A Saved Life

Celebrating a life that was saved!!!  AAI responded to a new birth mother inquiring about ADOPTION after receiving our information at an abortion clinic appointment.  This happened just one week after we dropped off new materials at the clinic.  The clinic staff has now asked AAI to come and provide training for how to present adoption to their clients!  Take a moment to celebrate this baby's life and pray for many more saved lives!

Summer's Sunshine

    11 placements in june...

   9 matched + 2 designated

      6 caucasian + 3 african american + 

       2 caucasian/african american babies

5 boys + 4 girls

       SUMMER BLESSINGS!

Talking About Adoption

One of the most important issues in bringing an adopted child into your family is learning how to help that child and those around you understand that ADOPTION IS AN ACT OF LOVE.  If you can approach adoption with a clear and comfortable understanding of your own personal feelings you will have a much easier time explaining it to your child and to others.  Questions like "When is the right time to start talking to him or her?" "What's the right thing to say?" "How will I know it is the right time?" are very likely thoughts we all have had.  Please don't be afraid.  The more comfortable and open you are with adoption, the more willing your children will be to sharing their thoughts and feelings.  While you are waiting to be linked with a birth mother, please begin reading and feeling more comfortable talking about adoption.  Just like there is no best time (except for as soon as possible) there is no one best way except to be open and honest and never lie or mislead your child.

There are several books and articles written on the subject that will help you get started with your conversations:

Using Books to Open the Adoption Dialog - Jane Brown

Opening the Dialog - S.M. Macrae

Parenting with Narratives: The A, B, C's of Adoption Stories - Jean Macleod

The Backwards Lifebook - Joy Rees

Before You Were Mine: Discovering Your Adopted Child's Lifestory - Susan Tebos (AAI adoptive mom) and Carissa Woodwyk

Adoption Lifebook Do's and Don't - Beth O'Malley

Lifestory Work: The Next Level - Beth O'Malley

My Experiences with Lifebooks - Carrie Kitze

The Baby Lifebook

MAY miracles!

In May we acknowledge the many ways that babies are joined with their families

Birth mother chooses a family from profiles about two months before she gave birth in March.  Birth mother relinquished in court in May.  Baby was home with family through temporary placement.  All paperwork is completed in May.

Birth mother calls from the hospital that she had given birth to a healthy baby and had found a family that she wanted to place her baby with.  AAI stepped in to facilitate the placement, which occurred in May. 

Birth mother relinquishes her baby boy through the Safe Delivery of Newborns Law in March...one happy family was able to meet their new bundle the next day. Court proceedings were completed in May.

After a couple of months of counseling with an AAI caseworker, the birth mother was coincidentally introduced to an AAI family through a friend and, therefore, a designated placement occurred this month.

A family called AAI in April to say that they had connected with a birth mother due in three weeks.  AAI completed the home study and the birth mother counseling; resulting in a completed placement with a relinquishment hearing in May.

Birth mother contacted AAI three weeks before her due, selected a family from profiles; however delivered early.  The birth mother and adoptive family met for the first time on the labor and delivery unit and found an instant connection - the birth of their baby.  Both birth mother and adoptive family signed paperwork in May making it official.

A hospital social worker called on behalf of a young woman who had just given birth and wanted to learn more about adoption.  AAI caseworker went to meet with her and presented profiles.  A match was made and the court proceedings were handled in May.

Relinquishment and adoption comes in many shapes and sizes.  We praise our God who weaves each story together in a beautiful way! 

Honoring Courage

Since the beginning of 2010, 48 mothers have been deeply transformed by the collision of emotion at the heart of adoption.

Love had brought heartache... and then from heartache grew love!

Pain has cried out for healing... and then healing one day replaced the pain! 

Loss gave way to hope... and then hope changed lives lost.

Honoring the courage of 24 birth mothers who selflessly gave of themselves out of love for their child!

Holly Jasmin Alicia Carri Dominique Pamela

Jennifer Sarah Gracie Abby Evelyn Charity

Brenda Amanda Crystal Brandi Aimee Angela

Alicia Jessica Kathleen Safe Delivery BM (2)

Erika  Katherine Rachael

Celebrating the journey of 24 mothers who have received a gift of love in a life-sized bundle called son or daughter!

Annette Wendy Lisa Susan Monika Sarah

Talia Nicole April Debra Jennifer Melissa

Theresa Cheryl Julie Carrie Renee Carlia

Sandra Deanna Brooke  Jamie Susanna Stephanie

For you all have been through pain, heartache, and loss, and as memories of days past fade, we pray that the healing, love and hope will multiply.

Take heart for those of you in-waiting... it is our prayer that you soon will be in the collision of emotion... moving from heartache to love, from pain to healing and from loss to hope again!

Thinking of all of you on Mother's Day.

4+1

Four domestic adoptions were signed and sealed this month through the relinquishment of birth mother's rights and the petitioning of four families to adopt these babies.  Plus... one more baby boy was delivered safely to his waiting family through the Safe Delivery of Newborns Act.  Our education and networking with hospitals and crisis pregnancy centers are enabling those professionals to bring the hope found in adoption planning.  

 

March Babies

Ten babies joined their families in the month of March!

Here are some interesting tidbits:

6 girls 4 boys

7 matches 3 designateds

8 Caucasian babies 2 Caucasian/African American

One of these placements was a baby placed through our Farmington Hills office through the Safe Delivery of Newborns Act.