Fine Tuning the Connections

Ten years ago when Ray and looked into adoption for the first time, it was overwhelming. I think it was overwhelming because the internet was so new at that time - especially to us. I had no idea where to go and what to do and blogs certainly didn't exist at that time! So we shelved the idea and within days found out we were expectant with Cassidy.

Now, when we began this adoption adventure I first found an old aquaintance's blog. Upon finding her blog and reading through her entire process, I was also able to follow links from her site to other adoption blogs. These sites were all American and they were a variety of adoptions - from Ethiopia - Haiti - Ukraine. They were all encouraging and inspiring. I read them until I was up todate and then I was done. Or so I thought.

Then one week there was an article in the local paper of a couple who had originated (at least the mum had) in our area. There was a picture of them and their new little boy. I finally had time to follow up on their website and again, read it from the start of their journey to the finish.

Like anyone who is adopting can attest to, reading blogs and watching and sharing someone else's progress is second best to going through those stages yourself! I emailed the girl and we will be connecting when she comes up here sometime with her family. Through reading her blog I was able to find a bunch of other blogs.

I should mention that she and the other blogs that I read from her site (up to this point) were all from Canada, which was wonderful because it was alot more relevant than reading about American adoptions. They were from the 'other' agency in Canada, that deals with Ethiopia, and not our agency, so that information was still a little off.

So here I was finetuning a little. I was now getting information that pertained to me - Canadian versus American. But it was the other agency, but through her blog writings I would gain a little insite to 'my' Ethiopian agency, as she occasionally made comments.

One day I found a blog on her links that led me to a family that was adopting through Kidslink - my agency!! I read the entirety of that blog and then wrote to this girl, because she had mentioned that there was an online support group for people adopting from Ethiopia, through our agency!

I found this group and have signed up. So now, from the beginning of just learning about adoption in general through Americans, I have come to where I am now online with people who actually have children that will be staying in the same transition house as our child. These people will become friends and a great source of support over the next year or so. It is wonderful to see how the fine tuning of the connections has happened!! I have now been able to glean all kinds of information about the care the children are receiving in our transition house, to the type of compassionate staff at our agency, to learning all kinds of helpful information re visas, immigration, travel, guest houses, sterilizing bottles in a country where the electricity is different etc.

There are even a number of Ethiopian adoptions in BC and I am sure from what I read that at some point there will be gatherings of these families. A great support group!

I am very thankful!