[twyla]

Hi again, everyone!

I just wanted to pop in on this thread and report back that networking truly does work! During my no-packing/no-traveling vacation the last week of June, (that's a stay-at-home vacation to those of you who went, "Huh?"), I put out 12 informational packets in thrift and consignment stores around town. All of these places, except one, are places I had on my list to shop during my vacation. Guess which one my match resulted from?

The packet consisted of a cover page on card stock (so the pictures would show up better) with a short paragraph explaining that we were trying to get the word out to the world --We were ready to adopt. I used a recent picture of us having fun with our dog and then used some of us with the newborn twins we recently fostered so it would be easier to imagine us as parents of a baby. On the next few pages was our "Dear Prospective Birth Parents" letter, then I added one more card stock page with four pictures of our home nursery (we have one at work too). I showed all four walls with some slight overlapping so they could get a feel for how the room really looks. I gave only two ways to contact me, through e-mail or through my agency. I don't believe it is a good idea to give such an abundance of personal information (tons of it in the letter) and then provide your phone number and address to boot. There's too many evil people in the world. I figured that a woman sincerely wanting to place would be willing to contact my agency if she were interested enough in us, especially since I stated that my agency also counseled those women wanting to parent.

You should know that this was done because I wanted to feel that I was contributing to my agency's efforts and not just sitting on my behind waiting. In no way did I ever really believe a viable contact would come of it.

I placed the first packet on June 23rd and the last on June 28th. The important packet was placed June 25th at the place I hadn't planned to go, indeed, had never been to before! On July 10th I received a call from my agency to tell me that a lady stating she had received one of these packets wanted to talk to me. Her best friend had brought it home from the place she worked. I called the phone number and we hit it off immediately. She is due Oct. 4th, I've met most of her family and friends and everyone approves of us! This match has been covered in prayer since we started working with our agency one and a half years ago so I believe God used my desire to network to bring us together with the lovely lady who will be our son's first mother. Yes, it's a BOY! (She had me pick her up and go with her to the ultrasound a few days later.)

To all of you who are still yearning to be parents, I wish you success. The most important advice I can give is to leave no stone unturned and be sincere with all of your words coming straight from your heart. You will find the perfect match that way.