[MelissaBailey]

Hi there, I am a single mother and I do not want to wait until I am married to expand my family. I am a single mother of a 10 year old son who is great and I have loved being his mother and only parent. I desperately want to expand our family. I have researched adoption for years and I am ready to take the next step. I have a really great job making pretty good money and they are flexible. I am working on my credit, its not that great because of youthful college mistakes. I have a great place to live, new car, etc. But I am just overwhelmed by the costs of international adoption. This is a dream for me as I know other adoptive parents can understand.

What did you do? How did you get the money? I want to adopt from Guatemala, an infant girl.

Any advice or stories you can share?

Melissa

[tml]

Hello, I just read your message and I wanted to tell you that there are agencies that will help you in this process. I am working with an agency called Wide Horizons for Children. And they work with many countries and Guatemala is one of them. Single women between the ages of 25-50 are eligible. The children are primarily infants and the cost is around $15,000.

With this agency they had a application for finincial assistance for recipients that have and annual income under $60,000. Also I am sure you know about the new tax credit of $10,000. Also we have paid them in installments we have not had to pay out large sums of money at once.

I don't believe there is an agency in AZ but I'm sure there are agencies that will work with you. Just ask around. Once I started my search I found out in my own small community there were 27 adopted chilldren.

My child will be home to me March 2004 from Korea. And after all the paperwork, meetings, classes and INS forms the waiting is the hardest part. Good luck to you and don't give up!!!