The tell-a-friend program is easy: just copy and share your Ebates link. Include your friend’s name and email. You can share it on Facebook or Twitter. For every friend that signs up under your name, you get five dollars.  After five friends, you get a fifty dollar bonus. Some people have raised thousands of dollars this way, and you can too!

Your friends and family benefit by accessing special coupons and bonuses to all their favorite stores: Macy’s, Nordstrom, J Crew, Amazon, Carters, Toys-R-Us, Target, OfficeMax and much, much more. There is no fee to join; simply complete the three easy steps, then save while you shop!  It pays to shop online and avoid those crazy shopping trips to the mall.

Infant Adoption Guide, a website that provides resources, information, and help for those beginning their domestic adoption journey, recently held a podcast with Lifetime Adoption’s Founder Mardie Caldwell. The podcast was hosted by Tim, an adoptive father who has adopted through Lifetime Adoption twice with his wife Tisha.

In this adoption podcast, Mardie shares her domestic adoption story about how she became an adoptive mother, and why she founded Lifetime Adoption Center. Tune in to receive guidance from Mardie as you begin to explore open adoption.

To hear this adoption podcast, please visit InfantAdoptionGuide.com.

Depending on the kind of dog or cat you have, there might be safety concerns. What is a new parent to do? How can you help your pet not only adjust to the new family member, but thrive and bond with the new baby?

There are steps you can take to ease your pet’s anxiety and assure your baby’s safety! Home should be a place of harmony. You don’t want anything to detract from the celebration of your infant’s homecoming! Here are some steps you can take to make pets and children live together in peace and safety:

• Put your dog in obedience school before your baby arrives and be consistent in reinforcing his training.
• Familiarize your dog with the baby equipment. Turn on the swing and teach him not to react to the movement.
• Never leave baby alone with your pet, even for a minute! Pets can be unpredictable. Even small dogs can inflict severe injury to infants!
• Never leave diapers on the counter or in reach of a doggy’s mouth. You will regret it!
• Bring home a blanket with baby’s scent. Let your pet smell, snuggle and familiarize himself with your baby’s smell.
• Even when you are there, keep your infant at a safe distance from your pet. An errant tug, grab or squeal can trigger aggression in even the most peaceful of dogs.
• Prepare a space that is comfortable and special just for your pet. It can be a large crate or enclosed play space with special treats, toys and doggie chews. It should be close to or in the house. When you need to leave the room, your dog has a cozy place to go.
• Do not rush to declaw your cat. This process will leave her traumatized and feeling vulnerable. She will likely react to any threats by biting.
• Keep your dog’s nails trimmed short.
• Do not try to parent a puppy/kitty and baby at the same time! If you can, raise your pets to maturity, before introducing another family member. It is good to have them spayed or neutered and house trained. They will be less aggressive and more receptive to change.

Today’s adoption scripture comes from Ephesians 6: 10-18: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God…”

Many people who choose adoption may face doubt or worry through their decision. Sometimes this can be a spiritual attack; when we’re on a path of which God is leading, attempts will be made to get us off course. Strengthen yourself through your faith, get the answers you need, and focus on the reasons you’re choosing adoption. We pray that your adoption decision will be supported through truth, education, reflection, and prayer…and not become rooted with fear.

We have so many hopes and dreams for our children. How do we know what is best for them?  There is an old song that says, “Love is like a magic penny. Hold on tight and you won’t have any. Let it spend and you’ll have so many… it  will roll all over the floor.” The child you adopt and raise will be forever blessed by loving every part of themselves (that includes who they come from). Let them learn about their heritage. Embrace your Birth Moms, because this only adds joy and peace to your children and to yourself…

We would like to share this bit of wisdom from Mardie’s book, Called To Adoption:

• Be patient (your child is worth waiting for).
• Network with other adoptive families . Their support is so important!
• Believe that God has a child for you! Visualize that child in your arms and believe it will happen.
• Pray with your family. God wants to fulfill the desires of your heart.

Our hearts go out to all you women. From Lifetime’s incredible team of professionals, we wish you a “Very Happy Mother’s Day”!

You’ve been there… That moment in church on Mother’s day when the Pastor asks all the mothers to stand. Maybe they include grandmothers and pregnant mothers. And you stay seated, knowing that that isn’t yet your title.

Perhaps you’ve had to decline a special gesture designed just for Mother’s Day, like a rose or corsage, because you aren’t yet a mother.

And with Mother’s Day approaching, you may even be wondering if the spiritual blessing of church is worth it when you have to again publically make it known that you, despite all efforts and desires to the contrary, are not yet a mother and cannot celebrate with other mothers.

You are not alone.

A few years ago, I was in a church service where the pastor lovingly (and tearfully!) paid tribute to his own mother who had recently passed. He spoke of mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers who have given so much to families and children. He spoke to those of us who may have had abusive or absent mothers and perhaps were feeling less like honoring mother on that day. He spoke of mothers who have lost children and children who have lost mothers at a young age. It was a glowing tribute to all mothers.

In his artful attempt to cover everyone, he unfortunately overlooked the women who perhaps hurt the most during the service…

The women who can’t conceive, are enduring fertility treatments, or are waiting to adopt. All these women long for the opportunity to be called ‘Mommy’. They are doing everything in their power to reach this and Mother’s Day can be another reminder of failure.

Women who have placed a child for adoption or lost their children to foster care are indeed mothers, but without their children surrounding them, giving them cards and flowers to celebrate the special relationship.

Women who have lost babies, to miscarriage or stillbirth, and have yet to conceive again. They are truly mothers, but may hesitate to claim a corsage for fear of someone pointing out that they haven’t yet successfully been pregnant.

Women who have chosen abortion and live with the regret. This choice, once made, cannot ever be undone. And thousands of women live and suffer with the results of this. They too are in church, being reminded of the choice they made not to be a mother.

Women who are single, never having found a partner to share their lives with and start a family, are reminded again of unfilled dreams.

Right or wrong, at that moment it doesn’t matter, it just hurts.

So therein lies the question: “Do I go to church on Mother’s Day, knowing this likely will happen?”

My answer is simply do what feels best for you.

If you go, prepare for these moments by doing something for someone else – offer to help pass out the flowers, ask for prayer for women who may be hurting today, sit with an elderly woman who may not have family there, or host a special prayer time for not-yet-moms on that day.

If you don’t go, do something special for yourself. This isn’t a day to hide, but rather a day to celebrate the promise of motherhood. Take a hike, work on a hobby, celebrate the mothers in your life who may be friends or family members. Take heart in knowing, believe it or not, Mother’s Day can be a bittersweet day for women who are mothers too. And remember, your path to motherhood can change in an instant and every day you spend doing what you can toward the child you long to parent is a day you’re that much closer to becoming a mom.

There is no need to go on a drastic celery diet! It is more important that you focus on overall health and wellness. Being active and exercising regularly can increase your stamina for caring for baby, when he comes home. Eating healthy and seeing a doctor regularly is a good idea for any parent. Babies and toddlers require you to keep up with them every step of the way!

Birth moms will often look for families that look similar to them and/or share common characteristics. There are many birth moms out there that are similar to you and can “visualize” their baby in your family. After all, the baby will look similar to her birth parents. Her birth mother will often want her baby to blend well in her adoptive home.

Be excited about this process! We believe that you are going to be wonderful, Godly parents . There is a birth mom that is a perfect match for you. When the call comes, it will be because you are not like everyone else. You have unique qualities that will stand out in her mind and heart. 

A: Dear Patricia,
There are some opportunities to apply for grants through the Lifetime Adoption Foundation. We believe that if it is on your heart to adopt, God will make a way. However, many families apply for just a small number of grants. Families that have applied and been pre-approved to adopt through Lifetime will be considered for the program. You can request more info at LifetimeAdoptionFoundation.org.

In addition to applying for the grant, you may want to look into supplemental sources of revenue. Family and friends can sponsor your adoption with our donation program through PayPal. You can find financing and fundraising info at www.AdoptionFinancingInformation.com. Additionally, you may visit this page on our website: Financing Your Adoption.

Mardie will appear on the “Marie” show on Hallmark Channel at Noon Eastern time/11am Central on Thursday, May 9th. Mark your calendar to see expert Mardie Caldwell share adoption alongside an adoptive mom and birth mother, AND new adoptive mom, author, and actress Nia Vardalos.

Mardie with Marie Osmond after her appearance on the “Marie” show

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