Adoption is part of Gods original plan . . .

Adoption is part of God's original plan,
It's not an idea particular to man.
We're all adopted children.
Adoption is God's way of leaving
His heavenly door open.

He first gave us life,
He's parent to all.
Before He made you,
He gave us a call.

He said, "Soon a child will be born,
Without you this child will grow up forlorn."
We didn't understand at first the magnificent love
in our hearts that burst.

As days merged with years,
We shared your happiness and dried your tears.
He gave us wisdom and taught us to see,
that His most precious gifts are free.

We've shared so many rainbows and rains,
And even though our blood doesn't run in your veins,
we want you to know that from the moment
we answered His decree,

You captured our hearts for all eternity.
Our love for you can only be measured
by the expanse of the sky
and the depth of the sea.....

---Unknown

The colour of Jesus . . .

By Jill Marshall-Work

She was given a picture of Jesus to colour
in her Sunday School classroom that day.
If she would have asked me the colour of His face,
I wouldn't have known what to say.
Warm brown like her brother's? Or peach like her parents' ?
Or tan like her own golden hue?
But she didn't ask me the colour of His face--
she coloured it blue.

Would his hair be in black flecked with gray like her Daddy's?
Or would it be copper like mine?
Or silver like Grandma's? Or maize like her cousins,
with a layer of gold for some shine?
Or gray like her Grandad? Or dark like her own,
a cascade of silky black ink?
But she didn't ask me the color of His hair--
she coloured it pink.

One ear was turquoise, the other was green.
His beard was the purplest purple that I've ever seen.
She made His lips yellow, His neck was in brown.
Then she looked at His eyes and she stopped with a frown.
Had she noticed His eyes were as round as a marble,
with her Daddy's and mine the same way?
The eyes in her picture were not like the eyes
that she saw in the mirror each day.

But you'd think that by now I would realize
how the world would be seen
through my daughter's sweet, 4-year-old, almond-shaped eyes.
For her whole box of crayons was used to portray
the rainbow of love that she found in the eyes of her Jesus
in the picture she coloured that day.

She was given a picture of Jesus to colour
in her Sunday School class, but you see--
The Sunday School lesson in love that was learned
was taught by my four-year-old daughter to me.

Conveived in my heart . . .

Unknown Author

Conceived in my heart I earnestly prayed,
But never imagined you'd come so arrayed.
Not flesh of my flesh, nor bone of my bone,
Not under my heart, but oh, so deep in it sown.
I knew from the start since the moment we met,
When my eyes gazed upon you, destiny was set,
To enter but a short journey as mother and child,
With joy and sorrows, memories to be compiled,
A mosaic of beauty with many colours entwined,
The fabric so strong, with my Savior combined.
I love you sweet child, and in time you will see,
You're much more than chosen, but precious to me,
For God planted this yearning in me long ago,
To bring Him forth fruit, that together we grow!

On "the list" waiting for "the call" . . .

I havent receieved the letter saying I am on "the list" yet, but I know "the meeting" was last Thursday and the social worker did not think there was any reason I would not be on "the list" . . .So now is "the wait" for "the call" . . . I think I am ready. I need to ensure that my planning at school is always 9 weeks(45 working days ahead) as that is how much maternity leave I get. Just to think I will soon be on maternity leave!! I am really happy that there is someone who is able to step into my class at a moments notice :-) That makes me feel much better about leaving my Grade 1`s for 9 weeks. Lets hope I get "the call" soon :-)

I finally have my Police Clearance.

My precious baby angel

Home visit - 12 'o' clock Tuesday 5 April 2011

My home visit was today and lasted about an hour. They confirmed most of what I had told them before about the type of baby I had in mind. According to the social worker she can`t see any reason why I wont be on `the list`. She will present me to the Head of Child Welfare Adoption on Thursday. I will then receive a letter in the post saying I am on `the list` . . . Then I have to wait for `the call`. She says it will probably be this year . . . so watch this space.

Police Clearance . . .

Yesterday was 6 weeks since I applied for that piece of paper that says I have been good. I phoned Pretoria today to find out where in the system it was. The kind and helpful lady asked me for my ID number, after which she told me it was ready for collection!! Hooray!! but it is in Pretoria. After a few phone calls I went to PostNet in Constantia Village. It cost R400 which is quite expensive. They will phone me when it has arrived and I can collect it.

Where I am in the adoption process . . .

Tomorrow is my home visit. It is the last part of the process besides the police clearance, that I am still patiently waiting for. Home visit was at 2pm but has been moved to 12 o clock. The social worker is on call and needs to be in court tomorrow. There is no predicting when babies and children need to be placed in foster care quickly.
My flat is finally all sorted. The brand new lounge suite arrived today. The pictures and bathroom accessories were fitted this morning. My flat smells brand new . . .new tiles, paint, carpets and lounge suite.
Now all the baby room needs is a baby . . .

First Adoption Support Meeting - 31 March 2011

I attended my first Adoption Support Group meeting last night. There were about 30 people. About half had received their babies last year or this year and the other half were either on "the list" or waiting for their name to go onto "the list". A couple spoke about their experience when adopting their boys. There were a few questions and related discussions. I found it very informative and was touched by all these people stepping out and wanting to adopt. My home visit is on Tuesday. I am still waiting for my Police Clearance to arive. Monday will be 6 weeks . . .