Networking

Boys and girls, the word of the day is "networking." When you hear the word "networking" I need you to scream really loud. It looks like we will be doing the same type of footwork to jump start the adoption as with our new business venture (ACN)-"networking!" AAAAAAAUUUUUGHHHHHH! (I know you're screaming really loud right now to humor me even though we are miles apart-j/k!) Can you not tell that I'm a product of the 80's and 90's? A little nod to Pee Wee's Playhouse. I know more of you watched it than will admit to it...Anyways, yesterday Billy and I met with the director of our adoption program in order to get an update on the current status of our wait.

We have been within the program for five months, and we wanted to know the following things: Have new birthmothers joined the program? How many times has our profile been shown to birthmothers? Has anything within our profile been a turn off to the birthmothers? The director informed us that since we have joined the program, only a few birthmothers have joined. In fact, there seems to be a bit of a shortage of birthmothers. Nobody knows why that is the case. I wondered if less babies were born during the winter months or maybe more birthmothers keep their babies during the holidays. It's anybody's best guess. Since it is so quiet, the director said that the program is doing lots of outreach to connect with potential birthmothers in surrounding areas. She also informed us that our profile has been shown twice. It is hard for us to know this, and realize we were not chosen. However, she said birthmothers often select couples based off little things that struck them about a prospective adoptive couple. For example, maybe the husband and wife are dancers and the birthmother was a dancer. Maybe the birthmother grew up riding quads and the adoptive couple enjoys the hobby. You never know what will strike a chord. Lastly, the director confirmed that there has been nothing within our profile that has been a turn off to birthmothers-to which we were relieved!

During our meeting, Billy and I realized why this part of our journey is particularly hard. We have felt that there isn't much we can do aside from waiting for that phone call (that we've been matched). However, the director said we could also be networking on our own: talking to our family and friends-having them spread the word for us. Networking! Our adoption program will continue to hang fliers at surrounding colleges, contact other clinics, and notify other organizations of us. With all this networking, something is bound to happen!

Family and friends, as you know, our adoption is NOT a secret. Please spread the word that we are attempting to locate a birthmother. If you hear about a friend of a friend of a friend's grand daughter who is pregnant and considering adoption (for example), let me know. We understand that these scenarios often do not work out; the majority of the time the birthmother will change her mind. However, you never know! You may end up being the one God uses to help coordinate our adoption! It gives me shivers just to think about it! As always, thank you for your continued prayers and well wishes as we journey on to our destination-life with baby!