Madison Adoption Associates

10/15/2026

Madison Adoption Associates is now part of Gladney International. Our work continues with the same purpose: advocating for waiting children and helping them find loving, permanent families. Follow Gladney International to stay connected.

Personal Statement
By: Audrey Weibert

D**g Xiao Ning’s body was blue from lack of oxygen. Because of China’s one-child policy, born female and with a severe congenital heart defect; I was abandoned and spent the first three years of my life in an orphanage. At three years old, I was adopted by a loving Christian couple in America. On that trip, my adoptive mother bought me two pearl bracelets: one tiny enough to fit my wrist then and another to fit me as an adult.

Growing up, my parents never hid my adoption story from me. They celebrated it. As a little girl, I proudly told classmates that I had been adopted from China. To me, it was simply another interesting fact about my life. I rarely questioned what it meant or how differently my story could have unfolded. Adoption was not separate; it was, and still is, simply part of who I was. But, oh, those teenage years would change everything.

One evening, while waiting for dinner at a Chinese restaurant, the waiter looked at me and said, "You are very fortunate to live in America. People in China, especially women, do not have the same opportunities." At the moment, my brothers were more interested than some lady’s comment, yet her words lingered long after we left the restaurant. A slow realization crept in: my life could have looked very different. The little things I took for granted: world-class health care, rigorous education, and the unconditional love of a family. My adoption was not simply a footnote, but the reason I still lived.

In my younger teen years, I separated D**g Xiao Ning and Audrey. I was angry that D**g Xiao Ning was abandoned and whose name had been assigned by an orphanage. I was grateful that Audrey was chosen, deeply loved, and given extraordinary opportunities. Because of this perspective, I never wanted to revisit and reject the culture connected to it.

As I have matured, that perspective has slowly changed. Meeting international students and other adoptees made me question my original view. I have learned that two seemingly opposite truths can exist at the same time. Yes, Xiao Ning was abandoned, and yes, Audrey was chosen. Yes, Xiao Ning has no memories of her biological family, but she is part of who I am. Yes, Audrey was given a better life because of adoption, but the harsh reality of where her story began remains the same. I had a messy beginning, but out of those ashes arose a beautiful life.

Because of this new perspective, I find myself wanting to learn more about China, its people, history, and the culture that shaped the first chapter of my life. Someday I hope to visit mainland China, not out of obligation, but because it is a piece of me.

My adoption was not the only challenge that shaped me. Due to my heart condition and the learning disabilities that followed, I often questioned whether I was truly good at anything. I remember one afternoon asking my mom what I should do with my life because everyone had their thing but me. During those years, teachers, mentors, and family members poured into me the love of learning, a good listener, compassion, and resilience. From this, I have developed a deep desire to be the older person who invests in the younger generation. I can not erase the pain of the past, but their past does not define their future. Whether through teaching, mentoring, or simply walking alongside teenagers during one of the most formative seasons of their lives, I want to help them through the seasons of hardship, but also know that eventually they will look back and see how those hard moments shaped their character.

Today, I carry both D**g Xiao Ning and Audrey with me, not as two separate people, but as one young woman marked by loss, love, resilience, and compassion. I have been poured into; now it is my turn to pour into the next generation. The pearl bracelet my adoptive mom gave me no longer fits; I have grown into the bigger bracelet.

https://resource.adoptionsbygladney.com/aleda-madison-international-adoptee-scholarship-fund

10/14/2026

Madison Adoption Associates is now part of Gladney International. Our work continues with the same purpose: advocating for waiting children and helping them find loving, permanent families. Follow Gladney International to stay connected.

While in Thailand, our staff make every effort to spend time with the children we are advocating for—including the little ones whose journeys are already leading them toward their forever families.

This sweet child has already been matched, and our staff were able to spend a little time getting to know him and capturing a glimpse of his personality and everyday life to share with his family.

Whenever possible, we want families to feel connected to their child even before they are together. Visiting children in person isn’t always possible, but when we can be there, we treasure the opportunity to bring a little piece of that experience home.

https://gladney.org/i-want-to-adopt/international-adoption/thailand/

10/08/2026

Madison Adoption Associates is now part of Gladney International. Our work continues with the same purpose: advocating for waiting children and helping them find loving, permanent families. Follow Gladney International to stay connected.

For nearly two decades, Gladney has had a Taiwan adoption program, building relationships and walking alongside children and families through the years. Historically, Gladney has accounted for about 30% of U.S. adoptions from Taiwan—a reflection of the deep roots and long-standing partnerships that have shaped this program.

So when our team continued from Thailand to Taiwan, it was about so much more than a visit. They spent time with our partners, visited programs, and sat around tables--people from different countries sharing ideas, listening, and learning together as everyone continues working together to make the best decisions for the children we all love.

Nearly 20 years in, we’re still learning, still building, and still traveling across the ocean for the relationships that make this work possible. We’re grateful for our partners in Taiwan and for the opportunity to continue doing this work together.

https://gladney.org/i-want-to-adopt/international-adoption/taiwan/

10/06/2026

Madison Adoption Associates is now part of Gladney International. Our work continues with the same purpose: advocating for waiting children and helping them find loving, permanent families. Follow Gladney International to stay connected.

Some kids walk into a new experience and dive right in.

Finn takes his time.

When he first stepped off the plane, Finn found a spot on the airport floor, sat down, put in his little earbuds, and quietly watched everything happening around him. While the other boys showed their excitement a little more outwardly, Finn seemed to be taking it all in—processing a brand-new place, new people, new sounds, new smells, and a very big adventure.

Back at the Airbnb, after a shower (and quick hair drying session), some pizza, a snack of clementines, and some comfy Spider-man pajamas, Finn settled in and built things, drew a picture for the host family he would meet the next day, and enjoyed playing with the other boys. When the families arrived, he stepped back again. He needed a little more time because being thoughtful, observant, and careful with big feelings are true strengths. By the time Finn was settled into his host home, he was in classic little boy mode—playing, exploring, and spending time with the dogs. And then, on the final night, we got to see Finn firsthand in his full energy mode with all that wonderful little-boy laughter mixed with silly faces for the camera, and pure fun.

If you'd like to learn more about Finn, reach out to us at [email protected].

10/05/2026

Madison Adoption Associates is now part of Gladney International. Our work continues with the same purpose: advocating for waiting children and helping them find loving, permanent families. Follow Gladney International to stay connected.

09/30/2026

Madison Adoption Associates is now part of Gladney International. Our work continues with the same purpose: advocating for waiting children and helping them find loving, permanent families. Follow Gladney International to stay connected.

Sometimes advocacy begins with simply showing up.

While you slept, our Gladney team visited one of the orphanages we partner with in Thailand, taking time to meet with caregivers, learn more about the children, and better understand their needs.

Behind every window is a child with a story, a history, and a future waiting to unfold. 💙
Our commitment is to keep showing up, building relationships, and advocating for children who deserve the opportunity to grow up in a loving, permanent family.

https://gladney.org/i-want-to-adopt/international-adoption/

09/16/2026

Madison Adoption Associates is now part of Gladney International. Our work continues with the same purpose: advocating for waiting children and helping them find loving, permanent families. Follow Gladney International to stay connected

We love getting updates and have the sweetest one on 8-year-old Rose! She continues to make steady progress, her health is improving, and she’s growing in so many wonderful ways.

Rose is in the 2nd grade now and gets along well with her classmates and is doing beautifully. She’s learning, making friends, and discovering more of what she can do each day.

Hearing that this delightful little girl is thriving made our day! We’re just so excited to imagine all that lies ahead for her with a family cheering her on, encouraging her, and celebrating every little victory along the way.

Ready to learn more about Rose? Reach out to us at [email protected].

09/14/2026

Madison Adoption Associates is now part of Gladney International. Our work continues with the same purpose: advocating for waiting children and helping them find loving, permanent families. Follow Gladney International to stay connected.

09/13/2026

Madison Adoption Associates is now part of Gladney International. Our work continues with the same purpose: advocating for waiting children and helping them find loving, permanent families. Follow Gladney International to stay connected.

If your family has a soft spot for dogs and all the amazing things about little boys, you’re going to love Finn.

During his time with his host family, their three dogs quickly became some of his favorite companions. Every morning, Finn went looking for his dogs. It was just part of his little-boy daily routine, one of those small, ordinary things that says so much. Before the day’s adventures began, Finn wanted to check in on his four-legged friends and give them some love.

We can picture Finn growing up alongside a family dog—sharing ordinary mornings, afternoon adventures, and all those little moments that make a dog so much more than a pet. We can picture him in a family where dogs are part of everyday life—waiting at the door for him with happy tails wagging, curled up nearby as he reads a new favorite book, and ready to join him in backyard adventures.

This sweet 7-year-old has a real love for dogs and we can’t help but wonder if somewhere out there is a family with a dog who is going to become one of Finn’s very best friends.

If you'd like to learn more about Finn, reach out to us at [email protected].

09/09/2026

Madison Adoption Associates is now part of Gladney International. Our work continues with the same purpose: advocating for waiting children and helping them find loving, permanent families. Follow Gladney International to stay connected.

"Two Sides of the Same Coin”: My Story of an Asian Adoptee
By Maximus Rubenstein

Being adopted is a blessing, but it can also carry pain and burdens that few truly understand. As an Asian adoptee raised in a predominantly white Southern community, I faced many stereotypes and discrimination that ultimately brought me pain. Although I was given a beautiful life and a loving family, I also faced terrible bullying and stereotypes that would leave me to question where I belonged and who I was. From hearing cruel remarks like “Do you eat cats and dogs?” to being reduced to stereotypes like “You must be good at math,” I quickly learned how different I looked—and how little others sometimes understood me.

Despite the hardships, I know I am deeply fortunate. My adoptive family has given me opportunities, love, and support that many children never receive. I recognize my privilege and blessings, even though I had a rough childhood. I often think about a life where I had never been put up for adoption. Would I still have become the person I am today? Would I have lived up to the very stereotypes people in America projected onto me? Would I have truly understood my culture or my heritage? What if I never left?

These aren’t just questions of curiosity; they are questions rooted in a longing for closure. I wonder why I was put up for adoption, what my birth parents were like, and what traditions, languages, or stories I may have missed. Even though I got used to laughing off the comments, suppressing the questions, and brushing aside the discomfort and sadness, I still realized that pretending those things don’t matter doesn’t make them go away. The truth matters. Understanding matters. Who I am matters.

Growing up in between cultures, I was never fully accepted by either side. Because of this, it taught me a difficult lesson about this world: this world can be incredibly divided. I’ve lived on both sides of that division. I’ve been “too Asian” for one group, and “not Asian enough” for another. For years, I changed how I looked, acted, and spoke to blend in, desperate to belong somewhere. But even with all the effort, I often still felt like an outsider. And yet, because of all those struggles and loneliness, I began to learn what it meant to feel empathy.

Because I know what it’s like to be mocked and misunderstood, I carry deep compassion for others who feel out of place. I despise bullying in all forms, not just because I experienced it, but because I believe it feeds the very division that keeps people apart. Over time, my pain became my purpose. My greatest dream is not just personal healing but global unity. I want to bridge the divides between political parties, between countries, between races, and between cultures. I believe with everything in me that if we fully accept one another, love one another, and try to understand each other, this world will be far less cruel and far more whole.

If I had to give my story a title, it would be “Two Sides of the Same Coin.” That phrase captures what it means to live between identities, between two lives, one I live and one I wonder about. From trying to live up to everyone’s expectations to finally living to who I am and becoming proud of what I am. Today, I no longer seek to understand my heritage in order to fit in, but to connect more deeply with who I am. I want to explore my roots, not out of pressure or shame, but from a genuine desire to learn, to celebrate, and to heal. My story is still unfolding and my life is still uncertain, but one thing I know: to be fully true is—I am proud of who I am! And no more will I change myself just to fit in!