Legacy Of An Adopted Child

Once there were two women

Who never knew each other;

One you do not remember, 

The other you call "Mother".

Two different lives

Shaped to make you one;

One became your guiding star, 

The other became your sun.

The first one gave you life, 

And the second taught you to live it;

The first gave you a need for love, 

The second was there to give it.

One gave you a nationality,

The other gave you a name;

One gave you talent,

The other gave you aim.

One gave you emotions, 

The other calmed your fears;

One saw your first sweet smile, 

The other dried your tears.

One sought for you a home

That she could not provide; 

The other prayed for a child

And her hope was not denied.

And now you ask me 

Through your tears~

The age old question, 

Unanswered through the years.

Heredity or environment

Which are you a product of?

Neither, my darling-neither, 

Just two different kinds of love!

Author Unknown

I did not write this poem, but it was given to us at our adoption training. I felt it worth sharing.

~Christie~

God is sooo very good

Wow...such a wonderful conversation. The one I have been praying for since June 2009 has come!! See, in June 2009 I made a Celebration Pamphlet for Parents who just learned their child has Down syndrome. I took this pamphlet to local doctors along with a copy of "Gifts" to be handed out to the first family that office served.

Well, I've never gotten any calls from anyone.

Tonight, I did and it wasn't from that pamphlet. I got a FB message from Jennifer that she had been contacted by a guy she knows looking for support for his sister because they just learned their child has Ds and Jennifer gave me her cell phone number.

I texted her this message:
This is what I sent her:

Hi,...I got your number from Jennifer. Your brother called her about the baby and wanting to get support connections. My name is Christie and I too have a child with Down syndrome and did not know until after he was born.

Please contact me anytime. And I mean that....anytime. Night or day. If you are grieving right now that is normal. If you are scared that is normal too. If you are mad at God it's Ok...he can handle it. But I promise, this walk gets easier with time and Oliver is going to lead you on a wondrous journey in life.

Congratulations on his birth! I am proud to call you a sister in mothering a child with Down syndrome.


SHE TEXTED ME BACK!!! Right away!!! And it turns out, I am also very good friends with her sister-in-law. It's a small world! God is so good, this baby has a wonderful mother so ready to learn about Ds and love her son! And can I just say he is absolutely gorgeous? She shared to pictures with me. I am so blessed!!

So, while his heart is healthy he is experiencing some health issues. Please pray for him and his team of doctors. In time, when she is ready and things have settled I hope to introduce her to many of us mommies on FB...in the meantime, trust me when I say he is beautiful and loved and so lucky to be born in the USA! Keep them in prayer please.

Night all!!
~Christie~

A stark contrast

In just one week, it will be 4 months since Alexander found us. My heart hurts. My soul aches. The waiting is hard, much harder than when I was pregnant with my boys.

See, waiting for them I knew SO much.
I knew where they were--safe within me.
I knew they were safe, tucked close to my heart, protected by my body.
I knew they were nourished--I fed them well.
I knew they played--I felt their kicks.
I knew they were loved--I talked to them, rubbed them, listened to them with my monitor.
I knew they were growing--my belly was an ever present proof of that fact.
I knew they were coming--all of them came early but I knew within a reasonable approximation of when they were coming.

Now? Well, now, I know virtually nothing.
I know his in an Eastern European country.
I know GOD is protecting him--I pray for that daily.
I pray he is nourished--but do not know.
I hope he gets to play--but this is not likely a luxury he knows any longer.
I hope he is growing--I fear he is very small.
I have no idea when he is coming home....none. This is so very, very hard. Especially since I believe I know what institution he is located in.

Relying on God, seeing the bigger picture is so very hard for me. I have no problem admitting this. God and I have talked, He can take it. He gently reassures me--He loves Alexander more than I do, to which I answer, "Then why can't he be with me? NOW?" And His reply? "It's just not time. Give ME time. I want more from you." That is what I hear.

Keep praying everyone. Please. Thank you.
~Christie~

C25K.....

I have never ran a day in my life...ever. I started the Couch to 5K (C25K) training today. It was nice. Weird. But it was. I was able to share a little bit with the ladies I ran with today also about adopting. I think that is what I enjoyed most.

After my run, I signed Jared up for more swimming lessons and signed Jackson up for summer T-ball too. After we got home, I made lunch for Kelly and I and made stuff for all the kids.

Kelly is my bff, we've known each other for 25 years and she brought two of her kids out here today to spend the afternoon with us. Brody got to swim in our kiddie pool with Joseph and Jackson. They had tons of fun. There was a beautiful breeze for us to enjoy while sitting under the sunshade sail too. Good times, great friends family and beautiful weather.

Then I got to thinking of Alexander...I wonder if he "played" outside today. I wonder if he will be terrified of water. I wonder if he had any lunch today at all.
Lord, I am so ready to go claim Alexander as our own and bring him home.

Continue to pray for us, please. And be sure to check out the links on my blog to Peter, Liam, and Joshua's adoption stories.

Thank you...

~Christie~