Writers, 
    For the November issue of Thriving Family, we will be publishing an “adoption mosaic” piece. This feature article will include profiles (with pictures) of several families who have journeyed through the adoption process. If your family has adopted a child, we’d love to hear from you. You can share your story in article form, or just plug in your responses after each of the following questions. (Either way, we’d like you to generally adhere to this outline.)
    Also, we’ll be thinking of layout and how the profiles might flow together. If you have a family picture that you could send along with your submission, we’d surely appreciate it.

Here are the questions:
• As a couple (or family), how did you decide to consider the adoption journey?
• How old was your child when you adopted him/her? How long has it been since you brought the child home? How many children were in your family at this time?
• In what way did your life most change after bringing home your new son/daughter? How was your marriage affected, if at all?
• What has been your family’s greatest challenge after adopting your child? How did you respond to this challenge in a way that turned out to be healthy for your family?
• What surprised you most about being adoptive parents? How did you adjust to the surprise and make it a healthy part of your family’s life?
• What has been the greatest reward?

Topic: Adoption Mosaic
Due date: June 7th
Payment: $75 (some stories might stretch up toward $100, but this will depend on final word count)
Rights:  First non-exclusive
Word count: 200-300 words
Tentative publication: November 2010

Thanks very much,
Vance Fry, vance.fry@fotf.org