Susan Badeau

Last week, I re-ignited my blog with part 1 of my reflections on the comments we often receive when posting pictures or travel tales from the road now that we live full-time in an RV. As I noted we often get two types of responses to our photos and posts over the last 2 years:

1. "Girrrrrrrl, you are SO lucky! You are living the dream! I am sooooooo jealous."

2. "Your trip looks awesome and you sooooo deserve it."

I shared my thoughts about "...

In August 2020, exactly 7 years after the publication of our book, "Are We There Yet? The Ultimate Road Trip Adopting and Raising 22 Kids"  my husband and I realized that the answer to that question continues to be "No, Not yet." So, inspired by the virtual realities of COVID life, we bought an RV and set off on the newest chapter of our life adventures. We have been living the #RVLIFE ever since. I had intended to blog from the road, but life happened along the way, o...

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Maimonides

This quote has captured the spirit of a great deal of social justice work particularly around poverty. I always thought it was a good sentiment and have quoted it myself on more than one occasion.

Today, as I post this, it is the day before the 2016 election. It has been an ugly season filled with hateful rhetoric. I want to take today to step back and look at how my deepest beliefs have shaped me and influenced the kind of person I have become as well as the decisions I make in the voting booth. I first penned this list in 2007, and updated it today to ensu...

Sharing this "cross-over" blog my publisher posted about our new book and inviting any of my blog readers to join us on Friday October 14th, 7-9 PM at the Big Blue Marble Bookstore in Philadelphia for a local launch and book signing. We will share stories, free sample coloring pages, wine, chocolate and good times. If you live far from Philly but would like us to come do an event in your area, please contact me!  Thanks 

When, in my travels, I come upon a magnolia tree, I cannot help but to hear the hauntingly painful and yet beautiful voice of Billie Holiday singing "Strange Fruit." (written by Abel Meeropol in 1937) You can listen to it here if you like.

Today, I shared a profoundly moving experience wi...

A few weeks ago, I gave a speech at the North American Council on Adoptable Children's Annual Conference. I have had several requests for copies of this speech, so I decided to post it here as a blog post. This is longer than my usual blog, but I hope you enjoy it. 

COURAGE Good afternoon. I am here today to talk to you about courage. Th...

There is a famous scene in Charles Dickens’ novel Oliver Twist, vividly portrayed in the movie version (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4iEdMMjqdA ) when young Oliver, filled with both terror and bravado, takes his empty gruel bowl to the head of the table and says, “Please Sir, I want some more.”

This scene encapsulates many ...

Check out the blog my publisher, Helping Hands Press, just posted about my upcoming new release: Building Bridges of Hope: A Coloring Book for Adults Caring for Children Who Have Experienced Trauma. 

...

Some call this the "silly season" - that time on the U.S. calendar when politics reaches a crazy and fevered pitch. I would suggest this year it has become the "ugly season."  Language and actions - both by the would-be leaders and their followers -  have become hostile, hateful and harmful. Its enough to make you want to crawl under a rock until it is all over. 

But that is not really an option for people of faith called to be the eyes, ears, hands and feet o...