All children come from God,
for some the journey home
just takes a little longer.

Author Unknown

~Patchwork Quilt~

Our family's like a patchwork quilt,
With kindness gently sewn.
Each piece is an original,
With beauty of its own.
With threads of warmth and happiness,
It's tightly stitched together.
To last in love throughout the years,
Our family is forever.

Author Unknown

~THE CHOSEN HEART~

Longing for a child to love,
I'd wish upon the stars above.
In my heart I always knew,
A part of me was meant for you.

I think how happy we will be,
Once I adopt you, and you adopt me.

I dream of all the joy you'll bring,
Imagining even the littlest things.
The way it will feel to hold you tight,
And tuck you in every night.

The drawings on the refrigerator door,
And childhood toys across the floor,
The favorite stories read again and again,
And hours of games with make-believe friends.

The day you took my outstretched hand,
A journey ended, but our lives began.
Still mesmerized by your sweet face,
Still warmed inside by our first embrace.

I promised to give you a happy home,
And a loving family all your own.
A house you've now made complete,
With laughter, smiles and tiny feet.

A parent is one who guides the way,
Know I will be there everyday.
Rest easy as each night you sleep,
A lifetime of love is yours to keep.

Longing for a child to love,
I'd wish upon the stars above.
In my heart I always knew,
A part of me belonged to you.

-Teri Harrison

~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 a 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

~A Half a World Away~

A half a world away,
Sometimes it seems we're so far apart.
But a half a world away,
Is not too far for a journey of the heart.

My little one, my precious joy,
I'm waiting for you.
My precious daughter, my little girl,
I know you're waiting too.

A half a world away,
A child waits for a family of her own.
While a half a world away,
A family waits to come bring her home.

My little one, my precious joy,
I'm whispering a prayer.
My precious daughter, my little girl,
I hope to soon be there.

A half a world away,
So many months of waiting are past.
A half a world away,
So many miles to bring you home at last.

My little one, my precious joy,
You're finally home to stay.
My precious daughter, my little girl,
We celebrate this day.

Knowing we
     will no longer be
         a half a world away.
-Jill Work

~LABOR OF MY HEART~

I would have given anything
to be the one to know
the pain of bringing you into this world
but it couldn't be ...

Though I did not bring you here
still I labored in my tears
through the long nights I prayed
you would come to me ...

You are the labor of my heart Child,
you are the labor of my heart
with all my strength I prayed
till they laid you in my arms Child,
you are the labor of my heart ...

Blessed be the maker
of bone of other bone.
He made flesh of my desire
and today I take you home...

You are the labor of my heart Child,
you are the labor of my heart
with all my strength I prayed
till they laid you in my arms Child,
you are the labor of my heart Child,
you are the labor of my heart...

Author Unknown

~Today I Kissed an Angel~

Today I kissed an angel.
I knew it from the start.
The first time my angel smiled at me;
I gave away my heart.

Today I kissed an angel;
This angel child of mine
Though not of my creation,
My child by God’s design.

Today I kissed an angel.
My heart is dancing wild;
Our family, by a miracle;
Blessed by our angel child.
-Brenda Meece

~WELCOME HOME~

Tonight as you lie sleeping
For the first time in your bed,
There must be something lasting
And profound that should be said.

But as your face is gazed upon
Framed by your soft, blond hair
No words can tell or quite express
The feelings that we share.

The wait is finally over
You're home, at last, to stay.
And there will always be the memories
Of the joy that filled this day.

With a love that's running over
By the sight of you alone
Welcome home, dear cherished one,
At long last … welcome home!

Author Unknown

~Adoption Creed~

Not flesh of my flesh
nor bone of my bone,
but still miraculously my own.

Never forget for a single minute,
that you grew not under my heart,
but in it.

Author Unknown

May you be safe and sleep soundly through the night,
May you be safe as you wake to the morning's light.

May you feel my love from so far away,
May it comfort and protect you throughout each day.

I will pray for you my little one
Until our time of waiting is done.

I will pray that the Lord keep you safe from harm,
Until the child of my heart becomes the child in my arms.
Author Unknown

I didn't give you the gift of life,
But in my heart I know
The love I feel is as 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.

Author Unknown

~Meaning of My Life~

I've just discovered the meaning of my life.
It's snuggling close at the first peek of morning light, and remembering those tight little hugs from those four little arms all day long.
It’s rushing home through three o’clock traffic to beat the school bus, even though someone else is there to meet it.
It’s washing twenty grubby little fingers before eating, and folding now clean hands for Grace.
It’s smelling the sunshine in summertime hair, and being "it" for eleven games of hide and seek.
It’s pretending not to "find".
It’s buying two different kinds of everything every time.
It’s sounding out words, one at a time, for seventeen pages.
It’s returning six times for just one more goodnight kiss.

It’s adopting ten more grubby little fingers to wash, and two more arms for tight little morning snuggles.
It’s leaving early to get to church to spend five extra minutes praying for one four year old.
It’s being completely enraptured by two children, while wishing for three.
It’s shopping for one frilly pink and yellow dress, and putting it back for fear of disappointment.
It’s understanding that there will be six more months of worrying and hoping for approval.
It’s knowing that I’ll go on rushing home to meet the bus, playing games, reading stories, and giving extra bedtime kisses even if it’s only for two.
It’s realizing that there might be one tiny little hole in my heart that will never be filled.

Cathy Gallimore