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Follow Chris, Project 1.27's Executive Director, and his wife Sarah as they adopt a child from foster care, too!
Part 7 (May 17, 2007)
Jalaya lasted 6 weeks in her latest school – but this time she didn’t get kicked out. After one too many times of Jalaya saying her school was “mean” and that she “hated it,” I decided to go observe to help her sort it out. I was a fly-on-the-wall for 2 days, and in the end, I absolutely agreed with her. It was a punitive and degrading place to be, and we pulled her out immediately.
However, because Jalaya is still a foster child for 2 more months I am not the final authority in her life yet. As a ward of the county she was required to be in school. Returning her to that classroom was out of the question – so we applied for an unusual exception in foster care: home school.
You know how some people say they hope God will never send them to some remote country to be a missionary? Oh, God, I’ll do anything but that! Well, I’ve always felt that way about home schooling. Please, God, don’t make me home school!
Yep. This is week six. Reading in the family room. Writing and arithmetic at the kitchen table. PE on the swings, jumping rope or riding her bike…
“They” were right: never tell God what you won’t do for Him. He will probably have you do that exact thing!
The up side of this turn of events is that Jalaya and I have spent a LOT of time together, which I think is helping both of us with “bonding”. Her defiance of authority is slowly diminishing and she seems to be more comfortable in her role within the family. I am able to see more of her heart and that encourages me to reach out more with mine.
Years ago, I remember watching my sister nurse her baby and the baby would play with her hair, twisting it around his little fingers as he suckled. I so desired to have that kind of intimacy with my children. Ten years ago we went from no children to 3 babies in 14 months. I thought for sure at least one of them would afford me this pleasure. But it didn’t happen. I have secretly wondered if it was because they were adopted or because I was bottle feeding or if it was just a personality thing. With no answers, I simply shelved this little dream and went on.
God has finally brought me my “baby”. Over the last few weeks as I tuck Jalaya into bed, she has taken to stroking my face and telling me how “pretty” I am and that I’m her “favorite” Mommy. Jalaya smiles and runs her fingers through my hair over and over again, brushing it out of my face. Our eyes lock and we stare deep into each other’s hearts for just a moment. Then she pulls me down, squeezing my neck in a hug – and sighs deeply. “I love you,” I murmur.
I got home late the night before Mother’s Day. As I walked in the door, my husband was grinning mischievously. “What?” I asked. “Go upstairs and look at the bed,” he said.
There lying perfectly placed was my red sundress. On it laid a pair of clean underwear. On the floor were my black dress shoes with sports socks tucked in them. Chris came up behind me and put his arms around me. “She picked out your clothes so you could match tomorrow,“ he said softly. Laid out on Jalaya’s bed were her red dress, black shoes, and white frilly socks.
The next morning our five children brought me breakfast in bed: Honey Bunches of Oats with sliced apples and chocolate milk. And hot tea. Well, it was kinda like hot tea... “Did you see your clothes, Mommy?” Jalaya asked excitedly. “Yes I did, JJ. That was a great surprise!” “I laid it all out by myself. And I got a washrag and cleaned off your shoes. I just couldn’t find your bra. But everything else is there!”
After a rousing Mother’s Day adoption sermon at church, we went out to eat at Souper Salad (kids are only $1.99 on Sundays!) and then back home to take a nap. Chris and the kids made me a spaghetti dinner. Afterward we all sat down and watched “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”. It was a wonderful day.
Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” (Matt. 16:24-25)
Trading my life for His,
Sarah Padbury
P.S. To hear a brilliant 30-minute message on Mother’s Day and how it relates to adoption, follow this link: http://www.coloradocommunity.org/sermons/index01.htm. It is the sermon called “Adoption” dated 5/13/07 by Robert Gelinas.
Read other parts of the Padbury's adoption story
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