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keepingfaith4us

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Posts posted by keepingfaith4us

  7. Financing An Adoption

    in Looking to Adopt

    Posted

    Just wanted to chime in that my employer does not offer a paid maternity leave for mothers (adoptive or biological) either. Any maternity leave is taken with vacation time, and FMLA does not apply in my case like Abrazo's because of less than 50 employees. They did however, want me to spend as much time as I could afford and allowed me to go in the negative, which I was very grateful for.

    We were very impressed with Scott's employers benefit, to say the least. We did not learn about it until after Abrazo urged us to double check with our employers for benefits at orientation. They exceeded our expectations and were very generous with a 4 week paid paternity leave!!!!!!!! Can you believe that?!?!?!? We are very thankful for his employer, they are fantastic.

    In regards to financing an adoption, I admit, I was tempted. Adoption costs were not easy for us to save for, but a priority. I (Scott most definitely not) was tempted to take a personal loan and even take parents up on offers to help out, but after deliberation and hearing Scott's point of view, it wasn't for us. We wanted and needed to do it ourselves. I'm glad we waited. In the moment, was I happy about it.....absolutely not! I personally do not think that how another family chooses to expand their family is any of my concern, financially or any other aspect. It's not my place to form an "is that right" or "is that wrong" opinion, it's their family and I am not walking in their shoes.

    Merae

    • Upvote 5

  9. In Memoriam

    in Abrazo's Chapel Potluck

    Posted

    How many more are out there that have broken their commitment to first parents. Praying that God enlightens their hearts and lights a path to reconnect with first parents, prayers that first families who are missing out on their child’s life by their own choosing find peace in their hearts to journey the way back into these precious children’s lives.

    I echo your prayer, Mari. Amen.

  10. In Memoriam

    in Abrazo's Chapel Potluck

    Posted

    This is a sad story of an innocent child suffering too much! His story is heartbreaking and his attitude towards his health was so very mature for his age. His parents saw his dream of helping other children suffering through and they do gain my respect for that. But honestly, really? If they had a way to contact the furst parents snd did not, how did they ever put their head on their pillows at night with knowing they hadn't shared the news with his first parents? If they are an Abrazo client, then they committed to open adoption. Shame on them for giving open adoption a bad rap. I'm so sorry for the father that learned as he did and I'm also sorry for the Chicks that had to take that call. That's a very sad thing for a father to learn and to learn it like that is just plain disrespectful and cold.

    • Upvote 1

  12. Growing Spiritual Children

    in Abrazo's Chapel Potluck

    Posted

    I made this choice intentionally at the time, because I subscribed to the idea that some families might be led to faith by the arrival of a child in their lives. I still hope this is so. Yet given the secularization of our society, I wonder how many of Abrazo's families have made a dedicated effort to nurture their children's religious faith? How many of Abrazo's families worship regularly, as a family? How many of Abrazo's kids have parents who have made no effort whatsoever to grow in faith since they took their new child home, and as a result, are raising children who have no spiritual foundation whatsoever in their lives?

    Our faith and relationship with God was increased dramatically through our adoption journey and especially since we met M and Jordan was placed in our lives. He has shown me what a wonderful gift it is to parent and I am honored that he uses my relationship with my daughter to grow my faith and teach me about what is important to Him. Just yesterday, I was having a hard day and hadn't had spent much time with Him. After Jordan and I had gone through our nightly routine and I snuggled her in the chair with me for storytime, we started with bible story book. I found as I was reading to her (something we read all the time and in a childrens book nonetheless, about Noah and his faith, the flood and His promises) that He got my attention and used that time to speak to me about my day and my worries.

    We do go to church regularly and love our church family. It is important for us to have Jordan go to church with us and see Him through us. We pray for her to have a thriving relationship with her heavenly Father and accept Him as her God one day when she is ready. As her parents, we want to have her in an environment that we trust she can learn about Him, and the bible and question anything and everything and have fun and create friends while doing so.

    He has used our story, our journey, to grow me as a person and in my faith. I have always had a tender spot for children, but now, something is growing inside of me that is more. I'm not sure what it looks like yet or what exactly the avenue is but I will keep you posted. I am open and want to be used by Him to care for the children that we both love so much!

    Another thing I want to add is that I always feel "safe" and comfortable talking about my faith here on the forum in this community. Just, another reason I am very thankful for this forum and the Abrazo community.

    • Upvote 3

  17. Cancer Survivors Welcome Here!

    in Looking to Adopt

    Posted

    I just wanted to share and encourage anyone that might be looking into Abrazo for an agency and might have fears about not getting approved because you are a cancer survivor. When your heart wants very badly to parent a child, yet you don't know if that will ever happen and live in a state of hope, sometimes fear can "ooooch" in and try to get the best of you. Please take peace in the fact that you are a survivor and that Abrazo will absolutely not hold that against you. In fact, we shared with Abrazo that my husband is a cancer survivor and not only did they accept us, but they helped create our family!

    • Upvote 2

  24. APPLICATION

    in Looking to Adopt

    Posted

    Hi, I am Merae, my husband is Scott. We are from Austin, TX and we submitted our application in earlier this week. We knew Abrazo was the agency for us from our initial contact with them. When the inquiry was sent in we waited and sat with hope that we would get an application packet. Now we wait with hope that we will get an inviation to orienation and an acceptance packet.Hope is a good thing. I realize it may not always be easy, and after reading testimonies that PIW have shared on the forum it may be trying at times, the end result is always a good thing. Hope is resonating with me, tonight as I write this.

    Here I am hoping,

    Merae

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