For most of us hopeful adoptive parents, at least in the beginning stages of our journey we can get hung up on the term ‘open adoption’. It can freak us out. It can hold us back. Open adoption is relatively new to infant adoption in the U.S. as it has only been around for the past 20 or so years. Even though it is new, it is has already been well documented that it helps adoptees, birth families and adoptive parents. So when we (as adoptive parents) think about open adoption, we tend to only think about the amount of contact we have (or will have) with our child’s birthparents. But it is so much more than that. On this episode, our guest is Lori Holden. She is a mom of two through adoption, a blogger, an author, and now host to a brand new podcast called “Open Adoption: The Long View”. The “Long View” is all about opening up the discussion and thoughts around what happens AFTER the baby is placed with the adoptive parents and they are trying to build a healthy relationship with their child’s birth family. You see, sometimes we can get so focused on building our family through infant adoption that we may forget that adoption doesn’t end when the baby is placed with us. It begins. The open adoption relationship also begins at this moment. You’ll love listening to Lori as she shares her experience, her insight as an author and podcast host, so we can all learn more about how open adoption works as our kids grow up. What you’ll hear on this episode: * Lori’s story of how she and her husband adopted their two kids.* How and why Lori decided to write her amazing book “The Open Hearted Way To Open Adoption”. * How and why she started blogging at LavenderLuz.com.* What she says is the biggest lesson she has learned after adopting two times and having raised them into their late teenage years.* What the Open Adoption Grid is and why it is important to know that open adoption is so much more than just about how much contact you have with your child’s birth family.* What it means to keep the porch light on for your child’s birth family.* What her new podcast “Open Adoption: The Long View” is like and who the future guests will be on the show.  Links we talk about in this episode: * LavenderLuz.com – Lori’s wonderful blog about adoption, parenting, and whatever else she decides to share. Her passion about open adoption comes through on her blog. She has a funny video called “The Day I Became a “Real Mom” – I highly recommend. Check out all of her articles and other fun stuff – you won’t be disappointed.* Adoption: The Long View podcast – Lori hosts this fantastic podcast where you’ll get invaluable insights about the all-encompassing journey of parenting an adopted person from people with lived experience in adoption. Make the most of your adoptive parenting journey and arrive at your destination in the healthiest, most connected and integrated way possible.* The Open Hearted Way To Open Adoption – this book is a MUST READ for...