In the most recent issue of Adoptive Families, there was an interesting article about questions that people may ask and how to answer. Since announcing that were adopting, we have fielded a lot of questions. Some were in the article and some weren't. It has been our hope (and will continue to be our hope) that we can help educate people on adoption and so we thought it would be helpful to post a couple of these Q's and A's ever once in a while. Even if you don't have that question, the answer might interest you!
So here goes FAQ #1
Q: Is adoption expensive? How can you afford it?
A: The average cost of adoption in 2008 was $27,000. Grants and reimbursements can reduce the expense. The federal adoption tax credit ($12,500 for adoptions completed in 2009) can reduce out-of-pocket cost significantly, bringing adoption well into reach.
Source: The July/August 2009 issue of Adoptive Families
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
And the winner is....YELLOW!
Oyster Bisque, Daisy Spell, Vanilla Wafer, Capri Cream, Blonde Beauty, Moonshine, Cuddle, Lemon Cream, Yellow Bliss...who knew there were so many shades of yellow??? We have decided to tackle the baby's room this coming week. I know, I know, you're probably thinking is she for real this time? Yes, we are! We went to Lowes last night and picked up about 15 different paint swatches.
It is my job today to decide on one, so we can go get paint and start! Well, I have held them all up to the furniture, bedding, blankets, etc. and they all look good (I did eliminate a couple). Then I need to find some curtains and recover the loud striped chair in the room. Do I find fabric first or match fabric with the paint color?? I'll probably end up matching to whatever we paint!
I have posted some "before" pics. Stay tuned to see what shade we went with and the "after" pics!
It is my job today to decide on one, so we can go get paint and start! Well, I have held them all up to the furniture, bedding, blankets, etc. and they all look good (I did eliminate a couple). Then I need to find some curtains and recover the loud striped chair in the room. Do I find fabric first or match fabric with the paint color?? I'll probably end up matching to whatever we paint!
I have posted some "before" pics. Stay tuned to see what shade we went with and the "after" pics!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Where have you been?
It has been quite some time since I last blogged. Things have been so busy this month. Scott and I have been out of town or hosting something pretty much every weekend. We are grateful that we have been busy this month. It has taken our minds off the adoption a little bit. I, of course, check the agency's website a couple times a week to see if any of the families waiting have been placed. But even with that, I quickly move on to the next task because we have had so much to do. I was reminded the last time I checked the agency's website that we started this process a little over a year ago. The picture we used for our birthmother letter was taken last Memorial Day weekend. It is hard to believe a year has gone by since we started this journey. We are being patient and know that the right baby will find us at the right time.
I thought I'd share a couple of pics from our very BUSY May!
This was taken at Scott's 2nd cousin's wedding in early May. Pictured is Scott's cousin Sam, Sarah, the bride, Laura, me, and Stephanie.
Scott & I at Laura's wedding.
Scott and our nephew, Noah, playing at the park.
My friend from college was married this past weekend. Pictured is me, Katherine, and Kristie.
I thought I'd share a couple of pics from our very BUSY May!
This was taken at Scott's 2nd cousin's wedding in early May. Pictured is Scott's cousin Sam, Sarah, the bride, Laura, me, and Stephanie.
Scott & I at Laura's wedding.
Scott and our nephew, Noah, playing at the park.
My friend from college was married this past weekend. Pictured is me, Katherine, and Kristie.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
So what are you waiting for?
We have gotten used to getting the "So, how's the adoption coming?" question. In fact if you have asked the answer you have probably heard from us is "We're just waiting!". This past weekend we were at a family wedding and this dialogue occurred, but the next question made me realize that maybe we need to come up with a better answer. When I told someone "We're just waiting!", the next question was "So, what are you waiting for?". I thought it was a pretty fair question. We aren't the only ones who are new to this whole adoption thing, and it made me realized that others might not know exactly what happens next!
Since we have agreed to adopt a baby (or twins...yes we agreed to twins!!) from the age of birth to a year, we have three different possibilities for the "next step".
1. We will get matched with a birthmother. She will pick us from a collection of couples whose profile she has read. Our social worker will be able to tell her more about us with the information she learned from the homestudy process. If the birthmother chooses to do so, we will meet before the birth to get to know her and have her get to know us.
2. We will be matched with a baby. The birthmother may not have had an adoption plan before the birth, but has made the decision to find an adoptive family once the baby is born.
3. We may be matched with a baby who is a bit older (up to a year) who was in temporary foster care. Our agency does temporary 89 day foster placement for birthmothers that haven't made an adoption plan, but still need some time to think about what is best for the baby.
Which ever possibility comes our way, the end outcome is all the same. We get to bring home a precious little baby to become a part of our family. We don't know when it will happen, but each day brings us closer to meeting our little baby Gerke!
Since we have agreed to adopt a baby (or twins...yes we agreed to twins!!) from the age of birth to a year, we have three different possibilities for the "next step".
1. We will get matched with a birthmother. She will pick us from a collection of couples whose profile she has read. Our social worker will be able to tell her more about us with the information she learned from the homestudy process. If the birthmother chooses to do so, we will meet before the birth to get to know her and have her get to know us.
2. We will be matched with a baby. The birthmother may not have had an adoption plan before the birth, but has made the decision to find an adoptive family once the baby is born.
3. We may be matched with a baby who is a bit older (up to a year) who was in temporary foster care. Our agency does temporary 89 day foster placement for birthmothers that haven't made an adoption plan, but still need some time to think about what is best for the baby.
Which ever possibility comes our way, the end outcome is all the same. We get to bring home a precious little baby to become a part of our family. We don't know when it will happen, but each day brings us closer to meeting our little baby Gerke!
Monday, March 23, 2009
It's been a while...
This was a busy month...busy, but productive.
As some of you know, Scott was in a car accident back in February. He was OK, but the car was totaled. He is really luck to be OK, thanks to his seat belt. His car flipped over and all he had was a couple of scratches and bruises. We are definitely thanking God that he was OK. So needless to say we went car shopping. We loved the car that was totaled, so we thought about getting the same thing, but with the deals they have going on now, we got a nicer car for a great deal. Plus...lucky me, I get to drive it and Scott's got the old Camry :-) We are headed to court tomorrow too what happens to the lady that hit Scott. Hopefully the punishment fits the crime, since it was a hit and run!
We finally cleared out the nursery. No more boxes, just the changing table, a chair, and crib parts. My spring break is in a couple of weeks, so I plan on painting. We decided to go with a pale yellow. Once the paint it up, we'll go ahead and put the crib together. Even after those two things, I still have a list of things to do in that room before it is baby ready.
Scott's sisters have offered to host a baby shower for me, so we did go ahead and register. That was strange for us. At times it doesn't quite seem real that we're going to be parents. Walking through the isles with the scanner made it pretty real. Of course we registered for a lot of gender (and age) neutral things.
April and May will be busy months for sure! We're headed to Indiana for Scott's cousin's wedding in a couple of weeks. Then we'll spend Easter at the beach with both of our parents. I'm headed to a Women's Retreat on the river toward the end of April. There are some wedding and baby showers sprinkled in there too. I think after that the weekend of Scott's birthday and Mother's Day, we'll finally be able to sit back relax for a weekend.
One could complain, but it will make the time go by fast. And every week that passes, is a week closer to getting our baby!
As some of you know, Scott was in a car accident back in February. He was OK, but the car was totaled. He is really luck to be OK, thanks to his seat belt. His car flipped over and all he had was a couple of scratches and bruises. We are definitely thanking God that he was OK. So needless to say we went car shopping. We loved the car that was totaled, so we thought about getting the same thing, but with the deals they have going on now, we got a nicer car for a great deal. Plus...lucky me, I get to drive it and Scott's got the old Camry :-) We are headed to court tomorrow too what happens to the lady that hit Scott. Hopefully the punishment fits the crime, since it was a hit and run!
We finally cleared out the nursery. No more boxes, just the changing table, a chair, and crib parts. My spring break is in a couple of weeks, so I plan on painting. We decided to go with a pale yellow. Once the paint it up, we'll go ahead and put the crib together. Even after those two things, I still have a list of things to do in that room before it is baby ready.
Scott's sisters have offered to host a baby shower for me, so we did go ahead and register. That was strange for us. At times it doesn't quite seem real that we're going to be parents. Walking through the isles with the scanner made it pretty real. Of course we registered for a lot of gender (and age) neutral things.
April and May will be busy months for sure! We're headed to Indiana for Scott's cousin's wedding in a couple of weeks. Then we'll spend Easter at the beach with both of our parents. I'm headed to a Women's Retreat on the river toward the end of April. There are some wedding and baby showers sprinkled in there too. I think after that the weekend of Scott's birthday and Mother's Day, we'll finally be able to sit back relax for a weekend.
One could complain, but it will make the time go by fast. And every week that passes, is a week closer to getting our baby!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Help Us Lobby for the Federal Adoption Tax Credit
The Federal Adoption Tax Credit makes adoption so much more affordable for people like us, that have chosen to grow our family through adoption. The current tax credit is due to expire in December of 2010. We hope to have completed our adoption by then, but you never know when we might try to adopt our second :-)
The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2009, H.R. 213 will help the current tax credit from being replaced, and instead make it permanent. You can find out more information about this important Act by clicking this link.
The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2009, H.R. 213
You can also lobby for the Act by writing your your Representative or Senator.
Write your Representative
Write your Senator
The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2009, H.R. 213 will help the current tax credit from being replaced, and instead make it permanent. You can find out more information about this important Act by clicking this link.
The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2009, H.R. 213
You can also lobby for the Act by writing your your Representative or Senator.
Write your Representative
Write your Senator
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
No Doubt About It!
Hands down...without a doubt...couldn't be more true...We have the absolute best family and friends!
When we broke the news that we were adopting, we were knew that we would immediately get support from our friends and family. Well here we are, a couple of months later and we're still getting e-mails, notes, letters, phones calls all showing your support for us! It means the world to us. It is that encouragement and support that keeps us going.
Thanks for being such great family and friends!
We have been trying to get the nursery together. We are currenly on a standstill trying to decide whether or not paint. The room is beige and looks great with the dark furniture, but I'm still leaning toward yellow. We just can't decide. Plus we still have a bunch of boxes in there that we need to get rid of. So...it is still a work in progress!
When we broke the news that we were adopting, we were knew that we would immediately get support from our friends and family. Well here we are, a couple of months later and we're still getting e-mails, notes, letters, phones calls all showing your support for us! It means the world to us. It is that encouragement and support that keeps us going.
Thanks for being such great family and friends!
We have been trying to get the nursery together. We are currenly on a standstill trying to decide whether or not paint. The room is beige and looks great with the dark furniture, but I'm still leaning toward yellow. We just can't decide. Plus we still have a bunch of boxes in there that we need to get rid of. So...it is still a work in progress!
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