As we wait for more information, I struggle a bit with what to do about adoption outreach. Do we post things on our Facebook adoption page and ask people to keep sharing? Do we wait it out? I don't want to hurt the expecting mother we met with, but at the same time, we know that nothing is "for sure" at this point. I've heard from many adoptive parents that things can change so quickly....so being open is good.
Today I added a few more photos to our Facebook page, and will update the our website at some point. That all seems safe, from both points of view.
I am friends with other hopeful adoptive parents on Facebook and see their posts about adoption t-shirts, window decals, posters, etc. to spread the word. Kudos to those families that are using unique methods of outreach to share their story! At this point, that's not for us. Actually, at any point I don't think that's for us.
I'll keep doing what I feel somewhat uncomfortable with, flying just above the radar so the word gets out, but I don't feel like our family is being marketed in a way that I don't feel like we are being ourselves.
We've had a busy week and I came down with the crud--UGH! Tomorrow will be a good day--Jamie and I are volunteering at Resolve's family building conference in Golden Valley in the morning and are attending a wedding of some of our good friends in the afternoon--whoo-hoo! It will be good to have the focus be on helping and celebrating with others!
Showing posts with label outreach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label outreach. Show all posts
Friday, April 20, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Social Media--Wow!
Here's a fun stats update! Since launching our Thompson Family Adoption Facebook page two weeks ago:
* 243 people have "liked" the page (and more have stopped by to send us notes, too!)
* Our Facebook page has been "shared" over 40 times on friend's pages
* We have had over 250 more hits on our website: www.thompsonfamilyadoption.shutterfly.com
* The article that Michelle Turnberg wrote for Inforum has been shared 290 time
It's amazing how quickly social media can spread the word! We are really thankful to our friends and family for helping to get the word out about our desire to adopt!
* 243 people have "liked" the page (and more have stopped by to send us notes, too!)
* Our Facebook page has been "shared" over 40 times on friend's pages
* We have had over 250 more hits on our website: www.thompsonfamilyadoption.shutterfly.com
* The article that Michelle Turnberg wrote for Inforum has been shared 290 time
It's amazing how quickly social media can spread the word! We are really thankful to our friends and family for helping to get the word out about our desire to adopt!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Intensity and Momentum
Since "launching" our Facebook page there has been a different level of intensity and momentum related to our adoption journey. The quiet waiting period seems to be long gone, and my emotions are heightened. The funny thing is that I'm not jumping at the phone to ring, but rather I'm contemplating ways to better share our story. I want to keep the momentum for the Facebook page going, yet I don't want to bombard people with requests to like or share our page. The potential for a TV interview is on my brain, which is an AMAZING opportunity, but I'm not going to lie, it's overwhelming, too. Promoting ourselves just seems weird. Uncomfortable, unnatural and humbling. I'd really love for all of this to be easier, to be normal, to not have to work so hard for so many years to have a baby.
In the end I need to remember that the more people that know our story, the better our chances of a match.
In the past week and a half, I've had some interactions that have helped me to accept and embrace our outreach efforts. I'm doing my best to tell myself that I should enjoy this process because it's the story of bringing our next baby to our family.
As I was nervously chatting with a co-worker about our potential interview and mentioned it to a couple of other co-workers that were close by. Their genuine excitement helped me to realize that instead of having nervous energy, I needed to focus on positive energy.
After a shopping date at Target with my boys, I ran to the mall to pick up one more thing. I ended up spending more time there than I expected (what a surprise!) and as I was walking out, walking in was a friend who has both a biological and adopted son. We never run into each other except when we plan lunch dates. It was so good to catch up with her and share our recent updates. Watching her boys together was so, so, so inspiring. She told me as they were walking in, the youngest was holding the oldest's arm and said, "I love you brother!" Oh, I can't wait!
I had a lunch event for work today. I walked in and saw a friend that I used to volunteer with and don't get to see very often anymore. She told me that she loved our adoption Facebook page and that she had no idea we were adopting. She commented that she couldn't imagine a more loving family for a baby. So, sweet.
Thank goodness for these types of interactions! They keep me as focused as I can be on what's important: the support, the positive and the possibilities.
I'll keep living with the intensity and will try to keep up the momentum, because in the end, it will bring our baby home.
In the end I need to remember that the more people that know our story, the better our chances of a match.
In the past week and a half, I've had some interactions that have helped me to accept and embrace our outreach efforts. I'm doing my best to tell myself that I should enjoy this process because it's the story of bringing our next baby to our family.
As I was nervously chatting with a co-worker about our potential interview and mentioned it to a couple of other co-workers that were close by. Their genuine excitement helped me to realize that instead of having nervous energy, I needed to focus on positive energy.
After a shopping date at Target with my boys, I ran to the mall to pick up one more thing. I ended up spending more time there than I expected (what a surprise!) and as I was walking out, walking in was a friend who has both a biological and adopted son. We never run into each other except when we plan lunch dates. It was so good to catch up with her and share our recent updates. Watching her boys together was so, so, so inspiring. She told me as they were walking in, the youngest was holding the oldest's arm and said, "I love you brother!" Oh, I can't wait!
I had a lunch event for work today. I walked in and saw a friend that I used to volunteer with and don't get to see very often anymore. She told me that she loved our adoption Facebook page and that she had no idea we were adopting. She commented that she couldn't imagine a more loving family for a baby. So, sweet.
Thank goodness for these types of interactions! They keep me as focused as I can be on what's important: the support, the positive and the possibilities.
I'll keep living with the intensity and will try to keep up the momentum, because in the end, it will bring our baby home.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Outreach
Our outreach efforts have truly given us so much hope. We're very inspired by the support we've received and are thankful to have friends and family helping us to spread the word. I know some people have truly gone out of their comfort zone to help us share our story.
Within one week, our Facebook page received 184 likes and was shared by at least 30 people. (https://www.facebook.com/#!/ThompsonFamilyAdoption) I wish that if you liked the post I made, it automatically liked our Facebook adoption page, too, because I noticed some people liked my post, but not our page. Oh well! The important thing is getting the word out!! Our adoption website has had over 200 new hits. It's encouraging to think that more people are aware of our desire to adopt, and will hopefully mention us if they know of someone considering adoption for their child.
We've received emails and posts from other adoptive parents giving us encouragement. The common thread: It will be worth it!
The hope we've been given through our outreach came at a time where we really needed it. Jamie and I are so thankful, it's put a new spring in our step. Hope is a beautiful thing. Knowing that many are rooting for us warms our hearts.
We've had some additional excitement, too. Some "I know someone stories" that maybe could come to fruition? And this, too: My AMAZING sister-in-law posted our adoption Facebook page on her site (with some very sweet comments), one of Jamie's friends from Dawson saw it. She did some additional outreach for us and the next day WCCO called to see if we'd be interested in doing a story!! We are still working out the details, but there's a good possibility that they will come out next week to interview our family. It's been an emotional week--in a very good way. No matter what happens, we're thankful for the opportunity to tell our story to others...for two reasons: I hope to bring more awareness to that nasty disease called infertility as well as bring a baby to our family. I believe that we'll find the perfect match--a birth family and child that we're meant to share our life with.
Within one week, our Facebook page received 184 likes and was shared by at least 30 people. (https://www.facebook.com/#!/ThompsonFamilyAdoption) I wish that if you liked the post I made, it automatically liked our Facebook adoption page, too, because I noticed some people liked my post, but not our page. Oh well! The important thing is getting the word out!! Our adoption website has had over 200 new hits. It's encouraging to think that more people are aware of our desire to adopt, and will hopefully mention us if they know of someone considering adoption for their child.
We've received emails and posts from other adoptive parents giving us encouragement. The common thread: It will be worth it!
The hope we've been given through our outreach came at a time where we really needed it. Jamie and I are so thankful, it's put a new spring in our step. Hope is a beautiful thing. Knowing that many are rooting for us warms our hearts.
We've had some additional excitement, too. Some "I know someone stories" that maybe could come to fruition? And this, too: My AMAZING sister-in-law posted our adoption Facebook page on her site (with some very sweet comments), one of Jamie's friends from Dawson saw it. She did some additional outreach for us and the next day WCCO called to see if we'd be interested in doing a story!! We are still working out the details, but there's a good possibility that they will come out next week to interview our family. It's been an emotional week--in a very good way. No matter what happens, we're thankful for the opportunity to tell our story to others...for two reasons: I hope to bring more awareness to that nasty disease called infertility as well as bring a baby to our family. I believe that we'll find the perfect match--a birth family and child that we're meant to share our life with.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
It made me nauseous, but I did it.
A few posts ago, I mentioned the story that my co-worker sent me about a family that were matched with their adopted child through Facebook. And, I also commented about how scary that seemed to me. I am not a private person, but I don't like attention. I really enjoy being under the radar, sailing smoothly in my comfort zone.
I decided to get out of my comfort zone and created a Facebook adoption page. I asked my super awesome sister-in-law Jesi (see, I am practicing, Jesi) to check it out and tell me what she thought. She encouraged me to post it. And, I did! Then I posted on her Facebook page that I thought I might throw up! Here's what I posted:
Jamie and I are the kind of people that like to remain "under the radar", but some things are worth getting out of our comfort zone for...our family is one of them. We are currently a waiting adoptive family, we're approved for domestic infant adoption. 50% of matches happen by word of mouth. We'd appreciate it if you'd help us spread the word about our desire to be parents again by liking our adoption page-Thompson Family Adoption: https://www.facebook.com/ThompsonFamilyAdoption and sharing it with your friends. We're hopeful that we can help Griffin make his dream of becoming a big brother come true. Thank you!
I sat and watched all of the likes and shares come through and tears streamed down my face. People were liking my post, sharing it with others, liking our page...it was amazing! It was so uplifting to receive support from so many people. What an amazing gift. In 2 hours we had 70 likes on our adoption Facebook page. When I woke up in the morning we had 100. Last I checked we had over 40. Amazing. People were checking out our adoption website, too. The link is: http://thompsonfamilyadopts.shutterfly.com/. Pages that had 66 hits before I posted the page had 113 hits within two hours. It's great to know that if one of those people hears about a family that is choosing adoption for their baby, they will hopefully think of us. I received emails from people I have never met encouraging us, and from people I know that didn't realize we were hoping to adopt. Am I glad I got out of my comfort zone? You bet! Tuesday night will be a memorable one for me, I'll never forget the overwhelming feeling of support, love and hope I felt as the likes, shares and messages came through. A few other things happened due to our post--we received contact from another "I know someone" situation and it appears that we'll have some additional outreach coming our way thanks to people spreading the word! Stay tuned, I think we have some exciting things in store!
I decided to get out of my comfort zone and created a Facebook adoption page. I asked my super awesome sister-in-law Jesi (see, I am practicing, Jesi) to check it out and tell me what she thought. She encouraged me to post it. And, I did! Then I posted on her Facebook page that I thought I might throw up! Here's what I posted:
Jamie and I are the kind of people that like to remain "under the radar", but some things are worth getting out of our comfort zone for...our family is one of them. We are currently a waiting adoptive family, we're approved for domestic infant adoption. 50% of matches happen by word of mouth. We'd appreciate it if you'd help us spread the word about our desire to be parents again by liking our adoption page-Thompson Family Adoption: https://www.facebook.com/ThompsonFamilyAdoption and sharing it with your friends. We're hopeful that we can help Griffin make his dream of becoming a big brother come true. Thank you!
I sat and watched all of the likes and shares come through and tears streamed down my face. People were liking my post, sharing it with others, liking our page...it was amazing! It was so uplifting to receive support from so many people. What an amazing gift. In 2 hours we had 70 likes on our adoption Facebook page. When I woke up in the morning we had 100. Last I checked we had over 40. Amazing. People were checking out our adoption website, too. The link is: http://thompsonfamilyadopts.shutterfly.com/. Pages that had 66 hits before I posted the page had 113 hits within two hours. It's great to know that if one of those people hears about a family that is choosing adoption for their baby, they will hopefully think of us. I received emails from people I have never met encouraging us, and from people I know that didn't realize we were hoping to adopt. Am I glad I got out of my comfort zone? You bet! Tuesday night will be a memorable one for me, I'll never forget the overwhelming feeling of support, love and hope I felt as the likes, shares and messages came through. A few other things happened due to our post--we received contact from another "I know someone" situation and it appears that we'll have some additional outreach coming our way thanks to people spreading the word! Stay tuned, I think we have some exciting things in store!
Monday, March 12, 2012
Sitting on the Sidelines
I've talked a bit about this before, but something came up today that got me thinking more about it. Through the adoption process, we've done just that, gone through the adoption process. Jamie and I both like processes and rules....not to some crazy extreme, but in a good way (of course that's what I think!). So following the process seems reasonable, smart, efficient and oh so comfortable. After what we've been through I trust that something WILL work out for us. I don't expect to ever understand why we lost so many babies, but I can understand that we've been brought to adoption for a reason. I am thankful and grateful for the opportunity...on so many levels.
A friend, co-worker and mentor (literally) sent me this link today: http://gma.yahoo.com/video/
It put me in the uncomfortable world of adoption outreach. Doing more than just telling people we are a waiting family, but reaching out to people. Maybe through social media, maybe through ads, maybe through flyers. It makes me feel so vulnerable....being an open book to everyone seems scary to me. What about the calls from women that are scams....leading us on to think they are pregnant, but really want money. What about getting a "match" with someone that hasn't had any counseling, will she change her mind? What about all of the people reading about our life that are just reading it to be nosy...GASP! I really want to avoid drama and disappointments if we can. We've had enough of both.
Then the same friend sent me a devotional. The message was from 2 Corinthians 5:7 For we live by faith, not by sight. Part of the devotional read, "If you live your life too safely, you will never know the thrill of Me working through you."
So I started thinking about getting out of my comfort zone.
On the way to pick up Griffin today I started daydreaming about adding more to our adoption website and sharing it publicly (right now it's only shared through LSS....nice and safe! I thought about a Facebook page and You Tube video. It all seems so time consuming, I'd rather be spending time with my boys, blogging, hanging out with friends, scrapbooking, this list could go on forever. But, if it brings us to our baby, then it will be worth it.
So, I'm going to start pondering what outreach could look like for us, and at the same time keep praying that we get a call. THE call. Soon!
P.S. Jodi I loved your post about your calls. So exciting, fun and inspirational!
A friend, co-worker and mentor (literally) sent me this link today: http://gma.yahoo.com/video/
It put me in the uncomfortable world of adoption outreach. Doing more than just telling people we are a waiting family, but reaching out to people. Maybe through social media, maybe through ads, maybe through flyers. It makes me feel so vulnerable....being an open book to everyone seems scary to me. What about the calls from women that are scams....leading us on to think they are pregnant, but really want money. What about getting a "match" with someone that hasn't had any counseling, will she change her mind? What about all of the people reading about our life that are just reading it to be nosy...GASP! I really want to avoid drama and disappointments if we can. We've had enough of both.
Then the same friend sent me a devotional. The message was from 2 Corinthians 5:7 For we live by faith, not by sight. Part of the devotional read, "If you live your life too safely, you will never know the thrill of Me working through you."
So I started thinking about getting out of my comfort zone.
On the way to pick up Griffin today I started daydreaming about adding more to our adoption website and sharing it publicly (right now it's only shared through LSS....nice and safe! I thought about a Facebook page and You Tube video. It all seems so time consuming, I'd rather be spending time with my boys, blogging, hanging out with friends, scrapbooking, this list could go on forever. But, if it brings us to our baby, then it will be worth it.
So, I'm going to start pondering what outreach could look like for us, and at the same time keep praying that we get a call. THE call. Soon!
P.S. Jodi I loved your post about your calls. So exciting, fun and inspirational!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)