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Congratulations Don and Andrea and Clara on your newly expanded family! Blessing to all and may you all share much love and joy!

Congratulations and best wishes to the newest Abrazo family!

Hopefully just sent a TX couple to you via Indiana! Coincidently, an old friend just contacted me on behalf of friends of a colleague, remembering we had used a TX agency, and I was happy to give you a glowing recommendation.

I'd say that's an obnoxious headline!

Congratulations to the newest Abrazo family!!

Welcome mgarcia2411. It's good to be proactive and there are lots of things you an do while you are waiting . . . most of them involve learning as much as you can! If you haven't already, you can check out all the topics under the "wanting to adopt" section of the Forum. Here you'll find all sorts of good information, there's also a "suggested reading" thread -- choose a couple of books that sound good to you and start reading. Especially read some of the books on open adoption. ISeveral of these books are encouraged reading before orientation -- you'll be ahead of the game if you have them read already. You can also make calls to find out about agencies or independent social workers who do homestudies in your area-- while it may be early to start, it's not too early to investigate the possibilities and find out the policies/procedures/timeframes/costs of the available places. I know there's more, but I just looked at the clock -- I'm going to be late--oops.

Thanks for sharing Bee. How wonderful for all of you!

Congratulations to the newly expanded family!!!

Congratulations, to the newest Abrazo family and welcome to this little angel! May you grow and flourish surrounded by the love of all your family members!

Celebrating here for the newest Abrazo family!!!! What a happy day! Congratulations Linda and Guy and little Heath and prayers for his first family.

I've never cared for this term either. We have marked the day Kate's adoption was finalized, for each of the past 2 years, in a way that celebrates the family we've become. We do something all together and remember the day and its importance as a step in the wonderful journey we took. If other children join our family, we'll mark those dates too in the same way - -celebrating the days our family expanded, with the focus on all of us as a family unit.

CONGRATULATIONS to the newly expanded family and the first Abrazo tots of the year!!!

My thoughts have been with you throughout the day, Elizabeth (and your entire family). May you be comforted in your grief.

Hurray! An extra Happy Thansgiving to you guys!!

A wonderful Thanksgiving indeed!! Congratulations to the newest Abrazo family. Enjoy these precious first moments!!

Congratulations to the newest Abrazo family!!! Many blessings to you all!!

I too am thinking of the heartbreak this woman is facing and the uncertain future of her 4 children. May the right family be found quickly to allow them all peace and comfort and stability.

What a wonderful weekend! Congratulations to the newest families! Suzi and Ben and Collin! and David and Tammy and Aiden! Wishing many blessings for ALL the members of your newly expanded families.

Hmmm... The priest who gave me my first communion and presided over my marriage (and who is now a bishopand a specialist in canon law), had also become an adoptive father when he adopted an adolescent boy about 25 years ago. What a nice story (the 2nd). The story of the Indian priest doesn't give enough info, but it seems a bit dicey to me.

Oh boy - that is so sad and disturbing. The images alone are distressing, but after reading the story about what goes on there I cannot fathom anyone allowing children to stay there . . . Does the value of keeping a parent and child together for that time outweigh any negative impact on the child, do you think? Not in this case, with the envoriment such as it is. The photo of a little girl who shared a cell with her mother and 4 other inmates illustrates this -- what in the world will that child be exposed to, living in close qurters with those 4 others, and behind bars?? And how many do you think go on achieve what might be called an "optimal future" afterwards, with this kind of start in life? I think the author stated it best when he stated that he didn't really wonder what would become of them . . . Much as I like to believe that everyone has the potential to rise above their circumstances, it's something to think about. Yes - it's a story that will stick with you.

Congratulations to the new families of baby Sydney and baby Luke. May all your lives be filled with much joy and love!

Great idea - and would be especially easy to make duplicate containers for each family. Thanks, Suzi!

Glenn, My heartfelt sympathies are with you during this time of sorrow. Sending prayers of comfort and peace for you and all who loved Priscilla.

Congratulations to the newly expanded family!

Congratulations to the newest Abrazo family. Wishing many blessing to you all!