With cold and flu season upon us, it’s a great time to think about methods for avoiding germs. After all, you don’t want to have to turn down an opportunity to adopt a baby because you’re sick!

First of all, make sure to get your yearly flu shot. Second, hand-washing is the easiest and most effective daily habit that’ll help you avoid cold and flu viruses. However, airborne germs can survive on surfaces for over two hours. So, we suggest you add the hands-off strategy to your hygiene routine.

Here are 3 tips on how you can do that:

1. Use a Pencil
Avoid dialing a phone, pushing elevator buttons, or punching the ATM pin pad with your fingers. Instead, use an elbow, knuckle, or the eraser end of a pencil.

2. Bring a Barrier
Did you know that there are about 230,000 germs per square inch on faucet handles that are frequently used? Gross! To avoid touching the handles in public bathrooms, use a paper towel instead. You can also protect yourself from germy outdoor surfaces like gas pumps, mailbox latches, and hand rails by wearing gloves. Most grocery stores make disinfectant wipes available to their customers. Use them to sterilize your cart, which has been touched by many germ-filled hands.

3. Go Automatic
There are many modern inventions you can use to keep hands cleaner at home. Think about investing in a sensor-operated kitchen faucet or a trash can that opens with a foot pedal. There’s a kit which will turn your toilet into an automatic flusher. Its motion-sensing light switch means fewer touches.

Do you have any tips for avoiding germs that we forgot? Please share them by leaving a comment below!

When someone mentions napping, most people imagine a child, like the adorable one pictured to the right. Once a child gets cranky and tired, it’s time to put them down for a nap. They awake refreshed and in a better mood. Napping isn’t just for children; there are tons of benefits for adults, too. If you’re starting to get too stressed about the adoption items you have to complete, or the adoption wait, an occasional nap may be just what you need. Read on to learn tips on napping for adults, as well as 8 attractive benefits!

What are the benefits of napping for adults?

A quick nap offers multiple benefits for adults, including:

1. Relaxation
2. Enhanced focus and alertness
3. More clarity for answers to problems
4. Reduced exhaustion
5. Upgraded mood
6. Improved performance, quicker reaction time and better memory
7. Lower blood pressure
8. The ability to pause and nurture ourselves in today’s busy world

To get the most out of your nap, keep it short: about 10 to 30 minutes should do it. If you nap for a long time, you’ll wake up feeling groggy.

Plan your schedule so you can take your nap in the afternoon. Around 2:00 or 3:00 is ideal: that’s when many of us feel sleepy or less alert. Plus if you nap earlier in the afternoon, there’s less of a chance that your nap will prevent you from falling asleep at night.

Create a comfortable and relaxing environment for your nap. Nap in a dark, quiet spot with a cozy room temperature and few distractions. And make sure to give yourself enough time to wake up fully, especially before doing activities that require a quick response.

Lifetime Adoption is enthused to celebrate new adoptive parents, David and Deanna, who welcomed their newborn daughter this weekend!

They write,

“It’s been unbelievably busy these last few days! Thank YOU SO MUCH. Actually thank you isn’t good enough because how grateful we truly are can’t be put into words! We are SO happy we chose Lifetime on our special journey…God had His plan and He intervened and everything worked out better than perfect! We love all of you very much. It truly is by the grace of God that she is ours and she is absolutely perfect! Love you – huge hugs!”

-David and Deanna”

If you’re thinking about adopting, please take the first step and fill out our free online application to adopt today. Questions about adoption? Call us at 1-877-383-6847.

Congratulations to new adoptive parents Rafael and Kimberly! They recently finalized their son and daughter’s adoptions, and write:

“Dear Linda and Deena,

God is good! We are elated to tell you that our adoption of our angels Alexis and Javon finalized via a video conference hearing yesterday. We are a forever family! We are feeling so joyful and so blessed. The kids were so excited about the final hearing that they could barely sleep the night before. They have been telling everyone that they have a forever family. Again thank you all at Lifetime for the persistence and hard work in making our dreams of parenthood come true.

Raphael, Kimberly, Alexis and Javon”

If you’re thinking about adoption, please contact us online or call us at 1-877-383-6847.

Cliff and Sheila are passionate about life and live in God’s Faith. They have strong family values and are committed to raising your child with love in a financially secure and healthy environment. They currently have two children, Chloe (11) and Cooper (8)…they’re all excited to welcome a beautiful addition to their family!
They both work for the same company, with a combined total of 18 years of employment. Their jobs are stable and flexible, and both plan to take extensive time off of work for bonding upon the baby’s arrival.
About her husband, Sheila shares, “Cliff is an amazing man and extraordinary father. His compassion and dedication as a father made me fall in love with him even more. Cliff is genuine with a kind heart. He has a friendly, approachable personality and lives life with a positive outlook.”
And Cliff says about Sheila: “She has the sweetest personality, is warm and caring, and I love her more every day. She is unselfish and always puts others before her. Family is a priority and she instills values and morals in our children.”
You can find out more about Cliff and Sheila by visiting their adoption website. You may also view all adoptive family profiles at AdoptionAgencyFlorida.com. If you see an adoptive family that you’re interested in, please give us a call at 1-877-383-6847.