Fundraising? Us?

We are considering starting an adoption fundraising page. Unfortunately, adoption fees may be up to $32,000, and we hope to not borrow that entire amount.

We are NOT sales people. Nor are we marketing-inclined folks. The thought of doing door-to-door knife sales has always paralyzed me with fear.

Reasons TO fundraise online:
1. Our family and friends are spread across the globe. Maybe they can't be here, but they want to help in some way.
2. No one HAS to donate. It's simply an option.
3. We are blessed to be a part of many, generous, adoption-supporting communities of people that want to help.
4. What about interactive fundraisers? Yes, we'd like to do those too, but having Welcome to the Family parties in Grand Rapids, Ontario and Iowa, once the baby has joined our family, sounds more fun.
4. The funds are required BEFORE you bring the baby home. Yowza!
5. Adding up to $32,000 debt is A LOT of moolah!

Reasons NOT to fundraise online:
1. People might wonder why we can't afford it ourselves. (OK, who cares about the haters?)
2. Pride. (Not a valid reason. Pride=evil. :))
3. It could be taken to be very tacky. (Do you think?)
4. I don't know how to create a site with a PayPal donation link. (But I sure could figure it out!) :)

So, what do you think...

What's Up?

Adoption. WOW! Many friends and family are asking how things are going in our journey to grow our family. I have so much going through my mind; I'm breaking down and starting a blog.

We are blessed to be working with two agencies:

Greater Hopes Family Services and Adoption Associates International (AAI).

Our home study is active with Greater Hopes and we simply adore Cathy Raidna and the amazing, compassionate, open adoption organization that she has created. Our online profile is posted at Greater Hopes' site.

We are also working with Adoption Associates (AAI) , who facilitated more than 70 domestic, infant, semi-open or open adoptions in 2010. By early May our profiles should be completed for AAI and available for birth/first mothers to view.

We're praying for God to grow our family when and how he chooses!

Things People Say #1

Kevin and I are waiting for a mom to choose our family to make an adoption plan for her child. We have chosen open, domestic adoption.

We're reading, A TON, on adoption, transracial adoption, birthmothers, open adoption, and more. I love learning. I love how eye-opening, mind-blowing and transforming this is.

This last week, an otherwise educated coworker asked me: "Open adoption? What if she's a crack whore?"

My response: [Insert significant indignation here.] "The agencies we're working with have noticed that not a lot of crack whores are making birth plans for their children."

WTF?

And if a person with an addiction did choose to make a birth plan for his/her child, why would that be horrific?

Why do some people pigeonhole and villify birthmothers?

All I can say is: Please ask questions; I love to talk about this. But watch out. This may be the mother of our baby you're talking about!