[HisFarmGirl]

Hi there!
We have 5 bio children and are openning the process to add two more blessings to our family from Ethiopia. Is anyone aware of a forum here, yahoo group or anything that is for the support of large families adding to their family?
We are also a Christian homeschooling family with a small organic farm. I mention this as I know sometimes these groups can have very specific interests!
Thank you!
Kimberly

[PaulaK]

I don't know of such a group, but I am seeking one too. We have 8 bio children and are in the process of adopting 2 from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

We are Catholic, attend public school and live in MI on 8 acres in the country, but we don't farm!

Perhaps we should start a group?

[Abdulina]

Have either of you started a large family support group or found any yet? We have 7 internationally adopted and are in process of adding 2 to 3 more to our family from Bulgaria. All of our children are EE. We don't have a farm but are desperately trying to find a small farm. We used to homeschool but do not now. Hoping to connect w/ some other larger families. Thanks a bunch!

[nesesweetgirl]

OT but what agency are you going thru for your Bulgaria adoption? We have 4 kids (3bio/1adopt) and hoping to add more and thinking about Bulgaria. There is a large family support group in the Parenting section but it doesn't get a lot of action.

[Abdulina]

Hey, we chose Bulgaria this go around as Russia just got to be too expensive & too much paperwork that was always changing. Right now, we are waiting word IF we will be able to pursue all three of the children as 1 is in a different regions & apparently they don't like you going to separate regions & more than that, don't like adopting unrelated children. BTW, we have always adopted unrelated children and all but once, did 2 at a time. Hoping our plea & past history will speak for itself to officials. We just started this process w/ Bulgaria but have been clients of the agency before so they know us well. Once this hiccup is in the clear, we will dig deep & start piling on the paperwork--LOL. I also like Bulgaria b/c I won't have to leave the kids at home for an extended period of time. Mine don't do well w/ that. Bulgaria is 5 days in country on the first trip & about the same on the second. Sometimes, you can even do an escort on the second trip but we wouldn't do that. I'm very excited & it is so hard to wait on the official go ahead. Can not imagine having to choose between the three kids on which ones to bring home. They all deserve a family & I do believe would fit in very well here. I'd definitely look into Bulgaria. They are also okay w/ larger families. Russia gave us a hard time when we had the 2 kids at home & were going back to adopt 2 more. They cna't understand why anyone would want more than 2. The only thing I've heard that is hard about Bulgaria is the couple month wait between trips. I know I will have a very hard time with that. Look into it though, good program. There are many special needs childrne in Bulgaria as well. Typically, there are no children whatsoever available under 2yo. Reason being is they have to legally stay on teh database for 18 months. So, by the time they get put on there at a couple months old, they are over 2 yo by the time available for international adoption. Good luck to adding to your family.