Question: Did you use an agency, or was the adoption private?

If you look to the right hand column of my blog you will see a box for Formspring. Formspring is a website where you can ask questions to anyone with an account. You can ask with the person knowing it's you, or you can ask anonymously.

I have been asked several questions about our adoption, particularly because it is a family member adoption. So I figured as part of National Adoption Month I would answer those questions here on my blog as well (I answer questions as they are asked on Formspring). I will try to answer them in more detail here as well.

Question as asked on Formspring: Because of your relationship with Emily's birthmother, did you use an agency, or was the adoption private?

Answer: Actually because it is a family member adoption, our agency (as is the case with most agencies I think), could not facilitate our adoption. We used a private adoption attorney. Best attorney ever! We did use our agency for our post placement visit and our attorney got our file from them for the background checks that are required for any adoption. Our adoption isn't final yet. We still have to wait the required 6 month waiting period. That will be up at the end of January and we will be able to go to court to finalize at some point in February.

As part of adoption month, I will be offering some giveaways, (including a photo session for a hoping to adopt family in the AZ area!) so stay tuned for that. Until then, I wanted to tell you about my friend Angie's giveaway. Angie is an adoptive momma of two of the cutest little boys (seriously, he son Adam has cheeks and a smile that is to die for! I giggle every time I see his picture.) Angie is also a fabulous photographer (Check out her site, Ray Of Sunshine Photography)! She is offering a photo session and disc of images, fully edited to a hoping to adopt couple. It doesn't matter where you live, just as long as you are willing to travel to Utah County for the session. She has several ways you can win. Check out the link for more details: http://claytonandangie.blogspot.com/2010/11/national-adoption-monthand-photography.html

Good Luck!