ElizabethAnn

Welcome, Laurie! We're delighted to have you as part of our Abrazo family! I am so sorry your son's parents didn't keep their promises and were not supportive of your reunion, but "good things come to them that wait!" and we will all keep you and your boy in our prayers in the meantime. You might really find comfort in the stories of some other first moms who placed elsewhere and found support here on Abrazo's Forum while they waited out the years until their children were in a place where they were ready for reunion with or without their parents' blessing... look for posts by Lisa (Linlacor) and Paula, on the Birthparent Blogs. And feel free to launch one of your own, if you'd like. You have amazing wisdom and experience to share, and we all learn best from each other around here. Big hugs to you!

I feel ya, Tina. But if and when you're ready, know that we'll be ready! because I have no doubt another child could need y'all and that God can certainly give you the resources to handle God's greater plans! Hugs...

That's a beautiful testimony, Tina... thank you. And please welcome your friend from church to join Abrazo's Forum, if she needs support from a whole bunch of people who truly do "get it." Let her become Makenzie's "fairy godbirthmother" if appropriate... adoption is always about those with big hearts standing in for each other when someone else can't be there, after all. Big hugs to you both (and to Makenzie, too.)

Abrazo has had more boy placements than girls for a few years, now: http://www.startribu.../144102936.html But we concur with Rochon's concerns about families "limiting themselves", although our concern is more about families limiting the future children, solely on the basis of gender...

Who knew that Mac Powell of the awesome group Third Day is himself a parent-by-adoption? http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-adoption-journey-project-hosts-live-twitter-chat-about-adoption-with-third-days-mac-powell-this-friday-march-30-at-3pm-edt-2012-03-26

Yes, Melissa, single applicants must also provide proof of infertility, too, unless they're interested in the special needs or designated programs... thanks for asking!

So sad... Abrazo was working with a mom with several other children last fall who decided not to place... we just got word that she is presently in jail for the death of that baby, who would have been less than a week old, now. Our hearts go out to the child whose life was snuffed out, the siblings who will grow up with the loss, and the mother who was so ill-prepared for what she thought she wanted most.

From another site... Hope this is helpful.

I've been thinking today of the grandparents of Gavin and Grace, knowing Andrea's mother has been battling cancer, but when I went to Andrea's Facebook page today to post a message, I was saddened to learn that her mother, Barbara, passed away on December 27, 2011. Roger and Barb Smallwood and the Steadmans have been such beloved members of our Camp Abrazo community each summer! Grandma Barb was ill this year, yet still showed up for Camp, bless her heart. I know we'll be remembering and missing her come July. She was so proud of her family, and it was always beautifully apparent to everyone. Our hearts go out to Roger and his both his daughters and their families... please pray for all of them as they mourn the loss of this wife and mother and grandmother who was so special to all of us, as well. Barbara Smallwood, 1941-2011

From Psychology Today: ADOPTION, DISRUPTION, ABANDONMENT, DEATH

Just wanted to add this story to this thread: A Story of Cancer, Adoption & Hope.

This makes a lot of sense to me... whether one is adopting from China or Texas or Ethiopia or Haiti or wherever: don't take a child from a culture or environment without some investment in maintaining a connection and/or returning there. ADOPT A CHINESE BABY, MOVE TO CHINA.

Update: Abrazo asks all families to send an initial supply of ten color copies to the agency, and thereafter, we simply call the closest QuikCopy to make us additional copies if we run out of profiles. Somedays, we send out multiple copies of your profile, other weeks, it may be none, just depending on the demand, so we cannot predict how soon each family may need more copies, nor do we have time to call each family to have them send reprints when the supply runs low, which is why the pickup and delivery service at QuikCopy is useful. However, for those who have access to a professional grade color copier and wish to send a larger initial supply of color copies in hopes of saving on the color copying costs on our end, feel free. (But remember, we need professional quality copies, and on heavier paper stock, please.) All copies are stamped with Abrazo's agency name and contact information, before distribution.

Seems like it took awhile, but Angelina Jolie recently took her son Pax back to Vietnam for a visit with his birthgrandma: http://www.ivillage.com/angelina-jolie-takes-son-pax-visit-biological-grandmother-vietnam/1-a-404861?intcmp=sailthru-widget (Now, if she'll make good on promises to help daughter Zahara reconnect with her birthrelatives...?)

Great idea... one with all three beaming faces showing, please!!!!

"You is kind... you is smart... you is..." A MOM BY ADOPTION! Star of "The Help" Adopts Domestically

Words matter! Please mind yours. http://networkedblogs.com/oHTnz Text appears below in case the link goes bad.

A remarkable story of one congregation's thoughtful focus on infertility during their Rosh Hashanah celebration: click here

Just wanted to wish all our Jewish friends and families a joyous Rosh Hashanah! (And for all those among us who are not familiar with this holiday: learn more here!) To really celebrate in style, try making this Rosh Hashanah Honey Cake!

Get yourself some cookies and milk, and settle into a wingback chair for this grownup bedtime story...

Some more helpful information from our friend Patricia Irwin Johnston: Additional resources: How To Make Adoption an Affordable Option Adoption Benefits ToolKits for Employers & Employees

Abrazo's friend, Patricia Irwin Johnston, is retiring and has graciously given her consent for our use and distribution of this very important article, which happens to be the first chapter of one of her books... we thank her for her many years of faithful service to the infertility and adoption communities, and encourage you to read this in its entirety!