Scrapbooking Your Adoption Experience

by Nicole Humphrey | More from this Blogger

04 Apr 2006 07:59 AM

Scrapbooking your adoption experience is not a whole lot different than scrapbooking your everyday life. You create a page in the same manner you would a traditional layout. However, because your adoption experiences are so special and unique, you might wish to commemorate them into a whole album dedicated solely to the experience, and use special journaling, poems or quotes.

I am part of the adoption triad, I am an adoptee. I have a great relationship with both my adoptive mother, and my biological mother. Both women are included in my albums. However, my experiences with searching for my biological mother and our subsequent reunion are commemorated in a much different way, than those regarding my adoptive mother who has always been there since day one.

Over the years I have collected many thoughts, poems and quotes on the subject of adoption. These can be incorporated into your layouts and albums, to make your experiences all the more special and unique.

Adoption Quotes

Be assured that if God waits longer than you wish, it is only to make the blessing all the more precious.

For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him. -- I Samuel 1:27

Children are a gift from God; they are His reward. -- Psalms 127:3

When they placed you in my arms, you slipped into my heart.

Parents hold their children's hands for a while, their hearts forever.

Some Definitions to Ponder Natural Child: a child who is not artificial. Real Parent: a parent who is not imaginary. Your Own Child: a child who is not someone else's child. Adopted Child: a natural child, with a real parent, who is my own

One sought for you a home that she could not provide - The other prayed for a child and her hope was not denied.

Adoption Poems

Legacy of an Adopted Child --- Author Unknown ---

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 your 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 an 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 hopes were not denied. And now you ask me, Through your tears The age-old question, Unanswered through the years. Heredity or environment Which are you the product of? Neither, my friend, neither. Just two different kinds of love.

We've added to our family tree A stronger one to make A child from another plant Has become our new namesake.

Just as a limb is grafted From one tree to another, It alters and improves the plant Making it, uniquely, like no other.

Our family tree has been improved Adoption made this so. For love, much more than bloodlines, Makes us thrive and grow.

We chose to share our life and love And all the joys to come Our "family tree" has blossomed With the arrival of our cherished one.

Adopted Child

I Did not plant you, True. But when The season is done - When the alternate Prayers for sun And for rain Are counted- When the pain Of weeding And the pride Of watching Are through-

Then I will hold you High, A shining sheaf Above the thousand Seeds grown wild.

Not my planting, But by heaven My harvest - My own child.

Adoption Creed -- Anonymous

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.

A Child To Love

You can have your wealth and riches All the things so many seek, Position, power, and success, The fame you long to keep.

You can earn as much as you wish, Reach a status high above, But none of these can equal Having one sweet child to love.

'Tis the greatest gift from heaven, Little arms that hold you tight, And a kiss so soft and gentle When you tuck them in at night.

A million precious questions And each story often read, Two eyes so bright and smiling, And a darling tousled head.

God has never matched the goodness Of a trusting little face, Or a heart so full of laughter Spreading sunshine every place.

A child to hold and cuddle, 'Tis a gift from God above, And the world is so much brighter When you have a child to love.

Author Unknown

Our Child

Our child Can never not be yours, Nor not ours.

So somehow, We must let you know Our unbound gratitude For this precious gift you nurtured then gave into our keeping.

Thank you for sharing life. For allowing it uterine maturity In place of abortive non-existence Which you could have chosen.

Thank you for Caring deeply enough, For trusting enough To place your babe into a small secure ark, To float in the rushes of life Without even a Miriam at the watch To tell you where His path will be.

We honor that trust, And shall love and cherish him As strongly and surely as you do.

Our child Will grow tall and well Undoubtedly with the stumblings And skinned knees of life. But always we will be there. And you also, in spirit, close by.

A mother's spirit knows no abandonment, No matter what circumstances Produce separation or distances Our child will always know that you care.

We pray for your joy and well-being We humbly acknowledge your gift, And in spirit closeness Share with you OUR CHILD.

Adoptive Mother

There is no mother more deserving of our praise Than one who takes anothers child to comfort and to raise Who has the blessings of the court to keep and call her own A baby some what selfishly allowed to live alone Her name is foster mother, but it should be angel queen For she is all the nobleness that motherhood can mean Why she is a bit of heaven on a cold and cruel earth Where all to often human life is deemed of little worth Her child belongs to her not by the grace of nature's art But by the choice made freely from the goodness of her heart.

For more articles on the subject of adoption, please visit the Families.com Adoption Blog.

Learn more about Nicole Humphrey

Nicole Humphrey is a freelance writer, consultant for CTMH and a Sr. Blogger for families.com. She resides in St. Charles, Missouri with Mike and their five children and two furbabies.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger

mrc43 (233) 17 Aug 2006 08:21 AM

This was a great article for those of us who have adopted. Thx.

Nicole Humphrey (15757) 05 Jan 2008 12:24 PM

You're extremely welcome. Hope you got that album finished.