Ethiopian Adoption Scam?
It seems I saw a similar report a couple of months ago from a different investigative reporter and network… < Watch CBS News Videos Online
Adopted for Life…and in Death
Al Mohler shares an incredible story that has emerged from the Haitian tragedy. While there are many, many tragic stories happening around the world that you and I often do not hear about, this one touches deeply. It points us back to our own adoptions into the family of God. Enjoy. Read it here.
The Open Road
I was told last night to not purchase any gifts for Christmas if they were given in love. I was told that love is not needed and if gifts are a reflection of love that I could keep them. I was also told that all of ‘my’ family could also save their gifts if they [...]
Adoption: A Community That Has Become an Empty, Irritating Noise
Mosquitoes. I forgot about the mosquitoes. I think it must get cold enough in Spokane to sufficiently kill the mosquito population…not the case in Georgia. Jennifer and I love to sit on the front porch and talk. But those mosquitoes just won’t quit. I saw one drinking the melted wax out of one of those [...]
Adoption: A Community Not Worth Joining
I have a hobby. I like to play online video games. A game that I play has been around for a couple of years and interest in the game has waned. So the developers came up with a new strategy. They would make it free to play instead of $15 a month. If you wanted [...]
Preach the Word – Don’t be Distracted by Starving Kids
I once heard someone say that adoption and orphan care should not be one of the primary ministries of the church. I’m not sure what Bible they were reading, but it sounds like a bunch of BS to me….I’m just saying…
Orphan Sunday: November 8th
Orphan Sunday Church, do not hinder the Gospel by hiding behind your white ivory tower of theology. The Gospel is the redeeming work of Jesus offered to you, me and the orphan. Now that you have been rescued by it, do you really think Jesus approves of your doctrinal stroking and programmatic cleverness? Really? November [...]
Adoption, Jesus, and You
The Baptist Press just fired off several articles on the topic of adoption today. I was particularly encouraged to read about the SBC’s stance on adoption and foster care. I’m looking forward to reading more by Moore! Adoption and the Gospel go Hand in Hand Moore’s Book Excerpt Adopting Special Needs
4.8
I am often asked why I adopted internationally when we have so many children right here in the US that need to be adopted. Maybe that has been one of your questions as well. My answer is usually pretty simple. Because ‘Foster Children’ do not starve to death. A lengthier conversation would reveal that I [...]
One of These Things is NOT Like the Other…
(sitting in my truck waiting for Josiah after football practice) Student 1: That white man your daddy? Student 2: Fool, how’s a white man s’posed be my daddy? Student 1: Hell if I know but they ain’t no mo white boys in the gym. Student 2: Maybe he’s lost… I get out of the truck [...]
You Gotta Be Special
Noah: Dad, do you still talk to people about adoption? Dad: Yeah, people still ask why we started adopting and how to adopt. Noah: You need to tell them to adopt babies. Dad: <chuckling> Why’s that? Noah: Because adopting older kids is very difficult and I don’t think most people could do it. Dad: Well, [...]
Compelling Hope, Exhausted Love
It is hope that compels me when my love has been exhausted. A few of the kids were putting lunch on the table today and everyone was gathering around…everyone except for Noah of course. Day 2 of the hunger strike was continuing. Jennifer asked me if I was going to call him to lunch and [...]
Back on the Crazy Train
John 12:25-26 – Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. I have been gone [...]
Dreamers
“What could be?” It is the question that I walked away from Maxwell’s post on dreaming. I have recently met two other dreamers. One lives in Montana and one lives in Illinois, but they are dreamers the same. They have seen the brokenness in an orphan’s eyes and were moved beyond themselves. I have seen [...]
Daddy, Why Were You Talking to the Policeman? – Ana
Sigh….Here is the last post in my 4 part series to catch you up on our lives. Most of you who have followed our Ethiopian adoption journey know all about the ups and downs (if you are new to us, feel free to read through the archives to catch up). I have tried to share [...]
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Back in the fall we were trying to figure out a way for us to move to the South with a job. I was working for a non-profit at the time, so one of the possibilities was to start a branch office in GA. This is a fairly common practice for the type of business [...]
17 Hours
After a year of praying, planning, talking and dreaming – Jennifer and I finalized the last details to move our family back to the South after a 15 year absence. It honestly felt like we were moving to a new mission field and not necessarily moving ‘back home’ since we had never lived in the [...]
Mommy, Whose Tummy Did I Come From?
We were eating dinner when the question came. I’m not sure what was said to trigger the question. Usually at the McConnell table there are several conversations going at once and you just sort of jump in if you want. Something was said and the question came. It wasn’t that we were unprepared for the [...]
Son, You Only Get One Life
After the Big Brother incident we rode in the van for a few minutes and then Noah asked a question. “Dad, do kids go and live with a new family with the Big Brother program or is it just for the day?” He looked a little disappointed when I told him it was just for [...]
Big Brothers?
When we arrived in Macon today we stopped at a Kroger grocery store to pick up a few essentials. As we were exiting a lady called out from a car behind us. “Excuse me sir?” I didn’t realize she was talking to us until she got louder. “Excuse me SIR!” I had the whole family [...]
A Blessed Board
The word ‘blessed’ has many meanings both positive and negative. For example, if I say ‘That blessed Board of Directors is a pain in my neck’ – it is used in a negative context and accentuates my dislike for said Board of Directors. However, if I say, “I am blessed by my Board of Directors” [...]
A Dose of Realtiy
When people ask what I do, and I have the opportunity to tell them that I work with orphans in Ethiopia and Uganda, curiosity and amazement are always on their faces. We usually have nice little chats about the work, and then almost without fail people ask the same question. “I’ve always seen those videos [...]
Margaret’s Story
I received the following in my inbox this morning about a new series at Carolina Hope’s blog. It is a pretty incredible insight from the birth mother’s perspective. Be sure to listen to all 5 parts of the short audio. You probably hear testimonies from adoptive parents, and maybe even a few from adults who [...]
