Don&Andrea

Welcome Natalie and Keith! Sounds like we'll be neighbors after you move. (We live outside of Denton) Send me a PM if you want to get together! Welcome to the forum!

Congratulations to Sophie Mae, her first family and her new forever family! Yay for Big Brother Hendrick! Sending up prayers for many blessings for you all and healing and comfort in this time of transition and healing.

Ooo, Oooo, Oooo! Keeping everyone in our prayers! Blessings to you little one, Welcome to the world!!!!

Bumping this up for a friend Be sure read the entire thread (I know you will Hehehe), there is alot of good info here. The most recent posts are probably more up to date..... Stork, can you please tell us if there is any new info to be added to this list?

Could it be that this is about the latest Nursery Angel? Ooo, I so hope a family is ready to welcome this baby and his/her Momma into their hearts...soon! Lifting up this Mom and her baby, the family God has intended, whomever they may be, and the Abrazo Ladies and their mission......

I remember that post too, Dee! Right before our orientation...three weeks later we were parents! Things are hoppin' at Abrazo! Get those inquiries in!

A beautiful first family photo for sure! Congrats to the newest family! Prayers for peace and healing for his first mom. Blessings to the union you will all hopefully have together!

Adding our earnest prayers for this little one coming to the world soon, for his loving Momma and for the family who will welcome them both!

My Mom is half way through this round of chemo! Oh, and her bloodwork came back and her tumor markers are in a 'normal range'!!! (She says it's all the good food I make for her ) Whatever works Thanks to our forum family for your prayers and support!

What an awesome way to start off this thread! Congratulations to all of you and especially those two kiddos who have so many who love them so!

Jean!!! That is fantastic news! Congratulations to you!

Maybe we can start up this conversation again.......... As Jean said when starting this topic; "Why is it we always want more?" Or, how do you know when you're done? Sometimes I've thought I'm just so grateful to have Clara, how could I ask for more?! I know I'll live my life happy and complete if she is to be our only child. But how do you know? She has been showing some signs that being an only child might not be the best thing for her I feel not greedy, but something else I can't put my finger on, to think we should have another child. I feel strongly that what will be will be and a greater plan will be revealed. I just wish I had a crystal ball............. And I wonder why we feel unentitled (for lack of a better word) to grow our family. Anyone?

Congrats Jessica, on getting that application off in the mail! That's one step closer to making your dreams a reality!Heather and Shawn have a thread on the Joyous Journey section of the Adoptive Parents Forum. It's called....Heather and Shawn It's a great read; Heather has alot to share and there is a happy ending or as I like to say...a happy beginning!

Dateline this Sunday a story about Guatemalan adoption. The trailer looks a bit disturbing but an important aspect of international adoption to explore if that may be in your future.

A hearty, warm welcome to you two! Thanks so much for sharing...you'll fit right in around here When we joined the forum we started at the beginning and read every thread...that's when the 'forum addiction' starts We learned so much and now are blessed to be part of the greater Abrazo family! Read alot, post much! We all learn from hearing from everyone. Looking forward to hearing more from you!

On the wings of angels.......... May God bless Jason Chris and his journey home and may He wrap his loving arms around Jason's grieving family and envelope them in comfort.

Melissa, first of all, give your friend a great big 'Abrazo' hug from us! We experienced a failed placement before we found Abrazo. We were attempting a private, attorney assisted adoption. The relationship was to be open but secretly, we were afraid of that and really had no idea what that meant. Honestly, we figured we would send pictures and letters and visit every now and then when we were in town. I'm ashamed to say that I think the phrase "I don't want them calling all the time or trying to come to our house" might have been uttered in private at some point. The day I took that baby back to his mother's home changed my heart forever. After two + weeks of bonding I felt like I was giving my child to someone else. (Please do not think I am implying that I know what it is to place, I don't mean that.) I think that experience was the closest I could come to empathizing though. My heart broke in a thousand peices. If it was that heartbreaking to me, what must it be like for First Moms who do place? By the time we went to orientation at Abrazo, our biggest fear was that our placement would be closed. I spent the first year of Clara's life afraid that her birthmom might loose contact with us. (now that it's been more than a year, I am secure in our relationship and know that we will always be family.) Having experienced loss through miscarriages and other biological issues and the loss of Aiden in our failed placement, how could I be okay with taking another woman's child and know that she would never see her again or know about her if our placement had been closed? I wouldn't be able to bare it if it were me in her shoes.............. Don't get me wrong, it's not all teddy bears and rainbows. Let's be real. Clara's birthparents are family and it's a relationship like any other that takes some work. What wouldn't I do for my daughter and her First Family? I like what Tina said here........ Exactly, I feel like if you don't know your child's family you would feel like you were always looking over your shoulder. Openess takes away fear, exactly! I appreciate everyone sharing here so much. What a great community of support and knowledge! Melissa, I hope your friend stops in to the forum, send her a link and tell her to post too We'll welcome her with open arms and lift her and her family up!

Oh boy! Great news! I am so hoping this works out and we hear an announcement soon! Thanks for keeping us posted Elizabeth...........

Maybe we can have our worship service in Bartlett during our weekend getaway I am heartbroken for these people. Mostly the birthparents and their child lost.

Welcome Amma Pine! Wonderful to have you here! We were at the Michigan gathering too and think your kid and her kids are really great! Make yourself at home!

I've been thinking about the people who are 'concerned' about or don't understand our open adoption relationships. I think their fear comes from a stereotype of who or what kind of people they assume birthparents are. If they knew our child's birthparents or had ever met a birthparent (they may already know someone who has placed and not even know it!) or for that matter, if they ever met their OWN CHILD'S birthparents.....they may not have the same fears. Maybe they would realize that people who choose adoption for their kids are loving and responsible. And respectful of the relationship their child has with their adoptive parents and value the relationship they have with their birth children. I know Don's family (not all but some) thought we were crazy when Clara's birth father came to our house and stayed the weekend and every time we visited them in Texas. They always asked weren't we afraid they would want her back. Um...no. They are happy with their 'choice' of us as her parents (maybe if we hid her from them or didn't let them see how awesome and happy she is it would be different). Plus, our adoption was legal and handled by professionals by the book so we had no fear legally either. Once they met 'E', most of those fears subsided because they could see he was happy Clara was with us...heck, he told them so! He told them how great we are as parents and how grateful he is that we have an open relationship. I think if I were in a closed adoption situation and 'unaware', I might be afraid too. Seems like secrets and hiding only bring about strife. What is true, is that all those secrets and trying to keep their beginnings away from the kids is likely going to backfire in a big way down the road. I was thinking about trying to understand where these adoptive parents fears might be coming from........maybe understanding the origin of fear can help us help others to overcome it?

That's a great idea Kay. Our minister did a sermon about how God adopted all of us into His family. All of us, regardless of station or health. He did not intend it to be an 'adoption' sermon but to an adoptive mom's ear, it suited the topic well. Even touched on openess. I"ll try to find the passages he used...........

This whole situation is heartbreaking. This statement inparticular is reprehensible... Don't these people know that if they did everything correctly, legally, ethically, then they have nothing to fear. That is if indeed their fear is the birthfamily stealing the child. Sounds to me like the fear is about something else, like you said Tina, insecurities How sad this child and her first mother will likely suffer loss twice thanks to the adoptive parents lack of understanding. I'm with you Tina. Tell it like it is! I'm wondering if the prayer request from them at church has been for protection from the first family, that they will go away. I will pray for peace that surpasses understanding.

Congratulations to Nicolas Adan on finding your forever family! Blessings to you all!

Warm hugs and tender thoughts going out to one special fella. My Christmas wish is for your Forever Family to find their way to you very soon.