[FaithHopeinHim]

Is it too early to start planning?

What would any of you do to celebrate! We are adopting two M (6) and (J) 4. We are planning around Christmas. These two need something very special they have been through alot. I've spent the better part of today designing the invitations and Certificate of Adoption. (In the hospital when a baby is born they usually give the moms a certificate with the babies footprints on it, or so I have seen a few times.) It will be both a spiritual and legal ceremony(so much for separation of church and state )
We have a wonderful Judge and Pastor.

1Samuel 1:27-8, James 1:17 and Eph. 1:5 are all wonderful verses relating to adoption and have been included on our invitation. We are thinking of having a unity candle.

I am an adoptee from a failed adoption after 13 years. I know how important "belonging" is to me, so I want only the best for all of my four darlings.

We have four children to include in the ceremony celebration as two of our children are my husbands from his first marriage and I want to adopt them. I have in my heart and I may not ever be able to legally adopt A and D. Yet, they need to know that no matter what in my heart I am always MOM. I will be doing a certificate fo adoption for them as well, they are 15 and 6.

OK I rattled, please respond with any ideas to make this celebrating an awesome memory.
Alos I did not find a great deal of websites that cater to adoption ceremonies or certificates of the sentimental kind.

Many Blessings in Christ

[amom4life]

I'm too tired to think right now but if I come up with something later I'll let you know.

But I do want to say a big CONGRATULATIONS!!
Judy

[Blue Irish Eyes]

Can I ask..do you and your husband have custody of the older children? If so I think you are on to something to make your family celebration special. How old are the children you are adopting?

If the older children are living with you now when the younger ones arrive, you could have a special service at your church where your priest or minister gives a special blessing on the family.

Maybe you could do the invitations sort of on the order of the wording of a wedding invitation...but for families..not using wedding paper but maybe something in a pastel or with a religious symbol on it..

Mr. and Mrs John Smith
request the pleasure of your company
at the Christening Service of their children
J and L
and a special blessing of family unity
on
December Two Thousand Four
at time , location etc....

reception to follow....

Then you can invite your family and friends to this meaningful service and have time for them to meet the new children and renew friendship with the older kids. And make sure the older kids know how lucky the little kids are to have them for the big siblings! Ths spotlight has to shine on all the kids on this special day.
Hope this gets you started a little bit...maybe someone else has another idea. Whatever you do it is time to celebrate!

[FaithHopeinHim]

It is rather a unique situation, we do have custody of the older two. I want to adopt them however it would be emotionally harder on them, this way they A and D know that I love them as much and am willing adopt them too. M and J have been with us for four months, our church had a welcome shower for M and J. My A and D made a beautiful Welcome Home sign for our little ones.

Yes I want the celebration to be like a wedding because in many ways A and D are adopting M and J too. When DH and I were married A was my Maid of Honor and D was DH Best Man, we had a unity candle for the four of us, it was an awesome moment.

I have already designed the invite to read M,T, A & D
Invite you to join them
in celebrating the adoption of:

M
and
J

December 26, 2004 (We really want to finalize on Christmas)
2:30p.m.

I was thinking of a potluck to follow.

Yes! Thank you your ideas are wonderful and I appreciate all the input I can receive.

On a whole different note, there has been a number of posts on "Can This Child Be Saved". I have not read the book.
HoweverMany children even with the baggage they come with are saveable and proper training, open mind and heart, most of all God's intervention are the most effective tools. I have four children that all have individual special needs (according to the actual definition) All praise God are physically healthy and yet emotionally hurting. Yet they are wonderful (most days) loving and kind. They are learning.

Put yourself in this situation: Picture yourself going into a strangers home, being expected to cook dinner or even make coffee all according to that families likes.... Ouch.

Anyway, Thank you....

Blessings in Christ