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Runyan2002

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Posts posted by Runyan2002

  2. Financing An Adoption

    in Looking to Adopt

    Posted

    The article also quotes a California facilitator who says she's seeing no decrease in Texas families seeking to use her services, which is curious, given that adoption facilitators are illegal in Texas?!

    Funny because facilitators normally cost 3 times as much for less than services that you aren't really sure the birthmothers are getting or not. Why ANYone would use one is beyond me...especially ones out of CA...YUCK.

    I have no doubt less people will be able to adopt, I have friends that have to put it off because of the 20% cut in pay everyone is getting at his company. Wether or not I think more parents are placing? Maybe...but I'm not sure I buy that it is a 3-fold increase. If they take away the 10,000 credit even LESS people will be able to adopt (including us).

  4. INQUIRY

    in Looking to Adopt

    Posted

    Welcomemgarcia2411! Mary Helen's suggestions are great! I've thought of a few other things to get you going:

    • Begin thinking about who you want to write letters of recommendation for you and hubby
    • Ask your doctor for a letter stating your diagnosis of infertility
    • Talk with your spouse/research what you are open to as far as race, age of child, special needs, etc. Those questions will be on the application.
    • Write a rough draft of your profile letter...the letter that potential birth parents will read...and gather photos of you and your spouse that give a glimpse of who you are/your lives.
    • Think about/work out financing your adoption
    • Get recommendations/interview agencies/social workers to do your homestudy
    • Get ready for a wild but wonderful ride!

    And schedule a physical!!! Those things can take MONTHS to get in for! :)

  5. INQUIRY

    in Looking to Adopt

    Posted

    Hello Erin!!

    I will have to say that I think every family is different, one income could mean something entirely different to another family (based on debt, payments, etc). So 60,000 could mean one thing to one family, and poverty to the next.

    I think if you have a way to pay for childcare when needed, and all the needs of a child you should be fine. Plus if you are really worried about it you can always wait until you get a job, then send in the inquiry.

    I think there are many families here who do not make a fortune, especially those with one income, but they are great parents & have been approved. So don't worry too much. Oh yes - and WELCOME!! :)

    Natalie

  7. Trips to Texas

    in Looking to Adopt

    Posted · Edited by Runyan2002

    If you work through Abrazo (or any other agency) the birthmother can sign no earlier than 48 hours after birth. Not sure where the 60 days came from, maybe this is without an agency?

    I think the trips will go as following:

    -Trip for Orientation (arrive Friday, leave Sunday)

    - When you are matched with expectant parent(s) you will come down as much as you can, normally at least once before birth to meet

    - For the birth (arrive a few days before is best case), then stay for ICPC (total time is NORMALLY between 1 - 3 weeks from what I have seen, sometimes more)

    - Finalization (normally happens between 8 - 9 months, no earlier than 6 months after placement)

    - Come back to visit birthfamily (the MOST important part, living our promises!!) :)

    Hope this helps, I'm sure the info in your packet will talk more in depth & accurate about this.

    Good Luck!!!! How exciting!

    Natalie

  8. Home Study

    in Looking to Adopt

    Posted

    Melissa is correct-- you have to previously have had a homestudy completed, in order to engage in what the state calls "matching activities," unless an arranged contact is being set up for informational purposes only.

    This is why we encourage againers to wait on getting their homestudy update done until they're matched but why newbies have to do their homestudies right away.

    Thanks!! I thought so, but was just wondering.

    And NO Jenny - nothing on my mind I just was curious. ;) After the beating I got with the last one being a surprise I'd be SURE to tell yall if not! Hahaha!!! :)

  9. Home Study

    in Looking to Adopt

    Posted

    I posted this on the Piggy back thread but thought it might be relevant here. I was a sorta-kinda-in-a-way-but-not-really tweener so don't know all the "official" rules.

    Do you have to have your homestudy completed before Abrazo sends calls your way / shows your profile?

    Don't know why this question has been on my mind but thought I'd get it out there to answer since there are about a million smart women on here that know the rules (who all rock oddly enough..maybe there is a "rocking" requirement in the homestudy for Abrazo also? ;) LOL!)

    Nat

  13. Celebrity Adoptions

    in Looking to Adopt

    Posted

    I can't decide how I feel about about Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt....on one hand I don't get them not gettting married at all, I think especially with adoption that sort of "stability" is important for the kids. I also do wonder if she has a sort of "addiction" to adoption. Maybe being uncomfortable just being content (preferring constant change?) maybe having something to do with her background?? I know people who are constantly looking forward because it's too hard to look at the present...it's too personal. But on the other hand I also think it's very neat how they live thier life, seems to love all thier children the same...I also understand the pull, and they have the means. I think as long as they can keep a good balance then it can be a beautiful thing. My mom had 4 kids in 5 years though, so I'm not one to think you need a certain amount of times between kids to raise a healthy family.

    I also very much believe you can have a "pull" to a certain country, even though there are children here that need homes too, I do think you can adopt internationally for your own reasons. Honestly, I have felt a pull toward Ethiopia adoption....not that anything would ever come of it. But I also have a second cousin whose biological father lived in Africa and she is now serving in the Peace Corp in the same area as her birthfamily lives (I believe).

    I also would hate to say that someone with that rocky of a past cannot grow & change into a beautiful strong woman & mother. Sometime I think people with that kind of past were working through something then, and at least they worked through it (not saying that they shouldn't have counseling to be sure of that). Usually the strongest people I know have been through the hardest things in their lives.

    So I struggle with this....going back & forth with my opinions of them.

    Also - I have heard Guy wants thier son to stay with him, but didn't specify Lourdes or thier son they adopted? Not sure if it is true or not but if so what a shame. I felt like that adoption story was rushed & it didn't feel "real".

  16. What made you pick Abrazo?

    in Looking to Adopt

    Posted

    Having already adopted once I had a LONG list of stuff that I needed our agency to be.

    Number 1 was ethical to the birthparents.

    Number 2 was ethical to the adoptive parents.

    Number 3 was knowledgable in open adoption because I know how much support an open adoption can take through the entire life of the child, not just pre-adoption.

    And so on and so on. Our past agency has had a lot of switches in personnel, and much of that personal service was lost sadly in the process, which is why we were looking for another. I must say that cost was another factor as I was not willing to pay the 30,000 that some agencies are looking for.

    My friend was hoping to adopt with Abrazo at the time, and told me about a "nursery note". I had just started talking about another adoption, but figured I would call anyway. I am so glad I did. Angela was so sweet, and I found such a peace talking to her. It's hard to explain except to say that I felt "at home". Is that too corny? Even if it is - it is what I felt. I talked at great length with her, calling her I think multiple times to go through the "process", she didn't tire of talking to me but instead with great patience explained it in detail.

    Even though I knew that nursery note wasn't for us because we hadn't even STARTED all the paperwork yet, it was then that I spoke with my husband about seriously starting another adoption. We decided to start after we moved (which was in the next months). I looked for references from others, the good, bad, the ugly. To my surprise I found nothing but rave reviews, from birthmothers & adoptive mothers alike. This was VERY important to me. Then I found the forum, and after searching all the past posts, all the help & support, I knew that this was perfect for me. I never had to feel alone on this journey again, and I had so much information at my fingertips. Being a transracial adoptive parent this was that much more important to me as my boys get older & the questions get harder.

    Abrazo is patient, gentle, yet do not sugar coat things. They will always be honest with you, and treat every person fairly.

    My favorite thing about Abrazo?

    They are looking for the best possible families for their children, not the best children for their families.

  17. Baby Announcements 2008

    in New Arrivals

    Posted

    We would first like to give all the Glory and Honor to God. Everything in His perfect timing and will. Next we'd like to thank our little one's birth mom and dad for choosing LIFE and for believing in us to love, nurture, and parent their daughter. And we definitely can't thank the ABRAZO family enough for all of their support and patience in assisting us in our journey to parenthood!!!

    Our story with ABRAZO literally started by me following up on and believing in a promise that was placed in my spirit just a day before we contacted them. We can truly say that this whole experience was ordained. In just a months time, we have become parents. Not only that, we have been able to meet and share information with our little one's mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, and auntie while here in Texas. We could not have asked for a better situation all around with our child. She will know without a doubt that her adoption plan was created with love and that she IS loved by so many people.

    We look forward to getting to know the ABRAZO community (now that our online access is up and running - smile Elizabeth :-)

    Thanks every one for the warm welcome and congratulations. One of my new favorite quotes is, "God doesn't give us what we can handle. He helps us handle what we are given!"

    Love,

    Darryl and Nikki :D

    Ahhh praise!!!! You're words just beam out. Welcome & I can't wait to hear more from you both. Ps - now comes the need for PICTURES!!! :)

  18. Personal Motto

    in Abrazo's Chapel Potluck

    Posted

    It's my signature...."I got lost on the way to a dream and found a better one." in the present sense so "I get lost on the way to my dreams and God gives me better ones." That plus "Life is Good."

    My everyday motto isn't a cool saying but more of a meditation where I forcefully sit down with God & put all of my trust in Him with in turn wipes out all of my daily stresses. Maybe "If I trust Him...and trust His plan...why am I stressing? Because I doubt...don't doubt His plan." or such. I tell ya during the worst times I swear I felt weight lifted off my shoulders.

  21. Nursery Notes

    in Looking to Adopt

    Posted

    It is in FACT the exact same couple from West Virginia. You know what they same - Great minds think alike and fools never differ :o:D

    Ha ha!! I was thinking the exact same thing!! :lol: Doesn't take us long to start rallying the troops for these beautiful children & thier mommies-to-be. Even if this couple doesn't match with this expectant mommy, we have our "in" to get them on those books!! :D

    Abrazo-chicks-in-training :P

  23. Nursery Notes

    in Looking to Adopt

    Posted

    Abrazo is in need of qualified families whose profiles may be presented for consideration by a mother who is currently planning to place a Hawaiian/African-American baby girl being born in November. If you are a homestudy-ready parent-in-waiting OR an Abrazo againer with a ready profile to share, please send the Stork a private message, ASAP! Many thanks!

    Praying for this mother-to-be & that hearts will be open & the perfect family is found! :)

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