Once there were two women who never knew each other
One you do not remember, the other you call Mother
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 aim
One gave you emotions, the other calmed your fears
One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried you tears
One carried you and birthed you, that was all that she could do
The other prayed for a child, and God led her straight to you.
Now, which of these two women, Are you the product of?
Both, my darling, Both, Just two different types of love.
~Anonymous
One you do not remember, the other you call Mother
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 aim
One gave you emotions, the other calmed your fears
One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried you tears
One carried you and birthed you, that was all that she could do
The other prayed for a child, and God led her straight to you.
Now, which of these two women, Are you the product of?
Both, my darling, Both, Just two different types of love.
~Anonymous
As we celebrate the birth of our dear son, Rukundo Pacifique, it occurs to me that we have not to date had any ceremony: no blessingway for the new mother, no birth passage to serve as a marker of welcome to this world and our family, no welcome home gathering or celebration upon entry to the US, and now, on this day we choose to celebrate Pacifique’s birth, we are not even having a gathering of community for him, for us. Oh, how I long for some sacred ritual or marker of his coming to us, of us coming to him; of the circle we have completed.
So in this age of technology, it dawned on me: I can request writing, blessings for Pacifique and his life, on his journey here to this Earth and to our family, from those who are gathered around us, who have been with us all along.
If you will please leave a blessing, a prayer, a thought in the comments section, I would be so grateful and happy to collate them in a little wee book for Pacifique to have along side him in this life of his. So that in some way, as he grows, he will always know the love he has been given, the gratitude and joy with which we celebrate his life and his getting here. So that he will see, know, just how many people have witnessed and celebrate the Miracle of him joining our lives in physical form.
Thank you, dear ones, for keeping the circle around us all. We are blessed indeed.
30 comments:
Dear Son, dear baby boy of mine,
Happy Birth Day... Birth Time... Birth Week... or Month... or Moon. We don't know the exact time, the place, the situation to which and in which you were released to this earth. We imagine it, we imagine your story, your mother's story~
A hero's journey.
We do know the unbelievable longing we held for you for the last two years. I remember feeling you during prayer and meditation, in dreams. I felt you, touched you, held your soft little head in the crook of my neck... it is this that kept me on my search for you. Bless you for calling me, bless your mother for walking her path.
God bless all the people, the stars, the crickets, mosquitos, the interpersonal battles, the wounding the hardship, the moon, the gods, that stood in our way and then parted the seas each time we tried to make it to each other until the timing was
EXACTLY PERFECT
For you
and me
and your dad
and your sister
and your brother in heaven
TO UNITE
We imagine you at this time last year, finishing your time in your mother's womb, getting ready to stop listening to her heartbeat, cease feeling her warmth and voice. We imagine your journey ahead- something that will always be only imagined by us all, but very real none-the-less. Your journey down the birth canal into the unknown, into her arms, or someone's arms... your struggle to stay alive in the bushes, alone from all but your great Self and God.
And us. We never left you, and never will, not even for a moment.
We celebrate you. We honor you and your story. We throw our tears of gratitude to your Rwandan mother and father as we show gratitude for all that you are and will become.
Happy one year, little one. Pacifique... the one who brings Peace. Happy day little one who laughs and spits and throws himself into my arms and talks and squeals and kisses us all with an open drooling mouth. I love you very much.... in fact, with all of my being
Peace be with you, always,
Mama
Happy Birthday Pacifique! I love greeting you and seeing your smile. You warm my heart. Have a fun time celebrating 1st birthday!
Dot Leach
Dear Pacifique,
I wrote this song to you as you arrived here from your birth land across the sea. I was meditating out in my cabin and all of a sudden these French words came to me. I know the nuns who took care of you in the orphanage spoke French to you. I sang this song to you the first day we met! You smiled the biggest baby smile I've ever seen! Dear Pacifique, the song is true.
Everyone does love you.
Pacifique
C'est magnifique que tu est ici avec nous
Et nous sommes si content sur les deux continents
Que tu est bien arrivee,
Et Dieux merci pour toute de ca.
CH:Paci Pacifique
Magni Mangnifique
Paci Pacifique
comme je t'amime.
Je sais que ca serait difficile au debout
Mais quand j'ai vue tes yeux
Je savais dans mon coeur
que les jeux sont fait
et toute le monde va t'aimer.
CH: Paci Pacifique etc.
Pacifique
C'est magnifique que tu est ici avec nous
Tu aurais une bonne mama et un bon papa
et une soeur
avec qui tu peut jouer.
Je sais que ca serait difficile au
debout
Mais je suis surque c'est
beaucoup mieux
d'avoir une famille pour toi meme
Et toute le monde va t'aimer.
CH: Paci Pacifique etc.
Much love to you and many blessings, Jan
Dear Pacifique,
Happy 1st Birthday. Your mom/dad and I met through a friend and I feel so honored to have met you in Rwanda before you left with your family to the US. I helped your mom and dad when they really needed someone to make sure that you were going to be with them forever.
I remember the first time I saw you at the Mother Theresa Orphanage. I was with the Lawyer Ms. Agnus and one of the sisters brought you to us. You looked up at me and cried out......But then the sisters said, "No, Paci smiles all the time. Look!" And she was right. You looked at her with those beautiful big eyes and gave her a big smile as if she was the light of your life. After that, we had several visits together and I got to know how special and important you are for this world. You blessed me with your love right from the start with lots of smiling and cooing whenever we were together.
When your mom and dad came to Rwanda to get you they stayed with my family in our home. They were so excited, ecstatic, emotional and overwhelmed to meet the perfect little boy to join their family. I remember the look that your mommy had on her face when she saw you for the first time. How can I explain it? Immediate love, joy, relief, nervousness, passion, warmth, and adoration all rolled up into just one look. It was so touching and intimate to see your family get to know you little by little over the first couple days you were all together. You delighted them and everyone who met you along the way.
Rwanda is such a beautiful, complicated, wonderful country and I will always remember and cherish my memories there. You are one of those wonderful memories when I think of all the important things that happened to me in Rwanda. You are so lucky to come from a place that has so much to offer.
I think of you and your family often and on this special 1st birthday of yours I will say an extra big prayer thanking God for such a wonderful little person you are now and the smart, loving and caring person you will become in the future.
Love, Julie
PS. As long as we are traveling the world, you are always welcome to join us. (That goes for your entire family.)
Dear Pacifique,
Happy, Happy Birthday!
Your smile and energy brighten up a room and can't help but make me smile when I see you. Some would say you can't know the effect you have on us adults, but I see a twinkle in your eyes that tells me you do know. The light you bring into being is incredible, a real gift.
The other day I had an image of you as a young man and it sent shivers through me. I "saw" a sensitive young man who cares for his family deeply, who is mature beyond his chronological age. There is something special about you that I look forward to seeing unfold in the years to come. How wonderful that you have come here to share your life with your Momma, Daddy and Ariah and us!
Love and Birthday Blessings,
Shirley
Dear Pacifique, Happy Birthday to you dear funny, happy, busy dramatic, adorable, wonderful, strong, little boy.
I woke up today remembering all the birthdays- your brother's, your sister's, your mum's, and your uncle Toph's. And then I just basked in the thought of all the birthdays to come, especially yours.
As soon as you can talk some more, I want you to take your dear sister Ariah's hand and go to some quiet place in your house, or yard, and have her tell you everything she knows about you and everyone who knows you and loves you. Have Ariah tell you about Rwanda, and Julie, and sisters at the Home of Hope, and the long journey home. Have her tell you about Trace (although I think , in some inexplicable way, you already know Trace in your own special baby way).
It is holding Life in our hearts that brought us hope. That Hope brought your family to you and you to them. And YOU and hope and Life brought the sunshine and the resounding joy.
I held you, dear baby boy, tiny and tired , nevertheless , beautiful and happy,energetic and so full of every good thing, at Logan airport on July 2nd, and I knew that celebrating life would be a daily event for you and Ariah and Mummy and daddy for a very long time to come.
Bless you all. -here's a kiss.Love all around
your grammie, Bubby (Diana)
Yay! one year! So happy to have you in our family... a little fountain of joy, you are. Maybe by the time you can read these messages there will be better ways of wishing someone far away a happy day but for now my thoughts are with you and your family via the blogspot!
Pacifique- You have brought our entire family so much joy! I think I can speak for us all that we are so grateful to have you in our lives and know that you are filling up your own home with happiness. Happy First Birthday precious Pacifique, Love Aunt Cari
Blessings to you Pacifique on this wonderful day (the day chosen to celebrate your birth). Your life, your journey, your story provides hope.
You have brought boundless love to your family and our commuity. Your smile is like a ray of sunshine. It warms up the room.
We look forward to seeing you flourish with the loving support of your family.
Peace.
Kathy, Steven and Emery
Jaya, Scott, Ariah and Pacifique-
My heart is so full of joy for your family. It makes my heart glad that such a beautiful boy found his way into your loving family- you needed him as much as he needed you. I am sending you many, many happy birthday wishes as you continue to watch him learn, discover, and grow. He is such a lucky boy..
Love,
Chris Anderson
Pacifique,
You are your parent's dreams realized. A year ago, you unknowingly arrived to inherit the earth. The world is bigger than you can imagine...and it is yours for exploring. I am so excited that your first journey around the sun found you in the arms of so much love; your family. May you always be so lucky in life.
Wishing you many more blessings on your second revolution around the sun. Happy anniversary of your arrival.
Happy Birthday, my little friend Pacifique! The wait was long, but you came in your own time. And how grateful I am when I find myself on the receiving end of your illuminating smile! Bright Blessings, little one, to carry you through may more years.
Love,
Rosemary
Jaya, What an amazing journey you have walked. Who would have thought through so much greif and anguish, the miracle of Pacifique coming to your family would emerge! Blessings and miracles come in unexpected ways. Welcome to your family little man! You are such a blessing and so blessed to have found your way to your family! May you always know the Love and Peace that you have brought to your family! Thank you for also touching my life and including me in your amazing web of life! Kim Mackay
Happy Birthday!
Pacifique, your "story" is so deeply a part of my heart. I watched as your mama held a place in her heart for you, waiting for the time and place you would come to her arms. I too lost my baby son, Noah, just like your brother Trace Oak...then, out of pain, was blessed with joy, too; with a daughter, brought to my waiting arms. Unspeakable joy. And that is what you are...Peace and Love. Oh I love love love your Mama's words, she can say it so perfectly. And your french song is so perfect (I knew some of the words :) You have such a heritage to grow into ....such a "story", such a future...filled with so much love. You are truly blessed, and your knowing eyes shine it into our souls. I hope you have had a wonderful birth day, with your lovely family. God's brightest blessings always be upon you! Much love.... Amanda
pacifique, what a special little person you are, and what a journey it has been for you and your parents and sister and brother. i hope that one day you will read these birthday wishes and you will understand how very much you are loved by everyone that knows your story and the incredible depth with which your family needs and loves you. i can't express how much respect i have for your mama. did you know that she was able to come and hold my hand while i gave birth to my daughter exactly six months after trace died? not many people could do that. so even if she is sometimes grumpy about the messes you and ariah will be sure to make, just remember that you will always be her blessing and she will always be yours. happy birthday my friend.
love, bonnie
Dearest Pacifique,
While I have never had the pleasure of meeting you, or your mother, your father, or your big sister, I have been blessed to watch your family's story unfold. I've witnessed the love and dedication your family feels for you, and your mother has been a wonderful guide for me in our family's adoption of our own two children, whose stories mirror yours in so many ways. Our families are linked by what we know of our children, and what we do not know of our children, and I truly hope to be able to meet you all in person one day!! Until then, know that there are people all over the world who have been touched by your journey.
Many blessings, Pacifique!!
your friends,
tiffani, mark, lucy, dexter, cohen and naomi :)
Pacifique,
Bless you for bringing your loving presence into this world, for blessing your mama and daddy with your warmth and hope, for coming to be another brother to Ariah, for continuing Trace's legacy, and for just being your own wonderful self.
We honor your Rwandan mother and father as well as you on this day, and remember their roles in your life and in bringing you to Jaya, and we wish them grace and healing.
We wish you joy and sunshine and serenity as you grow up. May you grow into a man of honor and integrity and love. I know you will be a very special person in this world.
And from me, a very special thank you for coming to my dear friend Jaya and bringing her some of your own unique Peace. You are well and truly named and I am so thankful that you have come into her life...and into all of ours.
Welcome again, and blessings on you and all your family.
Love, kmom
Greatest love and blessings Pacifique -- doubly loved, doubly blessed. May you go from love to love each and every year.
Gretchen
Bright Eyes,
You are joy incarnate. Blessings on your path, sweet boy, and blessed be the arms that hold you, the hands to which you cling as you take your first unsteady steps, the hearts that carry you in perfect love as you grow toward the light. May your first birthday be memory of joy and completion for you and your beautiful mother, and may this year bring growth, peace, and, always, love.
All bright blessings,
Jer
Dear Pacifique,
It is an honor to be a small part of your journey. I celebrate with your family your birth -- and that you were birthed and came to journey with your family. You are loved by many throughout time and space. I continue to pray that you, and your family, feel the circle of love that surrounds you, and feel it reflected in all of nature.
Love and belief,
Tami
Dearest Pacifique,
From the first moment we met you we knew you were a very special boy. The joy that you radiate is a gift to you and a blessing to us all.
We feel so blessed to embrace you in our family and to be able to watch you bloom as you were meant to!
Know that you are and always have been cherished. Happy First Birthday! We love you.
Mims and Pops
Happy Birthday Pacifique. What a joy it is to see you grow up and read your story on Jaya's blog. You are loved. Happy day to the Holliman family.
Oh dear. I'm left speechless. Is there a time limit? I do know that Isla will be pleased to have another little Scorpio friend. I'll be back. Joyeaux Anniversaire.
Dear Precious Boy:
I have only "met" your adoptive family through the common bonds that drew us together on the internet. . . but I followed their story and watched their determination as they sought to find you. I was sad when they didn't at first, and then estatic with joy for them--and you--when they persisted and found you finally safely in their arms. As I see the jolly, happy child you are becoming, with plump cheeks that would delight your birth mother, I rejoice for your family and you. I pray that as you grow here in America you will become a mighty man of God who will make things happen that will move the earth.
Blessings,
Hope Anne aka Happymom4 (mother to a Russian princess who has filled our family with joy, as I know you fill your Mom and Dad's hearts, and your big sister's!)
Dear Pacifique,
I have now seen you twice since you came home to your family. I am stunned by the light that shines through your eyes. I can hardly stop looking at you because the light is so penetrating and I feel the presence of Great Spirit, God, Goddess, the Holy whatever you want to call it. I feel blessed to be in your presence. To be able to find your way here to a family that loves you beyond words is truly a soul's path that is strong and committed to life. Thank you for touching all of our lives AND Happy Birthday, dear one.
Pam
Every night a child is born is a holy night. And so it is with you, dear boy. You have chosen your family well.
Love to all.
Kristi from ICAN L&R
What an amazing journey you and your new family have had, Pacifique. A very happy birthday to you. You are such a bright light that shines on everyone your smile greets. I am so thankful to have met you.
~Janet~
Jaya, thank you for sharing the pictures of your trip. Your son is truly a lovely little boy. I am so happy for you. Here is a blessing to add to his birthday book, if you still have room for another.
May the blessing of Life await you...may the sun of glory shine around you, and may the gates of plenty, honor and happiness be ever open to you. –Charles Dickens
Thank you for sharing.
Jenny
Happy bithday.....,
Thank you all deciding to spend this very first special day to the ANGE,
here hoping it turns our forever to be just right in every way.
May GOD give you lots of such joys and happy moments with PACIFIQUE.
And may PACIFIQUE lives long lovely life to come by knowing GOD'S will as the key for heaven.
You parents may your dreams come true.
Love,
Innocent NG.
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