Susan

Welcome to the world, Eli! We are keeping everyone involved in our prayers. Enjoy these early and precious days Michelle and Jeff! Susan

What a wonderful announcement -- and welcome little boy! Congratulations Wendy and Jason -- and we will be praying for you, the little one and his birthmama! Can't wait to see photos and learn his name -- Susan

It seems we are not so lucky, Elizabeth! It looks like Virginia requires a full new homestudy. This is the word from the agency down here that is working with us this time around. I am getting a second-opinion from the agency that did our homestudy in 2005 in hopes that it is not true! Oh well, guess I cannot go shopping yet...

So I have a question about the 5 visits, held over 3 distinct times -- Does this mean that one visit could be 1) joint 2) Bill only and 3) Susan only and this counts as 3, and then there are two more separate visits?? How many visits are required by Texas to be in the home? In VA, only visit has to be in the home, but I have some memory that Texas requires more than one home visit... Finally, thanks so much Melissa and Adam for the traffic about full homestudies and updates. We are just starting our homestudy process again for #2 and I need to check again with our social worker. So much has changed in 3 years for us -- new home, new community, new jobs, Tasia is here, new agency doing our homestudy, etc... that we may need a whole new one. It would be nice if we only need an update! Susan

Yes, AshG, I believe that Laurie is right -- Abrazo does not fully accept applicants into the program until after you complete an orientation weekend. So the next step after submitting an application is waiting to hear about being invited to an orientation. Good Luck! Susan

Welcome AshG -- It is great to meet you over the Forum and welcome to the Abrazo community! To help answer your question, I would say it all depends. My sense is that there is no set time and it all depends on the needs Abrazo has or foresees at the time your application arrives on their desk. You may hear quickly if you fit what they are looking for right now, or it may take longer if they are waiting to see how other matches or placements unfold. Life at Abrazo is in a constant state of motion so one never knows what can happen on any given day. All I can say is that it will happen when the time is right, and when it is meant to be... Good Luck! Everyone on the Forum is here for you on your journey ahead! Susan

Welcome Jenny!! Please know that we are here for you through it all -- this Forum is an amazing place and you can lean on everyone here through your adoption journey -- get ready, it is quite the ride!! Susan

Congratulations to all involved...and welcome to the world, little girl! Susan

Glad to hear that Matthew is ok, and that Christian survived the experience too! I must admit that the photos of them are mightly cute...hope Matthew's face is not too swollen... Susan

We are so happy for you Hope and Joel!! Congratulations and lots of best wishes from here! Enjoy your time in Texas! Susan

Yay!! Another WO baby and another GIRL -- all in one week!! Gosh, has the Stork been busy and in the middle of orientation too... Enjoy, enjoy these early days. Prayers too for the birthmama and birthsister. Susan

Congratulations Karen and Bernie -- I am so thrilled to hear the news, and to hear how close you are with all involved!! Enjoy these early precious days! Susan PS -- and I love her name!

I too would like to welcome you Melissa! And I agree with Karen. I know how hard it is to wait, but I am sure that Abrazo will get back to you as their schedule allows. I too was one of those ansy people who kept calling when we were sending in our application in 2005, and in fact I think I drove the Abrazo gals a little crazy! but once we got to orientation and then started to watch what was happening daily through the Forum, I realized all that the Abrazo gals have on their plate everyday! When we then went through our adoption journey with Abrazo, and they were there for us in the middle of night (on several occasions) and at a moment's notice, I realized all that they do. And the funny thing is that Tasia came into our life right at the perfect time.. I know how hard it is to wait when you are so ready. Know that we are all here for you. Susan

How wonderful to see this news Cathy and Brian!! Enjoy your early precious days with Josie -- you look so very happy in the photo! Susan

Wow, I cannot wait to hear the whole story -- and how wonderful that this all came together! Blessings to all involved... Susan

We continue to pray for birthmother and baby....

Hi Runyan -- Go up to the top right of this screen and in the banner you will see Gallery Calendar Members, etc... Click on the Gallery and you will see a set of options. Click on the third set down (New Arrivals) -- the first photo is the new one of John, Nina, Hendrick and Sophie! Good luck! Susan

Yay!!! She has arrived!! I am just thrilled to hear the news and congratulations John, Nina and Hendrick!! Susan

Welcome to the forum Melanie and Joe. Call Angela about the tax returns she will let you know what is best to send with your application. Good luck and hope to hear of your journey to growing your family through adoption. Char Yes, best to ask Angela, but I think it is fine to send your 2006 returns. Welcome again Melanie -- Maybe we will meet you at a future orientation -- we are returning to Abrazo to adopt #2!

Welcome Melanie to you and Joe! You will find Abrazo to be an amazing community -- led by the great staff in San Antonio -- and filled with lots of amazing adoptive families and birth families and adoptees! This Forum is a very special place and everyone here will be with you every step of your journey. There is also a great contingent of folks in New Jersey so you've got support all around! Susan

Hi Fabi and Paul -- Congrats Congrats!! I love the photo on the Gallery -- he is adorable! Enjoy these early and precious days... Susan

Bill and I just got back from seeing Juno -- and we both really loved it! We saw in at the downtown movie theatre near campus (Va Tech) and it was packed with college kids -- average age was probably 19! I thought it was so great that so many young people were seeing this movie and I am thrilled what it does to shed more light on adoption, especially on really impressive birthmothers! Yay, go Juno! I completely balled my eyes out as Juno was giving birth and afterwards. All I could do was cry for our birthmother, our birthfather, and all birthparents. I too cringed at Vanessa in those early scenes, but by the end when she had the note framed on the wall, I found that my feelings for her became more caring and supportive. I think Juno saw something in Vanessa's soul in the scene at the mall that touched her deeply, and I wonder if that is why she decided to follow-through on the placement with her. While I really liked Mark in the beginning, I found myself rather disgusted with him by the end. I think Abrazo should make this movie a REQUIREMENT for all adoptive parents BEFORE they come to orientation. The Vanessa personality is unfortunately more common than we as adoptive parents collectively care to admit. Had many of us adoptive parents not had the amazing experience of orientation, and of our Abrazo Angels, I fear that many of us would pose such questions to prospective birthparents. I am so glad that Abrazo is there to help us understand what this process is really about. More to process, but suffice it to say -- go Juno! Susan PS -- And Bill loved the movie too -- and laughed the whole time -- so I definitely say to those spouses out there who do not want to go...go, go, I bet you'll like it...

You are amazing Tina!!! I am so thrilled that the spirit moved you so and that you spoke out! You really spoke from the heart, and about your own personal experience, and that is what I believe can really change people's hearts. You may never know the chord that you struck in the hearts of others yesterday. You probably planted a lot of seeds that may not germinate right away, but may in the long term. I cannot wait to hear what happens next... You give us all the strength and courage to have such conversations with the folks in our lives when the time comes. Susan

Thank you so much for all of your support and well wishes! And it is great to hear from Amanda, Brenda, Susan and others about the challenges and joys of adding #2! Hi to the Mohlers -- I too hope we can share the same orientation! Best of luck on your journey for your second adoption! It is so wonderful to share our journeys with each other -- Susan

Hi Tina -- I have thinking about your post all day. I wish I had some words of advice about your fellow church members...but I just wanted to say that I am so sorry that you have to go through this. I am constantly amazed at how many people in our life (and in some cases the closest of friends) just do not get how special open adoption is. Something that means so much to us, is feared by some of our closest friends. I have to believe that the more we tell our personal story, the more that the people around us with start to see the beauty in this experience. I share the passion and excitement of our newly established relationship with our birthmother, and I am taken aback when they are not jumping for joy with us... When we wrote this year's holiday card with our annual news, the largest paragraph was the one about our meeting with Lisa, Tasia's birthmother, at Camp Abrazo. This truly was the highlight of our year. I secretly hoped that our friends would read the emotion in our words, and begin to understand. I can only believe that if we continue to talk about this special relationship that someday everyone in our life will begin to also see the beauty in this relationship. By walking in the openness, maybe in some way we are planting seeds for openness, trust and the release of the fear to happen in others. Take good care, and good luck with your colleagues at church. Susan