blog

Your Bill of Rights as Our Child

Thu, 05 May 2011 07:24:21 +0100

We believe any and every child should be raised with the following rights:

the right to be an object of unconditional parental love
the right, for a time, to be the center of our attention and to have your needs met without asking
the right to childhood innocence, and to be protected from traumatic situations and stresses
the right to belong to a family and a community
the right to consistency, limits, security, warmth, and understanding
the right to be loved for who you are, rather than for being what others want you to become
the right to be parented and nutured, rather than falling under the weight of making up for the losses of parents
the right to feel safe while mastering a full range of normal feelings and emotions
the right to make decisions and learn from mistakes
the right to become independent and find your own voice
the right to grieve losses as they happen
the right to have emotional and physical boundaries

~Jane Middelton-Moz & Lorie L Dwinell

The Chosen Heart

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 17:12:18 +0100

Longing for a child to love,
I'd wish upon the stars above.
In my heart I always knew
A part of me was meant for you.

I think how happy we will be,
Once I adopt you, and you adopt me.

I dream of all the joy you'll bring,
Imagining even the littlest things.
The way it will feel to hold you tight,
And tuck you in every night.

The drawing on the refrigerator door,
And childhood toys across the floor.
The favorite stories read again and again,
And hours of games with make-believe friends.

The day you took my outstretched hand,
A journey ended, but our lives began.
Still mesmerized by your sweet face,
Still warmed inside by our first embrace.

I promised to give you a happy home,
And a loving family all your own.
A house you've now made complete,
With laughter, smiles, and tiny feet.

A parent is one who guides the way,
Know I will be there everyday.
Rest easy as each night you sleep,
A lifetime of love is yours to keep.

Longing for a child to love,
I'd wish upon the stars above.
In my heart I always knew,
A part of me belonged to you.

(c) 1997 Teri Harrison

What started the journey

Sun, 02 Jan 2011 07:02:09 +0100

I always dreamed of being a mom. As a child, I used to love to draw a house with smoke that whirled out of the chimney and a mom, dad, her child and pets. The mom in the picture was the me of the future, my plan for my life.

Not everything works out like crayola dreams though, as you know. We will not find you as the result of a perfect life and no losses experienced.

I had visions of rocking my sweet baby to sleep, teaching her new things, reading nursery rhymes together, watching her and her friends chase fireflies, teaching her to swim, watching her amuse herself with the silliest of things and hoping that sometime, somehow, I will have made a difference in her life.

We never pictured our life childless. We began talking about our future child long before it was time to think about that. Even dating, we talked about adoption, but it seemed like adoption was a formidable path and we chose to pursue a biological child instead because, ironically, we thought it'd be easier. After many years of it not happening, we started seeking fertility treatments. During that journey, there was such a lack of control and it was an uncomfortable place to be.

After a few unsuccessful treatments, we revisited our plans and went back to our original desire--to adopt, not as a second choice, but going back to our original choice. After talking to 3 agencies and landing with Depaul, looking back, I wish we'd skipped the fertility treatments and went straight to Depaul.

The treatments were the "easy" route and so much more private, but through it all, it keep nagging us in our thoughts and we couldn't escape what was meant to be. The more we thought about it, the more we recognized that the path was being cleared and we could certainly do this.

This was the right decision. Now the hardest part--waiting! We're ready to find you.

Beginnings

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 23:48:59 +0100

to our beloved child--

somewhere over the course of time, you'll probably read this website and see our journey to you. I hope as you read the blogs and experience our journey, you'll realize how much you're loved and wanted and that our #1 goal is to take care of you.