We are starting another fundraising push! Unfortunately there is no "installment" plan for the placement fee with our agency ($12,000 due at time of placement). We love to share what we are learning about the adoption process as we encounter it, so please do not hesitate to ask us if you have questions!
In addition, we are working towards choosing an adoption grant foundation and plan on applying for a grant in the hopes that we may receive a bit of a boost. Many of the grants that are available mention on their websites that the need greatly exceeds the funds available! A bit disheartening, but we will still rally on and give it a try!
Stay tuned....
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Monday, October 5, 2015
WAITING...JUST WAITING...
It's been quite some time since we've posted. But thought we should check in.
Living life while waiting for some news has been pretty much life as usual - very hectic! We are trying to clean out some space in our home just in case Baby Soto does arrive without much notice. At the same time, we are also trying not to get too excited and create an entire nursery because we know we may wait for a year or more. It's a bit stressful and emotionally challenging, but we continue to enjoy our time together and trust the entire process.
We will say that we really appreciate what our agency, Hope's Promise, does during this time for waiting families. Once a month they send an email to the waiting adoptive parents letting us all know how many birth mother referrals they've had over the course of the previous month. In addition they let us know how many new adoptions have been finalized over that period of time. Finally, they keep us posted about their upcoming fundraisers and fill us in on what they are doing as far as education and outreach to various communities. We appreciate this! It helps to know that things are happening behind the scenes. In the month of August Hope's Promise received no less than 9 birth mother referrals! That does not mean every mother will choose an adoption plan for her child, but it does mean that women are realizing they have resources and help during their pregnancy and that they are not alone.
We continue to pray and wait in anxious (but joyful!) anticipation....
Living life while waiting for some news has been pretty much life as usual - very hectic! We are trying to clean out some space in our home just in case Baby Soto does arrive without much notice. At the same time, we are also trying not to get too excited and create an entire nursery because we know we may wait for a year or more. It's a bit stressful and emotionally challenging, but we continue to enjoy our time together and trust the entire process.
We will say that we really appreciate what our agency, Hope's Promise, does during this time for waiting families. Once a month they send an email to the waiting adoptive parents letting us all know how many birth mother referrals they've had over the course of the previous month. In addition they let us know how many new adoptions have been finalized over that period of time. Finally, they keep us posted about their upcoming fundraisers and fill us in on what they are doing as far as education and outreach to various communities. We appreciate this! It helps to know that things are happening behind the scenes. In the month of August Hope's Promise received no less than 9 birth mother referrals! That does not mean every mother will choose an adoption plan for her child, but it does mean that women are realizing they have resources and help during their pregnancy and that they are not alone.
We continue to pray and wait in anxious (but joyful!) anticipation....
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
GREAT NEWS! WE ARE "WAITING"....
As of today we are officially considered a "waiting" family with our Hope's Promise! We are so excited to move forward with our adoption journey. With a little bit of determination, some amazing and generous donors, along with a few personal sacrifices, we were able to gather the ($10,2000) first installment required for our agency.
Several people have asked us: "What now?".
Truly, we just wait. And the wait could be anywhere from months...to years.
Hope's Promise has several offices throughout the state of Colorado. Our profile will be visible online on our agency's website. Hope's Promise will also carry a copies of our profile book (aka: Shutterfly photo album) at their many locations. With God's grace and a little luck, a birth mother may learn about us during a counseling session and want to meet with us.
Until then, we are so thankful for your prayers. We need them!
And we are certainly going to keep fundraising: there is a final installment of about $12,000 due at the time of baby's placement in our home. Should you feel called to spread the word about our efforts, please share our blog with your friends and family near and far!
Friday, July 10, 2015
DONATE BUTTON
If you would like to donate, please note that our "donate" PayPal button is not visible if you are using the mobile version of this blog. We apologize. You can scroll down using your iPhone and choose "view web version" or use your desktop device. Thank you so much for taking the time to look at our blog!
Sunday, June 14, 2015
GOT QUESTIONS?
We are delighted if you want to contact us with any questions.
We realize we are not the only couple out there who has struggled: with infertility, with the decision to adopt, with the adoption process and all that comes with it. Perhaps you, or someone you know, or someone you love dearly is struggling with a few of the same difficulties. You are not alone!
We are very candid and open about our experiences on thus far as we journey towards becoming parents. At this particular point in time, we are finding that many people have an outdated idea of what adoption entails and what the process is like... it is much different than it was 30-40 years ago. From the legal aspects to the fees involved, from the options available to birth mothers to the treatment of all parties in the adoption triad, adoption in the United States has undergone many changes. We're happy to elaborate and share our resources.
You can write to us at:
ginadesoto@gmail.com or oboesoto@gmail.com
Please feel free to drop us a line, even if its only to offer encouragement and prayers! We'd love that!
We realize we are not the only couple out there who has struggled: with infertility, with the decision to adopt, with the adoption process and all that comes with it. Perhaps you, or someone you know, or someone you love dearly is struggling with a few of the same difficulties. You are not alone!
We are very candid and open about our experiences on thus far as we journey towards becoming parents. At this particular point in time, we are finding that many people have an outdated idea of what adoption entails and what the process is like... it is much different than it was 30-40 years ago. From the legal aspects to the fees involved, from the options available to birth mothers to the treatment of all parties in the adoption triad, adoption in the United States has undergone many changes. We're happy to elaborate and share our resources.
You can write to us at:
ginadesoto@gmail.com or oboesoto@gmail.com
Please feel free to drop us a line, even if its only to offer encouragement and prayers! We'd love that!
Thursday, June 4, 2015
ONLINE ARTICLE!
We are excited to share an article that was written about adoption in the National Catholic Register - they interviewed us along with two other couples regarding our varying experiences about adoption.
http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/saved-by-love/
We think Roxanne King did a wonderful job of representing us!
http://www.
We think Roxanne King did a wonderful job of representing us!
Sunday, May 17, 2015
HOME STUDY "APPROVED"!
After a long weekend of interviews with our Case Worker and a State required home inspection, we received the good news that we are "approved" to move forward! We hope to enter the waiting pool of adoptive families as soon as we raise the first half of our agency funds! This is such a relief, and allows us to focus more intensely on our fundraising outreach to family, friends and anyone near or far who might be interested in our cause. We are so excited to have reached this major milestone in the process and pray for successful fundraising so that we can continue to move forward with this very long and intense process! Thank you to all who have sent emails and kind words, we are so thankful for your support and prayers.
Saturday, May 9, 2015
FUNDRAISING BEGINS!
Are you aware that the cost to adopt an infant in the United States is extremely high?
We were floored when we found that the approximate fees to adopt in this country are close to $30,000.
For legal and ethical reasons, it is best to work closely with a professional agency. Our agency, Hope's Promise, came highly recommended and has an excellent reputation. You can learn more about them by visiting www.hopespromise.com.
The income we make as a Classical Musician and Pilates Instructor is not large by any standard. Originally we were daunted by the cost. We wondered if this was yet another (seemingly) insurmountable obstacle placed in front of us. Was it a sign that we were just not meant to be parents?
We prayed together and looked to our families for support and advice. Obviously, we have chosen to move forward. We believe that nothing is impossible with God and we know that we are called to embark on this particular journey in order to expand our family.
We absolutely have to raise funds in order for our adoption journey to continue. At the moment, we are in the midst of the Colorado State Required Home Study process. We have been matched with a case worker who will meet with us several times in order to interview us at length and who will also inspect our home. We complete the Home Study process on May 17th.
AT THAT TIME OUR FIRST AGENCY FEE OF $10,200 IS DUE. WE CANNOT BE CONSIDERED A "WAITING FAMILY" AND GO INTO A WAITING POOL UNTIL WE SUBMIT THIS FEE.
It is our hope that you will find it in your hearts to support us generously in our endeavor. We are happy to answer any questions that you have, and we would love for you to continue to be a part of our adoption journey, if you are interested.
Thank you so much for taking the time to prayerfully consider or reflect upon our request. We continue to ask God to bless us and give us patience, as we cannot wait to become parents.
We were floored when we found that the approximate fees to adopt in this country are close to $30,000.
For legal and ethical reasons, it is best to work closely with a professional agency. Our agency, Hope's Promise, came highly recommended and has an excellent reputation. You can learn more about them by visiting www.hopespromise.com.
The income we make as a Classical Musician and Pilates Instructor is not large by any standard. Originally we were daunted by the cost. We wondered if this was yet another (seemingly) insurmountable obstacle placed in front of us. Was it a sign that we were just not meant to be parents?
We prayed together and looked to our families for support and advice. Obviously, we have chosen to move forward. We believe that nothing is impossible with God and we know that we are called to embark on this particular journey in order to expand our family.
We absolutely have to raise funds in order for our adoption journey to continue. At the moment, we are in the midst of the Colorado State Required Home Study process. We have been matched with a case worker who will meet with us several times in order to interview us at length and who will also inspect our home. We complete the Home Study process on May 17th.
AT THAT TIME OUR FIRST AGENCY FEE OF $10,200 IS DUE. WE CANNOT BE CONSIDERED A "WAITING FAMILY" AND GO INTO A WAITING POOL UNTIL WE SUBMIT THIS FEE.
It is our hope that you will find it in your hearts to support us generously in our endeavor. We are happy to answer any questions that you have, and we would love for you to continue to be a part of our adoption journey, if you are interested.
Thank you so much for taking the time to prayerfully consider or reflect upon our request. We continue to ask God to bless us and give us patience, as we cannot wait to become parents.
OUR STRUGGLE
Our story is not unique. We know this. There are many couples in the United States who are unable to conceive a biological child.
We also know that our struggle is not universal: not everyone wants to be a parent.
We do, however, believe that almost anyone can relate to the disappointment, frustration, and anger felt when things do not turn out as you might have dreamed and imagined.
Like many couples who have struggled with infertility, we started off our marriage believing that we would get pregnant as soon as we were ready. On and off over the past several years, we went down down the typical path that one would assume for a couple who hopes to be pregnant. We visited a handful of fertility specialists, had a huge panel of tests performed and even attempted a few months on medications suggested to enhance our fertility. But we always came away with the feeling that something just was not right about this approach. We were constantly frustrated with doctors labeling our issues as "unexplained infertility" and suggesting medications and surgery without solid reasoning as to WHY they were necessary.
Ultimately, we decided that this route was not for us.
We were heartbroken. We were devastated. Our faith was tested. Our marriage was tested. However, our struggle has not led us down a permanent path of despair. Our infertility struggle has ultimately proven to be a blessing! We have grown stronger in our love of God and believe he has a plan for us. We are so grateful for our marriage and the comfort we find in one another. We have strengthened the bonds of our families and have shared our story with our friends. We have reached out to our faith community, and have found kindness and support. We are so lucky.
With joyful anticipation we began the process of Domestic Adoption with Hope's Promise, a local Christian Adoption agency in Castle Rock, in October 2014. After much research we decided upon this agency due to their excellent reputation (we had a few referrals) and their sincere commitment to showing compassion to all members of the adoption triad.
We also know that our struggle is not universal: not everyone wants to be a parent.
We do, however, believe that almost anyone can relate to the disappointment, frustration, and anger felt when things do not turn out as you might have dreamed and imagined.
Like many couples who have struggled with infertility, we started off our marriage believing that we would get pregnant as soon as we were ready. On and off over the past several years, we went down down the typical path that one would assume for a couple who hopes to be pregnant. We visited a handful of fertility specialists, had a huge panel of tests performed and even attempted a few months on medications suggested to enhance our fertility. But we always came away with the feeling that something just was not right about this approach. We were constantly frustrated with doctors labeling our issues as "unexplained infertility" and suggesting medications and surgery without solid reasoning as to WHY they were necessary.
Ultimately, we decided that this route was not for us.
We were heartbroken. We were devastated. Our faith was tested. Our marriage was tested. However, our struggle has not led us down a permanent path of despair. Our infertility struggle has ultimately proven to be a blessing! We have grown stronger in our love of God and believe he has a plan for us. We are so grateful for our marriage and the comfort we find in one another. We have strengthened the bonds of our families and have shared our story with our friends. We have reached out to our faith community, and have found kindness and support. We are so lucky.
With joyful anticipation we began the process of Domestic Adoption with Hope's Promise, a local Christian Adoption agency in Castle Rock, in October 2014. After much research we decided upon this agency due to their excellent reputation (we had a few referrals) and their sincere commitment to showing compassion to all members of the adoption triad.
ABOUT US
Our names are Max & Gina Soto. We are married, Catholic, and members of Holy Ghost Parish in Denver, CO. We will celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary this July.
A bit of our history: we met during our college years at the Loyola University of New Orleans. After graduating, we relocated to Denver where Max received his Master's in Music Performance at Denver University and Gina pursued an education in Pilates, Anatomy & Kinesiology at The Pilates Center of Boulder. We married in 2005 and life has been exceptional.
Max is a classical musician and plays the oboe as well as the english horn. You can find him performing with the Boulder Chamber Orchestra, Boulder Philharmonic, the Greeley Philharmonic, The Colorado Opera, The Colorado Ballet and that list goes on. He is currently performing The Magic Flute with The Colorado Opera and will appear with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra this month as well.
Gina is a Pilates Instructor and a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner at Pilates Aligned, the top Pilates studio in Colorado for pre- or post-surgery support, pain management, strength training and movement education. She is passionate about helping people find pain relief through movement and feels fortunate to be working in an industry where she is able to develop long lasting relationships with her clientele. She is able to monitor their progress as they continue to heal.
We live in a small house near Sloan's Lake in Denver, CO. It is a work in progress and we, (guided by Max) are slowly bringing it back to life in our spare time. Max loves being a handyman and always has several projects running. We have two German Shepherds, Stella and Gracie, who keep us pretty busy!
When we are not working, we live a pretty simple life: we love to hike with the dogs, ride our bikes around the neighborhood, drink espresso and read whatever we can get our hands on. Gina's health consciousness leads to some pretty exciting moments in our kitchen! Gina has family in town so we a very lucky in that respect. Max is from Costa Rica so we Skype with his family as often as we can, and try to visit at least once a year.
A bit of our history: we met during our college years at the Loyola University of New Orleans. After graduating, we relocated to Denver where Max received his Master's in Music Performance at Denver University and Gina pursued an education in Pilates, Anatomy & Kinesiology at The Pilates Center of Boulder. We married in 2005 and life has been exceptional.
Max is a classical musician and plays the oboe as well as the english horn. You can find him performing with the Boulder Chamber Orchestra, Boulder Philharmonic, the Greeley Philharmonic, The Colorado Opera, The Colorado Ballet and that list goes on. He is currently performing The Magic Flute with The Colorado Opera and will appear with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra this month as well.
Gina is a Pilates Instructor and a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner at Pilates Aligned, the top Pilates studio in Colorado for pre- or post-surgery support, pain management, strength training and movement education. She is passionate about helping people find pain relief through movement and feels fortunate to be working in an industry where she is able to develop long lasting relationships with her clientele. She is able to monitor their progress as they continue to heal.
We live in a small house near Sloan's Lake in Denver, CO. It is a work in progress and we, (guided by Max) are slowly bringing it back to life in our spare time. Max loves being a handyman and always has several projects running. We have two German Shepherds, Stella and Gracie, who keep us pretty busy!
When we are not working, we live a pretty simple life: we love to hike with the dogs, ride our bikes around the neighborhood, drink espresso and read whatever we can get our hands on. Gina's health consciousness leads to some pretty exciting moments in our kitchen! Gina has family in town so we a very lucky in that respect. Max is from Costa Rica so we Skype with his family as often as we can, and try to visit at least once a year.
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