Private Adoption ?

[ocanfield]

I've always been interested in adopting and I'm really interested in a domestic adoption...I'd love to look into an open private adoption.

Has anyone done this? Where can I go to look into it more?

[cravnp99]

yep, I've done it.... best advice is to just start telling everyone you know to get the word out that you are looking to adopt. You never know where/how the connection will be made to find your LO!

This might be a good resource to get you started:
http://members.journeytoadoption.com/

We followed some of their suggestions/principles.. We sent letters out to friends/family in July... found a potential first mom in late October and our LO was born Jan 3rd! She's 17 months old now!

Our connection came through a church... my mom is the secretary at our home church and the pastor's daughter called on behalf of one of her friends who was looking for a family for her unborn child. We were in the "right place and the right time." and it all worked out great!

[ocanfield]

WOW....what a miracle! That's what I was thinking...just have to have some talks with my husband and see what his thoughts are still...are little one is 4 months old, so not sure when we'd want to adopt, but I'd love to be able to nurse a baby I adopted if I could

Thanks for you suggestions!

[averysmom]

We are actually in the process right now. My dh and I went to a church confrence about a year ago and during the confrence we both felt like God wanted us to adopt at some point in our lives. We have 2 bio children, ds is 5 and dd is 3. We were at a wedding in May and our childrens pastor's wife asked me if we were intrested in adopting, my heart jumped. I knew that the financial aspect of it would be challanging. We went home and I talked to my dh and at first he said no, but after much praying he agreed to meet with the birth mom. This was on Saturday and we met with her the next Sunday. Then after doing some research dh found out that through his work we have adoption benifits and that they would cover legal fees, medical expences, etc. up to $10,000. We took this as a hudge blessing. We met with an attorney the next week, right now he's drawing up the paper work.

Today, I'm going with the birth mom to see a sonogram. It's been an amazing ride, God has had his hand in the whole process. It's not over yet, the baby is due June 27 and things will progress more when the baby is here. Our prayer is that things go through the way God has planned, we want his will, not ours.

BTW, we will have a open adoption. She will be allowed visitian. However, in the state of TX we can't put any visits in the paper work so she just has to trust us. SHe will get pics and updates pretty often. We hope and pray that we have an open relationship. So far, so good.

[mother_04_07]

[ocanfield]

You all make me want this even more. You know when something just keeps jumping out at you and keeps entering your life some way or another, it just seems like God is pointing you in that direction? I've been getting those feelings more and more, so I'm hoping my husband will too and we can start the process! Maybe there is a little one out there waiting for us!