Today is World AIDS Awareness Day, it is important “everyday” that “everyone” knows “everything” they need to not become a victim of AIDS/HIV. Know your status! The impact of this epidemic has devastated communities worldwide and promoting awareness is the number one issue.

It seems that no matter how much is said about AIDS/HIV it continues to claim lives. Ignorance is perpetuated by discrimination and shame.

Don’t be fooled that you are exempt because you are careful all the time and you are not one of “those” people who practice risky behavior. All it takes is one incident of unprotected sex or a blood transfusion that is tainted and you will become one of the many.

Ask yourself, “What do you really know about the people you are intimate with?” As women we make assumptions that all is well when we get involved with someone. Do you ask the question “what is your status?” If you take their word for it without proof or get tested together –“you are risking your very life”.

Even if someone shows you the results of a test that has been recently taken, you must still protect yourself. People in general are too quick to get involved intimately without making sure they are not going to become a victim of an STD. They take it too lightly that it could never happen to them.

While there are women and children dying all over the world from being raped and infected with the AIDS virus with no hope of receiving treatment, here in the US, we have prevention and treatment available to us – but we don’t take it seriously. Some children become orphans when their mothers go untreated and die because they have no means of fighting back.

Please teach each other and the children in your families about the enormous impact of this epidemic. In other countries young women are raped because the men believe that having sex with a virgin will cure them of AIDS. Babies are being raped and infected and in most cases killed.

In the book “Half the Sky” – stories are told of more that the total number of the 80 million killed in the “slave trade” being victimized, infected, killed or left for dead in the “sex trafficking” tragedy.  Don’t think that because these people are a half a world away that it does not affect you. It does! What happens to women and children in the world community also affects us.

As a citizens of the world, it our collective responsibility to do whatever we can to fight the epidemic of AIDS/HIV in the world.

by Featured Author Karmen A Booker

God’s desire is for us to grow.  This is clearly indicated through the Bible.  Some scriptures that reflect this are:

(II  Peter 3:18) But grow in grace and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah).  To him be all glory (honor, majesty and splendor) both now to the day of eternity.

(Ephesians 1:17) . . . the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

Hebrews 5:13-14 says:

Strong meat are principles that are beyond the foundational principles of the doctrine of Christ.

Hebrews 6:1-2 outlines these principles.  It reads:

Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of Eternal judgment.

The Greek word for “perfection” is telesphoreo, which means to be a hearer to completion; maturity.

God wants us to strive for maturity in the knowledge of Him.

How Do We Strive for Maturity?

By reading, studying, and meditating on the Word of God.  II Timothy 2:15 admonishes us to study.  It says:  Work hard so God can say to you, “Well done.”  Be a good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed when God examines your work.  Know what his Word says and means.

The Greek word for “spoudazo” means to make effort, be earnest, be diligent, labour.  So we must seek to make time to read the word with understanding, on a consistent basis.  We must be consistently consistent, not consistently inconsistsent.  It is not only important to read and study the Word of God, but to meditate on the Word of God.

Joshua 1:8 reads:  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shall meditate on it day and night, then thou shall have good success, and thou shalt make thy way prosperous.

The Hebrew word for meditate is “haw-gaq” which means to ponder; to think about carefully; deliberate.

After using the R=reading, S=studying, M=meditating method, we must obey the Word of God.  This requires:

A. Walking by Faith – Habbakuk 2:4; Hebrews 11:6

B.  Fulfilling our God-given obligation  Ecclesiastes 12:13; I Samuel 15:22

C. Walking in God’s footsteps – Jeremiah 7:23-24 and

II Thessalonians 2:15

When you attach yourself to God, you follow (obey) where he leads.   God becomes the leader, instead of you.  However, you can detach yourself from God by disobeying his Word.  Disobedience causes one to digress (go backward).  As long as you are going backward, you cannot walk forward.  The two directions are diametrically opposed.

Once you start going backwards, you open the door for Satan to wreak havoc in your life through deception and confusion. James 3:16 says:  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.  However, there is a way to turn and go forward and get back on the straight and narrow path that leads to life – eternal life.  That way is REPENTANCE.

Benefits of Maturing in Christ Are

1.    Discernment between things of God and the things of the Devil.  I once heard a pastor say this on the radio, “Once you know the truth, you can recognize a lie.”

2.    Greater Revelation

3.     Wisdom

Definition of Wisdom

Wisdom is knowledge and understanding.  (Proverbs 2:6 and Proverbs 1:5 and 7)

Purpose of Wisdom

• To be able to walk uprightly in honor to God.  God is pleased and greatful when you follow His commandments (Proverbs 4:5-6 an Benefits of Wisdom are

• Avoid a lot of problems and negativity in your life by making right choices

• Bless other people through the wisdom you have gained through counseling and praying with others.

• Help others to change their lives.

Continue to Seek Wisdom

A.   Stay on the straight and narrow path that leads to righteousness and peace.  If you don’t you’ll veer off the path, and on to the path of darkness, that leads to much trouble and total destruction.  (Matthew 7:13-14)

B.    Seek wisdom like you would a hidden treasure.  Keep searching until you find it, and once you do, apply it in your life daily.  (Proverbs 8:10-11 and Proverbs 4:7)

NOTE:  All scriptures are taken from the Amplified Version of the Bible.

Karmen A. Booker has been called by God to exhort and teach others the Word of God.  She is the founder of Wings of Love Ministries (WOLM), which is a teaching and evangelist ministry whose vision is to encourage and inspire people to accept and commit their lives to Jesus Christ so their lives will be transformed into righteousness, and they will experience unceasing love, joy, and peace.  WOLM offers resource products that are designed to encourage you to grow in your personal relationship with Jesus Christ and take you to higher spiritual heights of knowledge and understanding of the Word of God!!!

Please Request Your Catalog by contacting us at: Wingsoflove8@yahoo.com www.empowerment-thru-entrepreneurship.net

by Featured Author Karmen A Booker

The (Greek) word for sin is “harmartano”, which means to miss the mark not share in the prize); to err due to faults; offend; trespass.

The (Hebrew) word for sin is “chata”, which means to miss; forfeit; lack; to cause to lead astray.

When a person sins, they miss the mark.  That is, they miss the blessings of love, joy, peace, and fulfillment that come with obeying God’s Word.

In I Timothy 3:16, it says that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Therefore, the Word of God is your Instruction Book for Life.  It leads and guides you along life’s journey.  “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path.”

(Psalm 119:105)

The key to this powerful Instruction Book for Life is that you must have faith in it.  Faith means more than just believing. It means totally trusting, depending upon and being confident (assured) of the Word of God.

(In John 1:1), it says that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God, and the Word was with God Himself.” He was present originally with God.  All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.  In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men.

God admonishes us to love the Lord (Word) with all your heart, mind, and soul.  We show that we love the Lord (Word) by obeying it.  “. . . obey His voice according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your mind and heart and with all your being.” (Deuteronomy 30:2) We should not just be hearers of the Word, but doers also. (James 1:22)

When you obey the Word of God, you live a life of prosperity, good success, and wisdom.

“This book of the law shall not depart out of my mouth, but I shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it.  For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.”

(Joshua 1:8)

“So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them (obeying them) will be like a sensible man who builds his house upon the rock.” (Matthew 7:24)

Another key to the Instruction Book of Life having operation in your life and yielding results is to deny your will and emotions.  You must deny your desires (to sleep in rather than go to church), emotions

(to maintain anger rather than forgive), and will (work a job, rather than start the business God wants you to start), and Make a Decision to Follow God’s Will.

You must deny the self life – self seeking; self pleasing, self confidence, and self satisfaction.   You must be liberated from the self life.  Only then, will you be able to experience the fullness of God – the abundant life that comes from reading, studying, and meditating and applying the Word of God in your life.  Thereby, pleasing and glorifying God.

The denial of self is a daily process that requires a daily decision of denying self and accepting God’s will for your life.  Your life will be constantly renewed (changed) to conform to God’s way (attitude, emotions, and actions) of living.  As your mind is renewed and your actions conform to the Word of God, then you will experience love, joy and peace and good success.

God desires for his children to enjoy life on an ongoing basis.  Not just 3 years, 5 years, or 10 years, but throughout their life.

“I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance to the full, till it overflows.” (John 10:10)

“The Lord is my strength and my impenetrable Shield:  my heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him. The Lord is their (unyielding) Strength, and He is the Stronghold of salvation to His anointed.” (Psalm 28:7-8)

Karmen A. Booker has been called by God to exhort and teach others the Word of God.  She is the founder of Wings of Love Ministries (WOLM), which is a teaching and evangelist ministry whose vision is to encourage and inspire people to accept and commit their lives to Jesus Christ so their lives will be transformed into righteousness, and they will experience unceasing love, joy, and peace.  WOLM offers resource products that are designed to encourage you to grow in your personal relationship with Jesus Christ and take you to higher spiritual heights of knowledge and understanding of the Word of God!!!

Please Request Your Catalog by contacting us at: Wingsoflove8@yahoo.com www.compuperfect.net

Many cultures practice some observance of Easter and have their own symbols and traditions of the season. During this time of year we celebrate the prosperity of the season all over the world to honor the return of the light. The days are longer and the sun is warmer. The trees start to blossom and new life is all around us.

Let every act, every thought be sacred this season, we are in a new paradigm and it is constantly shifting. Be open to what the world is doing, let be reflected in what you do with your loved ones and every person you encounter.

Focus on how to be more prosperous in your life in light of a global recession we can learn to have gratitude for the blessings of Peace and the efforts of our President to advocate hope for the world.

Take a moment and consider how other families are surviving on very little and celebrate the prosperity of the season with family and their community to Give Thanks for the life they live.  In American we take a lot for granted because we have many conveniences. Without the conveniences we could choose to be happy and compassionate for what is going on in homes all over the world.

Brazil

One of the biggest carnivals in the world happens in Rio de Janeiro at the Mardi Gras or Shove Tuesday celebrations to start Lent. The streets are filled, over several days leading up to Shrove Tuesday, with large processions of people marching, singing and dancing.

Ethiopia

During Lent in Ethiopia, Christians don’t eat or buy any animal products like meat, eggs, butter, milk, yogurt, cream and cheese. On Palm Sunday, people wear head bands and rings made of palm leaves with crosses marked on them. The first Easter Day service actually starts at 8.00pm on Easter Saturday night and lasts until 3.00 am on Easter Sunday morning!

France

In France, Church Bells do not ring on Good Friday or Easter Saturday. Sometimes children are told that the bells have gone off to see the Pope! Boxwood branches are sometimes used instead of palm leaves. They are put over doors in houses to bring good luck to the people in the house.

Japan

Higan, or Higan-e, is a week of Buddhist services observed in Japan during both the spring and autumn equinoxes when day and night are equal at length. Both equinoxes have been national holidays since the Meiji period (1868-1912). Before World War II, they were known as koreisai, or festivals of the Imperial ancestors. After the war, when the national holidays were renamed, they became simply spring and autumn equinoxes. Higan is a one-week period surrounding the spring and autumn equinoxes. It means the “other shore” and refers to the spirits of the dead reaching Nirvana after crossing the river of existence. It celebrates the spiritual move from the world of suffering to the world of enlightenment and is a time to remember the dead by visiting, cleaning and decorating their graves and reciting sutras. Buddhist prayers, rice balls and sushi are offered. This is a time for the Japanese to worship their imperial ancestors and to welcome spring.

Irish

Holy Saturday would be a day that Irish people take a vow of silence but also attend a special ceremony to have their Holy water blessed but would also attend the Easter Vigil which usually starts at 10pm with the Church decorated in purple colored banners to celebrate the arrival of the King. All lights in the Church are extinguished at 11pm with a new flame being presented to the altar of the church which is a Paschal candle, a symbol of the Risen Christ and the celebrations of the Holy Flame.

Canada

People celebrate Easter for 40 days, going from March to April every year. Easter is a “movable feast” – this means it’s not fixed on the calendar.

Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, a popular Easter tradition involves males symbolically whipping females on Easter Monday. The men spank women using a handmade whip called a pomlázka, made of woven willow twigs. The practice is based on legend – whipping a woman ensures she’ll remain healthy and beautiful throughout the year.  It’s also a way for men to let women know they find them attractive.

Caribbean
Across the Caribbean, almost all cultures hold carnival – a parade and public celebration that includes floats, colorful costumes, music and dance. Carnival usually takes place right at the start of Lent and is a jubilant celebration that is now secular in nature. Throughout the Caribbean, kite-flying events are also a popular Easter pastime. Traditionally, Christian missionaries brought back the kite-making tradition, encouraging the creation of colorful kites.

New Zealand and Australia
Like Canadians, New Zealanders and Australians also enjoy decorating eggs, eating chocolate bunnies and taking part in Easter egg hunts. Children are told that the Easter bunny – a popular symbol of the season – visits the night before Easter Sunday to hide eggs, which children hunt for in the morning

Finland and Sweden
Along with egg painting, children get to dress up as witches and go about collecting candy from neighboring houses, much like Halloween. Neighbors give children decorated pussy willows as a blessing. People also decorate their homes with vases full of twigs decorated with feathers and enjoy a Holy Saturday dinner that consists of herring, eggs, potatoes and salmon.

Africa
For Christians, Easter Vigil involves assembling at churches, which are decorated by vitenge and kanga (cloth made to look like flowers, trees and butterflies). People sing hymns, beat drums and dance outside the church after mass, then carry the celebration to their homes, where they enjoy food and drink. In Africa, Easter is a reason to bring family and friends together, where Christian and non-Christian people celebrate their bonds.

China

Different culture celebrates the arrival of a new baby in different ways. For the Chinese, having red eggs is mandatory. The eggs were distributed when the baby is a month’s old. Coloring eggs is also part of the Easter celebration. Easter 2008 is celebrated this coming Sunday. There are also colored eggs for Easter. Eggs signifies a new birth for Easter. Meanwhile, the red colored eggs for the full-moon (or a full month) party of a new born baby signifies good fortune and life.

Music and Food

One of the best aspects of Easter is the music and the food. The churches rock with the gospel making a joyful noise to sing the praises of God and the blessings that are to be delivered through the return of Spring and the Resurrection of Christ.  The Food is a traditional selection of the items that represent abundance and prosperity. The tradition of family and friends gathering after church to eat and drink and be together.

Celebrate the season and sing of the blessings to come. May your Easter Spring celebration be the prosperity of your lifetime.

2,200 children are reported missing each day of the year according to – (NCMEC)

If we can improve the knowledge, self-confidence, and assertiveness skills of children, then they will be safer because they will be better able to recognize danger and resist potential offenders.

Awareness of the collective society, communities and children will continue to make a difference.
1.Observe behavioral changes in children
2.Teach children skills to better protect themselves and avoid dangerous situations
3.Teach children to distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate touch
4.Encourage children to always tell an adult about inappropriate or unwanted behaviors
5.Teach children that offenders can be children or adults of any age, size, color, sex, and either “strangers” or people they know.

The Adam Walsh case hurts to the core and I can sympathize with the Walsh family for the pain and anguish they have lived with for so many years. So many children are still missing and the parents have no answers. How do you go on and live a normal life when your child is missing.

What if it was your child or someone you knew that was missing and then one day just when it has become somewhat bearable to live with the answer is revealed that you will never see this child again. The answer that we all feared was true but still held on the the hope that it would turn out differently.  I know I wanted Adam to come back. With much respect to the Walsh family, I really hoped he would come back home as a grown man.

John Walsh and his wife Reva worked so hard to make this case significant to every missing person. I respect them so much for never giving up and influencing so many changes in the way missing and exploited children are treated. It has become a national priority.

In 1981, my five year old son was just completing his first year of school and his sister had just turned one, when Adam disappeared. I felt that he would be found and returned to his parents at first then we kept hearing and seeing the face of John Walsh everyday. He was relentless. His face became so familiar to me and the picture of Adam became embedded in my memory as if I knew him personally. Adam meant something to me as I became more aware of keeping my children safe.  Thank you John and Reva Walsh for raising my awareness and strengthening my family values about my children.

The nation cried with the Walsh family as they addressed the media with the latest discovery which finally closed the case for the police investigation. The family will never have real closure no matter what evidence is revealed. John Walsh has kept us informed of dangerous people on the run and living among us for the past 27 years. He has become a fixture in our lives, someone we have come to trust to make something happen to keep our neighborhoods safe. There has been justice and criminals put away, sexual predators caught and convicted due to the efforts of  the America’s Most Wanted and the NCMEC.

Twenty-seven years ago, you could not enter missing child information into the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC). Thanks to the efforts of John Walsh and others, today, you can. The Missing Children’s Act of 1982 became law as a result of the tenacity of John and Reve Walsh.

During the time when John Walsh’s son was abducted, there was a mandatory waiting period before a report of a missing child could be officially filed.  Today, waiting periods are are no longer mandatory so that the response time is immediate when it comes to missing children. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children did not exist 27 years ago and  a coordinated effort was almost impossible through national, state and local authorities.

Children become victims everyday at the hands of their own parents or family member, online sexual exploitation, a babysitter, at church, a neighbor, a teacher and their peers. Everyone has to be involved in keeping children safe.

Promote child safety in your community and get everyone involved. Download this PDF document: Guidelines for Programs To Reduce Child Victimization: A Resource for Communities When Choosing A Program To Teach Personal Safety to Children

The most successful programs involve individuals and groups that will be involved with the various aspects and phases of the program. Prior to selecting or offering a program to promote child safety in your community download the free PDF document or go to this website; http://tinyurl.com/ossf7 for more information.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) has been created to  find missing children and prevent the victimization of children.

Every child should receive instructions on personal safety and the NCMEC  has developed guidelines for educational programs so that schools and parents will use these criteria to create an awareness.

Some Statistics from the NCMEC web site:

Child Sexual Abuse and Assault
• 84,320 confirmed cases of sexual abuse were reported in the United States in 19971
• Teenage girls are among the most frequent victims of sexual assault2
• 61 percent of all rape victims are younger than 183
• 90 percent of rape victims younger than 12 knew their offender

Missing Children

• 932,190 persons (adults and juveniles) were reported to police as missing in 1998 and were entered into the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National  Crime Information Center (NCIC) computer

• 85 to 90 percent of missing persons are juveniles; therefore, on average, 2,200 children are reported missing each day of the year Child Abductions

• In a one-year period, there were approximately • 114,000 attempted nonfamily abductions

Note: The average victim of abduction and murder is an approximately 11-year-old girl who is described as a “lowrisk,” “average” child with a stable family relationship and has initial contact with the abductor within a quarter mile of her home.

Bullies

• A survey of a group of eighth-graders and another group of counselors, teachers, and administrators in the same schools in New York found that 58.8 percent of the students said that they had been “bothered by a bully” while in middle school.

• Between 5 and 15 percent of children are suffering harsh and repeated abuse at school.

• Research shows that victims who are exposed to bullies over a long period eventually become either withdrawn or aggressive. In extreme cases, they can become suicidal or take violent revenge on others.

School Violence
School violence between youths is frequently lethal. Research reveals that children who witness violence in the home are more likely to become predators or victims of violence later on. But, reacting violently to adverse circumstances is a learned behavior that can be “unlearned.”

In October 2006, Congress and President George W. Bush created the National Emergency Child Locator Center (NECLC). NECLC will be operated by NCMEC when a national disaster is declared by the President, to assist in the location of children and the reunification of families resulting from the disaster or subsequent evacuations.

The Congressionally mandated CyberTipline is a reporting mechanism for cases of child sexual exploitation including child pornography, online enticement of children for sex acts, molestation of children outside the family, sex tourism of children, child victims of prostitution, and unsolicited obscene material sent to a child. Reports may be made 24-hours per day, 7 days per week online at www.cybertipline.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678

Awareness is more than just telling your children “Don’t talk to strangers” everyone needs to become more aware of child victimization. What if it was your child?

How do I find the time to do it?

Do you feel that organizing your home is a mission impossible? Many moms are challenged by keeping things in order for yourself and for your family. We try to lead by example, sometimes it feels like our family is just not listening.

I know that every day I find my self “clearing clutter” and struggling with keeping things in a place where it can be easily retrievable by myself and my family. There is nothing more frustrating to be in a hurry and not be able to find something important. In every room there seems to be stuff every where and it keeps showing up every day. How do I free up the time to get organized when I am too busy to get anything done?  I know the being organized will save me some time and frustration, I just don’t know where to start.

Well, if you are anything like me, you don’t mind admitting that you need some help.

Home Organization for Busy Moms is the answer for you and me too! This wonderful eBook is going to put your mind to rest from all those overwhelming thoughts you get when you even try to begin thinking of organizing your home.

In order for anyone to get organized, you need to have a system. Author Cara Mirabella will help you learn how to incorporate the system into your home so that you have a stress-free environment for your whole family.

Some things that you will learn in Home Organization for Busy Moms are:

• The importance of organization
• The real reasons why so many fail at organization
• How to set goals for getting organized
• How to bust clutter and stop it in its tracks
• And most importantly, how to go about organizing your home room to room

But that’s not all. Look at what other things you will be learning in Home Organizations for Busy Moms…

• How to stop kitchen chaos! Awesome organization tips for cupboards, drawers, and the fridge and freezer.
• How to quickly get the family room under control.

Finally, an eBook that answers all your questions and concerns about getting and staying organized. It doesn’t have to be so hard. By time you’re done reading Mirabella’s great book, Home Organization for Busy Moms, your home will be in tip top shape and ready to be enjoyed! You can’t go wrong with this priceless book!

African-American children are twice as likely to enter foster care then White children—despite equal rates of abuse and neglect for children of all races—according to a significant new report released from the federal Government Accountability Office.

Like most people, I am not in the best position financially to adopt children, take in foster children or give money, yet I can spread the message. The message is that nationally and globally there are children that need our support. Surveys have revealed that 4 in 10 American adults have considered adoption for their own families.

Children who are orphaned by losing one or both parents end up in Foster care and are the most vulnerable citizens among us. When a child suffers, we are taking away the potential of that particular child to make a significant contribution to the world.

Children of color make up more than half of the total number of children in foster care. When a Black child gets in the system of foster care, adoption is not likely due to economic struggles within the Black community. Families in the Black community can adopt and they do, unfortunately not at the rate that children of color are entering the system.

There are agencies and organizations working on behalf of foster children to provide care while adequate families are screened and evaluated. It is possible to volunteer with children in foster care and the screening of anyone that desires to work with children has to be thorough. Children cannot advocate for themselves and must be protected from neglect and the predatory behavior of adults.

CASA is a national organization and stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. CASA trains individuals to volunteer with foster children through the court system to assist children before they become permanent wards of the state. In some cases children have already been in foster care four to five months before there is an assignment of a CASA volunteer. Becoming a volunteer can substantially reduce the time a child spends in long-term foster care.

Not every child is adopted or gets the opportunity to live with a family even temporarily. Unfortunately, in some cases, the families that take in foster children are not good providers and children end up in worst situations than being in a foster care institution.

Not only are children of color disproportionately represented in the United States but globally 143 million children in developing countries have lost one or both parents. It is estimated that the HIV/AIDS epidemic will orphan 20 million children in the next two years. What will happen to these children, who will take care of them? Can anything be done to stop this epidemic in developing countries?

What is the solution? How can we improve the lives of families internationally if we can’t even provide protection for our own children here in the United States, the greatest nation on earth? The strength of a nation lies in the homes and families of its communities.

If you desire to have children would you consider adoption if you were financially able to? Is there a room in your heart and home for a foster child? If you love children, would you consider adoption?

There are several levels of adoption;
A Public adoption is when a child in the public child welfare system is placed in permanent homes by public, government-operated agencies, or by private agencies contracted by a public agency to place waiting children.

A Private adoption is when a child is placed in non-relative homes through the services of a non-profit or for-profit agency which may be licensed by the State in which it operates.

A Kinship adoption is when a child is placed in relatives’ home with or without the services of a public agency.

A Stepparent adoption is when a child is adopted by the spouse of one birth parent.

A Transracial adoption is when a child is placed with an adoptive family of another race.

An Inter-country or International adoption is when a child who is a citizen of a foreign nation is adopted by U.S. families and brought to the United States.

There are tax credits, subsidies, employer benefits, education benefits, reimbursements for children with special and even adoption loans available to assist families with the care of children that they take in.

Increased use of drugs and alcohol lead to higher numbers of children being exposed to is a primary factor in the increase number of children needing placement. More now than ever grandparents are raising grandchildren due to the damage of drug and alcohol on the family unit.

The reality is the test of character and commitment to children that need families. What would you do if something happened to you?  Who would care for your children? Would they end up in foster care? Kinship or extended families are not readily available to take in the children of families members when they are not in a stable environment themselves or cannot adequately provide quality care of their own children.

Investing in the family requires unshakable commitment to the preservation of the family as the center of our existence no matter what challenges we face. Our family is always our refuge when life is difficult and filled with drama. We cannot help but to love each other unconditionally and demonstrate it by continuing to stay connected no matter what.

We can distance ourselves but will always be tied to our family because we cannot disassociate ourselves from them or stop being related to them. Families have issues and disagreements with each and write each other off. Being right and being correct in you conduct is not the goal of relationships.  Every event that affects them affects us deep inside even when we go to war with one another. In every family, some form of dysfunction shows up as neglect, abandonment, jealousy, resentment, competition, control issues which can become a form of abuse. This toxic behavior expresses itself in ways that break down the foundation of family life.

The special relationship we share with loved our ones inspires us to consider the roles they play in our lives and allow us to be open and more willing to explore life and pursue our professional and personal goals. We make connections in pursuit of our goals to support and express ours talents and gifts. How we manage these connections is a direct reflection of what we learned in our home from our parents and loved ones.

Armed with this knowledge, we can move forward daily and include our family in our thoughts and intentions in a positive way. When a family member comes to mind during the activity of our day, we can send them love and positive intentions and truly want the best for them in every way. Keeping their highest good in our hearts and minds is sometimes all we can do when interaction is not peaceful and loving. This seems to be difficult to do because we want to win and be right at all cost, even damaging our most important relationships.

The network of friendship, love, and support created by investing in each other strengthens us to be ready to explore the world.  The network of connections we forge throughout our life forms the safety net that gives us the confidence to be open to new experiences. Our loved ones and close associates play a role in our lives that go beyond offering comfort and support in times of crisis.

They are the gentle critic for our ideas and plans and encouragement when you are unsure of yourself. Their unwavering acceptance gently pushes us out of our comfort zone by inspiring us to test our mental and physical boundaries. Each time a challenge is overcome with the aid of our personal network of family and friends, our enthusiasm for personal growth and development becomes stronger. The web of love becomes our safety net made up of relationships built on trust.

It’s easy to get stuck questioning our actions and the motives of others instead of really deeply examining ourselves. We deceive ourselves by pretending to the hero because our actions may be well intended. We practice being nice to people, tend to ourselves and others in loving ways —and yet, we cannot break through to the issues below the surface.

We spend a lot of time and energy working on our outer surface and never take the time to check what is really going on inside.  We may appear to be in control, but if we are not connecting with our inner selves by evaluating our motives and intentions, the chances are good that we are not deeply aware of the real meaning of our lives.  Because we live in a surface-oriented social environment, we place a lot of value on how our lives look, and miss the beauty of how our lives really feel.

Use your common sense even about ideals, and above all, deal with the real world as it is, not as you would like it to be. You can work to make it what you want, but don’t assume that it already is. Invest in yourself and the connections in your family will be more meaningful.