8 Days of ADOPTION!

In honor of Landrie's upcoming 1st birthday and in celebration of her adoption, I'm going to attempt to do 8 CONSECUTIVE DAYS of blogging about adoption!  If you've ever read our blog, you know adoption is something near and dear to our hearts.  Some posts will be general, and some will be specifically about our story.  Just because I used to be a teacher, each post will start with a letter of the word "adoption." Fun, right?  :)

Today starts with " The Agency of our dreams!"

We did a LOT of research before we felt comfortable with choosing Inheritance Adoptions as our agency.  I may have even had a little spreadsheet going... :)  These are the things we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE about Inheritance!!

10.  They were the only one that we felt complete peace about.

9.  They are a Christian agency! 

8. They are a small agency, so we know everyone in the office, and they know us.  They love to see and hear about Landrie.

7. They really, really care.  After we FLEW down the highway to be there for Landrie's birth, Misty and Judy from the agency were there waiting in the hospital lobby for us!  Judy stayed with Brianna and us until 4am!!  Talk about going above and beyond the call of duty!  Leslie, Misty and Judy visited Brianna and us several times while we were in the hospital and helped guide us through a time when we weren't so sure of how to do things.

Judy and teeny-tiny Landrie

Leslie and our adorable bundle of JOY!  

6.  Since they are a Christian, non-profit agency there fees are considerably less than for-profit agencies.

5.  Surprisingly, their average wait time (after doing paperwork) is only about 4 months!!  This was not what we expected at all!
4. They completely oppose abortion.  Some agencies offer women several options.  Inheritance encourages two: parent or create an adoption plan.  Even if a woman says there is a 0% chance she will choose adoption, Inheritance will help her find financial assistance, help her pay bills, find a new place to live if she needs one.
3.  If the birth mom changes her mind (she has every right to!) Inheritance pays for her living expenses during her pregnancy, not the adoptive couple.  Most agencies have the adoptive couple pay these.  You could face a failed adoption AND lose thousands of dollars.

2.  Adoption can be a new, unfamiliar thing for many families, and even scary at times.  I loved that they offered an all day training for prospective parents and had books and resources for us to read too.  When we heard birth moms and adoptive parents speak at that training, our hearts changed towards open adoption!  We had read about it, but seeing normal people who had done it made it so much more of a reality.
1.  They really love the pregnant women they work with.  They talk with them, counsel them, take care of their financial needs, go with them to prenatal appointments, are there for the delivery and so much more.  I am so thankful that they loved on this special birth mom!!

Brianna and Landrie at her Gotcha Day Party

There are many, MANY choices out there, and we are so thankful that we found one that works so well with our family!!

Want to know more?  Visit their website, blog or become a fan on facebook!