Saturday, February 2, 2013

Hearts ~

What we have here are two beating hearts.

When I first saw this I was reminded of watching the monitors in both
my Mom and Dad's hospital rooms.
I stared at those montiors many days,
until their tired hearts stopped beating.
It's a picture in my mind I don't care to remember.

Now, 
these two beating hearts are how I choose to remember that scenerio.
I now think of each of their hearts on the same screen, 
as a symbol if you will,
 of two hearts that became
 one.



Out of them becoming one heart,
 me....

I love hearts.
Which is why my blog is
titled
Echo of my Heart.

I have a heart for people,
all
people.

I believe with all my heart,
 that I received a heart which is a product of the one  my parents shared.

I was raised in a home that seemed to draw in
those who needed 
love.

Mom and Dad were foster parents for The Bureau of Adoptions.
This started in the mid sixties,
a time prior to abortion being legalized.
A time when life of the unborn was valued.
Many, many young mothers delivered their babies 
and
loved that preious child so much that that chose to give that child
the best chance of having a good life.
What a brave, loving thing to do.
A life with adoptive parents to love them as their own.

There was an abudance of newborn babies waiting for foster homes. 
Our home, a lay (love) over,
until a proper home and family was found.

My parents took in those new born babies,
generally two at a time.
My two sisters and I loved this time in our lives.
It was like having real life baby dolls!
We learned early on how to care for babies,
change and  fold diapers.
Yes, we were folding the real deal,
cloth diapers!

The tough part of taking these babies in was
watching them being
carried out.
Some were with us up to almost three months of age,
they became ours,
bonded through hearts.
All hearts giving and all hearts receiving,
love.

Eventually the day comes,
 the family lines up,
the social worker, baby in her arms,
moves down the line of sad faces.
Sad faces, waiting their turn to kiss that baby
before they are carried out,
out of our lives forever.

Mom and Dad also took in family members, as well as friends of us kids.
Whomever needed a hand up in the world, they were welcomed in.
In our home they stay until they could stand on their own.
Each as though they had always belonged,
part of our family.

My parents saw 45 foster babies come and leave our home.
All but one.
That special one, the 45th.
Found by a special family that was sure to love him.
My brother Tony who came to us at 3 days old was adopted
by our family and he became ours.
Ours to love, unconditionally,
it's what family does.
Ours to love the rest of his days.

So this is February, the heart month....

 I can't help but think of the two,
who became one.
The two who became one heart,
  showing love to so many the rest of their days.

Thanks Mom and Dad for living lives that
showed me how to love,
and to love well......
 with all my heart.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

My heart it full
~
Thankful for the love received from them,
 it's what echos from my heart today.

7 comments:

  1. What a legacy Mom & Dad built. We were rich in so many ways. Loved all those babies and wonder if one day in heaven they might show up to introduce themselves. We, as a family gave them a living start. What a heritage! <3

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a beautiful family, and what a joy to celebrate their lives... we too had a big house, big family and always an open door to friends and family. Hugs, Diane

    ReplyDelete
  3. It's so wonderful through blogging to continue to learn about our blog friends, how they lived, what they did, what kind of lives they've had.

    Debi, how very blessed you, your sisters, and brother were to grow up in such wonderful home as you know. I can't even imagine. I truly admire girls who decide that their baby deserves more than they can give them especially, and hoping their child grows up with so much love. I wasn't that generous; just say I was selfish. My mom was the one who wanted me to opt for adoption, I couldn't do it. Of course, I've never been sorry and I believe my daughter appreciates what I tried to do for her, and certainly my mom became her best advocate. Funny how things like that happen. And, my dad? He worshipped every hair on her head. The day we came home from the hospital, he sat and held her the entire night.

    Sorry to get off subject, in a way. But, absolutely your parents heart beated as one, and still does. And, as Deanna said "what a legacy". :)

    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, Debi, what a precious tribute to your parents. There could be no greater gift, outside of God, than parents who teach their children to love and to give. What a blessing! I have always thought that Foster Parents are such special, special folks! Happy rest of the weekend to you!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lovely tribute xx

    check out my cath kidston giveaway 1stepclosereveryday.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love how you write! I love what I leave here with every visit. No wonder you are such a kind and loving person. God certainly gifted you with fine examples. What a sweet tribute to your parents. I will always admire foster parents.

    ReplyDelete