Hello adoptive families. This one is for you.
My family will be there honoring the heritages of our children’s birth families.
Join us!
The Olympic Games make me cry.
Can I get an amen on that?
The passion.
The struggle.
The stories.
I was serving as a missionary on Temple Square during the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City–all those memories come rushing back every time I see the Olympic rings.
I have loved learning about the Mormon athletes (represent!) and of course the adoption connections.
Shot putter Reese Hoffa’s adoption story had my heart all tingly.
Reunited with his birth mother while in college, Hoffa is an adoption advocate, a member of a transracial family who was adopted when he was 5 from an orphanage in the South. Read every word of that story because it is beautiful. (photo source.)
Dominique Moceanu’s sister was secretly placed for adoption and the story still lingers in my mind.
Dominique was reunited with her biological sister 4 years ago and learned that Jen was placed because she was born without legs. Amazingly, they both grew up to be gymnasts. Such a sad/amazing story. I can’t stop thinking about it, especially about how it was all figured out.
Was gymnast John Orozco adopted?
I have no idea, but man …the world sure wants to know. (Google it; there is so much speculation based on the different skin tones in his family. People are weird.) I don’t know if he is or if he isn’t, but he sure is a cutie. That smile? Have mercy. (photo source.)
John is also the star of the music videos of one of my favorite songs right now.
Kinda my theme song right now.
Oh the 2012 Olympic Games, you’ve been good to us.
Thank you, London!
Last week my kids got their multicultural groove on.
We attended the Domino Foundation’s Multicultural Day Camp and had a blast. My kids are still talking about it.
The first afternoon, we learned about musical instruments from around the world.
The kids were led in an African drum circle and they were actually really good. The bottom photos are of the boys rocking the djembe (a West African drum).
“Djembe” means “everyone come together in peace.” It was explained that the djembe is similar to the guitar in American culture–when someone starts playing, people gather and sing/dance/play along.
The second afternoon we brought our cousins with us to make Native American pinch pots and Chinese theatre masks. (Some of the kids painted sticks as well. We were one with nature!)
I volunteered to take photos for the Domino Foundation’s revamped website (coming soon!) and here are some of the beautiful children and moments I was able to capture while the kids were creating.
“Seeing a rainbow of children working and playing together reminded me that this is why we exist. I wake up every day grateful for the opportunity I have to be involved with Domino Foundation.”
– Andrea Hardeman, Domino Foundation Program Director
We missed the third afternoon because we went swimming with our cousins who are visiting from Texas, but the kids learned Polynesian dances.
Isn’t Utah totally gorgeous? I love living here.
A special thanks to the Lintons and Andrea Hardeman for all their hard work and organization. It was absolutely perfect!
What is the Domino Foundation?
Curtis and Melody Linton started Domino Foundation in 2006 after adopting their son Dominic, the foundation’s namesake.
Recognizing the deep love families have for their adopted children, the Domino Foundation began by helping families cover some of the costs of adoption.
Learning about difference, racism, and institutionalized racial injustice while raising Dominic, the Lintons soon realized the pressing needs transracial families had for courageous education and conversations about race. In 2011, Andrea Hardeman joined Domino Foundation as the Program Director to lead educational, social, cultural, and mentoring support for transracial families. Their mission is to strengthen and provide pre- and post- transracial adoption support to families.
How do I get involved with the Domino Foundation?
Get updates on their latest speakers, workshops, field trips and events on The Domino Foundation’s Facebook Page.
Craving more? Email dominofoundation@gmail.com to get on the email list.
Great people. Great events. Great info.
