| I swore that I would never scrapbook. I saw some | | | | create a new page for his adoption album, explaining |
| amazing scrapbooks that friends had put together, | | | | how we prayed for a little boy just like him. |
| but the thought of cutting into my photographs and | | | | 2. Photographs are nice but the memories that go |
| then spending tons of money on little stickers called | | | | along with them fade more quickly than I had |
| "embellishments?" To put it bluntly, I wasn't a cutesie, | | | | imagined. I can look back at photographs from just |
| sticker kind of gal and didn't intend to change. | | | | six months ago that I didn't journal about and realize |
| Then we adopted a baby. I couldn't find a baby book | | | | that I've forgotten the cute things my son said at |
| or adoption book that had my son's story and I kept | | | | that moment. What funny joke did we laugh about |
| hearing the phrase "life books." Every child's story is | | | | for fifteen minutes? I remember the giggles, but it's |
| unique. | | | | those stories specifics behind the photos that keep |
| So I made my way to the craft store and tried to | | | | the memories alive. And what kids don't like to hear |
| find some "embellishments" that didn't include | | | | about the funny things they did or said when they |
| pregnancy quotations or storks. I held my breath as I | | | | were little? |
| cut into my photographs. Eventually, not finding any | | | | 3. Adoption is a special gift and I want my son to |
| adoption items, I put my graphic design skills to use | | | | know that we acknowledge it as such. Just him |
| and created my own transparency overlays about | | | | seeing me spend the time to putting together an |
| adoption, so I could record those memories from | | | | album, lets him know it's important to me. Whatever |
| "the wait" to Adoption Day. Now I cannot conceive | | | | I share about his birth family, how he came to be a |
| of having let the idea of a scrapbook of my son's life | | | | part of our family, visits we may have with the birth |
| pass by me. I would have missed great joy. | | | | family (or if you adopted internationally, then special |
| Why did I decide to scrapbook about my child's | | | | trips to your child's country of origin) lets him know |
| adoption? | | | | just how special his story is. It's important that our |
| 1. We all know how unique our own story is about | | | | kids know that we are never threatened by their |
| deciding to adopt and waiting. Our kid's stories or no | | | | story. We need to make sure they know that their |
| less special. Don't be tempted to use a book where | | | | whole life is precious to us, and not just the time |
| you just fill in the blanks, because it's nearly | | | | that they have been a part of our family. |
| impossible to since you don't have all of the answers, | | | | Now that I am an adoptive mom, I have expanded |
| nor do they all apply. And what child wants to see | | | | by appreciation for scrap booking. I no longer see it |
| blanks in his book? For example, even adoption | | | | as a leisurely craft, but a noteworthy method to |
| books may or may not have a place for information | | | | record this miracle that God gave us--the honor of |
| about the birth father or if the adoption was | | | | being parents to our little guy. |
| international or domestic. | | | | Whether you call your adoption scrapbook album an |
| An additional benefit to scrapbooking is that you can | | | | international adoption lifebook or just an adoption |
| design is so that it is timed perfectly for your child's | | | | book, it's much more than just a photo album or a |
| age and understanding of his or her adoption story, | | | | "brag book." It's a chronicle of memories and photos, |
| based on what you have shared. It's inevitable that | | | | a personalized story book of your child's life, and a |
| your child will being to ask more questions. It's easy | | | | reminder to him that he is treasured. Though as |
| to add that page with the answers right into the | | | | parents, we may always have some concerns about |
| book. For example, my son recently has been asking, | | | | how adoption affects a child, an adoption scrapbook |
| "Why did God choose me for your and Daddy? If | | | | is a way to remind him that we embrace and rejoice |
| God had sent another little boy, would you have | | | | about the way he helped us become a |
| loved him?" This is an idyllic occasion for me to | | | | family--through the gift of adoption. |