Natasha and I recently toured a food bank. I was amazed to find out that about 11% of the United States population are food insecure.

I delighted in Natasha's very developmentally appropriate behavior during the tour. Natasha is now 10 years old and came home from the orphanage 6.5 years ago.

Her longest lasting post-institutional... more

I love reading. During my early teenager years I tried to collect every Nancy Drew book written. Even at that point this was a challenge. There were just so many books. I would go to garage sales and find books from the 1950s and 1960s.

So I was excited to see Nancy Drew was a movie. I was disappointed to see adoption used as a plot device.

I had to explain several things to my 10-year-old daughter Natasha. Natasha understands her adoption... more

Natasha had zero understanding of "play" when she came home from Ukraine at 3.5 years of age. She understood how to clean clothing in a bathtub, wash dishes and sweep a floor. But playing was a foreign idea.

Never in a million years did I think that I would have to teach my child to play. I don't remember reading and preparing for this.

At first I thought it was a skill that she could just pick up. It would just happen naturally as she grew developmentally. But it didn't happen that way.

I... more

During Natasha's (adopted from Ukraine in December 2000 at 3.5 years of age) first year home I kept a journal. I started this writing because it felt like my days were filled with constant power struggles. The journal focused me on Natasha's positive developmental growth rather then negative behavior.

Last week I was re-reading the journal. I found a jewel of a story. So for Love Thursday here is my journal entry.

November 2001

Natasha and I played... more

My darling daughter Natasha is a creative thinker. Last year her Grandma asked what type of present she wanted for her birthday.

Natasha quickly replied with a single word.

Tree

She wanted a tree to climb and play under. And we live in a newly built housing addition. There just aren't very many trees here.

Now Grandma is very used to Natasha's creative and unusual thoughts... And Grandma loves trees too. So she decided to get Natasha a birthday tree.... more

I learn something new every day.... I didn't realize that Love Thursday had a flickr group. Thanks for the information Jenna.

Love is letting the cat groom your hair and enjoying it.

Intelligence is knowing when to stop the grooming. Notice the position of Natasha's hand. Sometimes Jenks (the cat) will move from grooming to chewing. It is much easier... more

I almost missed Love Thursday again. But I made it..

Love Thursday is viral... and has spread among the adoptionblogs.com bloggers.

This is my darling Natasha yelling loud for me... and then giving me a happy smile.

Love is playing pretend with my daughter.

My daughter, Natasha, and I went to see The Nativity Story a few weeks ago. We talked a little bit about it after the movie.

But I didn't realize the true impact of the film until the Sunday after the film.

I am a volunteer in the Sunday children's program at church. I am the cat header for the 3rd grade class (also know as guide.. I guide the children around during the church year :)) ).

The workshop leader does the teaching.

Anyway, the workshop... more

Picture Credit: This is a self portrait. I aimed the camera at my face. Then I took pictures until I had one properly framed (AKA my face was in the pictures all the way. It was very entertaining.) :))

I started blogging for adoption.com back in Feb 2006. This is my 275 blog. There isn't anything magical about the number 275, but I thought it was time to introduce myself again.

My name is Angela. I am blogging on ... more

I read a blog earlier today called To Trick or Treat or Not?. And I found myself angry, furious, ready to spit nails, so angry that I wanted to cry. And unfortunately I posted comment.

I try not to post when I am mad. I tend to look like a jerk. Sorry Naomi.

Anyway I posted a comment... more