Christmas 2011
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Hello! On this page, I share our experiences of adopting children from the PA and GA foster care systems. I started this blog in October 2010, as my husband and I awaited our third adoption placement, but my first blog goes back to September 1991--when I got my first foster care placement that ended up turning into an adoption three years later. There are thousands of children, ages infant to 18, waiting for permanent homes, and in many cases the state covers all adoption costs and sometimes even helps with a monthly financial contribution and health insurance for the child. Like raising a biological child, adoption has it's challenges and it's ups and downs, but you soon find that no one has the right to say to you "you're doing such a great thing by taking in these kids," because you are the one blessed by God to have them! Feel free to leave comments and share your own experiences, or ask questions. I'd love to hear from you! |
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The "Why Can't I Live With My Birth-Mom" Question
When Luke, Gracie, and Sara came to live with us last summer, they often asked, “Why can’t we live with our mom and grammy anymore?” We tried to explain the best we could—even though, honestly, we couldn’t understand the situation ourselves. Apparently, their mom had no stable housing and no job—was given a year to get it together—but a year had come and gone, and her excuse was that she had no car. The state had offered her help—a small monthly supplement …
December 2011 Sibling Group Adoption
Well, it’s been over a year since my last blog—that should tell you how busy little David keeps me! He is three-years-old now and all-boy, and full of energy! Before I go on, I want to mention that I’m thankful for a recent “attack” I’ve gotten from an old elementary school friend. You see, I was posting some pro-life posts on Facebook and she started commenting on my posts, arguing that abortion is a woman’s choice, none of my business, etc. But when I …
Adopting Our 13 Month Old Baby Boy
I've always loved kids and wanted lots of them--whether adopted or biological, it didn't matter--I just love the way a large family feels. In my early twenties, I adopted two young girls and thought I'd have biological children as well, but it didn't work out that way. Between my two girls, and my sister's four kids, though, there were always lots of kids around. Over time, I went through a divorce, and my sister and her family moved back to PA, so it was just me and my girls for a season. Then I got …
More Thoughts on Cross-Racial Adoption
In my last post, I shared some of my thoughts on adopting children of a different race. I admit that when I first got my two girls (both African American) I really downplayed the race issue and hardly thought about it. I was twenty-two years old and I had grown up in New York and New Jersey, where racial relations are different from how they are here in the south. At the time, I wasn't aware of any cultural differences between blacks and whites and really didn't learn that there were cultural differences …
Cross-Racial Adoption Thoughts
The subject of white parents adopting African American children can't possibly be exhausted in one blog. There are so many factors to consider, and like raising biological children, every single case is unique, and one outcome can't predict another. I adopted my two girls (both African American) back in 1994--after having them as foster children for three years. Did they have identity issues as teenagers? Sure they had some. But my best friend's two daughters also had identity issues and they …
Adopting Our Girls Against the States' Objections
When I was 22, I got my first foster care placement--two sisters--Shannyn, age 6, and Elizabeth, age 5. It was supposed to be only a six month placement but it ended up becoming a three year placement instead. We had regular visits with the girls' mom and their four other siblings who had been split up into different foster homes. I had tried to keep a sort of emotional distance between myself and my girls, dreading the day when they would have to go back to their mom. As time went on, though, it was …
My First Adoption Experience
When I was 20 and engaged to be married I told my then fiance that I didn't know if I wanted to have biological children--that I felt a strong desire to adopt orphaned children, possibly of various races. That first year of marriage we were involved in an inner city bus ministry, working with hundreds of city kids, ages 4-16. I absolutely loved those kids and wanted to make a more lasting impact on children's lives, so we decided to become foster parents. I told our caseworker that I …
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Shannyn and Elizabeth Then and Now
The girls showing off their artwork. Fall 1991 
You've gotta see this on video! 
Hanging out on the couch 
The girls' little sister--I wanted to adopt her too but I wasn't able to. 
Ready to swim! (Big improvement with the braiding!) 
New Christmas Dresses (Shannyn: "How did you know my style?!" 
Dance recital 1994 
1994 
Ice cream in Lancaster 
Adoption party rings--gold "S" and "E" 
Little equestrian girls 
Mom giving last minute pep talk before balance beam event (not our favorite!) 
Liz's balance beam routine 
Girls and their cousins 
Christmas 2008 
2009 
Shannyn's Graduation from UGA 
Christmas 2009 
Christmas 2008 
Thanksgiving 2009 
Thanksgiving 2009 
Liz's birthday 2009 |
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Contact me at Lisa@LisaGarcia.net
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