Jump to content

Dale and Amanda

Forum eLite
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    3,305

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    1

 Content Type 

Posts posted by Dale and Amanda

  4. Home Study

    in Looking to Adopt

    Posted

    Thanks. It's funny. I learned about Abrazo through a family in Memphis. My sister met a woman at a Junior League show (they both were selling their merchandise at the show) and their booths were right next to each other. They got to talking and my sister learned that she had adopted children from Texas. Long story short, I ended up talking to the woman (Jeanna) on the phone for a long time, hearing her adoption stories, and getting her recommendations for Abrazo. I thought it was funny that it took someone from Memphis to help us hear about what ended up being our agency in Texas.

    Leigh, glad you heard about Abrazo! Jeanna is amazing!

  5. New Grands

    in The Family Room

    Posted

    Thank you all for your invitation to join in. I have wanted to post for some time but thought I would be sure Melissa and Steven were chosen for the oreintation first (didn't want to be presumptuous). I sometimes feel like I did as a child when I would ease drop on other people's conversations on my grandparents partyline (guess most of you don't even know what that is). I have learned so very much about open adoption from your incredible posts. I find myself going back to read your previous posts so I can know "the whole story". I have begun praying for many of you and for the birth families. I love to read the encouraging words you have for one another and feel so blessed to know that Melissa and Steven will have such a wonderful support system in place if they are chosen. Thank you all so much for allowing me to learn from you.

    Mimi

    Mimi, my dad lives out in the middle of nowhere, and had a party line up until about 10 years ago. I am all too familiar with one...and am thankful that he isn't on it now!

    Welcome to the forum. We don't always agree on things, but we do care about and support one another! I hope to meet your Melissa soon as we also live in Memphis.

  9. Speaking of "real parents"

    in Looking to Adopt

    Posted

    With the continued question of "real" family, why wouldn't a couple exhaust all efforts to have a biological child? I know of (extended) families that don't accept an adopted child as a true part of their family. I know that the homestudy scared the tar out of me. What if a social worker thought I didn't deserve to parent???? That fear paralyzed me for a while and halted our adoption plans. What if an expectant woman didn't choose me? Another very real fear!

    I have said many times that adoption is not for the faint-of-heart. I tell people that they did everything but a rectal exam when talking about what we had to go through to be paper-pregnant. Because ours were both BOGs and happened in a total of 16 days for the two of them, many in our life act as if adoption is easy. Not at all, regardless of the time frame!

    As for the "customary laws of adoption," we go with the flow. I am still struggling to get into contact with Arianna's mom. She has expressed the desire for contact, but I think it terrifies her. With Nichole's mom things are up and down. All I can do is continue to do my BEST to maintain contact and that openness. Right now I defer to their first moms. Later, I will factor in each girl's feelings. Letting D know that Arianna really wants to see her might help, but since Arianna doesn't really get it just yet, it might not have as much impact. Arianna knows that we see C and her son...and asks why she can't see her mom and siblings. I continue to tell her that D is not ready, that it is still difficult for her.

  20. Putting up a Praise!!!

    in Abrazo's Chapel Potluck

    Posted

    I knew that this thread was around here somewhere. I just have to share as I am SO VERY EXCITED!!!

    Many of you know that the agency we used for Arianna's adoption had their license revoked earlier this year and were shut down. I was terrified that we would never be able to contact Arianna's mom, as we had no good information on her. I have been reading this blog where people have shared their (mostly negative) experiences with the agency. Today I went to read it, and SHE WAS THERE!!!! I don't mean to be shouting, but I have been laughing and crying since I first read her post. I replied quickly on there and then e-mailed her at the addy given. Can you tell I am excited????!!!!

    Arianna is so sensitive and it has always been difficult with only sending pics and letters through the agency as that was all she wanted. Now there is no go-between, so please pray that she is open to dealing with us on a more regular basis. I love having access to Nichole's family and hope to have that with Arianna's as well!

  24. Celebrity Adoptions

    in Looking to Adopt

    Posted

    Interesting. I can see where there could be difficulties in many areas considering their situation. Right or wrong, their marriage will be an issue for some. Adopting a 14-month-old at the age of 62 does increase the chance of a second loss in the not-so-distant future. I do think that the possibility of remaining more in touch with the country of origin would be possible with someone of decent wealth. I can certainly go to Texas at least yearly easier than I could China!

    Maybe the Ukraine is truly putting children's needs first rather than taking payment from prospective parents (especially ones with certain wealth)?

×
×
  • Create New...