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| Pieces of a
Child's History - In Pictures! |
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International Adoptions --
specifically CHINA adoptions. Oh what a wondrous, joyful, emotional and
exciting journey. The decision to adopt, the paperwork, the anticipation
of news, the REFFERAL, the TRAVEL, and then......
The child you have envisioned repeatedly in your dreams and have longed
for in your heart is finally placed in your arms. You touch your child's
skin as you kiss and embrace for the first of what is to be many times.
You hear your child's sounds, and you gaze into your child's precious
face and very dark, beautiful Asian eyes. At that moment, you KNOW that
THIS child was always meant to be a part of you and your life. The wait
is over; you have been united as a family and feelings of immense love
and joy penetrate the room and everyone in it. I know I am not alone in
my opinion that there are no words that accurately describe these
moments. They are embedded in the heart and soul of each China adoptive
parent and will remain there...always.
In 1997, my husband and I returned home from China with our daughter.
One day, as I watched this angel lay sleeping in her playpen, I began to
wonder what life was like in her hometown. I began to wonder what she
would say and feel as she reviewed her adoption paperwork much later on
in her life - the time when she would be sorting things out and the full
meaning of her adoption and the circumstances relating to it would be
taking place. I began to wonder if she would ever ask for pictures of
her hometown and, more specifically, of the location (as stated in her
paperwork) where she was found. Had we visited these places when we were
in China? If not, had we somehow obtained pictures? A map pinpointing
the location? Anything?
During the next year, the thought of hearing our child's voice pose
these questions kept recurring over and over in my mind. I would find a
way to obtain pictures and a map for her - I was driven to find a way -
and, with the help of a few trusted friends, one in particular who I
trust with my life, I did. Now when our daughter asks about pictures
specific to her and 'her city', we will say "yes, we have them. Let's
look at them and talk". We will not know all the answers to her
questions - it is not meant for us to know these answers. But we feel
that the pictures (of her city and surrounding areas, and more
importantly, her 'found' location), map, vd-rom documentary (a China
type DVD) and keepsakes from her city that we now have will be
invaluable to her as she grows. We feel they are tools to help her learn
about her birthland which are specific to her - and they are something
my husband and I are very grateful to have. The things we have acquired
now are things she will have prior to a return trip to her hometown in
China we very much intend to make when she is much older - a time when
she can see her wonderful country, where she was found, those who cared
for and loved her during the early days of her life.
I believe the people of China want us, the adoptive parents, to teach
our children about China - where, as specifically as possible, their
roots are - where their heritage originates. Pictures of a child's
orphanage city, a small town/rural village where the child was found,
and private pictures of the finding location will help to achieve that.
These type of things will also help prepare the child prior to any
return trip to China. In my opinion, it is better for a child to have
pictures to look at rather than just reading the adoption paperwork.
Without pictures, the only thing for a child to do is to wonder what the
area looked like.
It is my hope that Asia Threads will provide an opportunity to many
China adoptive parents on behalf of the child(ren) China has graciously
allowed them to parent, nurture and love. The opportunity to gain pieces
of the child's history - in pictures. What is obtained in the projects
may not be of value to the children when they are very young, but it is
quite likely that will switch to 'invaluable' as they grow, mature, have
questions and/or make visits back to China to 'see' things for
themselves. Because things change with the passage of time, we must not
wait too long to get them. In China, things are changing very quickly.
Sincerely,
Carol Debacker
Topeka, Kansas
It is, and always has been, my desire to help both the children who have
already been adopted and those that remain in China's orphanages.
Because of these projects, donations will periodically be made, by Asia
Threads, to those in need.
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