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Australia...and our many visits

My husband, Ryan, and I have been more than blessed with 4 girls, who are all so different and all so majestically perfect in their own way.  We have come to parenting in many ways...i think maybe every way you can, but I'm not certain!  One daughter is biological to me only...one privately adopted, one foster to adopt and one biological to the both of us...and 11 other foster children in the mix so far.  So, I share this story that was shared with us during our first adoption.  Maybe someone can relate...or get some strength through it. 












Our Trip to Australia (Poem By Diane Armitage)

Deciding to have a baby is like planning a trip to Australia.  You’ve heard it’s a wonderful place, you’ve read many guidebooks and feel certain you’re ready to go.  Everyone you know has traveled there by plane. They say it can be a turbulent flight with occasional rough landings, but you can look forward to being pampered on the trip.

     So you go to the airport and ask the ticket agent for a ticket to Australia.  All around you, excited people are boarding planes for Australia.  It seems there is no seat for you; you’ll have to wait for the next flight.  Impatient, but anticipating a wonderful trip, you wait—and wait—and wait.

     Flights to Australia continue to come and go.  People say silly things like, “Relax. You’ll get on a flight soon.”  Other people actually, get on a plane and then cancel their trip, to which you cry “It’s not fair!”   After a long time the ticket agent tells you, “I’m sorry, we’re not going to be able to get you on a plane to Australia. Perhaps you should think about going by boat.”

     “By BOAT,” you say.  “Going by boat will take a very long time and it costs a great deal of money.  I really had my heart set on going by plane.”    So you go home and think about not going to Australia at all.  You wonder if Australia will be as beautiful if you approach it by sea rather than air.  But you have long dreamed of this wonderful place, and finally you decide to travel by boat.  It is a long trip, many months over much rough seas.  No one pampers you.  You wonder if you will ever see Australia.  Meanwhile, your friends have flown back and forth to Australia two or three times, marveling about each trip.

     Then one glorious day, the boat docks in Australia.  It is more exquisite than you ever imagined, and the beauty is magnified by your long days at sea.  You have made many wonderful friends during your voyage, and you find yourself comparing stories with others who also traveled by sea rather than by air.

     People continue to fly to Australia as often as they like, but you are able to travel only once, perhaps twice.  Some say things like, “Oh, be glad you didn’t fly.  My flight was horrible; traveling by sea is so easy.”

     You will always wonder what it would have been like to fly to Australia.  Still, you know God blessed you with a special appreciation of Australia, and the beauty of Australia is not in the way you get there, but in the place itself.

Comments

Aubrey said…
Wonderful story! Your girls are beautiful. Love that picture!
EmmaP said…
Cute story! I'd love to go to the land down under, and am also grateful I am done with the whole Baby thing. I love your blog. and thanks for visiting mine! Nice to share the Love with fellow SITStas...

btw, I was born and raised in Indiana... Northern - just east of South Bend...Amish country. My dad was actually Amish till he met & married my mom. I miss home and love going back (but don't miss the HUMIDITY!)
Unknown said…
you're truly saucy, saucaholic really. you're the best comment leaver
Tracy said…
wow - what an amazing analogy. comparison truly is the killer of joy - we should each enjoy our 'own' journey & be ready to hear others' as well, eh?
I will enjoy visiting your blog - blessings.
MaricrisG said…
You are so blessed with compassion and love. You should have a badge that says "Compassionate blogger".
I am surrounded with families at work who has gone through adoptions in China. It was always a tough thing to go through but as soon as the child is in their arms it's worth everthing!
Nessa said…
I found you via SITS.

What a beautiful story! Thanks for sharing1

You have a beautiful family!
Mayet said…
great story and I love the poem!
goodluck to your family.
Tinabean said…
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Your blog is so cute & a fun read.
Thank you for this poem I'm now crying.
I have a little brother that was just approved for adoption about a month ago or so.
We are so excited & can't wait until there picked & we get our newest family member.
I also have a sister in-law that placed a baby for adoption when she was 16.
I have so much admiration, love & respect for her & her difficult choice.
So I have emotions running on both sides of the adoption meter & I LOVE this poem.
Thank you.
emily freeman said…
You're right, I do love this post! I think I've actually read this before...and I have to disagree with the comment you left on my blog: you ARE a hero, my new friend. It just depends on your definition.
Jill said…
Wow - I've never read this before. Boy is it powerful. It brought a tear to my eyes!

Thanks for stopping by today. You have a great blog - and I have an affinity for Indiana.... my entire family is from there! Still is!
Robin said…
I had never heard this before but I LOVE it! Thanks for telling me about it!! I love your blog!! Adoption is such a long journey but I know it will be ALL worth it!! We hope to adopt several - Korea is our first stop :)

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