Monday, March 26, 2012

Happy Adoption Day, Bethany Marie!




The best days at Family Life Services are when we get to celebrate an adoption placement with an adoptive family and a birth family.  Monday, February 27th, was no exception as Sean and Shandra adopted their adorable little girl, Bethany Marie! 

Bethany's birthmother, Anna, and some of her family members shared in this special day as Anna placed her baby girl into the arms of the parents she carefully selected.  One of the most emotional moments of placement day is when a birth mother places her child - who has been prayed for, hoped for, and so loved - into the arms of the new mommy or daddy. 

We are amazed that we get to be a small part of the adoption process and are looking forward to seeing the relationship between Sean, Shandra and Anna continue to develop and grow through the days, months, and years to come.  Happy Adoption Day!




Friday, March 23, 2012

Adoption Training Weekend - Resource Links



I told those who attended our training last week that we would post some of our recommended adoption-related websites that, we believe, would be helpful to you so here are the ones we mentioned:

Adoptive Families Magazine - We recommend that you subscribe to the publication but also access the hundreds of online articles that are available on the website.  The articles are categorized and easy to find!

Resolve:  The National Infertility Association - Provides links to support groups in various geographic locations in the US.

Pregnant with Hope - Correlates with the book that we provided to each couple and I recommend that you subscribe to this blog as the posts relate to infertility, building a family, and spiritual encouragement for the journey.

Adoption Learning Partners - Offers affordable online classes pertaining to various adoption topics and issues.  If you choose to take these classes, please request our agency's code from your caseworker to track our agency as the source of referral.

MyAdoptionAdvisor - Offers online, on-demand courses for prospective adoptive parents.  We recommend the class on Adoption Networking & Advertising for each couple.  FLS has a code for a 15% discount for our clients.  Please request the discount code from your caseworker.

Sherrie Eldridge, Your Adoption Coach - Subscribing to her adoption resources on the website will provide you with access to her blog posts, video clips, etc. in your email box.  Author of Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew, Forever Fingerprints, etc. 

Statistically Impossible - "A birthfather in an open adoption who stuck around."  One of the few birthfather voices you will find sharing his story and it is such an important point of view to understand and consider.

My Mind on Paper - Blog written by Kevin Hofmann, a transracially adopted adult and author of Growing Up Black in White

Monday, March 12, 2012

New Beginnings - Adoption Training Weekend

We are preparing to host twelve families this week for our Spring Adoption Training Weekend.  For FLS, this is one of the first steps in the adoption journey - yet, I am aware that this isn't really the beginning for these couples.  Each of them has been through more than we could ever glean from an adoption application.  Years of hoping, dreaming, wishing, longing, doctor's appointments, and infertility treatments have led them to this moment...a new beginning.

Although there is excitement in opening a new chapter, anxiety often accompanies change.  On the opening night of our training sessions, emotions typically run high as couples wonder if anyone else has been through experiences similar to theirs and size up what they perceive to be "the competition" in the adoption world.

I am not naive enough to think that each couple's journey will turn out exactly in the way that they desire - many will - but some may not.  My hope is that God has ordained this moment, for each couple, as an integral part of their unique story of adoption...and we're privileged to be a part of this chapter!

"Every new beginning comes from some other new beginning's end."
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