National Adoption Month

November is National Adoption Awareness Month. This is near and dear to my heart obviously since I have domestically adopted one of my girls and we are in the process of adopting her sibling. If you have room in your heart and room in your house, adoption and/or fostering children will change your life.

Both of our children were adopted from Texas and each state has their own laws, but if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to ask me questions. We have been a foster home for almost 3 years and adopted one of those children. Now we are fostering her sister and waiting until she is available for adoption.

There are so many children that just need families. Fostering is not an easy task, but I can tell you that it does pay off and you can change those childrens lives.

Some famous adoptees are Aristole, Nat King Cole, Halle Berry, Melissa Gilbert, Scott Hamilton, Faith Hill, Langston Hughes, Malcolm X, Eleanor Roosevelt, Nancy Ragen, Leo Tolstoy, John Lennon, Marilyn Menroe, Mark Twain, Gerald Ford, Alexander The Great, Louissa May Alcott, Richard Burton & George Washing Carver. Someone had to make a choice to change each one of these peoples lives. Who knows who they would have became if someone didn't decide that they could change their lives.

I've included some links that can help you if you are considering fostering, adopting or are an adoptive or foster parent.

http://foster-child.adoption.com/
http://adoptivedads.org
www.adopting.com
http://www.howtoadopt.org/
www.adoption.com
http://adoptivefamilies.com/
http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/adoption_and_foster_care/
http://www.tapestrybooks.com/default.asp?r=c1

I've heard it said that 1 out of 20 people are somehow affected or know someone who is affected by adoption. Please take a moment out of your busy day and pray for these children, foster parents & adoptive parents.

Here is a prayer that I pray weekly (I try to do it daily, but I only make it about 4x's a week):

Lord, I pray for the physical, emotional & spritual health of all foster/adoptive children & their parents. I lift up all children that are currently being abused that you will provide them with an abiding sense of safety and security during their lifetime and give them the courage to face the problems of each day. I pray for you to give all people affected by these lost children a calm spirit to hear your voice Lord, to direct them through their day today. Give the children a clear mind, both to learn and to recall and an unshakable self-worth and personal dignity. I pray for wisdom for the teachers, mentors and counselors that will be a part of these families lives today. Thank you Lord for my children that you have blessed me with, help me to live up to your plan with them today. Fill me with your love, so that I can enstill that same love in them.