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Just thought I would share our great news- after 2 long years of endless paperwork, tons of red tape and an incredibly painful process, My wife, son and I are finally proud to announce the adoption of 2 new Clantons, (brother 7 and sister 8) They are 2 great kids, and we fell in love with them the minute we met them over 2 years ago.
They have been in foster care most of their lives, and during this process we were very fortunate to become great friends with the foster parents- we have been able to spend a lot of time getting to know the kids and have had them in our home every weekend since last October.
We went to court Tuesday, and were granted immediate placement in our home- because school starts in a couple of weeks- We were able to give the news to the kids, and they make the big move to our house this Sunday! They will live with us at least 6 months before the official adoption is finalized.
Our family has a huge list of the ways and events that God has blessed in this process- even in spite of the worst state government adoption system in the country
-------------------- Michael Clanton Clanton Graphics/ Blackberry 19 Studio 1933 Blackberry Conway AR 72034 501-505-6794 clantongraphics@yahoo.com Posts: 1736 | From: Conway Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2001
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Your loving help to children who really need you speaks volumes about you. Way to go! It's good to hear there are people like you out there. It has to be an exciting time for your family. Congratulations, Michael and family!
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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I have heard that it is extremely difficult to adopt children nowadays. I am so happy for you and yout wife and I even more happy for the children. They must be thinking "Finally, at last a normal life"
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3816 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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I think the Clantons are very special people. It is truly moving to see love in action.
Congrats to you both! I am absolutely happy for everyone! Papa Michael... has cool ring to it, don't you think?
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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-------------------- Catharine C. Kennedy CCK Graphics 1511 Route 28 Chatham Center, NY 12184 cck1620@taconic.net "Look at me, Look at me, Look at me now! I't's fun to have fun, But you have to know how!" Posts: 2173 | From: downtown Chatham Center, NY | Registered: Feb 2004
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Thanks for all the kind words and support- it's funny, but there are some people who just don't get it, and don't really support our decision. We learned a long time ago that we were not doing this for anybody else except for us and the kids. To us, it was a very simple thing- we have a family and wanted some more kids and these kids needed a family- there is a whole lot of love to share on both sides!
We had a miracle baby almost 14 years ago- although it would be many years later before we realized that he was truly a miracle- when we tried to have more kids, the doctors determined that it was medically impossible for my wife to ever carry a baby to full term (their jaws dropped when we showed them our son) For the next several years, we tried just about everything to have more kids- then my wife had to have a hysterectomy at the young age of 32.
We started working on adoption in 2006- my wife had been to Guatemala several times and worked with kids- she felt a strong desire to adopt from there. About 6 months into the adoption, Guatemala closed the door on all adoptions, so we could either wait it out or choose another route. We had started this process on a great deal of faith- no money to speak of, and we found out the final adoption could cost around $35,000...
Some friends had heard of these 2 kids who were about to be "adoptable" and trying to find a permanent placement. They suggested that we at least meet them and find out the situation. We fell in love with them the minute we met them- we had been told they were Hispanic Americans- when we asked what nationality they were from- they were born in America, but they were Guatemalan!
Here we are 2 years later and they have officially moved in with us today! Lots of adjustments for everybody- mostly the kids- new home, new family, new school... they are tougher than any grownup I know.
-having fun with my new kids! Michael
-------------------- Michael Clanton Clanton Graphics/ Blackberry 19 Studio 1933 Blackberry Conway AR 72034 501-505-6794 clantongraphics@yahoo.com Posts: 1736 | From: Conway Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2001
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Hard to beat a house full of noisy love. Good job.
-------------------- John Byrd Ball Ground, Georgia 770-735-6874 http://johnbyrddesign.com so happy I gotta sit on both my hands to keep from wavin' at everybody! Posts: 741 | From: Ball Ground, Georgia, USA | Registered: May 1999
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We're also familiar with the adoption process. We know the legal process as well as the heart process. Everyone can win....big time.
When our son was little and asked if he understood what adoption meant, he explained that you are born from one lady and then given to your real mother.
Parenting is real, and goes far beyond biologic connections. God bless your household!
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6716 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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