Unsealed Birth Records

There are so many things I love about this article...

Unsealed birth records give adoptees peek at past 

I couldn't just post a link to it on Facebook.   

First off, way to go Rep. Sara Feigenholtz and the State of Illinois! You are opening doors for so many adoptees who have questions about their family history.

My heart is full as I think of how many reunions of adoptees and birth families this will bring. I can't wait to see what other states will jump on board with this and allow some answers for so many who have been waiting. 

"They were the people that put a Band-Aid on my knee when I scraped it. They're my family," she said. "It's just nice to start to get to know this person (birthmom) who gave so much up for me, who did such a selfless thing for me, giving me birth and bringing me into this world." -Maura Duffy

 "I'd love to meet my birth mom face-to-face. I'd love to give her a hug," Dave Reynolds

Welcome Featured Members ~

Matt and Erin

To view there Parentfinder Profile click here.

 

Do you want to become a Featured Member... click here for more information.

Welcome Featured Members ~

Steve and Anne

To view their Parentfinder Profile click here.

Do you want to become a featured family.....click here for more information.

14 years ago adoption was just a word.

Adoption.

What does this word mean to me?

If you had asked me this questions 14 years ago. I could have given you every stereotype answer there is out there. I would have said, "how could someone just give their baby away?"        I shutter just hearing how awful that answer sounds now.

I couldn't tell you what open or closed adoption meant. I couldn't tell you where the closest adoption agency was. I couldn't explain to you your rights as a birth mother. I couldn't explain my state laws on adoption. I couldn't have told you one tiny truth about what Adoption truly is at age 18.

Four months before my 20th birthday, I found myself staring at a positive pregnancy test. Quickly that word Adoption had a whole new meaning, although I was far from understanding the 'real' definition of adoption. It now had become an option for me as a teenager.

One month later, I was looking through parent profiles (which back in the stone age, when I placed, was one page and one photo). I was confident in my decision of adoption and was ready to make this jump into the unknown. Adoption had now become my choice.

After picking an adoptive couple and sending a you're having a girl care package, I now felt I was sharing this little miracle inside of me with two strangers. It wasn't easy. At this point, she no longer was just mine. She was now a part of their world as well.

Oct. 5, 2000 I delivered a beautiful baby girl. It was miraculous, heart wrenching and beautiful all at the same time. 12 hours later I was wheeled into the hospital nursery so I could hold my precious butterfly. My thoughts were filled with excitement and curiosity. When she was placed in my arms the first thought that came to me was… she is not mine. It stabbed my heart. I sobbed. I knew the truth in this thought and though it was difficult to understand, I knew now Adoption was her path.

Four days later, I'm sitting in a room alone with my little butterfly. I have spent many hours holding her and sharing her with my friends and family, but now it was time to let her fly. She was peaceful and wide eyed as I placed her in the arms of a stranger, asking nothing in return but to love her, guide her and teach her. She was officially now theirs. I was now officially a birth mother.

Adoption started as my option, became my choice, my little butterflies path and is now forever a part of my heart.

Adoption is unlimited, unconditional love between an adoptive couple, a birth mom and a child that feels thicker than blood.

Adoption hears no selfishness, functions outside of the lines of 'normal' and creates a circle of trust.

14 years ago Adoption was just a word. 

Today, Adoption is anything but a word...

it's a blessing!

Open Adoption, Open Heart

I read this book almost a year ago, when Russell approached me through Birth Mother Baskets. 

I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't put it down. I had to see how everything turned out in the end. I finished the entire book in one sitting. Which is really unusual for me.

I thought those of you here at Parentfinder.com would also find it a good read, especially if you are considering open adoption. 

I love how simple Russell explains his story of adopting and the positive light he is shining on adoption today. 

You can read more about Russell Elkins and Open Adoption, Open Heart here.
Or order your book here. 

Welcome Featured Members ~

Bryan and Debbie

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Birthmothers are beautiful people.

Lost And Found: A Birthmother's Secret Son

I have mixed feelings about this article. 

One I am so, so grateful for how far we have come in the adoption industry. Leaps and bounds, really. Leaps and bounds.
However, it also pointed out to me that we still have a long way to go. We still need to educate people on what a birthmother is and end the stereotypes that surround her. We need to educate our expectant parents on what their options are.

I have to admit, this article reconfirmed to me how beautiful open adoption can be, if it is possible for your situation. So many 'unknowns' that can be answered quickly without doubt or questioning.
I am so happy for Toy, to be reconnect with her son, and grateful that we have articles such as this to circle around.

 Adoption is a beautiful thing. Birthmothers are beautiful people.

CAIRS July 2013 Newsletter

We are super excited to give you a sneak peek into 

Parentfinder 3.0 

We have been working hard on getting it just right 

and the landing page is just the tip of what is to come. 

Have you heard of Crowd Funding? 

Check out how you can use this source to fund 

your adoption, in our CAIRS July 2013 Newsletter.

Click here to view.

Welcome Featured Members ~

 Jon and Christina

To view their Parentfinder Profile click here.

 Do you want to become a featured family.....click here for more information.

Catch My Breath

I had the opportunity to see Kelly Clarkson live on the Fourth of July. It was an amazing show! I was in awe at how talented she truly is live.

At the beginning of the year I heard her song 'Catch My Breath' it really stuck with me and I thought to myself, this is my song for 2013. The lyrics really inspire me. Every time I hear this song I feel empowered to make a difference, to keep going, to be strong and to never give up.

Kelly was only 19 years old when she won American Idol. ( I was only 19 when I placed my baby for adoption) Though I know these two situations are NOT comparable, the song itself made me think of my own long and difficult journey.

Every now and then we do need to stop and catch our breath. Life can bring us down, it can be a struggle, but it is also a beautiful gift that can teach us so much if we stop and listen, take a breath and enjoy living in the moment.


Kelly's words on Catch My Breath:
This song represents who I've been, what I've felt, and where I'm headed as not only an artist but as a 30 year old that is now smart enough to know that it's time to stop, catch my breath, and be proud of not only what has been accomplished but of all the people that have helped me become the woman I am today. 

Celebrate!

www.parentfinder.com

Welcome our Featured Member~

Whitney & Tyler

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Do you want to become a featured family.....click below for more information -
http://www.parentfinder.com/page/membership_matrix

Imagine...

Imagine… you are 19 years old, single, living away from home for the first time and you find yourself staring at a positive pregnancy test. What would your first thoughts be? Who would you turn to? Would you know your options?

This was me and at that time I had no idea what adoption was. I never knew anyone who was adopted or anyone who was open to talking about it. My parents had taught me adoption over abortion, but I truly didn't know what that meant. I was terrified, uneducated and feeling very alone. 

My first thoughts about adoption was, 'what if I see my baby and can't let her/him go?'

I turned to my family and friends for guidance and support, none of which had any experience with adoption.

I met with a local agency and became more educated on my options, enough so to help me make my decision to place my baby for adoption. However, I wish I would have had the social media connection to thousands of hopeful adoptive couples, birth moms who had been through this experience before and people who had been in the adoption world for years. 

I was an expectant parent who truly didn't know what to expect next. Each day was a new learning experience and even the social worker who was assigned to me had never actually been through a placement before mine. I didn't even know if the emotions I was going through were normal for a birth mom, but I had nothing to rely on but what I had been taught by the agency I was placing with. 

Imagine… expectant parents and hopeful adoptive couples who know all of their options, have experienced people to help them  and a web site to connect them both. That is what I believe Parentfinder is. Connecting expectant parents with hopeful adoptive couples and helping the two become more educated in the process of adoption. 

Go here to read more about Parentfinder.