[Taryn]

As far as LDS Family Services "believing" in open adoption, my husband and I are waiting to be chosen by a birthmother as adoptive parents. We were certified here in Arizona this past January and every time the phone rings, I say a little prayer that it might be our social worker telling us we've been chosen. That hasn't happened yet. What we were told about the communication between the birthmother and the adopted child and adoptive parents, is for the first 3 years we are to send the birthmother pictures of the baby. After 3 years the baby becomes too identifiable so it is "advised" not to send pictures, but that is something that can be decided between the birthmother and the adoptive parents. Also for the first 3 years all letters and gifts are sent through the agency and then on to the birthmother or adoptive parents. After that it's decided again by the birthmother and adoptive parents whether to continue to send them through the agency or not. It's really up to the adoptive parents and the birthmother to decide on any and all communicaton between each other.