical Therapy for a much-deserved break... until the Fall when it will be necessary to cast his legs in order to break some bad habits he has developed that are causing his muscles to tighten...

the flow.

Two days later we sat in his Opthamologists office and heard about how his vision is excellent.... except that his moderate far-sightedness and his droopy eyelids will needs to be addressed at some time in the future...

the flow.

And then his IEP meetings with the special school district. Hunter was amazing through 3 hours of 'play' which being observed by a team of 6... OT's, SLP's, child psychologists, PT's, and special needs teachers who would ultimately determine the level of his developmental, speech, and physical delays in order to determine what resources he qualifies for in next year's pre-school program...

the flow.

In all of these meetings and evals and appointments, Hunter plays and listens and does what he's asked and does it all with such an amazing attitude.

He's 3.... so this flow.... he's not aware of it...

he can't be.

He's 3.

Hearing loss, Global Developmental Delays, operates on a 15-24 month level, non-verbal...

he can't understand... can't know...

Right?!

While Joey makes it to every appointment he can, this ebb and flow of appointments and diagnoses and testing is 'our thing'... mine and Hunter's. We do it all together... every time. We do it all together and I carry it all on my shoulders... that's my job... my privilege. And it's not easy... but it's an honor to be 'that' for him.

A few nights ago, the kids had been in bed for almost 2 hours... the house was quiet....

and then I heard Hunter cry...

it was his sad cry.

Do you know the one?

The one that starts as a sob and slowly turns into a sound that rips your heart at the seams ...

it isn't angry... or manipulative... or hungry... or 'wet'.....

it's so sad.

Before I could even respond, Joey went upstairs and held him for a while... he loves that time with his babies... he rocked him, sang to him...

"Are you ready to lay back down and go ni-night?'

"Yeah", he said.

Joey went to the gym shortly after and again the house was quiet...

the flow.

His cry was worse... it was high-pitch and gut-wrenching.

It was my turn....

and As I walked upstairs, 'slightly' annoyed that my 'job' was not yet done for the day... 'slightly' irritated that someone needed me, yet again... and more than slightly angry that Joey had gone to the gym when he did (even though he more than deserved his time!)... my irritation grew as I climbed the stairs to his room and I was prepared to pat his butt a few times, tell him he's ok and that I would see him in the morning, "I love you, goodnight".

He was standing in his crib when I opened the door and his arms went out for me immediately...

"Ok fine", I thought... "Just for a minute."

I picked him up and he clung to me as if his life depended on my strength and solitude to save him... to sustain him.

His sobs shook me to my core...

this wasn't sadness...

this was defeat.

My precious 3 year old... the one who recently consumed my every thought, whom I have lost so much sleep over, who's future I worry about daily, whom I invest so much of my time and energy into, the one who I carry all of this for....

the one whom I thought I had been feeling all of these feelings FOR over the past few weeks...

He was defeated, too.

And as I held him, the flow flooded over me...

Droopy eyelids, small kidneys, stiff muscles, casts, blood work, talking devices, 15-24 months, and on and on and on...

he had heard it all... he had felt it all...

and he was done.

He was drowning in the flow.

And so I layed down with him on my chest and I rubbed his back...

I cried as I did my best to speak life back into him...

"Hunter, you are strong."

"You are brave."

"Your life matters."

"You are so loved."

"You are not alone... you'll never be alone."

"We do this together, baby boy."

"We'll always do this together."

And I prayed over him...

"Thank you for Hunter's joy... for his life... thank you for choosing him for me. Jesus, he is so strong... please keep him strong. He is so brave and some of our days are so hard... please protect his spirit. Let Hunter feel you. Amen."

We sang 'his' song and I laid him back down...

he grabbed his blanky, rolled over, and went to sleep.

Some of our days are really hard... and it's easy for me to get caught up in dividing my time between all of my babies, managing invoices and bills, scheduling appointments, reminding children to use the words they know, trying to understand cues from those who don't have spoken words, making our days fun and playful, practicing patience, and finding time for myself and my marriage...

there are days when finding a balance is almost impossible...

And it's so easy to make these things about me....About keeping myself afloat in our flow.

My son reminded me in the most precious way that he knows... he feels... he hears (a miracle for this boy!)... he understands...

And he reminded me that we all need those words... affirmative, life-speaking words that sustain us and keep us going when that sad cry threatens to break through...

and I'm thankful for the sad cry that allowed me to speak life back into him...

because of the One who breathed life into us both.

Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them."

John 7:38

Another thing....

Hunter's kidney is strong... in fact, it's perfect.

And God is so so good!

On Christ The Solid Rock I'll Stand!

My hope is built on nothing less,

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus' name!

On Christ the solid rock I stand,

All other ground is sinking sand...

All other ground is sinking sand.

Did we tell you that we're building a house?!

It's a dream come true!

 When Joey and I first started dreaming of building a house for our family, I knew I wanted it to be covered in His Word. I wanted its' walls to scream His name... the floors to echo His Word... and our rooms to be surrounded in His promises.

Friday night is a night I will never forget! As I walked through each room, writing scripture on the walls of our home, I prayed over each room, each precious baby that will sleep or play or eat or bathe in those rooms, for every argument and for every moment that will define our marriage and our family, for every friend who will walk through our doors.... I asked Jesus to protect them, keep them healthy, bring our babies to Him when they are young, and guide us as we love them through so many hard things... And so many exciting things. 

Our walls will be nailed in place tomorrow and as they are, Hannah's Daddy's writing will echo in her new room that 'The Lord is with her, and she will not fail (psalm 46:5)', that 'She is more precious than jewels (proverbs 3:15)'...My prayer will be on our boys' walls that 'Our sons will walk beside the Lord, on a straight path in which they will not stumble (Jer 31;96)'... God's promise will be seen on our master bedroom walls that 'What God has joined together, no man will separate (Matthew 19:6)'... Hannah's precious handwriting will echo the long-cried prayer of our hearts, 'For this child, I have prayed! (1 Samuel 1:27)'... Visitors will walk under Hebrews 13:2 and will feel our love and hospitality because one never knows when they are entertaining Angels.... And those who walk through our front door will enter into the covenant we made when we said 'I do' almost 10 years ago.... 'As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord! (Joshua 24:14)' I can't wait to walk through those doors in a couple months, knowing that our home and our family will be surrounded by His promises!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As we walked away from our home... only hours before crews would arrive to dry wall over the verses that will surround us for the next 20+ years, I posted the above on our Facebook page...

the response to that short post has been overwhelming and SO many of you have asked for a list of the verses we chose for our new home...

And I am more than happy to share :-)

Each person received a sharpie and a printout of all of the verses we wanted in our home (even Hannah!).... some of the verses are written over and over again on the framing of the house, in various handwriting!

On the pillar to our front porch;

Joshua 24:14

'But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!'

In our main living spaces, we wrote;

2 Corinthians 5:1

'For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in Heaven, not build by human hands.'

Micah 6:8

'Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly.'

Proverbs 24: 3-4

'By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it's established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with precious and pleasant riches!'

1 Samuel 25:6

'Say to him, "Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!"

1 Kings 8:13

'I have indeed built a magnificent home for you, a place for you to dwell forever!'

Deuteronomy 28:6

'You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.'

In our entry way;

Hebrews 13:2

'Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it!'

In our master bedroom;

Matthew 19:6

'What God has joined together, let no man separate.'

1 Thessalonians 5:11

'Encourage one another and build each other up.'

1 Peter 4:8

'Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.'

In Hannah's room;

Proverbs 31:25

'She is clothed in strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future!'

Psalm 46:5

'The Lord is with her, she will not fail!'

Proverbs 3:15

'She is more precious than jewels!'

In the boys' rooms;

Jeremiah 31:96

'May our sons walk beside the Lord, on a straight path in which they will not stumble.'

Psalm 127:3

'Sons are a heritage of the Lord.'

In all of the kids' rooms and bathroom;

John 1:12

'I am a child of God!'

1 Samuel 1:27

'For this child I have prayed!'

1 Timothy 4:12

'Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.'

Mother's Day is for First Mom's, too!

Mother's Day is just around the corner and if you're like me....

you've done nothing to prepare :-/

If your family has grown through adoption, I am begging you not to forget the First Mom's in your life.... not only does she deserve to be recognized on one of the most profoundly difficult days of the year for her... but your child NEEDS to see you acknowledge and love his/her First Mama, too!

Every year I try to find a few gift ideas the I think any First Mom would LOVE! Here are 2 super simple, inexpensive, and more than meaningful gift ideas for the First Mama in your life.... pick one and do it... you will never regret doing it, but one day you might regret it if you don't.

And please, if your precious gift is late, it's ok! Do it anyway.

(**I am not a representative for any of the companies below... I do not get anything from them for posting these links... I love their products and think they make amazing First Mom gifts**)

Canvas photo and easel (this is what our First Moms will get from Hannah and Hunter this year (sorry ladies, I ruined the surprise ;-))... and me.... cause I ordered extras ;-));

$11.96

Bangle Charm Bracelets; these are so beautiful and the charms represent so many different moments in your First Mom and child's life!

$5.95

Don't like my ideas? Fine. :-) Send some flowers... who doesn't love flowers?!


Which one did you order?! She's going to love it!

First.

First.

(dictionary.com) coming before all others in time or order; earliest; 1st

The most coveted position one can hold... in a job or a contest.

It's what happens 'before'... the beginning.

What has to happen... in order for anything else to happen.

First.

My babies have First Moms.

Women who's position I will never be able to fill.

Women who came before me.

Women who had to be first... so I could be next.

They were First.

I have referred to my babies' 'birth moms' as their 'First Moms' since the birth of this blog....

I am not, and will never be, a 'birth mom', but that term has always hurt my heart for those who hold it's title...

but it didn't occur to me until recently that maybe 'First Mom' hurts them, too?

Because at the end of the day, who wants their name to have a qualifier?!

But this one.... 'First Mom'... it's so special to me. It comes from a place in my heart that uses the term *almost* reverently...

because my babies First Moms?!

They did not just give birth.

The first people on the face of the Earth who knew about our precious babies' existence...

the first one's who loved them...

the first one's who cared for them and sacrificed for them...

they were first.

They chose life... they sustained life... they changed their life for those precious lives... 

they were our babies' Moms... First.

In today's society, 'First' is something we desire in our daily lives... being the first one in line, the first to be promoted, the first to the finish line, the first to order...

Please hear me...

I didn't carry 2 of my precious babies... I didn't see those 2 pink lines.... I didn't hear their heartbeats.... I didn't feel them move inside of me... I didn't struggle to bring them into the world or hear their first cry... I didn't witness their first breath and I wasn't the first to hold them....

but I will never spend one minute wishing that I had been first.

There are 2 women in this world who came first.... and they deserve to be first. 

Those memories? Theirs. The feelings? Theirs. The moments? Theirs.

And I can't imagine any 2 women who are more deserving of those memories and feelings and moments....

My babies have First Moms, not birth moms...

Because they came first.

First Mama's and Adoptive Parents...

This weekend, I have the HUGE honor of speaking to an amazing group of First Mamas at the BirthMom Buds Retreat! I am SO excited for this opportunity and my prayer is that Jesus allows me to speak truth and encouragement into their lives... 

And I could use your help :-)

Are you a First Mama?

What do you need to hear from your baby's adoptive mama? If you could sit down with her, what would you ask her? What words, if there are any, would make your heart happy? What do you want HER to know?

Or maybe you're an adoptive parent...

What do you want your baby's First Mama to know?! When you look at that precious face every day, do you think about her? What do you need her to hear from YOUR mama heart?

Please help me, friends... share your heart with me... tell me the most precious words that maybe you can't even say! I want your feedback so badly, no matter what phase of life you're in so everyone who gives me feedback will be entered to win a fun giveaway from me :-)

Leave a comment below, on Facebook, or email me (OnLoanFromHeaven at yahoo dot com)... I can't wait to share with you after this weekend!

BirthMom Buds... Opportunity to Serve!

Have you heard of BirthMom Buds?

If you haven't, go check them out...

Here...

or here...

I'll wait...

:-)

BirthMom Buds is an amazing group of Birth Moms who have joined together to support and encourage each other and also provide support to expecting moms who may be considering adoption for their baby....

And as an adoptive mama, I've learned SO much from them over the years!

This group has grown leaps and bounds over the past few years and they host an incredible retreat annually for First Moms of all backgrounds... some who placed years and years ago and some who placed within the past few months... some who are part of an open adoption and some who are part of a closed one... some who have reunited with their babies and some who have not. For 3 days, these women come together in Charlotte, North Carolina and spend time in a haven that is build specifically for them... for their hearts and minds and souls. 

Can you imagine a better place for your babies' First Mama to be?!

I can't.

I am MORE than honored that the staff of BirthMom Buds have asked me to speak at this year's retreat! A chance to stand in front of women who are so much like my babies' and brother's First Moms is the chance of lifetime and I can't wait to pour love and encouragement into them in May!

But here's the best part about this retreat...

2 nights in a hotel... amazing food... fun games... a special goodie bag for each Mama... 

and it's free of cost to every Mama who attends.

Free.

The staff of Birth Mom Buds relies completely on donations to host this special weekend for these Mamas... and they could use our help!

The cost incurred for each woman's attendance for 3 days is approximately $70... and so far, over 35 women have committed to attending! (SO EXCITING!!)

If you've been looking for a way to serve some First Mama's, please consider heading over to their support page and making a donation! They need at least $2,450 to come in over the next few weeks so they can make this the most memorable weekend for their girls!

And if it's just not a good time to donate monetarily, that's ok! They also need a few more things from us...

* Each First Mama who attends this retreat will go home with a special goodie bag! If you own or run your own business, please consider donating 40 items to these bags! Businesses will be mentioned by name in the retreat program and I can't think of a better way to make these ladies feel special and loved by so many people!

* There will be dozens of contests and giveaways throughout the weekend and the staff of BMB needs door prizes of any and all shapes, sizes, and colors! I'll be donating some of my favorite essential oils :-) Do you have something sitting around that you could donate?! Or how fun would a gift card be??

If you're led to donate goodie bag items or door prizes, those both need to be received by April 28 and you can contact Nicole Strickland at BirthMomBuds@gmail.com! (And she's awesome... you'll love her :-))

And if nothing else, please be in prayer for this special weekend... that these Mama's would feel special and loved, that the staff would be refreshed and equipped to support them, that hurting hearts will be healed and that lifelong friendships would be made! Pray that God gives me the words that these Mama's need to hear from an adoptive Mama... that they would resonate deeply and bring healing where it's needed.

Thanks, friends... If I know anything about you, it's that you are the best at allowing God to use you to change lives... and I've seen you change SO many! Thank you for being His hands and feet!

Not just another day....

The pain of losing our precious #3 will always be fresh ... it will always hurt... and we will always miss him/her. 

People say that the pain lessens....

I just don't think so.

And I don't want it to.... I will hold on to whatever tiny pieces of that baby for as long as I live... it's all I have.

Our #3's due date will forever be a day on our calendar that brings me so much pain... and also so much hope.

Because we will see our #3 again.

Losing our #3 was a process... he/she just didn't want to let go... I bled for weeks but ultra-sound after ultra-sound would show that tiny, faintly fluttering heart beat...

the one that never got stronger.

And then it stopped.

I'll never forget 'that' ultra-sound... my world collapsed. 

We had never even HOPED to experience a home-grown baby...

and then this precious baby we had never even allowed ourselves to hope for was being ripped from our grasp.

Tomorrow is our #3's second due-date-birthday... 

And do you remember what is so amazing about that day?!

It's the day we conceived our #3...

our precious Abe.

Our #4.

Tomorrow will hurt... it will be full of painful memories and tears and 'what ifs' and 'should have beens'... but it will also be full of the babies Jesus let me keep here with me... the ones he gave me to hold...

the ones that are simply On Loan From Heaven....

until we can all be together again.

UPDATE: URGENT- Special Needs Baby Girl Needs A Family By MONDAY!

Update below;

I'm sitting here tonight holding my perfect, full-term, brown haired, blue eyed baby boy....

he's such a happy baby... good eater... amazing sleeper... loves to 'talk' already... his smiles come so easily... 

And I'm completely overwhelmed with love for him.

And I wonder...

"What if he wasn't?"

Wasn't full-term... wasn't a good eater or sleeper... 

what if they said he wouldn't walk one day...

or talk...

what if he wasn't 'perfect'?

How would I feel when I held him... 'that' baby...?

But then I remember...

I felt anxious...

Terrified...

Completely unequipped to care for him... to keep him alive...

But I could do one thing....

I could love him.

And I did.

I do.

More than anything in this world.

Because I have that full-term, brown haired, blue eyed baby boy...

And I also have a dirty blond, curly haired, brown eyed, 30 week preemie baby boy who wasn't supposed to walk or talk or eat ...

And all I see is 'perfect'.

And I get to hold them both tonight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

UPDATE;

There's a special baby girl who will meet her forever family soon...

She's so young but has been through more than most of us can say we have.

Her First Mama chose LIFE for her...

and because of YOU, her First Mama will be able to choose her forever family.

Every single one of you were instrumental in giving this precious First Mama a CHOICE ....  

That's right... she will have MORE THAN ONE family to choose from as she finds the best family for her baby girl... and 24 hours ago, she had NONE.

Every single one of you are responsible for a sweet baby girl finding a forever family and avoiding foster care.

Thank you for being vulnerable and open to allowing God to use you to be the hands and feet for another one of His most precious creations.

I can't wait to update you again soon when yet another family is made complete!

Tomorrow is a BIG day that will change so many lives... a precious baby girl's, her amazing First Mama's, and a special Forever Families...

A few prayer requests;

* Pray for baby girl's health... that she stays strong as she waits to be united with her Mama and Daddy any day!

* Pray for baby girl's First Mama.... her greatest loss is another Mama's greatest joy and she will feel the weight of the tragedy and the freedom of joy in this decision for the rest of her life.

* Pray for her Mama and Daddy... that they will see and feel how God has been preparing their hearts and home for this precious miracle!

* Pray for every family that sent in their home study, praying fervently that they would be this baby girl's family.... pray for the families this First Mama doesn't choose tomorrow, as their hearts will be broken... and for many of them, this won't be the first time.

And a favor...

The stories of these precious babies travel further than you or I could imagine... this baby girl's story was seen by over 200,000 people in 22 hours. These stories change lives that we don't know needed to be changed... They touch lives and remain imbedded in hearts for days and weeks... and closure is invaluable. Please 'share' baby girl's updates... provide not only the closure someone's heart needs but also share how good our God is... how a body of people can come together to truly love such precious babies. These stories restore faith in humanity and these days, we can't have enough faith!

Thank you, friends... your obedience when God asks us to help these babies never ceases to amaze me... you are changing lives.

The #4... and Our $4

1. 

One...

The gift of grace and the uniqueness of man comes through the One, Jesus Christ. 

The first-born...

Our first-born...

Our sweet Hannah.

2. 

Two...

Unity. In our family and amidst uncertainty.

Companionship... husband and wife... brother and sister.

Our second-born...

Our fighter, Hunter.

3. 

Three...

The trinity.

Three crosses.... they link Heaven and Earth with everything in between. With time.

The third day.... He rose... solidifying that death will never keep us from Eternity with Him.

Our third... not born... just waiting...

Our precious #3.

4.

Four...

Four rivers flowing through the Garden of Eden.

'Four' ... the number of sides in a square...

the number of completion.

Our fourth...

Sweet Baby Abe.

He's here. 

He's here and whole and perfect....

~~ Born December 12, 2014~~

~~7 pounds 5 ounces ~~ 21 inches~~

And we are in love.

And complete.

His story is coming...

it's just as amazing as the 3 before him...

"From the fullness of grace we have received one blessing after another!"

~ John 1:16

** We've missed you... and we have so much to catch up on! Thank you for every message and email you've sent to check in on us over the past few months... we've spent them immersed in excitement, anxiety, fear, and anticipation at what God had next for our family and the lessons we've learned you know we can't keep to ourselves! We have SO much to share.... thank you for not leaving us ;-) **

Adoption Month~ Become an Ambassador!

We have always done something fun in November for National Adoption Awareness Month and this year I'm SUPER excited to share with you what we have up our sleeve!

First, browse through some of our past NAAM posts so you don't miss out on some amazing guest posts ... you'll get to meet some amazing authors, too :-)

This year will be much the same.... guest posts from YOU, introductions to some fabulous authors, and I'm super excited to add one more way for you to become involved in such a special celebration of what is responsible for the existence of so many of our families!!

About a month ago, I was extremely honored to become an Ambassador for World Adoption Day! World Adoption Day is a brand new movement that we are hoping will sweep across the WORLD on November 9, 2014.... that's only 40 days away!

Participating in World Adoption Day is super easy! Mark your calendar for November 9 and on that day, post a photo of you and your family showing off your smiley-face palm and the hash tag #WorldAdoptionDay...

that's it!

BUT, if you're like me and want to take this one step further, head over here and sign up to be a World Adoption Day Ambassador.... like me :-) Your role will be simple, but crucial to raising adoption awareness and it's as easy as that.... sign up and make a commitment to spending the next 40 days sharing about the significance of raising awareness; share your story and ask others to share theirs! And when November 9 rolls around, post your own #WorldAdoptionDay photos to your favorite social media websites.... and then we get to sit back and watch adoption awareness explode!

And I can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday :-)

If you DO sign up to be an ambassador, I'd love to know! Please leave me a comment here or on our Instagram letting me know so I can watch for post announcing you!

And no matter what, be sure you follow #WorldAdoptionDay on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter so you don't miss out on any updates!

We still want to be sure we are doing our own part in spreading adoption awareness, so if you have an adoption story to share, start writing! I'll be accepting personal adoption stories from now through the entire month of November to post here... simply email your typed-up post to me at OnLoanFromHeaven (at) yahoo (dot) com and be sure you include a link to your personal blog, too if you have one! I'm looking for stories that include parts of YOU... your emotional or spiritual journey, your families reaction to your journey, what you would have done differently, or your best advice for those who may be in the beginning stages of their own adoption story. Be real. Be honest. Be YOU. They don't have to be perfect, grammatically or otherwise... they just have to be you.

This is my favorite time of year... and I can't wait to see how much we can all do together to raise awareness this year!