DoubleJofFL

You have such a way with words. What a beautiful and touching poem. May God continue to bless you and your entire family!

Elizabeth you outdid yourself yet again. That announcement has me crying! Congratulations to the newest family and prayers of healing and peace to the first family.

Mari, That was a beuatiful Christmas prayer. Thank you for all you have shared with us. Jeannette

In the past (when I was doing child abuse work), we did notice an increase in the number of cases of abuse reported during tough economic times.

What a great way to start the new year! Congratulations to all involved! Jeannette

Wow! I love to learn new things like that. Thank you for putting it on here. I am going to have to ask my Mom if my Grandpa (who knows all things Catholic) knows these things! J

I just tried the links again and they are still not working. I still got an error message.

I agree Elizabeth and I remember reading in one of our adoption books that with adopted children you should only refer to aunts and uncles as such. (Ie don't refer to your friends as aunt and uncle to your child). Of course they gave a reason why and I don't remember it off the top of my head. I have kept that in my head since reading it.

Finally the first 2008 baby! Congrats on the addition to your family.

And sometimes birthparents ask vague questions... then tell you later what they were really asking. So I would ask the abrazo ladies to please speak to the adoptive parents of the siblings to find out what has really been asked/said to them. I am almost certain most adoptive parents would love to be able to parent a sibling of the child they had already adopted!!

A few weeks ago Shane out of the blue asked "Where are my brothers and sisters?" I explained "You don't have any brothers or sisters here but you do have a birthbrother and a birthsister in Texas." He looked at me and said "Mom, They aren't my birthbrother and birthsister, they are my brother and sister." I said "You are right they are your brother and sister." What insight!! Then I was talking to Shane's birthmother this weekend and she said her oldest had been really mad that Shane wasn't there with them. I didn't know what to tell her. It brought up all the sense of loss that everyone always speaks of. She said he seems to be doing better with it now though. I am sure there will be many more conversations like these in the future as the boys grow up.

Congratulation Erika, Keith and Briton on the new pink bundle in the family.

Wish I could answer any of your questions but since I am not dating at all.... I have no input!

We had been with an agency in OK for 10 months. Then the person who took my place at my old job adopted from Abrazo in 2 months. When my old boss called me and told me I said find out who that agency is. We called Abrazo in Dec 2003, went to Orientation in Jan 2004 and Shane came home in April 2004.

Beth, Paul, Matthew, and baby Elizabeth (as if Matthew isn't a baby still), Congratulations!!!!!! I am so happy for you. I was just saying to Jay yesterday I wonder if Beth and Paul are one bigger yet! May you enjoy Elizabeth's every cry We couldn't be happier for you. JJ and of course BabyShane