Greetings from San Antonio!

One of my (many) New Year's resolutions this year was to write and release our monthly newsletter on a timely basis each month, as so many of you have shared that receiving these contacts with us via e-mail has helped you to feel more connected with the agency staff, especially when there is a great geographical distance that separates us.

As life would have it, I succeeded at this resolution goal for only the first month of the year! The two months that have passed since the January newsletter was released have been filled with many events -- there has been a whirlwind of activity and not a single spare moment to sit down and catch everyone up on the "goings-ons" at the agency. On a happy note, there was one international and thirteen domestic placements this reporting period. Our greatest joy continues to be witnessing couples become families through adoption… For those of you patiently waiting for the opportunity to welcome a precious child into your family, we look forward to talking with you soon about a case - we know that the wait can be difficult and challenging, and appreciate your positive and optimistic attitude as you wait for news each month… Those of you who are on our regular e-mail list have been made aware that our much-loved and respected counselor Nikki Lopez was recently diagnosed with cancer. Nikki will be receiving treatment over the coming weeks and months and we will keep you posted on her recovery. We look forward to sharing good news in the near future, and are grateful for the support and encouragement many of you have expressed through your cards, donations, and gifts.

Congratulations!

Children thirst to hear where they came from…they need to know that they were desired, that their birth was a wonder, and that they were always the object of love and care. --Marcelle Clements

INTERNATIONAL ADOPTIONS:
Joseph and Tracy welcomed one-year-old Peter John into their family…

DOMESTIC ADOPTIONS:
David and Catherine welcomed their first child, a son, Rayfield Adam, to their family…Congrats to this happy threesome!

Mike and Angie also welcomed their first child, a sweet little boy named James Edward, we're so happy for them!

Luis and Adrienne welcomed their second son, Matthew Lawrence, to their family…big brother Joey couldn't be prouder!

Greg and Cynthia welcomed their second child, a daughter they named Ashley Anais, to their family…Alex is Ashley's big brother… This was the family's second A.S.A. adoption…

Simon and Charlotte welcomed their fourth son, Michael Cornelius, to their family….Michael's big brothers are Lucas, Sebastian, and Daniel… This was the family's second A.S.A. adoption…

Tom and Marie welcomed their third child and first son, Jake Thomas, to their family…Jake's adoring big sisters are Kelly and Meg… This was the family's second A.S.A. adoption…

Lola Rae Christina joined her parents, Matthijs and Kelly, and this new family couldn't be more thrilled!

David and Laurie welcomed their second child and first daughter, Ayla Jayde Isabel…big brother Ryan is so excited!

Congratulations to Glenn and Sharon, who welcomed their first child, Maya Perri, to their family…

James and Patricia welcomed their second son, Maximillian James Shawn, to their family…big brother Jackson is as happy as can be! This was the family's second A.S.A. adoption…

Logan Ellis joined his parents, Herb and Michele, and big brother, Hunter, congrats to this happy foursome! This was the family's second A.S.A. adoption…

Phillip and Rochelle welcomed their daughter, Samantha Lee, to their family… Stephen and Irene adore their new addition -- a precious baby girl they've named Lily Margaret…heartfelt congratulations to them!

One Family's Story

Not flesh of my flesh nor bone of my bone but, nevertheless, still my own… Never forget for a single minute you weren't born under my heart but in it…

A special thanks to Randy and Linda for sharing their personal adoption journey with us this month….

Our names are Randy and Linda. When we got married, even though we were both in our late thirties, we just assumed that we would get pregnant as soon as I went off the pill. When we did not conceive after a year, we went to a fertility specialist who gave us almost no hope that we would get pregnant. Upon leaving his office we decided, in the parking lot, that we would adopt.

The decision itself took no discussion…we already had two adopted nieces that we loved dearly. We went to an agency in the state in which we lived but after a year and no hope of a baby, we decided to call A.S.A.

From the beginning the staff was wonderful…they always made me feel better when I would call (which was probably too often…my husband was afraid I was stalking them!). The wait is the hardest part. They would say "Be patient…your day will come…there is a baby out there for you…". After waiting for over a year, on the day before Thanksgiving, I got home from work and there was an envelope at my back door that would change our lives forever. Inside it said that we had been selected as adoptive parents! We got in touch with the agency and the ball started to roll. The scariest thing I ever heard in my life was that the birth mother wanted to talk to us. In fact, Nikki Lopez said she was waiting for our call at that very moment! I was totally terrified to speak to her. I was so afraid that she would not like me and that she would decide that we would not be good parents to her baby. I finally got up the nerve to call her and almost immediately my fears went away. She was a lovely girl…I spoke to her mother, also. I liked them and I felt they liked me, too. That was in November. We spoke every week after that until January when our son, Daniel, was born. My husband and I flew to Texas when she went into labor…we were invited into the delivery room by the birth mother to be there for his arrival but he was an impatient little boy and he came almost as soon as her labor started. We traveled all day and we arrived at the hospital at 1:00A.M. We got to see our son through the window of the nursery. That little face will forever be etched in my mind…he was the most beautiful baby we ever saw.

Our experience with A.S.A. and our adoption was all very positive and problem-free. We are very thankful for our son Daniel who turns "1" at the end of the next month.

Please feel free to contact me anytime by telephone (210) 699-6094 or e-mail (dgaribay2000@yahoo.com). I welcome your comments, suggestions, and feedback. Please note that A.S.A. will be closed on Good Friday, April 18th, as well as the Monday following Easter, April 20th. San Antonio celebrates Fiesta during the month of April (a Mardi Gras-type celebration, San Antonio style!), and there is a city holiday on Friday, April 25th; A.S.A. will be closed this day.

Wishing you all a joyous and peaceful Passover and Easter holiday,

Denise Y. Garibay, M.A. Director of Social Services