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Monday 28 April 2014

It Takes A Village


Yesterday was such an exciting day for me, when I attended the launch for the book my daughter coauthored with Lisa Highfield.  The Promise is the story of how a mom and a child care support worker came together and worked to make the adoption of my four grandchildren a success.  The authors wrote the book in the hope that their experiences would give parents and support workers some tools for working with traumatised, adopted children and help families heal and thrive.

The book is selling well on lulu.com and social workers from many adoption agencies have it on their recommended reading list.  It was time for a celebration!

Of course my heart swelled with pride as Farm Girl read a passage from the book to a standing room only crowd.  ~



Farm Girl had herself convinced that she would be reading to an empty room and was overwhelmed by both attendance and that so many wanted a chance to talk to the authors.  A little miracle began to unfold and I was hard pressed not to burst into tears.

This lady said she had been a kindergarten teacher to two of my granddaughters before they came into our family.  She saw their situation go from bad to worse and said, "We (several teachers) cared about those kids and we thought they were lost".  She was crying tears of joy. ~


A couple came up and introduced themselves as former neighbours of the kids, during an aborted first adoption, and said how out of control they had been.  They were so happy that they were doing well in their new family.

This couple fostered the children before the first adoption and took them back in when it failed.  They were retired and the man had cancer, but they could not, would not let those kids down or see the kids separated again. ~


A social worker introduced herself to me as the one that placed the kids in my daughter's home.  I thank her for that gift.  Many social workers purchased multiple copies for clients. ~


As I looked at coauthor Lisa Highfield standing ready to read her piece, I thought of how different things might have been without her counselling and hands on support with the children.  Yes, she has a business that works with troubled families, but she does it because it is her passion. ~


It struck me that scattered around the room were people that shone like little lights of hope.  They had done a part, large or small, to save four little kids in need.  That led to a book that was helping other people help more kids in need.  One adoptive parent found the book so helpful she contacted my daughter and let her know she has started a group that lobbies government for more resources for parents who adopt older children that have special needs.

From proud aunties ~


to ever supportive and helpful great aunties ~


it took a village to get where we are today.

I hope you remember that the care you show for a troubled child today will bring tears to the eyes of a grateful Grandma like me some day.

You may never know how much you have meant to a family, but you can hold in your heart the knowledge that you were part of the village.  Let us all keep our lights of hope shining.

Thank you!

I'm sharing this with Wordless WednesdayShare Your Cup

19 comments:

  1. How wonderful for her and for you to take part in such a special day. It really is an amazing thing to do, those kids were so blessed to be part of a family that loves them and accepted them.

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  2. Maureen...that was beautiful. The resources and help that adoptive parents receive today is wonderful and in the long run will make the impact on the child. I'm so happy for your pride in your daughter, so blown away by the struggles and stamina of Farm Girl, and thrilled for her children. xoxo

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  3. You really have a very special daughter and you're a very special grandmother! The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. And you should be very proud of the way you raised your daughter. Not everyone can do what you two and all those wonderful people have done. Blessings to all of you!

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  4. You are all such special, loving people. God certainly had a plan for those children and you all were it! I am sure this book will serve the community well and give hope to situations that seem hopeless. I would have been bawling like a baby. Your daughter is beautiful-she looks just like you!!!! xo Diana

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  5. What a happy happy time. You can tell everyone was really moved and enjoying the book event, too. I know you are so proud of your beautiful and talented daughter....and you are a loving family. Very nice!

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    1. PS I noticed you needed just one more follower to make 200! Way to go my friend! Hugs!

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  6. What a wonderful story of compassion, caring and love. You must be very proud of your daughter for her book and her work, and I'm sure it will be a big help to those wishing to adopt children, especially older ones. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. Your daughter is such an inspirational person and I'm so glad the book launch was a great success. It's so deserving because you have a wonderfully warm and loving family and with the help of so many people there, the children now have a home and a future. It's something incredibly special and to be applauded.

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  8. I remember the story so amazing I shared it on my FB page it brought me to tears. Some people accomplish so much with their life.....how very proud you understandably are!!

    Carol

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  9. It has been a privilege to watch how far these four sweeties have come in such a short time!

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  10. Turn them around instead of turning a back.... hopefully more people can do what your daughter did with the help of her book.

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  11. such a beautiful post -- thank you for sharing with the world the many lights that are surrounding your family.

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  12. Maureen ... thanks for sharing this part of your daughter's life (and yours too) with us. I know you are so proud of her and what she has done to help these children. I bought the book but have not read it because I knew it would make me cry. Some day I will and may someday have the opportunity to pass it on to someone who needs to read this story.
    Blessings,
    Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures

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  13. Well...you know I can relate...and I'm glad to have a copy of that book myself! What a fabulous day for all of you!!

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  14. What a wonderful day and experience for everyone! I know what you mean about being so proud of our daughters. :)

    -andi

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  15. Such an incredible story! It takes very special people to adopt one child, let alone four. I can understand why you are so proud of your daughter. I came over from Bliss's Ranch.
    Debbie :)

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  16. So sweet Maureen. Wonderful that this story is touching people's hearts! So glad that farm girl got to be the mother that changed the lives of those children! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  17. What a wonderful post. Your daughter is very special indeed. :)

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  18. Hi Maureen,

    What a truly inspirational story! Your daughter is a very special person, blessed with so many gifts, a wonderful and supportive family and one that must be very proud of her. Thanks for sharing her amazing book launch and so glad it was everything that she had hoped for.

    Poppy

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