Adoptions Declining

I’ve been wondering if domestic and international adoptions are declining.  I found this article in the Washington post describing the decline of international.   I have presumed the decline because of economics.  It is extremely expensive adopting a child either here or abroad.  However, if you go through our gov’t social services, I understand the cost is much less.  In a magazine today I read there are 143 worldwide orphans.  That is almost 1/2 the population of the United States.  My brain can’t comprehend that number and the suffering of these children.

4 years ago we adopted our third child who was from China.  We had 2 biological children and opted to adopt for our 3rd.   It is one of the best decisions Dave and I have ever made.  This child has changed our family for the better, as did our first two children.  She is our daughter just as much as her older sisters.   She is so smart and has so much potential.   She makes people smile.  Just this week she was jabbering away to me while sitting in the grocery cart and a lady I didn’t know came up to me and commented “how adorable.”  It was nice to have the reminder because I get busy and miss the “how adorable” moments when I’m keeping an eye on three kids, coordinating coupons and hoping the little one doesn’t get out of her belt land on the floor.

We considered adopting again.  Once you get the adoption bug, you want to adopt every kid you hear about.  Last summer we hosted a pre-teen girl from Ukraine in a summer camp program.  Under this program, older kids are brought to the USA for 3 weeks and live with the host family.  It gives them a chance to experience family life in America.  It also gives potential adoptive families a chance to see how the older child fits into the family dynamics.  It did not work out with the girl we hosted – she didn’t want to be adopted for reasons we understood.   I learned a lot from this experience and loved seeing our girls open their hearts/home to this child.

The older kids in Ukraine (and elsewhere) have a hard time getting placed.  If they don’t have a completed adoption by age 16 their life takes a dramatic turn.  I’m not the expert, but from what I learned these kids graduate from the orphanages at age 16.  After leaving the orphange, most are on their own.  After that many die before age 18.   Others pursue terrible jobs just to survive.

In the magazine I was reading today – Worldwide Challenge – by Campus Crusade for Christ they were taking about how tough it is to “graduate” from foster care in the USA.  I can’t imagine being an 18 year old girl and being on my own.  These young adults really need a family for support.

As times get tougher with global economic problems, I think we’ll see a larger worldwide orphan problem.  It is one of the many challenges we face as a society in the coming times.

Morning Moo Milk Alternative at Costco’s

Today I’m joining wearethatfamily for works for me Wednesday.

I recently found a product that passed the taste test in our home:  Morning Moo Milk Alternative.  I purchased at bucket of this powdered milk at Costco for $56.  It will make 52 gallons of milk, which equates to approx $1 per gallon.  I poured this over Maggie’s cereal without telling her and she never mentioned a bad taste.  I tried it and it was just fine.  Not as good as organic milk from whole foods, but an acceptable alternative.

I’m not a fan of drinking powdered milk.  I’d rather drink water than this yucky stuff.  I have some powdered milk on hand for cooking, but we stick to regular milk for drinking.  Morning Moo tastes 100 times better than other powdered milk I’ve tried.

So why worry about powdered milk if you can afford regular milk now?  If cap / trade passes or major inflation kicks in we could see a sharp rise in food costs.  I’m trying to prepare my family by getting them accustomed to food products that cost less.   We have a few luxury bills we could cut immediately if needed, but food is a necessity.   So I think it is prudent to investigate alternative products that may be valuable in a pinch.   I rate Morning Moo Milk a 4 star in this category.

Keep in mind that this is a milk alternative.  It is made from sweet dairy whey, non-fat dry milk solids, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (contains one or more of the following: canola oil and/or Soya oil), corn syrup solids, sodium caseinate, dipotassium phosphate, mono and diglycerides, lecithin, carrageena, vitamin A, vitamin D3.   Some of the ingredients don’t get me too excited… “corn syrup solids”.   However, we don’t have a happy cow in our back yard eating organic grass that I can milk every morning after an hour of yoga in my hand spun organic cotton clothing.  I’m trying to balance being a health purist with providing affordable nutrition.

Here’s a few benefits to this product:

• My youngest daughter has stomach trouble after eating a ton of milk products so I’m excited to have this product on hand for her.  It contains 50% lactose compared to cow’s milk.
• It also has a decent shelf life.  My bucket is good through 2012.  I’ve read it has a six month shelf life once opened, but that is not disclosed on the container.  I need to do more research on self life once opened.
• Good price and easy storage.
• Acceptable taste.

I also haven’t tried baking with this product yet.  I’ve read you cannot make yogurt or cheese with this product b/c it is a milk alternative.