Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy turkey day to everyone! I know, I'm a few days early. I do want to say right now how thankful both Ethan and I are for the wonderful people that have showed us what a caring world this really is. Some of these people we have known for years, some we've only met online, some are friends of friends and some are complete strangers and of course family. We are very blessed.
I came across this the other day, I had almost forgotten about it and how wonderful it is. I really wanted to share.
.........THOUGHTS ON BECOMING A MOTHER......
There are women that become mothers without effort, without thought, without patience or loss and though they are good mothers and love their children, I know that I will be better. I will be better not because of genetics, or money or that I have read more books but because I have struggled and toiled for this child. I have longed and waited. I have cried and prayed. I have endured and planned over and over again. Like most things in life, the people who truly have appreciation are those who have struggled to attain their dreams. I will notice everything about my child. I will take time to watch my child sleep, explore and discover. I will marvel at this miracle everyday for the rest of my life. I will be happy when I wake in the middle of the night to the sound of my child, knowing that I can comfort, hold and feed him and that I am not waking to take another temperature, pop another pill, take another shot or cry tears of a broken dream. My dream will be crying for me. I count myself lucky in this sense; that God has given me this insight, this special vision with which I will look upon my child that my friends will not see. Whether I parent a child I actually give birth to or a child that God leads me to, I will not be careless with my love. I will be a better mother for all that I have endured. I am a better wife, a better aunt, a better daughter, neighbor, friend and sister because I have known pain. I know disillusionment as I have been betrayed by my own body. I have been tried by fire and hell many never face, yet given time, I stood tall. I have prevailed. I have succeeded. I have won. So now, when others hurt around me, I do not run from their pain in order to save myself discomfort. I see it, mourn it, and join them in theirs. I listen. And even though I cannot make it better, I can make it less lonely. I have learned the immense power of another hand holding tight to mine, of other eyes that moisten as they learn to accept the harsh truth and when life is beyond hard, I have learned a compassion that only comes with walking in those shoes. I have learned to appreciate life. Yes I will be a better mother.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
There are women that become mothers without effort, without thought, without patience or loss and though they are good mothers and love their children, I know that I will be better. I will be better not because of genetics, or money or that I have read more books but because I have struggled and toiled for this child. I have longed and waited. I have cried and prayed. I have endured and planned over and over again. Like most things in life, the people who truly have appreciation are those who have struggled to attain their dreams. I will notice everything about my child. I will take time to watch my child sleep, explore and discover. I will marvel at this miracle everyday for the rest of my life. I will be happy when I wake in the middle of the night to the sound of my child, knowing that I can comfort, hold and feed him and that I am not waking to take another temperature, pop another pill, take another shot or cry tears of a broken dream. My dream will be crying for me. I count myself lucky in this sense; that God has given me this insight, this special vision with which I will look upon my child that my friends will not see. Whether I parent a child I actually give birth to or a child that God leads me to, I will not be careless with my love. I will be a better mother for all that I have endured. I am a better wife, a better aunt, a better daughter, neighbor, friend and sister because I have known pain. I know disillusionment as I have been betrayed by my own body. I have been tried by fire and hell many never face, yet given time, I stood tall. I have prevailed. I have succeeded. I have won. So now, when others hurt around me, I do not run from their pain in order to save myself discomfort. I see it, mourn it, and join them in theirs. I listen. And even though I cannot make it better, I can make it less lonely. I have learned the immense power of another hand holding tight to mine, of other eyes that moisten as they learn to accept the harsh truth and when life is beyond hard, I have learned a compassion that only comes with walking in those shoes. I have learned to appreciate life. Yes I will be a better mother.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
here we go again...
Paper work, paper work and more paper work...Did I mention paper work? It's been almost a year since we submitted medical and criminal clearance forms, so we need to update and submit again. We also need our references updated; thank you to the 3 of you that have taken the time to write those for us; we really appreciate everything you've done for us. I guess I need to get back in the frame of mind that everything is temporarily out of our control.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
November is National Adoption Month
November 15, 2008, will mark the 9th year for National Adoption Day. Through the help of adoption professionals, child advocates, judges, and attorneys, thousands of children in foster care will finalize adoption and become part of a permanent home and family.
"Traditionally, National Adoption Day is celebrated the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Out of respect for the nation's remembrance of the 45th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, the National Adoption Day Coalition elected to move the celebration of National Adoption Day this year only to the Saturday prior." ~ statement from National Adoption Day Web site.
The History of National Adoption Day
· 2000 - National Adoption Day began with the Alliance for Children's Rights and support from the Freddie Mac Foundation, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, and others. Hundreds of adoptions were finalized in 9 jurisdictions.
· 2001 - The number of jurisdictions increased to 17.
· 2002 - Assistance from Casey Family Services, Children's Action Network, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute and Target. This support brought 34 jurisdictions to National Adoption Day and 1,350 adoptions were finalized.
· 2003 - 3,100 adoptions were finalized and 120 jurisdictions participated in the event.
· 2004 - 3,400 adoptions finalized at 200 events in 37 states.
· 2005 - The largest number of coast-to-coast celebrations for National Adoption Day! More than 3,300 children's adoptions were finalized from foster care in 227 events in 45 states and the District of Columbia.
· 2006 - The largest of number of coast-to-coast celebrations with more than 250 events in all fifty states including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico! More than 3,300 adoption were finalized.
· 2007 - More than 300 events were held in all fifty states including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
In total more than 20,000 children have been adopted from foster care on National Adoption Day.
Goals of National Adoption Day 2008
· Finalize adoptions from foster care in all 50 states
· Celebrate and honor all families that adopt
· Raise awareness about the 129,000 children in foster care waiting for adoption
· Encourage others to adopt children from foster care
· Build collaboration among local adoption agencies, courts and advocacy organizations
"Traditionally, National Adoption Day is celebrated the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Out of respect for the nation's remembrance of the 45th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, the National Adoption Day Coalition elected to move the celebration of National Adoption Day this year only to the Saturday prior." ~ statement from National Adoption Day Web site.
The History of National Adoption Day
· 2000 - National Adoption Day began with the Alliance for Children's Rights and support from the Freddie Mac Foundation, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, and others. Hundreds of adoptions were finalized in 9 jurisdictions.
· 2001 - The number of jurisdictions increased to 17.
· 2002 - Assistance from Casey Family Services, Children's Action Network, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute and Target. This support brought 34 jurisdictions to National Adoption Day and 1,350 adoptions were finalized.
· 2003 - 3,100 adoptions were finalized and 120 jurisdictions participated in the event.
· 2004 - 3,400 adoptions finalized at 200 events in 37 states.
· 2005 - The largest number of coast-to-coast celebrations for National Adoption Day! More than 3,300 children's adoptions were finalized from foster care in 227 events in 45 states and the District of Columbia.
· 2006 - The largest of number of coast-to-coast celebrations with more than 250 events in all fifty states including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico! More than 3,300 adoption were finalized.
· 2007 - More than 300 events were held in all fifty states including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
In total more than 20,000 children have been adopted from foster care on National Adoption Day.
Goals of National Adoption Day 2008
· Finalize adoptions from foster care in all 50 states
· Celebrate and honor all families that adopt
· Raise awareness about the 129,000 children in foster care waiting for adoption
· Encourage others to adopt children from foster care
· Build collaboration among local adoption agencies, courts and advocacy organizations
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