A few good things
This has been a rough emotional week for, having very little to do with the adoption, and it seems like things aren't getting better anytime soon. I'm lucky to have great friends I can talk to and who are there for me during all my weirdness.
But anyway - there were a few good things that happened this week. First, last night was Jackie's Tastefully Simple party she hosted has a 2nd fundraiser to us (see my previous postings for further explination). It was a lot of fun and so amazing how people we'd never met before were excited and interested in our journey. And the few people we'd met at other family functions treated us like family and seemed to take personal stock in our adoption efforts. It was a great rush of hope and excitment to answer people's questions and hear all the well wishes the circulated the room. When it was all said and done we received a $90 check from Tastefully Simple rep, Goldie, and a very kind donation of $20. In total between the parties and the kindness of people we were able to raise over $300 to help with our adoption costs. It takes my breath away to see how our families and friends have really opened up and are so excited about the process and are willing to support us (emotionally and financially). Our next step is to look into "scholarships" and foundations for additional support. But I'm still brainstorming for ways I can help bring in some extra funds. Anyone want to help me record a Children's CD? Or write Oprah to make my wildest dream come true? We are certainly not bad off and there are plenty of people out there who are worse - but I know somewhere out there, there is a very rich and generous person just looking for a Thai grandchild or nephew or whatever! :) We're here and willing to help that dream come true.
Another great thing, was we had our support group meeting tonight. It felt like magic announcing our dossier was nearly ready to leave the country. I have visions of while it's in Washington DC, they are decorating it with red, white, and blue, getting is all gussied up for it's journey. More likely, it's getting a gold seal or an embossed stamp and a nice stock cover letter with the word Thailand appropriatley placed for good will. I don't care either way - as long as it's getting what it needs.
One couple in our group is coming off a very bad scam - it hurt them pretty bad and they've been researching and gathering information to try and stop this from happening again. The birth couple was working with 6 different families and collected over $10,000 from just 3 of them. Who knows how much money they made on this poor little baby. Turns out a couple in Mass. was ready to adopt this baby and spent time in the hospital with him and named him - the whole nine yards. But because they couldn't give them more money the birth couple took the child and basically sold him to the highest paying agency. Our friends were out of the scam far before the baby was born, but to know the couple did this until the very last moment made us all ill. Illinois just passed a new law that will hopefully help prevent baby selling. It requires all adoption agencies to be a non for profit organization. Although it won't help with scammers, it'll cut down on crooked agencies taking advantage of people and their wallets during such an emotional and often desperate time. If anyone out there has politically minds or connections please consider a way to help prevent these multiply family scams from happening. I don't know much about law - but this kind of fraud must be stopped.
But anyway - there were a few good things that happened this week. First, last night was Jackie's Tastefully Simple party she hosted has a 2nd fundraiser to us (see my previous postings for further explination). It was a lot of fun and so amazing how people we'd never met before were excited and interested in our journey. And the few people we'd met at other family functions treated us like family and seemed to take personal stock in our adoption efforts. It was a great rush of hope and excitment to answer people's questions and hear all the well wishes the circulated the room. When it was all said and done we received a $90 check from Tastefully Simple rep, Goldie, and a very kind donation of $20. In total between the parties and the kindness of people we were able to raise over $300 to help with our adoption costs. It takes my breath away to see how our families and friends have really opened up and are so excited about the process and are willing to support us (emotionally and financially). Our next step is to look into "scholarships" and foundations for additional support. But I'm still brainstorming for ways I can help bring in some extra funds. Anyone want to help me record a Children's CD? Or write Oprah to make my wildest dream come true? We are certainly not bad off and there are plenty of people out there who are worse - but I know somewhere out there, there is a very rich and generous person just looking for a Thai grandchild or nephew or whatever! :) We're here and willing to help that dream come true.
Another great thing, was we had our support group meeting tonight. It felt like magic announcing our dossier was nearly ready to leave the country. I have visions of while it's in Washington DC, they are decorating it with red, white, and blue, getting is all gussied up for it's journey. More likely, it's getting a gold seal or an embossed stamp and a nice stock cover letter with the word Thailand appropriatley placed for good will. I don't care either way - as long as it's getting what it needs.
One couple in our group is coming off a very bad scam - it hurt them pretty bad and they've been researching and gathering information to try and stop this from happening again. The birth couple was working with 6 different families and collected over $10,000 from just 3 of them. Who knows how much money they made on this poor little baby. Turns out a couple in Mass. was ready to adopt this baby and spent time in the hospital with him and named him - the whole nine yards. But because they couldn't give them more money the birth couple took the child and basically sold him to the highest paying agency. Our friends were out of the scam far before the baby was born, but to know the couple did this until the very last moment made us all ill. Illinois just passed a new law that will hopefully help prevent baby selling. It requires all adoption agencies to be a non for profit organization. Although it won't help with scammers, it'll cut down on crooked agencies taking advantage of people and their wallets during such an emotional and often desperate time. If anyone out there has politically minds or connections please consider a way to help prevent these multiply family scams from happening. I don't know much about law - but this kind of fraud must be stopped.
posted by Hannah | 10:23 PM
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