Open House and Grant News

I got to try Funfetti cookies for the first time.

This week I attended an open house at A New Beginning, the agency I’d like to work with. Everyone was really friendly and all the case workers knew my home study story. They all agreed that I should network on my own till next fall and only do a new home study if I haven’t been matched with a baby by then. One woman also put me in touch with Spokane Consultants, an agency I might be able to work with in Northern Idaho. A couple recently adopted through them and it only cost $6,000.

I got to meet two women who had previously placed babies for adoption – one 2 years ago, and the other 14 years ago. The latter recently married for the first time and was there with her 2 week old baby girl. It was neat meeting them and hearing where their lives have gone since the adoptions.

I also met a 46 year old woman hoping to adopt for the first time, but quickly realizing she’s too old for most programs. (Again with the double standards! Bio parents have undergone in vitro as old as age 60.) And I overheard a couple just starting the process asking all their questions: “How long will it take? How do we start a home study? How much does it cost?” So glad I’m out of that phase!

And finally, I signed up for a free Financing Adoption course on January 24th. The guy who offers the class is a financial advisor who was adopted himself, so the class is his way of giving back. The timing was good, considering today I heard that I haven’t been awarded the biggest of the 3 grants I applied for. I’m really bummed, but they received 400 applications and only had $60k to award. I’ll apply again in April for June awards. I know they try to reward people who have been working hard on their own, so hopefully all my fundraising efforts will make an even more impressive list next time around.

UPDATE: The Spokane agency called back and informed me they only work with married couples. Boo.