Quote of the Week: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, and hope for tomorrow."
~ Albert Einstein

Quote of the Week: Friendship is Born

Friendship is born at the moment when one says to the other, "What, you too? I thought I was the only one." 

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Adoption Storyline on MTV's 16 and Pregnant

Some of you may have heard of one of MTV's newest documentary series, 16 and Pregnant. In each episode, cameras follow a sixteen year old expectant mother through her pregnancy and the first few weeks and months after the baby's birth.  Thus far, each of these young Moms has parented her baby. 

This Thursday night (the 16th) is the season finale of 16 and Pregnant and this episode will feature a 16 year old expectant Mother named Catelynn who is making an adoption plan for her unborn baby. And of course in true TV fashion, it's unclear if this young Mom only considers adoption or if she follows through with an adoption plan so I guess we'll just have to wait and watch to see what happens!

Verse about Remembering

Although adoption isn’t always joyful for me as a birthmother and there has been pain in my life as a result of adoption, I’m still glad that my son is a part of my life and can’t picture my life with out him in it. This verse reminds me of that. 

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.”
~ Philip. 1:3

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Quote of the Week: Head Decision

"Adoption is a head decision.
The heart never 'gives up' a child for adoption."
- M.P.N."

July Newsletter

The July Newsletter is now up! Check it out at www.birthmombuds.com/july2009.htm. 

Quote of the Week: Everything a Miracle

“There are only two ways to live your life; one as though nothing is a miracle and the other as though everything is a miracle.”
~ Albert Einstein 

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Happy 4th of July!

Wishing all of our US members a happy and safe 4th of July!

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Tips for Searching

This week's post is written by guest blogger, Jill.......

I’m going to suggest you register with as many on-line search registries as you can possibly join. Give as much information as you have. 

1) Keep good records. Write down every site you’ve joined along with user name and password.
2) Keep your e-mail address current. 
3) If you have a name look at social networking sites such as Facebook, My Space, Twitter and so on.
4) If you’ve used an agency ask them to add your contact information to your file.
5) If you have a name, try looking up the name on the internet by doing a Google search. Also, check out sites like www.anywho.com - will give you an address and phone number if listed. Good if the parents have moved out of state. There are other phone number look ups available. Don’t just try one – try as many as you can. You never know!
6) Public Records – If you know the name and city you can check out public records such as voter’s registration, tax records, etc. Check both county and city records. 
7.) Contact the county adoption clerk in the city your adoption would have been filed at. They may not be able to help you but they might give you some tips for your particular city/state.
8.) Also if you have a name, checkout www.classmates.com 
9.) Register with any on line search registries you can. Some that I’ve looked at are:
www.ISRR.net - International soundex reunion registry
www.genesearch.com - Adoption Search Registries and Reunion Resources listed by state.
www.abcadoptions.com - Adoption records by state. Helps you by giving your state laws.
www.adoption.com - This one is huge, multi links from a variety of names. 
www.abcadoptions.com

There are also paid online search sites such as Omnisearch - I’ve had limited luck with those. I did find some long lost friends though. Good Luck!