When our kids were little, we attended Heritage Camp for Adoptive Families every summer. Heritage Camp is a long weekend of presentations, workshops, and fun in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, specifically geared toward different adoptive family groups–Latin American, Chinese, Russian/Eastern European, Korean, African/Caribbean.
And every year on the last morning of camp, as we gathered to say our final goodbyes, somebody sat center stage with a guitar and sang John McCutcheon’s anthem “Happy Adoption Day.” I couldn’t see through my own tears, but I’m guessing there wasn’t a parent in that room who wasn’t crying.
Adoption is complicated. No one understands that better than the people involved in it. Adoption begins with loss. But in this song, we celebrate the joys of adoption. The wonder of our beautiful and cherished children, the miracle of our coming together.
Heritage Camp for Adoptive Families was cancelled this summer. But thanks to the talented counselors and family of Korean Heritage Camp 2020, we can still hear our anthem and listen to these words:
“For out of a world so tattered and torn,
You came to our house on that wonderful morn.
And all of sudden, this family was born.
Oh, Happy Adoption Day.”
xoxo