Motherhood

7 Best Adoption Book Ideas for Parents

When I first had the inkling to adopt, one of the first things I did was scour the internet for adoption book ideas. I wanted to read alllllllll the adoption stories I could. Reading adoption books confirmed in my head what my heart already knew, we were meant to adopt. I get asked all the

10 Simple Lunar New Year Activities

Adoption· Seasonal Activities· Winter

After adopting our son (born in China), we have been learning more about the Chinese culture and incorporating some of their traditions into our home. One of the biggest holidays in China is the Chinese New Year or its also referred to as the Lunar New Year. Chinese New Year is a two-week

Yearly Adoption Gotcha Day Gift Ideas

Adoption

One year ago, we walked into a stuffy, sterile office building in the bustling city of Hefei, China to meet our son for the first time and welcome him into our family by adoption (you can read more about that day here). While that moment looked different than how most people meet their

The Surprising Visit That Changed Everything

Adoption

We pulled up to the compound gate. Large imposing concrete walls on all sides and a guard waved us through. We drove through the streets of building after building. We had just entered the social welfare institute of Hefei city where they kept the orphans, the disabled, the mentally ill and the

China Adoption Trip | Gotcha Day

Adoption· Family Memories

Our train pulled into Hefei and we were struck with miles after miles of apartment buildings. Not just 5 story buildings, skyscrapers. Miles of them. Quincy's town was larger than we could have imagined and the smog haze prevented us from seeing the sun. It's known as the "smog city" and located

China Adoption Trip | Beijing

Adoption· Family Memories

Many of you followed our adoption trip on Instagram (follow Simple Purposeful Living here) but I thought I would share more of the details of our trip here! So let me begin with our 3-week adoption trip with the first week spent in Beijing, China! If you are just getting caught up on our

International Adoption Process Q & A

Adoption

Lucy, our youngest daughter, was just 5 months old when Scott's sister and brother-in-law brought our nephew home from China. We had walked with them through their international adoption process. Never in a million years at that moment, did I think we would walk through it ourselves. Yet, here we

Overcome Unlikeliness and Live Your Purpose

Adoption

I shared this message at the women's retreat I spoke at as well as another group of women this past week. I hope it encourages you too as you live your life simply on purpose :) Unlikely. That's the word that comes to mind when I think about our adoption. We were done having kids.

Our Adoption Story – International Adoption Process

Adoption

This post is long overdue but the last several months we have been knee-deep in paperwork as we navigate the international adoption process. Many adoptive families say there feel paper pregnant and we have definitely felt that way! If you missed the first three adoptions posts you can read our