Hopeful Adoptive Parents Jeff and Amanda from the Kansas

Introducing Hopeful Adoptive Parents Jeff and Amanda from the Kansas. They are hoping to adopt a baby in Kansas.  Their adoption agency is Catholic Charities of NE Kansas. You can view their profile on parentfinder.com by clicking here www.parentfinder.com/jeffandamandaadopt

You can view their flipbook profile here http://www.parentfinder.com/profileflipbook/7587-6459713/7587-6459713.html

Time for an Adoption Journal Update

It's Friday and time to start thinking about your Adoption Journal Update.
Winter weather is upon us here in the Midwest.  As a kid I grew up with a great sledding hill in the neighborhood.  Every day after school my friends and I would meet at the hill and sled until dinner time.  We had great fun.  Our current neighborhood has a wonderful hill too.  Now there is snow on the ground and cool temperatures.  We will be sledding this weekend.   

What about you?
It only takes a few sentences and a photo to let expecting parents know more about you.  Post that in your profile at www.parentfinder.com and in your social media.

Chad and Gabe of Lansing, MI created a video profile

Creating a video of your adoption profile is a great way to bring your written profile to life.

Chad and Gabe with Adoption Associates in Lansing, Michigan have done just that.

You can view their video profile here

Adoption Profile Tip

Creating a printed adoption profile requires high resolution photos.  Those photos should be a minimum of 500KB in size.  You can’t take a photo that is 100KB in size and make it bigger.  Think of it this way, digital photos are made up of bits of information.  Making a photo file size larger requires more information about that image…if it wasn’t there at the beginning…it will be even more obvious that it isn’t there when you blow up the photo.  The spaces of missing information are illustrated as blurred color.  The result is a pixelated photo. 

You only have one opportunity to make a great first impression. After spending all of that time writing a great profile; don’t compromise it with bad photos.

Adoption Journal Update

Carly and Marnelli Jones dressed up as mommy and baby bat to hand out candy on Halloween.  Superman wore a coat over his cape since it was in the mid 30’s here.  That still didn’t cool the enthusiasm for trick or treating or the excitement that followed when we lay all of the candy on the floor, sort through it and talk about the evening.  Monday is a great day to update your Adoption Journal with thoughts from the past weekend.  Don't forget a photo!

Your Adoption Journey - Gratitude

My daughter came home from preschool and announced to my wife and I that we each needed to say a Thankful before eating as we sat at the dinner table.  It became our way of praying before dinner.

Several years later I turned off the morning news deciding that I would rather start my day with good vibes.
This morning I came across a different way to Be Thankful and thought I’d pass it along. Feeling gratitude feels good.  The world needs more of that.  Thank you! – Greg

 

Be Thankful
Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.
~ Author Unknown ~

 

Michigan Hopeful Adoptive Parents, Jason & Amy

Introducing Michigan Hopeful Adoptive Parents, Jason & Amy. Their agency is Adoption Associates, Inc in Jenison MI.  You can view their profile on parentfinder.com by clicking here

 

 

If you are an agency looking for trusted adoption professionals who help Adoptive Parents create a 20 page printed profile, eBook, video profile, personal adoption website, social media presence, adoption journal help and more contact me – greg.phelps at cairsolutions.com

The art of breathing - through the adoption process

Life is full of pressure. Why add to it? As adoptive parents move through the adoption process remember to complete everything to the best of your ability, love a lot and hold faith tightly within.  Pressuring everyone to move faster helps no one and adds unnecessary pressure to you and everyone that is there to help.

A story of hope from the Pittsburgh Foster Care System

Foster care is supposed to be a place where kids can get help, recover from past trauma, and maybe begin to trust adults again. For these kids, it was the opposite, and it was a nightmare. Until Detective Jack Mook came along.  Check out this short uplifting story from CBS On The Road

click here to watch

Your Adoption Journal - update

The month of October at our home is when I cut down the peonies and clean out the flower bed just outside our front door.  That’s where the pumpkins will sit, the skeletons will stalk and the bats will hover during Halloween.  After my work was done I went to the store and brought home treats of candy corn and caramel apples for the women in our home.  This coming weekend we'll pick out pumpkins.
What did you do over the weekend?  Now is a great time to update your adoption journal with a thought from childhood or current spooking comings and goings.

Adoption Profile Tip

As you build your adoption profile keep in mind that the subject of each photo is important.  Select photos based on the “chapter” you are writing.  If your chapter is about Greg from Keely, then your photos should be of Greg not family photos or photos of Keely.  Your photos should flow with your story rather than jumping around.
We help Hopeful Adoptive Parents with their profiles every day.  Maybe we can help you.

Michigan Hopeful Adoptive Parents, Christopher & Jay

Introducing Michigan Hopeful Adoptive Parents, Christopher & Jay. They are with Hands Across The Water agency.  You can view their profile on parentfinder.com here www.parentfinder.com/ChrisandJay

 

 

Would you like to become a Featured Member to raise your visibility? Click below for more information. http://www.parentfinder.com/page/membership_matrix

Spring into an Adoption Journal Entry

Now that we have officially entered spring...think about your family's annual spring rituals...do any of them stem from your childhood experiences? That brief story would make a great adoption journal post.

Starting the work week with a smile

George Carlin came into my life when I was in the second grade. 

He influenced the way I looked at the English language

and later my writing and career.

When he is being silly or creative with his ideas

He makes me laugh out loud

Meet Joe & Ian Parentfinder.com's Featured Parents

Introducing Featured Members, Joe & Ian
http://www.parentfinder.com/Joe-Ian

Would you like to become a Featured Member and raise your visibility? Click below for more information.  http://www.parentfinder.com/page/membership_matrix

Welcome Parentfinder's featured parents Daniel and Krystle

Welcome Featured Members, Daniel & Krystle
http://www.parentfinder.com/DanielAndKrystle13

Would you like to become a Featured Member and raise your visibility?
Click below for more information.
http://www.parentfinder.com/page/membership_matrix

 

5 Things To Do While You Wait

There is no time limit or guarantee on the waiting time when you're adopting a baby. I have never adopted a child nor do I pretend to understand the emotions that come with the journey. However, I have spoken with hundreds of adoptive parents who felt like after their home study and profile were complete their adoption process came to a halt and the waiting game began. 

 5 things you can do while you wait, that will help educate and inspire you!

Join Adoption Forums:

Parentfinder.com has a Forum section for our Members. You can communicate with other adoptive parents and expectant parents. It's a great way to get support from parents who are experiencing the same emotions as you. It's also a great way to communicate with those who have been there. Your Membership with Parentfinder.com gives you access to our Forums.  There are also other adoption related forums available on the web.

Read:

Knowledge is power! The more you can educate yourself on the adoption process the more confident you will be in making decisions like open vs. closed placements. Start by following some adoption blogs or subscribe to some eMagazines. Here in Utah, our local library displays Adoption related books and information for the whole month of November. Visit your local library to see if they do the same. If not, be an advocate to get an Adoption Display present in your library to help everyone become more educated.

Attend Webinars or Local Support Groups:

As a birth mom I know one thing that has really helped me, is hearing other people talk about their adoption story. I wish, there had been more access to these stories before I placed. Many times you can attend free webinars put on by birth mothers or other adoptive parents. We just completed our Throw Out Your Dear Birth Parent Letter Webinar, where I spent 30 minutes giving advice on what I believe you should include in your letter. Most webinars are advertised on Social Media sites or adoption Forums. 

Talk with your Agency to see if they have a weekly support group for adoptive parents. Many times they will have birth mothers visit these support groups to share their experience and give advice. 

Clean House:

I mean this in a literal way and a spiritual way. Make room for a new member of your family by clearing out items you no longer need or use and donate them. Organize your space to eliminate clutter and stress. Prepare your home for positivity and light. Surround yourself with uplifting memories, quotes and photos. Let go of the past and create a new space that will help lift you up. 

Advocate:

Start your own adoption blog or Facebook page. Share what you're learning with others and be an advocate for adoptive parents. This will also drive traffic to your online Parentfinder.com profile and raise your visibility to expectant parents. Volunteer at your Agency, local Adoption Fundraisers or Adoption related non-profits. 

Again, I don't pretend to understand what the waiting game is like.  Try my five tips to help educate yourself.  I promise they will help you feel more prepared for when that day comes and you are matched!

Welcome Featured Members~

Jamie & Jacque

To view their Parentfinder profile click here

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

Welcome Featured Members~

Tim & Amber

To view their Parentfinder profile click here

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

Opening a Door

After speaking to many adoptive couples, I've noticed that many view the creation of their profile as a task, another item they need to mark off their long list of To Do's in the adoption process. I can see why it would be considered as such.

I don't claim to understand what adoptive parents go through nor do I relate to the struggles that they have faced. However, I do know we need to change the way we look at Adoptive Parents Profiles and the thought process that goes into creating them. Whether this stems from the Agency they are with or the stressful journey that brought them to this point ... the adoption profile is still the only window expectant parents have for looking into an adoptive parent’s life. It should be viewed as a vital link connecting adoptive parents with the baby they've been waiting for.

Having been an expectant parent myself, the Adoptive Parent Profile is the only slice of life I had to go on.  I used that to make my decision.  One of the biggest decisions in my life and in my baby’s future. I think that sentence alone is enough to reconsider thinking of this Profile as a task and considering it as opening a door.

What I mean by that... when you invite a family member or a friend to your home, they knock on your door and you open it. Right? Ok, maybe not all family members. :) But, you get where I'm coming from. As soon as that person walks enters, do you quickly start stating all the facts and list of To Do's that you are going to accomplish while they are in your home? Or when they leave do you mark their visit off on your list?

No.

You welcome them in, you ask them how they are. You carry a conversation that is genuine, and you give them your undivided attention. I'm sure you are enjoying their company and the time that you are spending together.

Now... what if you were opening your door to an expectant parent? Would you ask them in? When they left, would you think to put a checkmark by your task to meet an expectant parent and move on to the next task?

No!

Your Profile is opening the door to the knock of an expectant parent.

When they first see you (in your fabulous profile photo) their next step will be to knock, in this case, read more into your Profile. They want to hear and see the real you... all the things that make you uniquely you. If you can create your Profile like you are opening your door to a friend, they will feel welcomed.  Isn’t that the point of writing this letter in the first place?