The single the weirdest thing we've ever done!

Recently we went to an Activity Day.

It was the single the weirdest thing I've ever done.

Firstly I must say the set up was just amazing. The children clearly enjoyed themselves.. there was the magician from Mr Tumble and a disco (they ALL knew how to dance Gangnam Style! Too cute.). It was lovely from that perspective and went some way towards my initial fear that they would all seem sad and helpless and that I'd want to walk out with every single one of them.

But that aside.. even now it's difficult to describe how I felt. There was a briefing, which was useful. It just focused the mind on what was going on there and it was good to know the "rules of engagement". For example, you should try and play with all of the children. But not for too long! About 20 mins otherwise they may start to get expectations and there may be prospective adopters that have come specifically to see that child. We looked at each 10 mins in and both said at the same time.. "This is just weird". So after about 20 minutes, it was time to go meet them.

I FREAKED OUT!

Telling fate to do one..

As we get closer to The Big Day along with others in our online network, I've been asking around as to who's started buying stuff.

The general consensus seems to be that we can't possibly. Part of the reasons make sense.. not knowing the age or sex obviously makes it difficult. But our age range is relatively narrow and the sex is a cert for us so why wouldn't we? Fate apparently. Fate is the reason people thing we're slightly mad. 

So I thought about it. And got slightly panicked actually. What if we ARE tempting fate. What if by buying that GAWJUS Mamas & Papas long cream coat (totally impractical but SO cut) before we're approved, we completely ruin our chances. Who is this bloody "fate" anyway and why are they picking on us!?

I looked it up.

Panel Date

A date at last. Not just any date.. the day before my birthday.

Will I be celebrating.. commiserating? Will everything come crashing down on us on that day, or will it be the start of the end of our journey.

A home for a child..

@worldadoptionday @adopttogether

facebook.com/WorldAdoptionDay

world adoption day

I don't usually go out of my way to promote things and rarely fund raise. Not least of all because I feel people will contribute in their own way themselves if they really want to and I hate the idea of someone giving out of guilt.

Anyone going through the adoption process will know what an absolute roller-coaster it is. You're eyes get opened very very wide to the "system" and it's people. Those involved in removing children and finding them homes. You are exposed to the situation. The sheer numbers. And worst of all, the beautiful faces. So now I'm taking up my mantle and having a good shout..

That's why I'm so proud to have become an Ambassador for World Adoption Day and will be fundraising for AdoptionUK (an invaluable resource for families before and after adoption!) throughout November in support of National Adoption Week.

national adoption week

We've come so far since the 70s. Even though by then we had stopped taking orphans from workhouses in return for food and lodgings, it was still the end of a stretch of maybe 20 years which laid the foundation for the adoption "industry" and the commodification of babies.

The Gift of Life

I found this poem and thought it was so lovely..

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

I was actually looking for a sign I'd seen with the last 2 lines on, I didn't realise it was a whole poem!

Finally.. some positive reinforcement

That's going to be us!!

We've finally started Stage 2. 

After nearly 4 months, we finally got our letter through to confirm we’ve being approved and they "support your move to Stage 2 of the process". EEK!

This month is all about.. waiting

Excuse the French but I thought this was funny and exactly how I'm feeling right now!

Chapter 2..

Someone mentioned my blog to me the other day and I realised how much I missed it. I write another blog too now.. about a different journey (because you can never have too many!), but I miss this one. A place to just.. download whenever I want, without worrying about annoying my friends or who I might offend or upset in the forums. And then it occurred that I never did update you all on what happened next...