History of National Adoption Awareness Month

History Lesson

Sixteen years ago President Clinton proclaimed November as National Adoption Month but its origins go back further than that back thirty five years for that matter. Back to then governor of Massachusetts, Michael Dukakis who announced an Adoption Week for his state. Soon thereafter the event went national with Gerald Ford. 

Adoption advocates realized, however, that more time was needed to raise awareness about the need for adoption and to hold adoption related events. So, in 1995, President Clinton made the event a month long observance.

Last year President Obama started off National Adoption Month with a proclamation: "Giving a child a strong foundation; a home, a family to love, and a safe place to grow is one of life's greatest and most generous gifts. Through adoption, both domestic and international, Americans from across our country have provided secure environments for children who need them, and these families have benefited from the joy an adopted child can bring. Thanks to their nurturing and care, more young people have been able to realize their potential and lead full, happy lives."

That statement about giving young people the ability "to realize their potential and lead full, happy lives" seems especially cogent after the recent death of Apple founder Steve Jobs. Most of the articles I read memorializing this man who changed the way the world experienced computers, listened to music, made and enjoyed movies, and realized the purpose of their phones, mention adoption only in passing. As an adoptive mother, I have asked myself whether Jobs would have achieved what he did, had the vision, confidence, and work ethic without the environment his adoptive parents provided during his formative years. 

The iconic image of a apple with the bite out of it is such an apt metaphor for how Steve Jobs approached his life. I believe what the pundits have said about Jobs being remembered alongside the likes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. 

The theme for National Adoption Month for 2011 is "Build Capacity to Make Lasting Change". No doubt that adoption made a lasting change on Steve Jobs life, as well as the rest of the world. And so, we should all ask ourselves how we can facilitate adoption so all kids can realize their potential.

article from Margie at adoption.com 

November is National Adoption Awareness Month

"Build Capacity to Make Lasting Change"

This is the theme for National Adoption Month 2011.  Each year, November is recognized as National Adoption Awareness Month. While all adoption-related issues are important, the particular focus of this month is the adoption of children currently in foster care.  I think this month is very important to look at how we can all help make a difference in our world by giving ALL children a chance to thrive.  Now it is not saying we should all run out and adopt, but raising awareness can bring to light that we can all make an effort to understand adoption facts from myths, learn positive adoption language, know the great need for placement in our country and internationally, and support adoption foundations.   

I will be posting more information and things you can do throughout the month so stay tuned!

Happy Halloween!

Hope everyone has a safe Halloween.  I am working this evening so Bill is in charge of passing out the candy and keeping the dogs from barking everyone's ears off.  Since I won't be there I know Bill is not going to put costumes on the boys but I will share with you the picture we have from a couple years ago.

Happy Halloween!

We didn't do it

My dogs overall are very good dogs but as we all can be a little rambunctious at times these two are no exceptions.  So I wanted to share something with you that made me laugh.  Bill was gone and I was working downstairs in the basement and I thought it seemed way too quiet.  As I looked around the room and realized neither dog was sleeping anywhere near I had a suspicious feeling that they were up to no good. As I approached the top of the stairs and hallway this is what I found.

They look sweet and innocent don't they?  What made me laugh was how they just sat there too like "what toilet paper mom?"  As mischievous as these guys can be (especially when you leave the bathroom door open which is not usually allowed in our house to avoid such occassions) I love them to pieces! Even when they get into trouble.

Fall Fun

We have really been enjoying this wonderful October.  The leaves have been changing but the weather has still been warm and sunny here with a cool breeze.  To me that is the perfect fall weather.  I would rather have that than the gloomy rainy days.

So besides the great weekend we just had with our visitors, this October has also been filled with lots more fun.  We enjoyed a day at the wineries and dinner with our friends Cayte and Matt and Jen and Frank.

Here are the girls:

And here are the guys:

This was our scenery for the day.  So beautiful to watch the sunset.

Cayte and Matt, Bill and I

We also spent a day at Eckert's Farm with Bill's mom.  We had a great dinner there and picked up some yummy fall food, pumpkins and mums.

And to end here is what I did with the decorations we picked up:

What a great fall!

Mystery Solved

In my last post I was awaiting the arrival of my cousins Kristen and Kim.  They also told me a surprise guest would be with them.  Sooo the mystery guest was....my friend Wendy!  I have not seen Wendy since Christmas time last year so it was a very fun surprise to see her on my doorstep.  She went to high school with me and Kristen and they ran into each other about a month ago and started planning the whole thing.  They arrived around 11:30pm so I gave Wendy a tour of our house since this was her first time here and then we headed to bed.

It was such a beautiful fall day that we decided to spend the afternoon at my favorite winery, Montelle.  It has such a gorgeous view and is always fun with the live music and people just out having fun.  

Then at midnight we went to historical downtown St. Charles for a ghost tour.  It was really interesting.  The tour guide knew a lot about the history of St. Charles and shared with us many stories of its past.  We did not encounter any sightings but there was some "paranormal energy" in the area as the EMF's he had indicated and we watched a key turn in his hand without any prompt from him.  Here is our scary ghost tour photo:

And here is one with our Pumpkin Spice Lattes:

Before they headed out we had lunch on the patio.  It was 83 degrees today.  I know a cold front is coming so it was so nice to soak up this wonderful fall weekend with warm weather, great friends and family, and lots of fun!

Mystery Guest

Sorry blogging friends.  I can't believe my last post was that long ago.  Where does the time go?  It has just been busy here with work, Bill's dad visiting, home projects, recovering from having my wisdom teeth removed etc.  I have all these ideas for posts and just haven't had a chance to write.  So I promise not to leave you hanging for so long next time.

I am currently getting my house ready for my cousins Kristen and Kim who are visiting this weekend. I am sooo excited.  They are arriving tomorrow evening.  We don't have anything planned for during the day on Sat yet but it is supposed to be a beautiful 70 degree sunny fall day so anything can happen.  Then at midnight we are going to a ghost tour in an old town near here.  What is really fun too is that they told me last weekend that there is also another person coming....a mystery guest!  Now I know it will be a fun surprise but it has been killing me all week.  I can't wait to see who it is! and then share with all of you:)