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Author Archive for Adoption Agency Florida

Can We Adopt if I’m Overweight?

Posted by Adoption Agency Florida 
· December 17, 2018 
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Can we adopt if I’m overweight?Question: “My husband and I have just started to look into adopting, after trying IVF for four years. I’m heavy-set, and I’m worried that would prevent us from being chosen by a birth mother. Can we adopt if I’m overweight?”

Answer: The truth is, birth mothers choose adoptive parents because they can relate to them. They’re not basing their selection on looks, but rather due to factors like faith, location, family structure, hobbies, and traditions. Birth moms often look for families that share something in common with them. There are many birth moms out there that are similar to you and can visualize their baby in your family.

Adoption isn’t a beauty contest. It isn’t any kind of competition at all. Birth mothers aren’t looking for perfection. They’re looking for a family that will provide a loving home for their baby. If you’re overweight, it doesn’t make you any less appealing. It makes you more human, more relatable.

Rather than go on a drastic diet, it’s more important that you focus on your overall health and wellness. Being active and exercising regularly can improve your stamina. That’s something you’ll need when you’re parenting the baby you bring home. Choosing healthy food and seeing your doctor regularly is a good idea for any parent. Babies and children demand that you keep up with them every step of the way!

Lifetime believes that you are going to be wonderful, loving parents. There is a birth mother out there that will be the ideal match for you. When your adoption professional calls you with a match, it will be because you have unique qualities that will stand out to her.

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4 Ways to Build a Quality Relationship With Your Child’s Adoptive Family

Posted by Adoption Agency Florida 
· December 10, 2018 
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Learn about building a relationship With your child’s adoptive familyWhen you decide to make an open adoption plan, it doesn’t just mean having a relationship with your child. It also means having a relationship with your child’s adoptive family. And creating a bond with them can be a wonderful experience!
 
Today, we’re giving you 4 tips to help get you to begin the path towards a quality relationship with the adoptive family:
 

1. Get to Know Them

Getting to know your child’s adoptive parents before and after placement is important! So, ask them questions about things like their lives, jobs, church, vacations, and traditions. You could try chatting with them like you would to a friend.
 
“When I go to California to visit my daughter and her adoptive parents, I always update them on my life – school, dating, work, and stuff like that,” says Taylor, a birth mother. “I think that when we show interest in each other’s lives, it makes us all feel more comfortable.” Who knows, the adoptive couple may even become some of your closest friends!
 

2. Honor Boundaries

It’s crucial to respect their roles as parents, and yours as the birth mom. These roles are equally important but different. When you honor their boundaries and parenting decisions, the adoptive parents will feel respected and secure in their role. This security will make them feel more comfortable with you.
 

3. Notice Your Child’s Siblings

If your child has siblings, you’re important in their lives too. “My son’s brother is one of my favorite kids. When I visit, we all play together. He knows that I love him and his brother,” says Hailey, a birth mother. So if you get your child a gift, think about getting a gift for their brother or sister, as well. They need to know they are important to you too.
 

4. Don’t Worry

Adoptive parents are only humans, so they might act awkward and make mistakes. They might be worried about saying or doing the wrong thing, just like you. So try not to feel intimidated as you start your relationship. What’s helped some birth moms is to think of them like extended family members.
 
 
The bottom line is that any relationship requires work. We recommend that you find what works best for you, since every open adoption relationship is different. Your relationship with the adoptive couple will naturally change as time passes. It’s possible to have an incredible open adoption relationship if you put the child first and remember that adoption is about love!

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8 Ways to Be Positive During the Adoption Wait

Posted by Adoption Agency Florida 
· December 3, 2018 
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During the adoption wait a couple walks their dogAre you having a difficult time during the adoption wait? Maintaining a positive attitude makes even the most challenging times easier to experience. Being positive doesn’t mean pretending that you have a perfect life, but rather about seeing the good in life and shifting how you perceive this time.
 
Research has shown that positive thinking can lead to success. Being positive isn’t a switch that can be turned on: like any skill it requires practice. Maintaining a positive attitude is crucial if you want to adopt.
 

Here are 8 ways you can boost your positivity:

 

  1. Think good thoughts. Negative thoughts can happen when you’re waiting to be chosen by a birth mother. When you experience one, take a moment to catch yourself. Identify the problem or emotion you’re feeling, then counter it with a positive thought.

  2. Be grateful. Spend time each day reminding yourself of everything good in your life. Write them down or share them with a loved one. For accountability, you might try doing a “30 Day Gratitude Challenge” with your spouse.

  3. Smile! Research has shown that smiles are contagious. Smile at a stranger, a co-worker, or a friend. They’ll smile back, leaving you both feeling more positive.

  4. Stay active. Exercise makes you feel better physically and mentally. Several times a week go for a walk, work on a project around the house, hit the gym, or play your favorite sport.

  5. Set goals. Having a goal can make you feel more hopeful and confident and give you something to strive for. Make your goal realistic and specific, and use positive words when writing or talking about it. For example, you might set a goal to have your adoption video recorded and edited within two weeks or to submit your home study paperwork within a week.

  6. Keep good company. The people you spend time with have a direct impact on how you feel. Seek out people who believe in you and your adoption dream. Spend time with family members, friends, co-workers, or acquaintances who think positive and inspire and motivate you to achieve your goals.

  7. Do things you love. Make time in your day to do something that makes you happy. Listen to music, read a book, catch up with a friend, or step outside and enjoy nature.

  8. Write in a journal. Jot down all the positive things that happen to you each day. Your journal entries can be just a few words or sentences. Pick a day each month to read through your journal and relive your positive experiences.
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Financially Stable Adoptive Couple for My Baby

Posted by Adoption Agency Florida 
· November 26, 2018 
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With Lifetime, you can make the choices to build a personalized adoption for your baby. We’re here to help you every step of the way. One of the most important choices in your adoption plan is going to be picking your baby’s adoptive parents.

We have hopeful adoptive parents from all across the US of various races. All of the couples you see on our site are ready to adopt: they’ve had intense background checks and are excited to become parents through adoption. Each adoptive couple has different occupations, educations, religions, and interests, so make sure to tell your Adoption Coordinator what you’re looking for.

Maybe you’re thinking, “I’d like to find a financially stable adoptive couple for my baby” or “It’s important to me that the adoptive parents raise my child to know God.” Today, we’re sharing about Dave and Meghann, an active, financially stable couple in Florida.

They’re very excited to welcome another child into their lives! Dave works as a Financial Analyst, and Meghann works in HR. They believe in the importance of a quality education and will provide your child with a stable and nurturing home. Their son, Daxton, is almost a year old. Dave and Meghann live in a spacious 2 story, 3 bedroom home, with a large backyard. They live near parks, the beach, a zoo, an aquarium, a dog park, and a community pool. Dave and Meghann are open to future contact with you through photos, letters, and visits.

Dave and Meghann created this cute video to introduce themselves and share more about what they have to offer your child!

Dave and Meghann from Florida are a financially stable adoptive couple for my baby

You can find out more about hopeful adoptive couple Dave and Meghann by visiting their adoption website. You may also view all adoptive family profiles here on AdoptionAgencyFlorida.com. If you see an adoptive family that you’re interested in, please give us a call at 1-877-383-6847.

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“I Praise God for Women Who Choose Adoption”

Posted by Adoption Agency Florida 
· November 19, 2018 
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This guest post was written by a Lifetime adoptive mother who adopted a baby girl last year, along with her husband.
 
"I praise God for women who choose adoption" shares an adoptive mother“It’s National Adoption Month. I’ve had a lot on my mind. And I’ve tried to do my due diligence at reading/listening to all members of the domestic private adoption triad. Here’s what I’ve learned…
 
The adoptee doesn’t want to be told to be thankful. She lives with a label she can’t hide from and a shadow of what the unknown could have been like.
 
Birth mom doesn’t want to be told what a selfless and sacrificial decision she made. She may live with guilt and grief, and despise the adoptive parents because she feels like a doormat. Only getting contact to check off the box of what they owe her…
 
We haven’t heard from our birth mom since our daughter was six weeks old. I can’t help but wonder how she is. I send her a lengthy email every two months, update pictures in a Google share folder, and send text pictures randomly. No response. I gave her permission to tell me to be more frequent, or less frequent – but no response. I miss her. I care about her. I wish I knew how to help her.
 
Adoptive mother and newborn adopteeOur daughter is great! She loves her family, and we love her. This is a journey, and in 10 years there will be much more to say about how she is – how she has come to accept her heritage. My prayer for her is that adoption would not define her, that she wouldn’t let it be her sole identity. But rather, through this experience she would become an advocate for families. An advocate for children.
 
My husband is a pastor. We work with a lot of children and adolescents. There are so many difficult situations our kids are dealing with – living in. Step parents are cruel, moms are in jail, dads and boyfriends are abusive, and children beg for food, I could go on. This is really difficult to say without sounding judgmental, or proud – so please hear this carefully. 18 years is a long time for a child to live in turmoil. When I think about our daughter’s birth family, the writing on the wall tells me she would have been living among unstable and non-committal relationships. Her birth mom found herself in a very sticky situation, bless her heart. I have full forgiveness and mercy for her. And for our daughter’s sake, I’m so thankful she chose adoption. I’m not sure what her motives were. Whether she realizes it or not, she saved our daughter from a slew of messy and quite possibly abusive relationships. She gave her stability and full acceptance. She’s no longer an accident, a mistake, an ex-girlfriend’s other child, a half-sister, or a girlfriend’s daughter. This is an identity she does not have to live with! And I am so THANKFUL for her sake. She is a daughter, a sister. No strings attached.
 
This is also difficult to say, because I don’t want to exclude single adoptive moms – or cast judgement on single parents. I simply want to say, that on top of what I’ve already said about the gift our daughter’s birth mom gave her, she gave her a DAD. Had she stayed with her birth family, in 15 years she may have been saying to her pastor, like many have said to us in tears, ‘I don’t have a dad.’ They call mom’s boyfriend dad, but he’s not their dad and next month he could be gone. Their siblings’ dad babysits them, but he’s not their dad, and everyone knows it. Our daughter has a dad, and he’s not going anywhere.
 
The gospel has incredible healing power. And I believe God changes lives. I would 100% support a single woman with an unplanned pregnancy who wanted to parent, because I believe God can turn our mess into something beautiful. He is the God of restoration. But the road isn’t easy. Quoting the title of an excellent book, the Christian life is “a long obedience in the same direction.” Although this next part grieves me, I’ve also learned to accept that not every birth mom is ready for the long obedience that will transform her mess into a beautiful story. And so I praise God for those birth moms who choose adoption. And I also praise God for bringing the gospel to me, for cleaning up my own mess and equipping me to be a part of someone else’s story – my daughter’s story. It’s an overwhelming privilege. I pray I am faithful to the task.”
 

Would you like to discover the amazing blessing of infant adoption?

Take the first step today by filling out
Lifetime’s free application to adopt!

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Get Advice on How to Pick the Perfect Parents for Your Baby

Posted by Adoption Agency Florida 
· November 12, 2018 
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Pregnant woman tries to pick the perfect parents for her babyLots of women ask us how to pick the right adoptive family. The answer is different for everyone, but it always starts with asking yourself what’s important to you. This will help you choose a family that best matches your wants and dreams for your baby.

If you’re worried about whether your baby will be safe with the adoptive couple, know that Lifetime Adoption only works with families who are approved to adopt a baby in the U.S. Every one of our adoptive families have been pre-screened, had their backgrounds checked, and have proven they’re emotionally, physically, and financially equipped to provide a safe, stable, and loving home for your baby.

Here are 5 practical tips to follow as you search for the perfect parents for your baby:

1. Don’t Rush Yourself

While you might like to find a family during your pregnancy so you can begin getting to know them, make sure to take your time in finding a couple who is the right match for you and your baby. Don’t feel like you have to rush into a decision because your due date is approaching. You’re able to choose a family after your baby is born, too. It’s never too late!

2. Consider Open Adoption

If you want to have a very open adoption relationship, you might want to view families who have already adopted and have an ongoing relationship with their child’s birth mother. When you see a couple who remain in contact with their child’s birth mother, it’s a good sign that they’d be willing to have an open adoption relationship with you as well.

3. Remain Flexible

You won’t know exactly how much and what type of post-adoption contact you’ll want until you’ve placed your baby with his or her adoptive parents. During the planning stages of the adoption, some women feel like they’d like to visit with the adoptive family twice a year. But after placement, they decide that once a year is enough. It’s important to have an adoptive family who is open to that possibility and willing to be flexible. You might want to talk with the adoptive couple about leaving some room for flexibility in your post-adoption contact.

4. Talk to More Than One Couple

You might wish to speak with more than one adoptive family, even if it is just for comparison. It’s your right to talk to more than one couple if you want to. Some birth mothers know right away that the adoptive family they’ve selected is the perfect fit. Others want to talk to several adoptive couples to compare. This helps them make sure that their top pick is really the right family.

5. Trust Your Intuition

If you start to see “red flags” at any time that this might not be the right family for your baby, do something about it. Let your Adoption Coordinator at Lifetime know of your doubts. In the matching phase of your adoption planning, you’re not obligated to any one couple. If you start to feel uncomfortable, speak up and think about choosing another family.

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How to Bring Truth to These 4 Common Adoption Myths

Posted by Adoption Agency Florida 
· November 5, 2018 
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Join Lifetime as we shed light on 4 common adoption myths!“Wow, I thought adoption was super-expensive, how did you afford it?”

“Aren’t you worried that her birth mother will come to take her back?”

“Don’t you want a baby of your own?”

Upon telling your family and friends you’re adopting, you may have gotten asked questions like these, followed by looks of concern. Even though they just want what’s best for you, ignorant questions like these prove that they don’t fully understand how modern adoption works.

In movies and TV shows, we often see an inaccurate picture of adoption, one that’s full of drama. As a result, many are led to believe the adoption stories they watch in the media are typical of real-life adoptions.

Lifetime encourages you to educate family and friends with the truth to these 4 commonly-believed adoption myths:

1. “You have to be rich if you want to adopt.”

While adoption can be expensive, it doesn’t mean that wealthy celebrities are the most common adoptive parents. Most adoptive families are ordinary, middle-class people.

Adoption costs vary, with international adoption being the most expensive. So, there’s a type of adoption to meet every budget. For those who pursue domestic adoption, the adoption tax credit can compensate for most of your expenses. Every hopeful adoptive parent’s situation is different, so it’s a matter of determining the type of adoption that works best for you. Many adoptive couples budget, fundraise, and save in order to afford adoption, and there’s also the adoption tax credit, which helps defray adoption costs.

2. “The birth parents can just come by and reclaim their child!”

In reality, after the adoption is final, birth parents aren’t able to reclaim their child. Up to the point that they sign papers relinquishing their parental rights, which can be 24 hours or longer depending on their state laws, they can change their minds.

But this is no longer the case once the adoption is final. At that point the adoption becomes final, you are the child’s legal parents. You may have heard adoptive families called “forever families,” and that’s because adoption truly is forever.

3. “Most birth mothers are irresponsible teenagers.”

The truth is that birth mothers are a variety of ages within range of childbearing years. We have helped birth mothers anywhere from their teens up to their forties, but most birth mothers we support are in their twenties and thirties. Rather than focus on birth mothers’ age and situation, we encourage you to share that birth mothers are women who make a decision so their baby can have opportunities they are unable to provide.

4. “It’s hard to develop a relationship with a child you’re not biologically related to.”

Adoptive parents, like biological parents, develop a deep and lasting bond with their child. If you ask any adoptive parent, they’ll tell you that there’s no difference in the love they have for a biological or an adopted child. The child they adopted is their “own,” despite the fact they didn’t give birth. Love, not biology, is what creates a family!

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5 Major Reasons Why Women Choose Adoption

Posted by Adoption Agency Florida 
· November 1, 2018 
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What are the reasons why women choose adoption?When you’re facing an unexpected pregnancy and thinking about adoption for your baby, you might have a lot of questions. One of your questions might be “what are the reasons why women choose adoption for their baby?”

Making an adoption plan is a personal decision, one which every woman needs to make on her own. The fact is that women choose adoption out of love for their baby. By making an open adoption plan, they’re placing their child’s needs and interests before their own.

Today, we’re sharing 5 of the most common reasons why women choose open adoption:

1. Power over their adoption plan

Today, birth parents have a lot of control in creating and planning for their child’s adoption. They’re able to look at as many adoption profiles as they’d like and select the perfect adoptive parents for their baby. Also, birth parents can talk with the adoptive couple of their choosing, to get to know them better.

2. Not ready to become a parent

There’s no doubt about it: having a child will change your life forever. Some women aren’t prepared to become a parent, so they explore other choices.

3. Wants to give her child more opportunities

If she’s struggling to make ends meet or is in an unstable relationship, a woman might conclude that this isn’t the right time to bring a child into her life.

By making an open adoption plan, she can place her baby into a safe and stable home, with loving adoptive parents who are ready and equipped to parent her baby.

4. Desire for a two-parent family

Lots of women choose adoption because they want their child to grow up with two parents. Particularly if they’re no longer in a relationship with their baby’s father, a two-parent adoptive family is what they’re looking for. Through modern adoption, a birth mother can provide her child with the type of future she desires.

5. Wants to continue having a relationship with her child

It used to be that adoption meant goodbye forever for birth parents, and they never heard about their child again after signing adoption papers. Today’s adoptions happen much differently. We recognize that children need to know where they came from and who they are. By choosing open adoption, a birth mother can stay in her child’s life. The adoptive family of her choosing sends updates through emails, letters, photos, and social media posts. And, there’s also the option for visits once or twice a year!

—

While each woman will have her own reasons for choosing adoption, it all comes down to what’s best for your child. Before you make a decision, we encourage you to learn all you can about adoption. We can help you do that; just call Lifetime at 1-800-923-6784.

Lifetime can help you obtain free, third-party counseling and connect you with a peer counselor too. A peer counselor is a woman who’s made an adoption plan already, so she knows where you’re at. By chatting with her, you can make an informed decision about adoption.

Call or text Lifetime Adoption at 1-800-923-6784 to learn more, so that you can decide if open adoption is right for you.

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Why is Open Adoption So Wonderful?

Posted by Adoption Agency Florida 
· October 29, 2018 
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“Hi, my husband and I are hoping to adopt a baby after enduring several failed attempts to conceive. As I do research online, I’ve been seeing the term ‘open adoption’ a lot. But we are worried that the birth mother would just be dropping by our house unannounced all the time. Does this really happen? I guess I’m really asking, what makes open adoption so great?”
 

Peter and Helen were blessed by open adoption!

Lifetime adoptive couple Peter and Helen were
blessed by open adoption!

Great question! Often, when you’re new to adoption, the idea of an open adoption can seem daunting. Open adoption gives your child security as they grow and start to ask questions about their heritage and origins. If you have an open adoption relationship with your child’s birth mother, you’ll be better equipped to answer their questions. It will help you maintain and celebrate your child’s connections with all the important people in his or her life.
 
It also serves as a comfort to your child’s birth family, with the knowledge that they chose a family for their baby. They’re able to know and see their child grow up, through the emails, letters, videos, and photos that you send them. Some adoption relationships even include in-person visits once or twice a year. The birth family can have peace of mind in knowing that their child is happy and thriving, and enjoying the life they hoped and prayed for.
 
Open, modern adoption empowers you, the adoptive parents, as you raise your child. It equips you with knowledge about your child’s birth family and their family’s medical history. When you have your home study, your social worker will educate you on the many positive features of open adoption. You can also discuss which type of contact arrangement you’re most comfortable with. It’s important to be honest and open with your adoption professional about the type of relationship you envision with the birth family. Then, you’ll be able to build a relationship with your child’s birth mother that’s authentic and truthful!

Here are some recommended resources to check out:

7 of the Most Frequently-Asked Questions About Open Adoption

Adoptive Couple Jesse and Alicia’s Adoption Story

How to Build a Relationship With Your Baby’s Birth Mom

Adoption Webinar: An Adoptive Mom and Birth Mom’s Stories

Adoption Webinar: Questions Most Asked About Open Adoption

Start your adoption journey today, by filling out Lifetime Adoption Agency’s free online application!

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Hoping to Expand Your Family With a Second Adoption?

Posted by Adoption Agency Florida 
· October 22, 2018 
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Discover how Lifetime Adoption Agency can help you with a second adoption!

James and Kellie adopted their first child through Lifetime in 2014…

Are you thinking about adopting another baby? After experiencing the joys of parenthood, many couples hope to expand their family by adopting a second time. Lifetime would love to help you adopt again!

Many of Lifetime’s birth mothers are looking for experienced adoptive parents. Adoptive couples who have already adopted a child know the ins and outs of open adoption, because they’re currently in this type of relationship with their child’s birth mother. And this is something that’s very attractive to prospective birth moms.

Today, we’re providing info on how you can expand your family through the blessing of a second adoption!

James and Kellie's children, all adopted through Lifetime Adoption Agency!

…and adopted twin boys through
Lifetime last year!

A More Streamlined Adoption Process

As an experienced adoptive parent, you have much to offer that is appreciated by adoption agencies. You have already created an adoption profile, had a home study, and completed the necessary paperwork for your first adoption. With this experience, those first steps in your adoption journey should be much more streamlined and prompt for your second adoption. As seasoned adoptive parents, you’ll already have significant experience by having been through the meticulous preparation and assessment process.

Greater Need for Experienced Adoptive Families

Lifetime Adoption Agency has seen an increase in birth mothers seeking a couple who has already adopted. We have come to find that birth mothers want a couple who have already adopted and is prepared to match. Due to the couple’s experience with the adoption match with their first child’s birth parents, they’re able to develop a relationship with birth parents more easily.

“When I decided to adopt out my baby, I was looking for a couple who would stay in touch afterward. I chose a couple who had just adopted their daughter a couple of years ago. I read in their adoption profile that they had visits with their daughter’s birth mom once a year and would like an open adoption with me, too. Right when I read that, I knew they were the perfect couple for my baby,” says a Lifetime birth mother.

Besides your experience with open adoption, your practice with parenting an adopted child makes you valuable to birth mothers. You’re already experienced in approaching the unique concerns involved in raising adopted children.

Aspects to Consider

It’s easy to see why many couples adopt again: they’re able to fulfill their dream family structure and give their child a sibling! Before you seek a second adoption, we encourage you to consider aspects like your child’s age, your family structure, and possible expenses. If you think you’d like to adopt again, make sure to take into account how this will affect your current children.

Before you consider adopting again, it’s important to give your child plenty of time to feel secure in your family. Many adoption agencies suggest that you’ve had at least a year to adapt to living together as a family before thinking about another adoption.

Let Us Help You Adopt a Second Time!

If you feel that God is nudging you toward bringing another child into your heart and your family, we’d love to help you adopt again! You can reach Lifetime Adoption Agency at 1-877-383-6847 if you have questions. We look forward to chatting with you about how we can help you build your family through a Lifetime Adoption.

Take the first step by filling out our free online application! Our application is the best place to begin, or restart, the adoption conversation with Lifetime Adoption Agency:

Apply to adopt today!

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December 17, 2018

 

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