About 5 years into our marriage, our hearts started to long for a family. After years of struggling through infertility, we felt sad and disheartened. There were times when my husband and I thought we would never have the child we so longed for. Then we started to talk about adoption. The more we talked, the more we fell in love with the idea and felt like God was guiding us in the direction of our child. We contacted many agencies and did lots of research. We assembled our dossier, worked with Bev to complete our home study, and did a whole lot of waiting. Each step of the way, our decision felt so right!
Fast-forward 11 months…we are on a plane about to land in Kazakhstan and literally hours away from meeting our child. My husband and I are holding hands, praying together, and absolutely on the edge of our airline seats. At our first meeting, Zane walked into the room, came straight to me, and gave me the sweetest little hug. He then sat on my husband’s knee and I saw tears in my husband’s eyes. We decided this little boy was meant for us and started the bonding process with him. After 2 weeks of bonding, court process, and the final paperwork, we had been in Kazakhstan for 65 days. Needless to say we were very excited to get our little boy home!
Having Zane in our lives has been incredible! He is a smart little boy. We have been home from Kazakhstan almost a year, and Zane has made incredible strides in his development. He is learning colors, the alphabet, and is talking in 3 to 5 word sentences. He likes to play with cars, trucks, trains, and our doggies. He loves playing with his cousins and spending time with his grandparents, particularly his Papa! We cannot imagine what life for Zane would be like if he had remained in Kazakhstan nor can we imagine what our lives would be like without him. After nearly 15 years of marriage, we feel a wonderful new chapter is starting. Zane has made our lives more amazing than we could have ever imagined! We feel so blessed to be his parents and feel he was meant for us since the day he was born. We love thinking about the family we have created, and thank God every day!
Times are uncertain. Families are under stress. All the more reason to spend time together while airfare, hotels, and gas are less expensive. Save money by planning ahead, staying a no-frill budget motels or camp, packing picnic lunches, watching out for discount coupons on line or at tourist information centers, and look for multiple-day or multiple attraction passes. According to tripadvisor.com the top 10 free U.S. attractions are:
1. Bellagio Fountains, Las Vegas, Nevada 2. Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia 3. Waimea Canyon, Waimea, Hawaii 4. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California 5. Angel’s Landing, Zion National Park, Utah 6. U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii 7. Pacific Coast Highway, Route 1, California 8. U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington D.C. 9. Freedom Trail, Boston, Massachusetts 10. Central Park, New York, New York
Red Thistle Adoptions will be hosting its annual potluck Saturday May 23, 2009 from 11:30am to 3:00pm for clients, their families, and anyone else interested at boar member Sarah Page’s home, 491 Riggs Street Northwest (take the left hand fork at the dead end sign—grey and white 3-story house), Salem, OR 97304 (503/931-7312). Come and meet other Red Thistle families from across Oregon. There will be special activities for children. Bring a main dish, salad, or dessert to share. Utensils, plates, cups, and drinks will be provided. Mark your calendars and come and share your story with other Red Thistle families.
Make yesterday a steppingstone, today a new beginning, and tomorrow a limitless possibility. — Source Unknown
FOR YOUR INFO: A Provocative Book
The Primal Wound: Understanding the Adopted Child by Nancy Newton Verrier is a gut-wrenching read for anyone touched by adoption, but it was written as a bridge between adoptees and adoptive parents to promote understanding and healing. Ms. Verrier states, “It is my belief, therefore, that the severing of that connection between the adopted child and his birthmother causes a primal or narcissistic wound, which affects the adoptee’s sense of Self and often manifests in a sense of loss, basic mistrust, anxiety and depression, emotional and/or behavioral problems, and difficulties in relationships with significant others. I further believe that the awareness, whether conscious or unconscious, that the original separation was the result of a ‘choice’ made by the mother affects the adoptee’s self-esteem and self-worth.” In this book she shares her insights into understanding and sharing her adopted daughter’s pain and suffering. In the conclusion of the preface she states, “We have both suffered, but we want to create something out of that suffering. This book is an attempt to do that.”
Red Thistle considers it a privilege to provide adoption assistance for families needing a home study, post-placement services, or adoption counseling related to domestic, international, and Oregon’s waiting children. All services are provided in a speedy, stress free, and non-threatening manner as possible. Please visit our website at www.redthistleadoptions.com for more information.
