Thank you to everyone (old friends, new friends, friends of friends, and family) who has offered us their thoughts, prayers, and well wishes. We are so grateful to everyone who took our "blurb" and sent it on - through email, facebook, or word of mouth. We're amazed at how many other friends then picked it up and shared it with their networks. Sure, this is the entire purpose of networking, but it is still really remarkable to witness it actually happening! (And, hopefully it keeps happening!)
Over the past week, many questions have arisen about the process - so here is a little more information:
- We have already completed our homestudy and have been approved to become adoptive parents. (So, if a birth parent and child finds his/her way to our home - we are already approved!
- Adoption is an expensive process. In addition to homestudy costs (finger prints, safety inspections, etc.) and potential medical expenses, each agency or lawyer facilitates paperwork, court costs, and other "legal" type stuff. Agency costs are usually higher than a private attorney because they provide more services to help facilitate finding "a match." We are using a private (and experienced) attorney instead of an agency for many reasons, financial one of them. However, it means more of the "finding" and "matching" is left up to us.
- We did consider foster-adoption. And, perhaps we will pursue this avenue in the future! However, for now we are hoping to build our family through open infant domestic adoption.
- We have not placed any limitations on race or ethnicity of a child. Both of us feel very strongly that love makes a family, and we would be incredibly blessed to be part of a transracial family.
Have you considered starting a facebook page for your adoption plans? Perhaps it would get more traction if people could "like" it and "share" it there? I know I'd be happy to share it with my 700+ friends. :) Good luck!! Adelle (friend of Lindsay S.)
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