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Originally Posted By Katrinka

I am a single, 41 y/o woman. I have been trying to adopt a child through the state foster care system for about a year now. At about 11pm Monday (11/13) I gave up and decided to pursue an international adoption. I am now starting the paperchase to adopt a little girl from Haiti. Relatively speaking, it is less expensive and a faster placement process. I am still intimidated by the mountain of paperwork and not sure where the money is coming from. This is most definitely a step out in faith. I have no children, but am hosting a foreign exchange student from Germany. Any words of advice as I enter this world of international adoption and single parenting (of one who will be here longer than a school year!) will be gratefully accepted!! Thank you!

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Originally Posted By Becky

Hi...CONGRATULATIONS...I am sorry it took me so long to write...lots of stuff happened to me this past ten days! YOU ARE DOING A GREAT THING...every ounce of the paperwork is worth it...figure it this way...you have paperwork, other Moms had Labor....sounds trite, but it's so true, you'll see how that makes sense once you hold your new little Member of your family! I am very familiar with the China paper chase, but I imagine much of the "Up-front" paperwork is the same, home studies, INS, FBI fingerprints, etc. Getting the financial backing for adoptions can be tough too...a lot of people send letters to families and friends (believe it or not, you can raise quite a bit of "sponsorship" money that way)..others look for sponsors from church and local businesses...the more "personalized" your approach the better. Others go to organizations that may reach to adoptions from the specific country you are looking at. For instance, CHINA KIDS CLUB< will help parents adopting from China, etc....check out the internet on adoption assistance and see what happens! DON'T GIVE UP ON THE PAPERWORK, take it one step at a time. Look for a group or couple or singles in your area that may have adopted...find them..meet them. You will be surprised how friendly and open this community of people are.....it is a whole new world and you and your new child will touch lots of hearts. Good luck and feel free to write to me anytime with specific questions! Becky

[Archive]

Originally Posted By Phyllis

This is the second attempt at posting a message. I hope this time it works; I have never done this before!

I am in the information gathering stage of fulling my dream of being a mom. I have an agency I feel comfortable working with and the support and prayers of my friends. I have to wait to start the process due to lack of funds. But the more info I gather the more excited I get about the adoption and the need to talk to my family and include them in this event. However, I am reluctant to tell them until I actually start the paper process. I know my mother's reaction will be a negative one and I do not want to be "badgered" with "advice" about how I should (or shouldn't) do this. Don't get me wrong. I love my mom. And I want her support. In fact, I would like her to be the other person to go to China with me when I make the trip.

In the meantime, I am both excited and frustrated, maybe a little sad that I can't include my family into this process at this time.

Phyllis