Children's Adoption Books

Children books about adoption are a great way to introduce the idea of adoption at a young age. Here is just a sampling of what I found on Amazon.com. We already own a few of these, but there are so many more I need to order!


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What are some of your favorites?

Imagine

Pass Along Cards

I could have lumped this in with my finding ideas yesterday, but I think pass along cards deserve a post all to themselves. (That, and give me a break, I'm trying to do something new each day for 30 days!)

I LOVE pass along cards. My FAV place to get them is www.spacesforfaces.com . We just ordered new cards and they have been awesome to work with us. (Seriously, we changed our design like a dozen times!)
Get your pass along cards and then give them to EVERYONE you know and leave the EVERYWHERE you go. Going out to dinner? Leave a couple with your tip. Mailing your bills in the mail? Throw a few in with your bill. Pin them on billboards around town, leave them on cash registers when you buy something at the grocery store. I have even left them on gas pumps when I refuel the car. Sending out Christmas cards? Throw a couple in each card. Go a step beyond that and get your family to include them in their cards too. I know it sounds like a lot of cards, but they really don't cost much. We just ordered 500 custom cards for $35.

When our new cards get here (probably on Monday, because they ship super fast too!) I have friends begging me for my cards. They both have small online businesses and they are going to throw my cards in with each of their orders. My cards are going to end up all over the US! I've also been throwing them in with the items I sell on eBay.

One of two things can happen when you leave a pass along card. Nothing at all or something wonderful like happened for Que and Brittany. Read their pass along card story HERE.

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I should also mention that after we did pictures for our new cards and they were in the works, I had a great suggestion made that we will use in the future. A friend commented that she really liked our new professional pictures because they show are faces so well and our beautiful smiles. Unfortunately, that photographer doesn't like to sell his copyrights so we couldn't use that picture on our cards. But next time we will try to do a better head shot for at least one of the pictures.

Some finding ideas

Open adoption is awesome because the birth mother gets to choose the family that feels right for her child. Because of this, it is all that more important to spread the word when you are looking to adopt.

Do you have an adoption blog or an online profile? Change your email settings so that EVERY TIME you send an email those addresses are included in your signature line. EVERY email I send has the following:

Savannah
Utah
Approved to adopt with LDSFS since January 2008
Please visit our family blog! http://countlesstomorrows.blogspot.com
Don't forget to check out our adoption blog! http://joshandsavannahadopt.blogspot.com

Our LDSFS Profile: https://itsaboutlove.org/ial/profiles/7275236/ourMessage.jsf

Visit our Parent's Profile Page: http://www.parentprofiles.com/profiles/db23565.html

Another thing I love to do is when I leave comments on other blogs, I always end it by saying "We are looking to adopt. Check out our adoption blog at http://joshandsavannahadopt.blogspot.com."

I LOVE to leave this on high traffic blogs like Cake Wrecks. I try to be one of the first to leave a comment so everyone else who leaves a comment behind me will see it. I try to do this 2 or 3 times a month. EVERY TIME I do it, the traffic to my blog increases astronomically and almost always someone will leave a comment on our adoption blog and tell a brief summary of their own adoption stories.

You never know how you will meet your birth mother so don't limit yourself. Step out of your comfort zone and speak up for yourself. You are your best advocate.

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What have you done to increase your finding efforts?

Update on the Christmas Cards

I just got another email about the Christmas cards. Because of high demand they are moving the date up so you have to order by THIS SATURDAY. Here is the email I received.

I went to the blog that posted the link for the free cards and this is her update

Update 11/16/09: The free photo card offer from SeeHere has been limited to only the 4x8 size and this offer expires on Saturday, November 21. I apologize for the change to this coupon code, but it was something I was unable to predict or control. Due to a higher response than expected, SeeHere needed to limit this free photo card offer. You still have time to redeem this offer before Saturday.

Anyway I thought I would post this so you knew in case if you were going to do them you have to follow this now... thanks

Deals

Because I spend way to much time on the Internet and because I belong to way to many groups I have a couple of deals I want to share.

Have you made your Christmas cards yet? How would you like to get 50 for FREE? Yes, I said FREE! I'm not a big fan of Christmas cards but even I might do them this year. Here is the email I got last week:

This deal is awesome.. Who doesn't love free things? I do.. It is totally completely free, no shipping, no tax, and no product cost of any sort you don't even have to leave a credit card number since its $0.00. Anyway jump on it expires Novemeber 30th...

Go to http://www.seehere.com/ Register. Make your photo card it can be a 5x7 or 4x6 any style. Order 50 of them and then Use coupon code freebies4mom-1109...

Whew who... I just love PYP... I have picked up quite alot of things for cheap or free..

**Update, because of high demand this promo has changed some. They changed the date, but now it's been chagned again to November 30th. Now you can only get the 4 x 6. I just ordered mine and I can't wait to get them. 50 FREE Christmas cards!

Another friend replied back that she did and order in her name and one in her husbands name and the deal worked again so now she is getting 100 free Christmas cards!

Josh's aunt tipped me off onto the next two websites.
http://www.babysteals.com/ and http://www.kidsteals.com/

Here is a little bit from their blog that explains how they work.

At BabySteals.com (and kidsteals.com) we sell one quality baby or maternity product every day at 50-80% off until it sells out. It's not just a deal, it's a steal! A 'BabySteal'!

No, we're not stealing and reselling babies. We drop one amazing steal a day at 9am MST until it's gone, and they sell out fast. Once we're sold out, you lost out. On the weekends we give you a second chance on steals we still have, and you might get lucky and find more than one Steal a Day!

I haven't purchased anything from these websites yet, but I check it out most days. Some days they sell out super fast (that's always the days I wish I could purchase from them!) They are awesome deals that shouldn't be missed. Today they had a cute kids jacket. Normally it sells for $70, but they had it for $29.50.

Enjoy!

Baby Blues - Adoption Style

As in dealing with infertility isn't enough, parents who adopt may also have to deal with Post Adoption Depression. Think of it like Post-Partum Depression, but minus the labor and delivery.

Here is two great articles you can read to learn more:

3 Cute Kids Blog

Adoption.org

Ally

Josh had to work out of town all week. It was a rough week for me.

I had to go to Vernal on Friday to get a few things so I decided I was not coming home without a new kitten. We decided we are a three kitten home and it felt empty without Missy.

First I went to the pet store. They had four kittens and they were cute, but they just didn't seem like they belonged with us. So then I went to the Animal Shelter. They must be terrified of law suites because I got a big lecture about not sticking my fingers in the cages. If I wanted to see one, they would get it out for me. So I picked on out, they wouldn't even let me hold it!

I picked out a cute calico. They put her back in the cage and said there was paperwork to feel out. Long story short, I cried in their office for 10 minutes because I had NO IDEA I had to have written consent from my landlord. They were closing in 10 minutes and there was no way to get it before closing. I sat in my car and cried for another 10 minutes. Then I came home kittenless and heartbroken.

My despair didn't last long because the next day Josh's mom called to say she had seen a sign at the store. I called the number and 15 minutes later I was holding this little girl. She has been nameless for the last 24 hours while we tried out countless names on her. Pyro doesn't like her, but Pyro doesn't like change, or anyone for that matter. Zipper is adjusting, mostly he is fighting jealousy issues.

Welcome to the family Ally

Families Supporting Adoption

Did you know the National Families Supporting Adoption has it's own website AND it's own blog?

Check them out at:

http://familiessupportingadoption.blogspot.com/

http://familiessupportingadoption.org/

Also, did you know about their new logo? Add it to your blog and use it as a button to link to one of the above websites.

Adoption Book Highlight

Adoption starts with a lot of paperwork. Back ground checks, family information, medical history, portfolios, and the birth mother letter. The letter, for us, was the hardest thing to write. I bought a book, "Reaching Out The Guide to Writing a Terrific Dear Birthmothe Letter," by Nelson Handel. I absolutely loved it! It has so many suggestions, tips, and advice that I would recommend it to anyone. I believe I bought mine at www.adoption.com but you can also buy it on Amazon.com. If anyone wants more tips on writing their dear birth mother letter, I would love to visit with and proof read yours. Most importantly, just write from the heart. The Lord will help you.

Artwork

Over the last year I have tried to add some artwork to our home that, at least to me, helps focus on adoption. These are my favorites.

Adoption Apparel

Here are a few online stores where you can purchase adoption apparel. I have included just a few samples, but click on the store link so you can view their entire selection.

Many Hearts, One Beat

Cafe Press

Adoption Mama was my favorite website, but it says it is temporarily closed. But they have a lot of stuff on the Cafe Press website HERE. Don't forget The R House Couture that I featured a few days ago HERE.

Do you have a favorite place you go to buy adoption apparel? Please leave a comment and tell us where to look.

Adoption Advertising and Referral Agencies

Have you been looking for quite a while and don't know what to do next. Consider using a finding agency. Their fees are anywhere for $800 to $5000 (that I know of). They will help match you with a birth mom. You will still need to hire someone to do your home study and legal work. If you are working with an agency like LDSFS this could be a great addition to your finding efforts because between their fees and LDSFS fees you would still pay less than using other agencies that charge $20K+.

For us, right now, we have chose not to use a finding agency. Every step we take in our adoption journey is started with a prayer and much thought. We have not felt like it is something we need to do at this time. Instead we have been using Parent Profiles for the last several months. Oh, side note on them. Their fees for LDS couples will be increasing the first of the year. Instead of $50 a month it will be $75. That is still a 25% discount. The email I received didn't mention if they would still waive the setup fee. We are still deciding if we will continue our account with them next year.

On the Adoption Voices discussion pages I have seen a few mentioned. Here is their comments:

Marcia: "Typically, referral services charge anywhere between $2k-$5k for a referral. I used A Little Bit of Heaven referral service. Her fees are $800 for a referral. She basically gives her services a way, because she lost over $75k in her adoption journey. Her name is Betty Smith and I would highly recommend her."

A Little Bit of Heaven website.

Everlasting Adoptions: "To All Prospective Adoptive Parents, PLEASE DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY

In recognition of November as National Adoption Month and in an effort to help all of our prospective adoptive parents in these difficult economic times of today, we have made the decision to lower our fees for the BI-RACIAL THROUGH CAUCASIAN program to $5000 total and the FULL AFRICAN AMERICAN PROGRAM TO $3000.

You can call us to schedule a day and time for a FREE, informational phone consultation to learn more about our program. We do phone meetings during the day, lunch times, evenings and even weekends to accommodate your busy schedules.

We look forward to hearing from you, and we will be grateful if you take advantage of this extremely attractive offer. Here at Everlasting, we feel we have been very blessed in life. We want to make the blessing of building your family through the miracle of adoption more affordable to YOU in these challenging times.

We are only offering this pricing for the month of NOVEMBER. Please consider taking advantage of this for the short time it is being offered.

Please visit our website at www.everlastingadoptions.com and be sure to READ OUR TESTIMONIALS. We are very proud, and we would be grateful if you allowed us to be the ones that guide and support you through your entire adoption journey.

God Bless You All Always,

Carol Shepherd
Adoptive Mom and Director
EVERLASTING ADOPTIONS
1-866-406-2702
www.everlastingadoptions.com
email: everlastingadopt@aol.com

Loss

Most people probably wouldn't blog about their pets, but when you are infertile, they are more than just pets. My cats are the closest thing I have to children and I treat them as such. I know each of their personalities and quirks. I know their likes and dislikes. I love them with all my heart and today my heart is hurting because we have lost one of them.

You were only in our lives for a few years,
but you will be in our hearts forever.
We will always love you Missy.