Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Adopting a Waiting Child: What does that look like? A Mom's Perspective (Part 2 of 2)

Thanks for joining the conversation this week! Last Wednesday on CHI-TV, Bunnie Wilson invited you into her home to meet her kids, four of whom were adopted internationally through the China Waiting Child Program.

So many of you may be wondering, "What would it look like to adopt a Waiting Child into our family? How are the adoptions of special needs children sometimes unique?" From a mother's perspective, Bunnie tells us how her family chose the Waiting Child Program and, for their fourth adoption, how they decided to adopt a younger child (which made some of their friends' jaws drop!).


Click on the photo above to be taken to Bunnie's video!
 If you missed Bunnie's conversation last week, catch her first installment here.

Have a question for Bunnie or one of our staff? Leave a comment or email us at Communications@ChildrensHope.net. We love hearing from you!

If you are reading this post via email, jump to the blog to comment.

 

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

When You Can Give Love to a Child, Do You Do It?

Click the photo to be directed to CHI-TV's homepage with video!
"Nothing stops her. Nothing," Bunnie says about her daughter, who is missing a part of her left arm.

Bunnie Wilson has adopted four times; each time she adopted a Waiting Child - a child who may be older or may have "special" medical needs. If you have ever wondered what this kind of adoption might look like, Bunnie invites you now to her home. Come visit, and meet her kiddos and see adoption through her persepctive.

Part 1 of 2.

There are children, right now, waiting for a home. See their faces and take a moment today to see into their hearts. View 26 Waiting Children from China. There are others waiting in Ethiopia, Russia and Colombia. Contact us; we are seeking homes for each child.

Email: Communications@ChildrenHope.net
Phone: 1-888-899-2349

*Children's Hope highly suggests you do your own research with your pediatrician and/or specialist concerning the child you are considering before you commit to adopting a Waiting Child.

**Every week, our Children’s Hope adoption experts will answer questions important to you and your adoption via CHI-TV. They will also tackle the most talked about international adoption topics of the day. Be sure to watch and participate via the comments or Facebook!
(Are you reading this via RSS? Jump to the blog to leave a comment and join the conversation.)

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

What are some of the challenges of adopting an older child?

Click the photo to be directed to CHI-TV's homepage with video!
It is Children's Hope's mission to find "Homes, Health, and Hope for Children in Need". Many of these children are older. Most families open to adoption know the joy that a child can bring to their lives; but what are some of the challenges you may face? Parent education and preparedness lays a groundwork for a healthy family.

Social Work Director Nichole Deal starts off today's conversation CHI-TV with some general challenges. She'd talk to you for at least a half hour if she could! If you are interested in older child adoption, please give us a call at 1-888-899-2349.
Every week, our Children’s Hope adoption experts will answer questions important to you and your adoption via CHI-TV. They will also tackle the most talked about international adoption topics of the day. Be sure to watch and participate via the comments or Facebook! (Are you reading this via RSS? Jump to the blog to leave a comment and join the conversation.)
 

It is National Volunteer Appreciation Week. And, boy, do we have great volunteers!

Been There, Done That. Children's Hope Adoptive Parents (CHAPs) are families who have adopted orphaned children from across the globe and now seek to give back to other prospective adopting families. To those just beginning their adoptions, the knowledge and experience of parents before them is one of the greatest gifts they can receive!

To all our cherished CHAPs Volunteers ~

Helping out,
Lending a hand,
Someone who will understand,
A person who will always be there,
Without a doubt, someone who cares ~ that's you, our volunteers!

Next month, CHAPs will mark 6 years of making a difference in our communities. Our CHAPs families are over 300 families strong throughout the US and we want to recognize each of them for their meaningful volunteer efforts.

Thank you, CHAPs, for volunteering your precious time to answer emails and telephone calls about your adoption experience. Thank you for the selfless giving of your time to host CHAPs information meetings. In all of these things, thank you for remembering the children who are still waiting for their forever families. As you volunteer, you are keeping these children close to your heart and reminding others that they are precious.

May God bless you richly!

Have you been touched by a CHAPs family? Let them know in the comments!

To learn more about CHAPs or to become a volunteer yourself, contact Ginny Burkhart at 618-622-3522 or Ginny.Burkhart@ChildrensHope.net.

 

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

What should you consider when adopting a child with special needs? Tell us your thoughts.

Click the photo to be directed to CHI-TV's homepage with video!
Adopting a child who is older or has medical needs? These children, known as special needs children, are amazing kiddos deserving of loving forever homes. But what does it take to parent a child with special needs? What should you consider if this is the road forward for your family?

China Program Director Tina Qualls helps start this conversation with you this week, via CHI-TV. And, if you have adopted a special needs child, you can help finish it. Let us know what was on your heart during your adoption process. Post your comments!

If you are considering adopting through the Waiting Child (Special Needs) Program, tell us your thoughts and ask your questions. 
Every week, our Children’s Hope adoption experts will answer questions important to you and your adoption via CHI-TV. They will also tackle the most talked about international adoption topics of the day. Be sure to watch and participate via the comments or Facebook! (Are you reading this via RSS? Jump to the blog to leave a comment and join the conversation.)
 

Friday, April 1, 2011

To Learn From... Again

From featured blogger Stacie, adoptive mom of 2 Ethiopian kids

Being a mom the second time around is definitely different. I'm way more relaxed with Lia than I was with Micah.  I don't stress about the small things as much as I did with my first baby. Ah, but I do still have those moments of utter confusion, stress, and basket-dropping, so don't think Number Two has made it magically easy or anything like that. One thing that does strike me is how much I've forgotten already. I was watching family YouTube videos with the kids recently (thank you, Apple TV) and I couldn't believe how little Micah was. How his tiny feet fit into his little sandals. How he waddled when he walked.

This knowledge makes me desperate to notice and remember each little moment of Lia's babyhood. I know I'll forget again, but this time I'm oh-so aware of how fleeting these moments are. How it's my last time (and I'm 99.9% sure of this) with a baby to care for. To carry on my hip. To snuggle with in the wee early morning hours. To rock to sleep. To hear first words like 'cheese', 'cookie', and 'yummy'. To teach. To learn from. 

It also makes me take notice of my Big Boy even more. Soon he'll be off to kindergarten (okay, I still have 1.5 years), and then he'll be a surly boy, and then in college. I just know it. So, I remember to take the time to have a light saber duel. To scoop him up as he runs towards me after school. To grab his hand and tell him how proud I am of him. To watch him try new things, and try again. To encourage. To teach. To learn from. 

Some days, being a mom is exhausting and I'm quite sure that I suck at it. Other days, I feel like I'm doing okay and remember how truly lucky I am to have two wonderful children to fill my life with amazement. 


Lia and Micah, lucky mom Stacie's two children, adopted from Ethiopia.


To read more from Stacie's blog, follow her on Real. Family.