Perspective

Our Family Tree

We've added to our family tree, 

a stronger one to make

A child from another plant, 

has become our new namesake

Just as a limb is grafted from one tree to another

It alters and improves the plant, 

making it uniquely, like no other

Our family tree has been improved, 

adoption made this so

For love, much more than bloodlines, 

makes us thrive and grow

Natural Child: Any child who is not artificial.

Real Parent: Any parent who is not imaginary.

Your Own Child: Any child who is not someone else's child.

Adopted Child: A natural child, with a real parent, who is all my own.

The Gift of Life

I didn't give you the gift of life,
But in my heart I know.
The love I feel is deep and real,
As if it had been so.
For us to have each other
Is like a dream come true!
No, I didn't give you 
The gift of life,
Life gave me the gift of you.
--- Unknown

Do not follow where the path may lead.

Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

--- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Our children are not ours because they share our genes...

they are ours because we have had the audacity to envision them. 

That, at the end of the day...or long sleepless night, 

is how love really works.

Not flesh of my flesh, 

Nor bone of my bone, 

But still miraculously my own. 

Never forget for a single minute, 

You didn't grow under my heart- 

you grew in it. 

--- Fleur Conkling Heylinger

Luck

I didn't come out of my mother.

I don't have my father's blue eyes.

No one in my family looks like me

People are always surprised.

I think we're a happier family

Than if we were all kings and queens

We're so lucky we all found each other.

That's what being adopted means.

by Pamela Espeland and Marilyn Nelson

To the outside world we all grow old. 

But not to brothers and sisters.  

We know each other as we always were. 

We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. 

We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. 

We live outside the touch of time.

We don't stop playing because we grow older,

we grow older because we stop playing.

Thou hast made me known to friends whom I knew not. 

Thou hast given me seats in homes not my own.

Thou hast brought the distant near and made a brother of the stranger.

The man whispered, "God, speak to me" and a Chickadee sang.

  But, the man did not hear.

So the man yelled "God, speak to me!" And, the thunder rolled across the sky.

  But, the man did not listen.

The man looked around and said, "God let me see you." And a star shined brightly.

  But the man did not notice.

And, the man shouted, "God show me a miracle!" And, a life was born.

  But, the man did not know.

So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are here!"

Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man.

  But, the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.

Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way that you expect.

If you do not change direction, 

you may end up where you are heading.

An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet,

regardless of time, place, or circumstance.The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break.

--- An Ancient Chinese belief

The world is round, and

the place which may seem like the end,

may also be the beginning.

--- Ivy Baker Priest