A couple of stories out of Iraq today bring into focus what the results may be when there is no option of adoption for children in a county. Of course, war increases the toll on everyone and everything, but where adoption could offer one small ray of hope that light is extinguished.

First, a tragic ... and criminal ... discovery by British troops in Iraq brought to tears by what they'd found; more than 20 orphans tied up and left to starve to death in an... more

Parents with kids from China will be interested to hear about "China Ghosts" a new book written by Jeff Gammage about the adoption of his daughter. It's the story of a girl, a father and a family that Lisa See, author of "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" ... a lovely book of harsh realities ... calls, " ... the most informative and heartfelt book I’ve read about the adoption of girls from China.”

Parents in Pakistan have a strange ... more

For anyone following the saga of the of subterfuge and slime that started when I picked apart a poorly written attempt at inflammatory insults aimed at adoptive parents, I am humorously annoyed to announce that yet another complete web page of more of the same has been posted here on the "Family Preservation" blog. Mirah Riben... more

With Jan Baker taking the time to laud adoptive parents and their contributions toward the betterment of adoption in the world on her recent blog, I'm inspired to expand on the topic a bit today in support of her tribute.

Coming across this story... more

I'm happy to report that even though the movement to put a halt to the option of international adoption continues to tick over in the US, other parts of the world are catching on to how right it is to present the option of families to children in other countries. In Iceland, for instance, the Iceland Adoption Society is investigating adoption by Icelandic families of children from African nations.

“We are... more

Every blog I write is written for you. No one here is more important to me than my readers ... not organizations or other bloggers, not editors, not myself. I write about what I feel you want and need to know ... and occasionally to entertain ... and I write as well and as honestly as I possibly can. I work very hard to do the best job I'm able to do, and I do it seven days a week.

Although I compose blogs for you ... to provide information, to exchange ideas, to give a smile or encourage a ponder ... I am compelled to do this by something deep within me. Blogging is one way I strive... more

When I'm writing from the world instead of from my head ... blogs, magazine articles, non-fiction books and such, rather than fiction ... my heart is still involved in the work, and only what can sit there right gets on the page. Before I make a move I have to understand what I'm writing, and I must have a darned good grasp on the bits I can't or don't have time or need to absorb so those are illustrated correctly for others to interpret. If I don't get something, I never... more

As you may have noticed, there's been some action around me here lately ... an announcement of a new blog I'll be starting soon and a bit of a brouhaha going on on this one.

With all the attention, and since a few of the comments placed as responses to posts I'd written attempt to impugn my integrity and call much in the way of my talent, knowledge and judgment into question, I thought... more

Since we're without a Korean Adoption blogger at the moment, I thought I'd pass on this news about the Smithsonian Museum's launching of its Korea Gallery. Officially open since Friday, the 8th of June, the gallery is in the new Hall of Asian Cultures on the second floor of the museum displaying over 4,000 artifacts representing Korean history and culture.

The idea for this took root in 2003, when Korea's First... more

Starting with an event I would love to attend, and one those interested will have to jump on right away ... NCLO, a great organization that works with children in Cambodia, is to be the beneficiary of a special premiere of "Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix" near Chicago on the 14th of July ... and the Weasley Twins will be there to sign autographs. Is that cool, or what!

Tickets are only $6, but going fast. For information contact awtodd@comcast.net... more