Personal Development

Over the weekend I attended Lisa Nichols' Speak and Write for Millions, Motivating the Masses seminar in beautiful San Diego. I fell in love with Personal Development Seminars when I was 24 years old, by accident really. My boyfriend at the time heard about a seminar called the Landmark Forum that could help with his … Continue reading Personal Development

School

I graduated high school in 3 years. It wasn't because I was extra smart or a good student. But I possessed something even better, determination. I stopped going to school in the 4th grade in Korea. During my year stay at the orphanage, I didn't go to school. When I was adopted and came to … Continue reading School

Volunteer

I volunteered to be PTO President for my children's Elementary and Middle School. If you know me, you know I do not need another project. But my reasons are self-serving. Last year I asked my 13-year-old son what he liked about his new girlfriend. He said, "Mommy you know what I like about Mia? She … Continue reading Volunteer

Burn

It was a typical winter day in South Korea. Cold and snowy. I lived in a shack of a house where we did not have indoor plumbing or running water. My morning ritual consisted of pumping water from a well and then boiling it so I could have hot water to wash my face and … Continue reading Burn

Disruption

This is a dirty word in foster care. And rightfully so. Disruption happens for many reasons. But no matter what the reason is, it sucks. For everyone involved. The child. The family. The workers. Because we know that it adds trauma to a child who is already traumatized. We foster to help, not to cause … Continue reading Disruption

You know you’re a foster parent when…

Your personal stash of childrens clothing rivals that of the local thrift store. You get confused and/or nasty looks from people when they see that you have many children that look like they come from different baby daddies You watch your 2-week placement go from crib to junior high. The speed dial numbers on your … Continue reading You know you’re a foster parent when…

Children’s Heart Gallery

Children's Heart Gallery features children that are available for adoption in Arizona. It is a beautiful site that shows professional pictures of these precious children waiting for their forever families. Recently, I volunteered at a photo shoot. Here are my thoughts afterwards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTI7ROSLwYM

Mother

I reunited with my birth family and met my birth Mother when I was 22 years old. What I remember the most about that meeting was how sad she looked. I tried to convince her that she didn't have to feel sad about me. I was adopted into a good family. I have a good … Continue reading Mother

Life After Reunion

I reunited with my birth mother in 1997 but have not seen her since. This morning my Korean half brother messaged me and told me that she saw the kids' pictures on Facebook. He also told me she had surgery for cancer in May. It's so weird to hear about such a big life event … Continue reading Life After Reunion

Basic Questions to Ask When Looking for a Foster Care Agency

Many years ago when I went to an orientation to become a foster parent, I went to a CPS (now DCS) office and got some information from a nice enough lady. Licensing was done by the state. Today, the process is different. Today, DCS works with 17 different contracted agencies to facilitate the licensure process … Continue reading Basic Questions to Ask When Looking for a Foster Care Agency