It has always been hard for me to write advocacy posts around the holidays.
Why? People are always more giving around the holidays….their hearts are usually more open. Wouldn’t that be the perfect time?’
Well, yes, you are right. I didn’t say it is not a good time to advocate (for the record, it is ALWAYS a good time to advocate. And we will continue to do so until no more children wait). I said it is hard for me to write advocacy posts around the holidays. You see, ‘the holidays’ isn’t just one day.
For me at least, it pretty much spans from pre-Thanksgiving through early January. During these weeks, plans are being made, families and friends are coming together, traditions are being celebrated, bread is broken together, laughter is shared, and excitement is in the air. In my house, the wooden Rudolph countdown decoration is attended to first thing every morning by my youngest – ‘Only 19 days Mom!’ And tuck-in is filled with ‘Where will Simi the Elf be tomorrow?!’
It’s during the holidays that the gravity of waiting children, and their reality, lays heaviest on my heart.
During this time, that for many of us, is filled with family, fellowship, and fullness – fullness of the heart, of the mind, and let’s be honest…of the belly. For children too – a time that is filled with wonder and magic.
And as I sit here, next to the fire in my overly holiday-decorated living room, waiting for the kids to run off the bus so we can go cut down our tree, my heart breaks even more for Madeline. This girl, with her shy demeanor, and her sweet, infectious giggle, deserves to be embraced by a family. She deserves to be part of family traditions not just at the holidays, but year-round. She deserves love, she deserves to share in the wonder and the magic, she deserves a childhood.
So please, take a moment during this busy, joyful time to pause and share about Madeline’s need for a family. I believe in the magic of the holiday season, and I so want to believe that this will be Madelaine’s last one without a family.
Madeline is 8-years-old, is visually impaired, and is waiting in China. She is available for adoption through Madison Adoption Associates. Madison Adoption Associates is happy to provide a $5,000 Bright Futures Grant to the family who steps forward to adopt Madelaine. Interested in learning more about Madelaine, and about the adoption process? Please complete and submit our free Prospective Adoptive Parent form, and an adoption specialist will be in touch.
The Gladney Center for Adoption is a long-established, Hague-accredited adoption agency with more than 135 years of experience in creating bright futures for children and families. Gladney’s international adoption program offers families across the United States the opportunity to adopt children from around the world, with active programs in countries such as Bulgaria, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, India, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The agency is deeply committed to ethical and transparent adoption practices that prioritize the best interests of each child. Gladney’s international program focuses on “waiting children”—those who are legally free for adoption but may be older, part of a sibling group, or have identified medical or developmental needs. Families who work with Gladney receive comprehensive support throughout every stage of the process, including pre-adoption education and training, home study and dossier preparation, coordination with foreign partners, travel guidance, and post-adoption services. With a dedicated team of professionals and strong relationships with child welfare authorities abroad, Gladney ensures that each adoption is handled with compassion, integrity, and excellence. Families who partner with Gladney become part of a lifelong community, supported well beyond placement as they help their children thrive in their new homes and embrace their cultural heritage.
