Stork Central

Some say old friends are the best ones, and while we think that new friends are pretty awesome, too, it gives us great joy to have the opportunity to work with old friends more than once! So it was last year, when one of our beloved birthmom clients from years gone by and one of our former adoptive families both came back around the same time, and found in each other the perfect match! Today, that match became a lifetime friendship, as one faithful birthcouple and the adoptive parents of their dreams forever joined their two families in a loving plan for the future of their newborn daughter. Congratulations to these four proud parents, to four excited birthsisters, to one new brother-by-adoption, and to all our Summer Strollers of 7/05, as entire their group moves one placement closer to completion!

As suggested by our latest orientation grads this weekend... how about your "Top Ten" lists of things you hate to hear when you're infertile? Starting with: "Just relax! Go adopt! Then you're sure to get pregnant." Grrrr...

What do you get when you take one family from New Jersey... stick 'em in San Antonio for a weekend in May '05 with all the rest of the Peabiscuits... give 'em a trial size match to test their mettle... then match 'em with the "real thing"... allow a few months for Mother Nature to grow that baby... and toss in the magic of open adoption?? You get a super-sized Garden State miracle like what happened today in West Texas, where one faithful Abrazo couple and their son gained two daughters/sisters at once: a toddler and a newborn; and one trusting Texas birthmom, her eldest daughter and courageous birthgrandmother permanently grafted a loving East Coast branch onto their family tree. May they all find this experience has blest them with both roots and wings, and may all four of these children adjust to such big life changes swiftly and well, with the support of some very extraordinary parents!

Some say that the darkest of storms are followed by the best of rainbows, and so it was for one faithful forum couple who were also graduates of 10-4, Good Buddies (9/05.) They flew to Texas last month in pursuit of a case that in the end, was not meant to be theirs, but indeed, that voyage was but a dress rehearsal for The Real Thing, which happened this very evening, when they journeyed across the nation to meet their four day old daughter, and just in time for her new daddy's birthday! We thank them for their fortitude, their patience and their optimism, and we ask God's blessing on this new family and the dear birthparents who made this little miracle possible! Ευτυχή γενέθλια, μπαμπάς! Με την αγάπη από την κόρη σας

Some things to remember when considering adoption planning in Texas: * The birthfather does not have to sign a consent in order for the courts to terminate his rights without his permission, but the party seeking termination must prove to the courts that a diligent effort was made to locate him, that he did receive due notice of the lawsuit, and that termination of his rights is in the best interests of the child. * There is no minimum "age of consent" required to place a baby for adoption: Texas teens may relinquish their rights without their parents' knowledge or consent, but must seek parental permission or a judicial consent in order to abort a pregnancy. * Birthparents cannot officially place a baby for adoption until at least 48 hours after the birth, however, if the relinquishment was properly executed after this 48 hour delay, there is also no reclaim period during which the decision can be voluntarily withdrawn by the birthparent. * In Texas, there are no laws in place to enforce the terms of open adoption agreements, therefore any such understandings are considered the voluntary commitment between the birthparent(s) and adoptive family, meaning agencies/attorneys/courts cannot enforce compliance between the parties after finalization. * It is against the law for birthparents to seek or accept payment or gifts of value from the adoptive family in exchange for placing a child for adoption. * It is against the law for adoptive parents to offer gifts of value or make direct payments for birthparent expenses in conjunction with adoption planning; it is also illegal to demand repayment of maternity support should birthparents change their minds about placing and elect to parent. Have questions? Call Abrazo for more information, or for referrals to board-certified family lawyers who can offer legal advice regarding adoption laws in the Lone Star State!

A new life, a new family... what a wonderful way to begin a bright new year! And for one of our couples who graduated with the 10-4, Good Buddies! orientation weekend of 9/05, this new beginning was made extra-special by yet another new member of their family, the oh-so-dear birthmom of their darling newborn daughter. She so wanted them to be present for the birth, they'd even spent Christmas in Texas in anticipation of that event! But when the doctor pushed back the due date back closer to Valentine's Day, they headed for home, still thankful for the opportunity to have met the birthmom (who kept insisting the doctor didn't know what he was talking about, that her baby was coming sooner than later.) Remember the old saying, "Mother knows best"? Well, she did! Her baby girl was in too much of a hurry to wait on our Good Buddies to arrive, but they got there as soon as they could, and spent a weekend together so special, they'll each remember it all their lives. Congratulations to our first baby of the New Year, hugs and kisses to both her families... and here's wishing plenty of renewed hope and faith to all our other parents-in-waiting, whose turn is surely coming-- sooner than they know!

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

One of the best things we can do for our friends is to return the favor, or better yet, pay it forward... one family from our "Storkjackers" did just that, when they took placement early then referred some friends of theirs, a childless couple who joined 10-4, Good Buddies! (9/05), then sent friends of theirs "Bobbing"... now all three couples have good news to celebrate, as the second family took placement of a beautiful baby boy today, thanks to his loving birthparents and a very wise choice. Now the third of the friends are looking forward to a baby of their own in the year ahead--here's hoping they'll all come show off their little ones at Camp next summer.

Some say the best gifts come in the smallest packages, but for one loving Texas birthmom, the best gift she could give her newborn son was too big to fit any gift box; it was a Mississippi family from our Summer Strollers, 7/05, and surely he and his birthmom were the best Christmas present they ever could even hope for! Congratulations to all of them, and best wishes for a wonderful New Year's celebration together in San Antonio-- after all, they have the best little reason of all to stay in this year and count their blessings!

"Everything happens for a reason." It sounds more trite than comforting when said to those in crisis, but that doesn't make it any less true... When a couple in the midst of their first adoption out of state found themselves in the midst of a horrific custody battle, they couldn't see a reason for it, but it turned out to be a little boy in need of a forever family who would storm heaven and earth to make him theirs for always. When a birthmother moved here from out of state, only to be abandoned by her private adoption attorney, she couldn't see a reason for it, but it turned out to be Abrazo's gain, as we were privileged to get to know her and share in the most important decision of her life. And when the two found each other, it was a momentuous blessing for one newborn baby girl, whose future is now secure, thanks to the role each played and due to the faith that every person in her birthstory invested in her outcome. As a result, a birthfamily has gained peace of mind, an adopting family has gained a darling daughter, and Bobbing for Squirrels, 10/05 have gained yet another reason to celebrate this Christmas season! Sometimes, the nicest of surprizes come at the most unexpected times... because surely, everything does happen for a reason!

'Tis the season when angels take on special importance in our lives, and so it was for our newest set of parents! This couple from Bobbing for Squirrels (10/05) had thought they'd found the perfect match and were expecting a baby boy, but they found out that life truly is what happens while you're busy making other plans! so today, they met the angel of their dreams, a baby girl just ready for a mommy and daddy who were ready for anything! We send them home with our best wishes for the happiest of holidays, and we send healing thoughts to the loving birthmom (herself an angel!) who put faith on the line to give her daughter her best chance at her brightest future. Blessings, all!

Those with small children at home may be familiar with the Veggie Tales version of the story of the fiery furnace and how great faith saved Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from certain destruction. Those with Bibles at home may recall King Nebuchadnezzar's pronouncement after freeing the trio from the furnace: "May you prosper greatly! It is my pleasure to tell you about the miracles and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. How great are His signs, how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, his dominion endures from generation to generation." (Daniel 4:1-3, New International Version.) Those with connections to the PeaBiscuits (5/05) may know why this story has special significance on today, of all days, as another of those families, whose faith led them through insurmountable odds, took into their arms and into their hearts their tiny new son, weighing less than five pounds, but full of potential (and gorgeous, as well!) May God bless this new forever family and the birthmom and birthdad who made this little life possible.