West Sands Adoptions | A Christian Adoption Agency in Utah

Adoptive Family Design Shirt for Fund Raiser

Sheila — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:48:17 +0000

Kevin & Kelly Swasey are adopting twins from Ethiopia, through West Sands Adoptions. As they are waiting to travel to pick up their 4 year old twins they have designed these shirt to raise money for their children’s orphanage. They have two designs which are available in Men’s, Women’s and Children’s sizes. To order your shirt chick here.

Ethiopia Court Closure

Sheila — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:25:08 +0000

This Year Ethiopian Courts will close beginning August 1st and will re-open September 27th. The timing of this closure will effect all families who have accepted a referral and are waiting for a court date.

Recommended Book of the Month – Toddler Adoption by Mary Hopkins-Best

Sheila — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 17:07:08 +0000

I’m reading this book right now, “Toddler Adoption: The Weaver’s Craft” and want to recommend it to our waiting families. I hope you will find it as informative as I have.

Thanks,

Amy

Toddler Adoption, The Weaver’s Craft.” by: Mary Hopkins-Best

The Dance – Hand in Hand

Sheila — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:43:33 +0000

We came across this amazing video of two dancers both
affected by tragic accidents. We found their dance inspiring, and it reminds
us that the children we place who have special needs are children with great
abilities. Their needs do not have to disable them unless we allow that to
happen. We hope you will also be inspired by this clip. Hand in Hand

PLEASE READ MESSAGE BELOW BEFORE OPENING ATTACHMENT:

Recently, in a televised modern dance competition in China – a very unique couple won one of the top prizes and received the longest standing ovation.

She was a dancer, who had trained since she was a child. Tragically, she lost her entire right arm in an accident and fell into a state of depression; so she decided to coach a children’s dancing group. From that point on, she realized she could not forget dancing. She still loved to dance and wanted to dance again. She tried to do some of her former routines but without her arm she had difficulty maintaining balance. She practiced strenuously and developed a dance routine – always dancing alone in her studio.

He was not a dancer. He lost a leg in an accident and he had fallen into a deep state of depression. They met – and her goal immediately became to help him become positive about life again. She taught him to dance and in her studio they danced together and developed a routine as their lives and friendship became closer.

Their life together, behind the closed doors of the dance studio – was one creativity, challenge, determination, practice and sometimes failure. Their focus was on doing what others said would be impossible.. Several times it became so difficult and frustrating for them that they gave up, broke up.

But life alone, without each other, brought them back together again and they became even more determined to perfect a dance routine to a point where they might try to dance outside the studio to see what friends and family thought about what they were doing all that time inside the studio.

Their friends and family were so supportive they encouraged the couple to enter a dance competition, which they finally agreed to do. Only later did they realize the competition was to be televised locally. We will now see the first – and to date only televised performance of their dance……

ENJOY…… and learn determination….

Click Here to view.

Do-Overs:The Gift of Re-Parenting Webinar Training

Sheila — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 21:46:27 +0000

West Sands Adoptions is excited about a new training Webinar from Heart of the Matter Seminars. This one hour live webinar for both parents and professionals, assists participants in meeting their child at their true developmental age and parenting accordingly. Gain a deeper understanding of how re-parenting can benefit the child who waited and what it looks like in everyday life. Generate re-parenting ideas with presenters and other participants.

Thursday, June 24th ~ 7 pm CDT

Price: $15.00

To register click here

Travel Approval for 12 Families

Sheila — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 21:34:09 +0000

Today West Sands Adoptions received Travel Approval from the CCAA for 12 families. Congratulations and happy travels to your newest little ones. We wish you all the very best, as it has been an honor to walk beside you through this journey. Please keep us posted on your travels.

Many blessings,

The West Sands Staff

Adopting from African Countries – Online Training Seminar

Sheila — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:08:42 +0000

West Sands Adoptions is excited for Heart of the Matter Seminars new training seminar. This training is specific to African Adoptions including Ethiopia and covers the following topics:

Legal Process.
Making Sense of why a child was placed.
Common Medical Issues.
Skin & Hair
Race and Culture issues specific to African Adoptions

For more information about this Seminar Click Here.

African Children’s Hair

Sheila — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:19:49 +0000

I receive some many adoptive moms asking for resources on care and styling their African children’s hair. I received this link and had to share. I hope you find it useful!

My name is Katie, I have 3 kids from Liberia adopted through AFAA 4 1/2 year ago. I love doing my girls hair and I created a youtube channel a few years ago to make tutorial videos for other adoptive moms. Blessing’s hair is now in braidlocs and I have done a whole 4 part series explaining everything about them. I also have many other cornrowing styles and non- cornrow styles for my daughter whose hair is not loced.

Today I added my newest video, “Little Sisters Want FUN Hair Too!” Our youngest child is our bio daughter who has stick straight baby fine hair. She is 2 years old but wants hair styles just like her big sisters! :) It has been a whole new adventure learning how to style her hair now that I am so proficient at working with my African children’s hair!

Anyway, if you are interested in checking out my videos, Click Here.

Ethiopian Federal Court-New Policy

Sheila — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 04:20:02 +0000

The Federal Court in Ethiopia is now requiring the adoptive child’s Birth Certificate to be produced for the final court hearing, where the child is matched to a family. This new policy requires the Orphanages to order the child’s Birth Certificate prior to the court hearing. Before this change, the Agency would order the child’s Birth Certificate after the final court hearing, for the Embassy appointment.

Although this is another change that will ultimately improve the adoption program in Ethiopia, this new policy will most likely cause delay to our current family’s who are awaiting their child referral. We anticipate a 2 week delay while the Orphanages apply for the children’s Birth Certificate. No long term delay is expected by this change.

West Sands Adoptions support Ethiopia’s decision to incorporate new policies that improve inter-country adoption. We thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to work with the Ethiopian Government to help orphans find permanent homes. Feel free to post any comments you have pertaining to this new policy change.

Ethiopian Culture Camp

admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:23:27 +0000

The Ethiopian Culture Camp was formed by adoptive parents of children originating from Ethiopia to promote cultural enrichment. Through seminars, workshops, activities and open forum, we explore the history, music, food and customs this diverse culture brings to our families. Most importantly, the camp provides our children with a connection to their birth country, and a place where parents and children alike can learn and grow together

Ethiopian Culture Camp 2010 will run from Friday July 9th at 4 pm through Sunday July 11th at 4 pm. The camp is held at the Franklin Pierce University campus in Rindge, New Hampshire. For more information visit: