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6
Aug

Why Adopt Internationally?

by
in MLJ Adoptions
“Why should I adopt internationally when there are so many children in need of a family in the United States?” As adoption professionals, this is a question that arises often in our practice. To be honest, it’s a question that I had before my eyes were opened to the international orphan crisis. There are many ...
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2
Aug

Be Informed

by
in MLJ Adoptions
The question came from my ten year-old, in my lap as usual. She put her lips to my ear, so not to disturb the other movie patrons, “Would you ever do that, Mama? Give me back?” I felt my heart plummet through the floor and I hugged her really tight, whispering back in her ear, ...
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23
Jun

Ideas to Throw an Adoption Shower

by
in MLJ Adoptions
All parents should be showered for the arrival of their new child. Adoption showers are my favorite to give. I love the “textures” and “layers” that can be added to this special party. Get an idea of the travel date or the date that the baby is being escorted/arriving home and plan the shower for ...
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20
Jun

The Child That Was Not Adopted

by
in MLJ Adoptions
The child that was not adopted will grow up without the love and guidance of parents, without the security and identity of family, and always feeling like the last kid picked for dodgeball. The child that was not adopted has little hope. Depending on his or her country, he or she may have had little ...
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15
Jun

A Father to the Fatherless

by
in MLJ Adoptions
God has given me a heart for children. I use this gift every week as I serve in my church’s children’s ministry. Each week I look forward to seeing the children and teaching them about God. It brings me great joy to see how much the kids learn. Yet, I feel that God has a ...
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11
Jun

DRCongo Adoption News

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in Congo
In response to a recent posting by another US adoption group indicating they are experiencing delays and disappointments with their DRC adoption program and as a result are no longer accepting adoption applications for Congo, MLJ Adoptions, Inc. would like to provide you with the following update: MLJ Adoptions, Inc. is not experiencing changes or ...
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10
Jun

Congo Adoption Program Updates

by
in Congo, Special Needs
Our adoption program in the Democratic Republic of Congo was launched in October 2009. The popularity of this program is related to the availability of infants, the quick process compared to other international adoption programs, and travel is not required by adoptive parents. With the popularity of the program, however, we have found as the ...
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3
Jun

Hope for Congo

by
in Congo, Resources
This October 2nd I will be running 5K in honor of my daughter’s first mother. I am not a runner. I’ve never been a runner. I am not even sure how to run. But, as we wait for our daughter to arrive home I’ve been using running in order to de-stress during the adoption process. ...
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27
May

Lessons From the Connected Child

by
in Resources, Special Needs
This book was written by staff at the Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University for parents who have welcomed home children from other countries, troubled backgrounds, and/or with special behavioral or emotional needs. The text begins with changes that can be expected when an adopted child is welcomed into a family. It outlines ...
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24
May

Bulgaria – A Growing Adoption Country

by
in Bulgaria
I am thrilled to announce our excitement about the possibilities that our new Bulgarian Adoption Program presents to potential adoptive families! Upon visiting the orphanages in Bulgaria, I was very impressed by the care the children received! The children we met were beautiful and looked happy and healthy! In Bulgaria, 90% of the children are ...
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19
May

Amazing Grace in Haiti

by
in Haiti
I am not even sure where to begin. How do you sum up what you have seen in a way that will truly convey what it was like to be in Haiti? I guess I can begin with how I felt about going to Haiti; I was afraid to go to such a hard place ...
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7
May

What It Means To Be a Mom

by
in MLJ Adoptions
It’s been a long time since I first became a mom – almost seventeen years ago, in fact. In the midst of all the day-to-day hustle and bustle, I have taken the blessing of motherhood for granted, as so many other moms do. This year, however, as I enter the world of social-networking and cyber-journalism, ...
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4
May

All My Daughter's Mothers

by
in MLJ Adoptions
This year, my husband and I are celebrating our first Mother’s Day. For the past three years we’ve ridden the terrible ride of infertility. With each passing year I thought motherhood was never going to come for me. I began to believe that we would forever be a married couple who would never have any ...
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1
May

Infertility, Adoption and Mother’s Day

by
in MLJ Adoptions
If you were to browse the internet, there are many posts about Mother‘s Day and the childless. The fact is, there are many other women facing the reality of being childless this Mother‘s Day. It’s difficult to see yourself amongst many when you are in this situation. Rather, it is very easy to feel isolated ...
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25
Apr

Announcing: Bulgarian Adoption Program

by
in Bulgaria
I am so thrilled to announce the start of our Bulgarian adoption program! I just returned from Sofia and I am excited about the possibilities that I see for families! I found Bulgaria to be a beautiful country and the people there were so friendly, even trying to use English when they could. I found ...
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6
Apr

Three Cups of Tea: Book review

by
in MLJ Adoptions
“Three Cups of Tea” is a true testament to the difference that one individual can make with a humanitarian sprit. In this book, the main character, Greg Mortenson, makes education possible for some of the most impoverished children and does so in the face of extreme cultural divides. Greg Mortenson was called to educate the ...
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1
Apr

The Rebirth at Easter

by
in MLJ Adoptions
This Sunday many Christians will celebrate Easter, a special time of grieving Jesus’ death and celebrating new life in his resurrection. Our Jewish brothers and sisters celebrate the Passover, a time to celebrate the liberation from slavery in Egypt. And for all of us, the earth in springtime pulses with the promise of new life, ...
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30
Mar

The Sea Chest: book review

by
in Resources
Hastily, I grabbed The Sea Chest (written by Toni Buzzeo and illustrated by Mary GrandPre) from the library shelf. Imagine my surprise when a book chosen to excite my two youngsters about this summer’s Michigan Dunes vacation turned out to be a beautiful, miraculous adoption story. In fact, a surprise ending intertwines two adoptions into ...
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17
Mar

Giving Birth to an Elephant

by
in Adoption Stories
Did you know that the gestational period for an elephant is 18-22 months? Can you imagine waiting that long? The anticipation alone would feel like it is going to kill you, and it’s accompanied by physical exhaustion and pain. I would think that by the 18th marker you would be so ready to get that ...
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8
Mar

Healing Grief

by
in Bulgaria, Congo, Haiti, Honduras
My daughter arrived home at thirteen months, broken in spirit and disconnected. I sensed that she was engulfed in an invisible cocoon. Her cries and screams which happened without warning and often over a dozen times each day, expressed her fathomless grief and her inability to connect. My daughter was trying, but her sensory processing ...
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