Today’s our birthday!
We launched two years ago today. For those reading this, thank you! Thank you for caring about this movement and helping us show that adoption can be a beautiful thing and that birth moms are heroes.
2014 Care Net Conference
Last week, BraveLove had the honor of participating in Care Net’s 2014 National Pregnancy Center Conference held right here in our own backyard – Dallas, TX! It was inspiring to be around hundreds of men and women working in different centers around the United States. We visited with some of our existing partners and then connected with over 100 different pregnancy centers for the first time.
In Light of Being Known
An adoptive mother recently introduced us to a children’s book called There’s NO Such Thing as a Dragon. “Billy Bixbee was rather surprised when he woke up one morning and found a dragon in his room. It was a small dragon, about the size of a kitten.”
Terri's Story
I knew from the moment I made my decision to place my child for adoption that it would have to be an open arrangement because I would want to be involved in my child’s life.
Amy | A Birth Mom from Jackson
I think my own life helped me make the choice. My adoptive parents are wonderful and helped show me true love in everything. From the time I stepped into the Home for Unwed Mothers, I knew the choice was mine and had made up my mind.
To My Sweet Etta,
I’ll start off by saying I am proud to be your birth mom. I am proud that I trusted and believed in God’s word and that was adoption. I know in my heart God had me picked out to be the special woman to carry you for 9 months for your Mommy. Sometimes it’s hard to understand what God is doing (and believe me at first this was very hard for me to understand). Though the minute I met your parents, I 100% understood God’s doings.
Miranda | A Birth Mom from Texas
I have a 2-year-old who I parent. Her father along with the father of my second child played a big part in why I chose adoption.
The Adoption Triad
As reflected perfectly in the symbol for the adoption triad, adoption consists of three parties coming together from opposite angles to meet at the intersection of a unique kind of love.
Coming Together: Our third Roundtable
BraveLove is on a mission, and we are getting closer to releasing the details of our newest project to all of you! Last month, we hosted our third Roundtable discussion to build upon ideas gathered from our previous Roundtable held in April.
To The Moon
"Of two things I am certain 1) that my daughter loves me and 2) that I made the right choice. I am a birth father and 15 years ago I chose to place my daughter, Belle, in open adoption." - Rick
Dear Precious Little One,
We haven’t met you yet and have no idea when you will join our family. But we trust God and know that He’ll bring you to us at the perfect time. We can’t wait to welcome you into our family with unconditional love.
A Single Step: Meet the Iveys
Jamie and Aaron Ivey have four children, three of whom were adopted. They were inspired by friends who had adopted to do something, which caused them to get more information and eventually move forward with the adoption process. Watch their story here.
Lilly | An Adoptive Mom from Texas
"I learned that family is the most important thing we have in life and it is comprised of more than our DNA."
Janelle asks “What’s his label?”
I attended an adoption conference. For the first session, I chose “Adoption Reunions.” Really… can you ever hear enough adoption reunion stories? As I took my seat in the second row, I couldn’t figure out the dynamics of the panel in front of me. Two younger women, two older women and an older man. As the session started, they were introduced… adoptee, birth mom, adoptive mom, birth mom’s husband, and birth mom’s daughter. Hold on… husband of the birth mom?
Debrief from CAFO Summit, Chicago
Last week was our first time to attend the CAFO Summit Conference, and it certainly exceeded our expectations. CAFO is an alliance that brings together individuals and organizations from all different child welfare groups across the globe.
Our second Roundtable
The purpose of the Roundtable was to discuss the state of adoption education and then pitch one of our BraveLove projects for the year. For an hour and a half over lunch, we discussed some hard-hitting questions and gathered feedback from this focus group.
Beautiful Connections
I never dreamt that we could place a baby for adoption and still get to be a part of their life. Making the first of several major decisions, my boyfriend and I jumped right into counseling sessions...
The Long-Term Health Benefits of Open Adoption
A guest writer from Healthline.com shares some of the long-term benefits of open adoption.
Only Love
"Not every child who is adopted was unwanted. I believe there is only love in adoption. Even if the birth mother can’t say it or see it, there is only love." #BraveLove
Our Ambassador Valentine’s Party
On Thursday, February 13th, we celebrated an early Valentine’s with 130 of our Dallas Ambassadors. Our Ambassadors are those who have committed to helping us raise awareness that adoption is a loving option. And Valentine’s seemed like a fitting time to acknowledge this different kind of adoption love story.
Dream a Little Dream
"I thought my life was over, but little did I know, it was just beginning." #BraveLove
Philomena: a movie worth talking about
Based on the 2009 investigative book by BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith (The Lost Child of Philomena Lee), the movie Philomena focuses on the efforts of Philomena Lee, played by Judi Dench. Philomena got pregnant at a young age, which was something her Irish-Catholic community didn’t have the highest opinion of.