"Second Best" in the eyes of the beholder?

Here's an encouraging and inspiring account--from author Karen Beattie (http://karenbeattie.net/blog/), of adoption through foster care. It will likely challenge your perspective of adoption through state foster care.

More on IRS targeting of adoption tax credit filers . . .

When you study the data (as attorney and author David French has) there is no justification for the IRS' zealous auditing of American families who have claimed the adoption tax credit . . . (more here).

Failed adoptions stir outrage . . .

This news story about WA adoptee Hana Williams is troubling . . . Failed adoptions stir outrage; reforms are elusive; however, I think it is ignorant or disingenuous to frame a discussion about adoptees who face abuse without the context of the high percentage of parenting "failures" (or abuses) that occur with non-adoptees.

And I must admit I am skeptical of the assertion by seemingly most of these critics that a new Federal program or subsidy is the answer.

This was an interesting statement from a Federal government official: "A lot of people say they have a heart for adoption. But you also have to have a head for it." [the Obama administration's point person on international adoptions] said. "You think love will solve everything. It doesn't." True, feelings of love aren't sufficient for an adoption; however, feelings of love--manifested in commitment and sacrifice and not measurable by dollars and cents, are essential for adoptions to work.

Embryo Frozen for 19 Years Adopted

Embryo Frozen for 19 Years Adopted Interesting to consider obligations and "opportunities" inherent in the process of creating life for IVF.

Wow. The IRS has been targeting Adoptive Families.

From what I see on a daily basis in my law practice--both in regard to the character of adoptive families and the character of many people who are in some way or another abusing tax policies or government assistance programs, this report is frustrating: The IRS Targets Adoptive Families.

Beauty of adoption couldn't lose at Super Bowl...

"[G]reatest blessing" of Kaepernick's life . . .

Great blog post/link at the SixSeeds Faith and Family Channel . . ."Adopted Quarterback Colin Kaepernick Says He Already Won" (click here).

Kaepernick's birth mother comes forward

Adoption in the news:
Interesting report (here) about the birth mother of adoptee Colin Kaepernick, the young sensation slated to start at QB for the San Francisco 49ers.

Though I am dubious about the birth mother's motives for "going public," I believe that Heidi Russo's account of her decision to place Kaepernick for adoption reflects courage and selflessness and maturity. I hope that Kaepernick isn't unduly keeping a distance from her.

Another article (here), in Sporting News, about Kaepernick's biological mother.

Russia's Orphans: Petty Putin's Pawns

More details about Putin's ban on Americans adopting Russian orphans. (Here)