Seven “Rs” of the Adoption Journey

When the adoption journey is long how do you go about surviving the wait? From the author of Nine Year Pregnancy.

You are Not a Mistake

“God doesn’t make mistakes. He has a particular place in mind for each and every one of us,” says Jen Bricker, author of Everything is Possible. Whether you are adopted or have adopted or simply have challenges in your life, you will be motivated and inspired by Jen’s book.

The First Nine Years

Almost nine years since adoption day. How does nine years of waiting for her compare?

Prayer Request to Friends of Nine Year Pregnancy

Transitions . . . change . . . moves . . . are difficult for any of us, but they can be particularly overwhelming to the older adopted child.

Newly Published and Great New Price

Hurray! Nine Year Pregnancy:Waiting on God–Our Journey of Adoption, first published by Crossbooks division of LifeWay, has been republished and is once again available for purchase as a paperback.

The Mosaic of Transracial Adoption

A whole host of informative links and movies from adoptees and adoptive families.

With Great Sadness

With great sadness, Crossbooks Publishing (a division of LifeWay) will no longer be publishing and distributing its books effective May 1, 2015. What will become of Nine Year Pregnancy?

beast castle, beauty and beast, fear, doorways, Pandora's box

Fear or Faith

In the movie Beauty and the Beast, Belle must overcome her fear of the beast in order to not only free her father but to also set the Beast free. In life, sometimes the beasts we face are our own fears, such as the fears of failure, pain, suffering, death, heartache, disappointment, or closed doors.

Heart for the Homeland

A heart for the homeland for Valentine’s Day. What age is a good age for an international adoptee to visit his or her homeland? What things should be done to prepare? What places should be visited? What expectations should you have?

blessing, comfort, encouragement, adoption

Blessed to be a Blessing

I have learned that both the struggles (or afflictions) and the joys and blessings of this life come so that I can bless, comfort, and encourage others.

adoption, older child, adopted, trauma, resources, hiding in blanket

Adoption Support for Trauma Mamas

A decade of waiting and information and preparation still did not prepare me for the day-to-day realities of the first few years with an older adopted child. Yet, I still wish someone had pointed me to some of these resources earlier!

Three Year Anniversary

Three year anniversary of Nine Year Pregnancy….

Good Grief, It’s Christmas

Holidays (particularly Christmas) can be some of the most difficult days during the “paper pregnancy” or waiting stage of Christmas, You hope…you pray…you wait for a miracle. Songs of kids waiting for a home for Christmas (as beautiful as the songs are) often bring tears to the eyes of the parents waiting.

A More Vibrant Picture

“Thankfully God always sees a bigger picture…” Remember, God has not forgotten you!

Waiting Forever

How long is it reasonable to wait for something you want? Have we forgotten the value, wisdom, and lessons learned in persevering and waiting?

girl running, arms outstretched, adoption

Cast Your Love

“Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.” Ecclesiastes 11:1 This verse reminds me of the need to keep pouring love into our children. The love we pour in will eventually pour out on others and come back to us as well.

path, stone path, wooded path, forest path, journey path

Ten Thousand Word Journey

My Paper Pregnancy Journal is a unique adoption journal with prompts, quotes, inspiration, and plenty of lined pages for you to write about your journey! Because a journey is worth…

What is a Paper Pregnancy?

“Paper Pregnancy” and Adoption. What might seem self-explanatory to some, might require explanation for others. Paper Pregnancy: having a child developing in the heart while completing a ton of paperwork, experiencing long waits and many hoops, and sometimes facing roadblocks or closed doors (read labor) in order for that child to be delivered into your arms. Want to know the first time that term was used online?

waiting, hoping, praying, girl boy cat statue, boy and girl waiting, boy and girl watching, boy and girl at window, statue in window, boy and girl looking at sky

A Physical and Emotional Miscarriage

A friend of mine faced a failed adoption. She had not only seen pictures of her child, but she had held her in her arms, smelled her, cuddled her, rocked her. What she experienced emotionally could easily be compared to the grief faced in a mid-to-late term miscarriage. Recently, my newest grandson was born at 20 weeks, lived 34 minutes, then died. I understand grief and loss.

Looking Below the Surface

When on the adoption journey (or raising an adopted child) an iceberg provides a perfect picture of there being more than what you initially see. . . adjustments, meltdowns, behaviors, baggage, language learning, challenges.

mail, email, letter to adoptive parents, adoption

Dear Future Adoptive Parents

Originally posted on BARREN TO BLESSED:
Dear Future Adoptive Parents, Hello. I’m not sure what to say except that I hope you want me as bad as I want you. I need you to need me. I know that sounds silly, coming from a kid and all, but if I were to be completely honest, I…

Moody Mondays

On days and weeks when the waiting seems unbearable, times when adoption seems like an unreachable obsession, on rainy days and Mondays — some real things you can do to find the hope and strength to hang on.

adoption, paper pregnancy, waiting couple

No One Ever Said This

“I can’t wait to be paper pregnant for nine years!” — said no adoptive parent ever. But the process of waiting may just be a very important part of the journey.

Surrendering

Clay Crosse and his wife Renee are no strangers to adoption. During our nearly decade-long journey of adoption, I faced a period of time of needing to surrender my desire for a daughter to the Lord.