Unlike some adoption agencies that have had their licenses stripped because of corruption, fraud or unethical practices, “Adoption Blessings Worldwide” (ABW) has relinquished their license to facilitate adoptions. Adoptions that are still in process will be handled by another agency that has yet to be identified by the owner of ABW, Tedi Hedstrom.

For months complaints from Florida and Georgia have reached authorities. One couple, the Ernfridssons, have already paid $40,000 to ABW, but have yet to complete an adoption. Their baby room remains empty and they have spent all of their life savings.

Yes, Adoption Blessings Worldwide did facilitate successful adoptions, but this did not necessarily make it a reliable or ethical agency. Even the worst of agencies can pull off adoptions, but ultimately the number of people who have serious problems increases and eventually, although sometimes not quickly enough, the truth is revealed and the agency closed down.

Has the severity of foster child behaviors been increasing over the years? Some people, including teachers, foster parents, and workers believe that it has. There are those who attribute the increased violence to television and video games.

When should you ask your foster care worker to remove a foster child from your home? Most agencies, including mine, require a written two-week notice of intent. Sometimes, the thought of waiting two weeks can be a little scary if the child is acting out severely. Therefore, if you notice behaviors and attitude starting to escalate, it might be a good idea to go ahead and submit your notice. If things calm down, you can always withdraw your request to have the child moved.

I realize that it sounds like I am advocating for having a child moved. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. I do realize that it is rarely

Recently, I was thumbing through the magazines in my doctor’s waiting room when I came across a magazine that touted the lead article being about Mariah Carey’s “secret” wedding. My first thought was that just because a celebrity wants to keep her wedding private does not make that wedding a “secret.” Any bride has the right to decide who will attend her wedding. Just because Mariah Carey is a celebrity does not mean that all paparazzi must be invited.

That got me thinking about how society in general seems to have trouble understanding the distinction between “secret” and “private.” In this day and age where anything can be broadcast worldwide within seconds, we seem to have lost sight of what privacy is. Anything that a person wants to keep private is viewed as being a secret.

I see this a lot in the adoption world.

Danish researchers have reported that nearly 1300 hundred babies born in Denmark from 1995 to 2006, using frozen embryos are healthy. Not only are they healthy, but they report that they weigh more than the 18,000 babies conceived by in-vitro fertilization from the fresh embryos do. Researchers believe that their study provides strong evidence that freezing and thawing embryos does not increase risks for an unhealthy child. This seemed to fit today with Angela’s article about Conceive Unnaturally - Genetic Bewilderment.

There are days that I just want to say, "What the heck? Another new syndrome, issue, label?" Human beings can be waaaaaaaaaaaay too focused on naming something.

This morning I read Study says kids conceived through reproductive technology are functioning well. I discovered a new label... genealogical bewilderment. The phrase was first used in the 1960s and was used for adoptees. Google finds this phrase 266 times, so it isn't that common.

The phrase seems to mean... I don't feel like I fit into this family. I don't see my hair or eyes or style of walking in the Jones family. I am the oddball.

My grand-grandmother must have had genealogical

Who Am I?: Experiences of Donor Conception author: Alexina McWhinnie asin: 0955403103

Have you adopted a child from the foster care system or internationally who was not an infant? Did your child come to you with a trunk full of emotional baggage caused by early trauma? Well, have you fixed the kid yet? No, may I ask why not? Isn’t a year or two enough time to fix a child who has been neglected, physically or sexually abused, starved, and who knows what else? Can’t you make your child behave, parents? When are you going to take credit for your older adopted child’s actions? Everyone knows it is your fault. Didn’t the school, therapists, neighbors, friends, and the police tell you that? Surely, they must know. After all, who knows your child better then they do?

As Julie shared in her post Adoption Website Under Fire, Adoption Media LLC is being sued for not allowing homosexual couples in New York to post a parent profile on their website. This company went through a similar lawsuit in the State of California. Both Lisa and Julie expressed their outrage at Adoption Media's position here and here, calling it discrimination against homosexuals.

One of the hazards of having a law degree is looking at any controversy from all sides. After all, as a lawyer, you have to defend the position of whoever is paying you to do so, right? I do not think this case is as cut and dry as the comments all over the Internet are making it.

What many of the articles on the Internet fail to disclose is the reason why Adoption Media is refusing to allow a homosexual couple to post a parent profile. The owners of the company are Mormons, and the Church of Latter Day Saints believes that homosexuality is a sin. Whether or not you agree with the Church of Latter Day Saints, this position matters in this lawsuit.