adoption

Adoption proves that sometimes, you can choose your family; all about the process before, during and after adoption.

Make It Count
I feel as if I’m on the precipice of a major breakdown. Wave after wave of anxiety, stress, depression, helplessness, anger, frustration knocks me down over and over. The pressure society and social media have put on me to be the perfect wife, mother, co-worker and friend has taken its toll on me.
By Jessica Nicole5 years ago in Families
Pieces of Me
Early one brisk morning in March, one of those mornings you dont want to step out of bed onto the cold floor for fear of the icy shudders running through you, Nelly was sweeping out the back hallway carpet as she always did to welcome in new customers. Her bistro, inspired by her late brother, was such a hit the papers did regular pieces including something different about her spot. She somehow won the heart and belly of the editor and without fail there was something mentioned about her quaint bistro every week. Reddz Bistro became so popular she had to add a breakfast menu. It is adding that menu, that lead her to turn the extra room she had seperating the resort like bathroom from the dining area into a book lending library. Nelly had her husband Jack knock out one of the walls to open the space a bit. She added few lounge chairs, small wrought iron designed tables and a nook with a beautiful picturesque view of a lovely hidden garden and romantic trail that led to a lake. Candles adorned the tables and sconces as well as a massive crystal chandelier for dim lit occasions. To create an aura of serenity and peace Nelly accented each seated area with sheer white curtains appearing to float because of the invisible strings. Nelly divided the room from the dining hall with a beautiful silvery string curtain that glimmered under the recessed lights. The Winged Room as the locals called it attracted all sorts of patrons and attention. Of lately the majority of patrons were seniors and not just any seniors, they were of a spiritual or natural nature. They often brought gifts and the bistro usually did very good on those days. Nelly enjoyed them because they always left her with a positive note and huge tips for her staff. Everytime she looked at that part of her bistro she beamed with excitement for its beauty and new stories she encountered daily. This day though was like no other, Nelly dusted out the last rug when she heard a loud thump come from the backdoor. Hesitant, she turned down the music she had been playing to see if she heard anything else. There was nothing. With a sigh of relief she picked up the remote to turn the music back up when she heard another unexpected noise. This time it sounded like a whimper. Nelly usually parked in the back to get out easier once the dinner rush left out. She wondered if an animal got in her car again. She quickly flipped on the back light and grabbed her sweater and golf club she kept hidden near the door. As she opened the door she saw nothing, her nerves began to settle. She peered around the door to her car, horrified she dropped the club and lifted her hands to her mouth. Nelly slowly moved towards her car. On the hood of her Maxima was a basket. What horrified her was the little bundle peeking its head up from the basket and what seemed like mounds of covers. She frantically looked around, not a person in site. Daylight was creeping in on the now two of them. Nelly didn't want to panic. Deciding to take the tike to the nearest hospital, she grabbed the basket while fumbling around her pocket for the keys. Nelly placed the basket in the back, while trying to strap the baby in, a blanket fell open revealing a new surprise. The baby had a note and, what seemed like a glow.
By Lola Sky5 years ago in Families
My little roly-poly
I woke with a start. You would think that I would be used to the loud banging on the chipping green on my door, but for the 12 years I’ve lived at this orphanage I never have. I sat straight up and went through my typical morning routine. It was 7:30 AM. I was hardly aware of what I was doing; sliding on my yellow and white plaid skirt, that went just below the knees how Harlem liked it. I made a sour face at the thought of the brute.
By Giselli Reschke5 years ago in Families
Friday's Child
“What’s this?” Dierdre Watson asked as she peered at her executive assistant across the wide expanse of her desk. “It’s a check,” he said, shifting his weight from one leg to the other.
By Victoria Shannon5 years ago in Families
The Boy and the Notebook
Knock, knock, ring. “Susan, George… get that!” Damn, I should not have sent them home for the long weekend. This always happens, get settled in to work and
By Thom Slaughter5 years ago in Families
The book and the bay leaf
I was in my father's study after the funeral, his funeral. I'd love to stay here, but it wasn't safe living in this big house all alone. So this afternoon I'd be going to live with my Aunt Cassie till I was old enough to live on my own. My Aunt Cassie was my only living relative, and she seemed nice enough, even though I've only met her once or twice before. My father was a very rich man, but we were close. So no one was surprised that all of his inheritance went to me, but Aunt Cassie was conviced that I had to live at her house, she wasn't big on moving to other places, hinse why I never saw her.
By setrocks5 years ago in Families
A Serendipitous Meeting
A giggle rang across the park. The cheerful sound caused the birdwatcher couple to smile and glance towards the source. A small, pigtailed child toddled around the slide, tossing smiles and giggles over her shoulder as a woman slowly chased after making monster noises. This was a picture-perfect morning for everyone in the vicinity. Everyone, except one. On the far side of the park, a middle-aged woman was tucked up under a giant oak tree with a small, black notebook lying limply across her lap. Her gaze was fixed upon the middle distance, and her mouth was turned down slightly at the corners. To any who could see her, she appeared lost in an upsetting memory.
By Courtney Canatsey5 years ago in Families
Kira
It was Christmas. Every kid’s favorite holiday. The holiday where they can go sledding, make snow angels with their friends, eat junk food, and sing Christmas carols with their friends. The only night where they were actually eager to go to sleep because they know Santa will come. The most exciting part being Christmas morning, when they open their eyes and smile because they know when they run down the stairs, gifts will be scattered underneath the Christmas Tree. That’s how Christmas went for most children. It was exciting. Watching Christmas movies with their family and putting cookies on a plate for Santa. The whole concept was exciting to everyone. Everyone except Kira Boone. Kira was a deaf orphan girl. She was used to watching happy families outside the window, seeing children run into their parent's arms. Kira yearned for that. She didn’t care about the gifts, she just wanted someone that loved her. Since Kira was deaf everyone overlooked her. She would be turning 9 in a few months. The Matron, social workers, and everyone at the orphanage adored her. She was well behaved, and never caused any problems. The Alderidge family were rich and wanted to adopt a child to improve their image. John Aldridge was the town’s mayor. He was a busy man always working, not having much time for his wife or son. His wife, Teresa didn’t mind so much because she would keep herself occupied by shopping, and talking with her lady friends. Their son, Ben was a troubled spoiled boy, who spent most of his time in his room, playing with new advanced games his parents would buy him every day. John would come home from work every night to take out that Teresa ordered. They never ate at the table as a family. Everyone went to their separate rooms, going through their phones. Before they would go to bed, they’d all shout goodnight to each other and repeat. This was a normal routine for the Alderidge family. Later that week, John told Teresa his plans about adopting. Teresa didn’t care as long as the child didn’t get in the way of her lifestyle. They all agreed not to adopt a baby, for those reasons. Ben was annoyed and didn’t want a brother or sister, but he knew when it came to something like this he wouldn’t get his way. Ben didn’t want to go for the ride to the orphanage. He didn’t care and thought it was stupid, but John and Terese made him go. During the ride on the way to the orphanage, Ben stared out the window, dreading everything. When they finally arrived at the orphanage, Ben looked at the building in disgust “What type of orphanage is this? You can’t seriously expect us to go in there and greet these people. They probably have diseases.” Ben scoffed.
By C.M.5 years ago in Families
Book of Memories
The wind whipped harshly around her, forcing her long red hair to become a messy tangle. With a huff of annoyance, Victoria Duncan shoved her locks behind her shoulder. She had been standing outside the brick building for five minutes. While she willed her feet forward, they refused to move. It had only been a few days ago when the mysterious lawyer had contacted her. He had a deep voice, with a thick midwestern accent. He introduced himself as Mr. Bryan Darby. He asked her to come to his office in Atchison, nearly an hour away from her home town of Lawrence, Kansas. He refused to give her many details over the phone, simply saying she was not in any kind of legal trouble. At that she had given a sigh of relief. Victoria had lived her entire life being as angelic as possible. Any kind of strife caused her heartbeat to pound erratically. Learning early on that she could not stand such a feeling, she tried to be “the good girl.”
By Abigail Griffith5 years ago in Families
Mallory & Rose
Friday morning I woke up to the tearing sound of packing tape being ripped from the roll. Will was finishing up packing the last of the kitchen items we had needed to get through the past couple of days. The sun was piercing through the blinds as I sat up in bed and stretched my back, still sore from carrying so many boxes down the four flights of stairs from our top floor apartment. Swinging my legs out of bed, I walked into our tiny, empty living room. The room actually seemed somewhat spacious now with only Will and a couple boxes on the floor.
By Maggie Fanning5 years ago in Families
Sins of Thy Mother!
Alien encounters, corporate espionage, secret bases, governmental cover-ups, murders, genetic manipulation, covert operations, these are few of the adventures that'd cause some people to go insane as the paradigm of their reality shifted from the norm to the abnormal. In the journey of life one minute, you can be living comfortable in a home, and the next minute, your whole life turns upside-down. You then find yourself homeless, living on the streets wondering how it came to be, where your next meal will be coming from & where’ll you sleep. Life does have some unexpected twists & turns along the way. In the voyage of life, sometimes there are the unexpected finds or encounters that’d change the way one sees the world & the coincidental occurrences of such can be divinely mind-blowing or wonderful other worldly experiences.
By Mystic Poet5 years ago in Families
Unchosen
The first part is a mystery. I was there, but the memories are inaccessible, like a dream I know I had but can’t remember. We are not built to remember those months in the womb, that first explosion of light and the beautiful warmth of our mother’s body when we are placed upon her chest. Those memories we don’t get to keep, but they are all I have of her, so I imagine them.
By Susan McAllister5 years ago in Families