George W Bush announced on Wednesday that he would be seeking $30 billion dollars to fight HIV/AIDS around the world. This is double the current amount. In fact, in his address from the Rose Garden, he called the $15 billion they are spending an “emergency fund”. Contributing to the fight against HIV/AIDS has been a “big deal” for his administration and has made a difference in the lives of many in Africa.

With the proposed increase in spending, they hope to provide treatment... more

Tana just posted on the value of mentoring – and I totally agree. One of the items on my list of things to do while waiting (that I have been covering one or two at a time!) is to “Find an adoption "mentor" who's "been there, done that" and learn from them”. In birth language, I would tell you to find a doula or a midwife.... more

This is a picture of two of my daughters, Marie and Esther. I've posted it before on the( "How to Tie A Baby Wrap" blog), but I love it. It shows me how much Marie loves being a big sister.

She's 17 now and "cool". She spends time in lots of normal teenage pursuits - a job at a pizza place, sleeping in, putting together cute (and modest!) outfits - even having a boyfriend (currently in Africa, but will be here in a month.)

She tries to convince me that she's... more

While you're waiting for your new child to come home, there are times when your mind just can't shut down – at least mine doesn't. I check email 50 times a day to see if anyone is sending me new information and just generally drive myself crazy. I spend time mulling over things I can't change (like getting a government to hurry up for ME!) and since I can't change them, it becomes time to change my “stinking thinking”.

Maybe you all are familiar with ... more

As a book-lover, I have thousands (literally) of children's books. In that assortment, I have a number of adoption-related and/or culturally appropriate books for my children adopted from all over the world. I promise not to bore you with reviewing ALL of our books, but I will be working on reviewing ones that relate to either adoption, Africa, or both.

"Fire on the Mountain" is a children's... more

I just came across a great booklet published by Plan UK, one of the largest child-centered community development organizations in the world. They have just published a 98-page report entitled Because I Am a Girl.

They address the gender inequality that exists around the world, but is stark and dramatic in many areas of the world, including Africa. It's fascinating, really, but sadly, not too surprising. Girls are getting a raw deal. Despite having the same rights as their brothers, they face discrimination even before they are born. There are an estimated 100 million missing women... more

The US State Department recently issued a report on the Lubuto libraries in Lusaka, Zambia.

The Lubuto Library Project was started by an American woman - Jane Kinney Meyers - who believes that, in addition to food and shelter, every child deserves a chance to learn and to hope for a better future. Lubuto is a word in the Bemba language of Central Africa that means "enlightenment, knowledge and light.

The project has taken shape as a Washington nonprofit organization that is... more

While you are waiting to travel to Africa to complete your adoption, you've decided you want to have a "kit" party - birthing kit, hygeine kit or school kit. Great! You send out invitations inviting all your friends and family to get involved, but you're not quite sure what is needed in the kits. Worry no more - here's a suggested list for all three kits:

Birthing kit * shower curtain from the Dollar Store - goes under birthing mother; shower curtains are not as slippery as "regular" plastic * 6 medium gloves... more

Continuing our discussion on collecting donations while you wait, from here, there are many, many ways to help with in-kind donations.

In addition to, or instead of gathering donations for orphanages (your child's or others), you may end up choosing one (or more) NGO's (Non Governmental Organizations) to work with. Mary, on the Ethiopia Adopt blog, has some good... more

Continuing on in my series of posts on different things you can do while waiting, I'd like to talk about collecting donations. The previous posts have covered such things as how to choose health care providers for your new child, planning spiritual ceremonies after they arrive home, thinking... more