It dawned on me as I was reading an article a friend posted that I never explained why my blog's title starts out "One of My Own..."  The reason is because often times you will hear if you are adopting, "so when are you going to have one of your own?" or "they couldn't have…

The waiting process for adoption is a grueling process.  First you decide to adopt.  Then you apply.  Then you go through training.  Then you sign what feels like a zillion forms, write a 22 page single-spaced story about your life, get background checked, get reference checked, finger-printed, and create a profile book--then you're approved!  And…

By Tone:Mission & PerspectiveEver since we began dating we have talked about becoming missionaries.  We had no idea what God had in store for us, but it turns out it has to do with building our family.  Someday we think that God might call us to be missionaries in a more traditional sense.  For now,…

I can't sleep tonight.  For the first time since the academic year began I have a Friday morning off from my class and I can't sleep.  I suppose that's the way it goes, eh?  My mind is crazy occupied.  Sorting through the ins and outs of the adoption process is what I would like at…

A few weeks back a friend and mother of two, posted the following from the Psalms: "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden…

I have been thinking deeply about issues of race for a long time now.  Ever since this past February when we decided to embark on the journey of adoption I have been contemplating my privilege as a white woman more and more and what that will mean for my child of color.  One thing I…

Adoption is something Brian and I have considered since we started dating.  It is something that we have felt called to for reasons that are completely of God.  It is one of our missions in this life.  God has adopted us into His family and now we want to adopt a child into ours.  We…

Our child will be a person of color.  That is a 99.9% guarantee.  We are white.  The fact remains that we will be raising a child, most likely a black child, in a very white world.  We have got to start thinking differently--and it matters.  It matters because our child's identity matters.  So we have…

Anyone who knows anything about adoption knows this:  there is a TON of paperwork associated with it.  And that's okay.  I mean, I'd rather they thoroughly examine my husband and I.  I think if I were in the birth parent's shoes, I would want to make sure that I was placing my child in a…

An incredible thing happened this weekend:  I had my first Mother's Day.  It was completely unexpected.  I received a card from my best friend before my husband and I left for my in-laws.  I couldn't believe it.  I ran up to my husband with tears in my eyes, overcome by the incredible generosity of a…