November 27, 2000

     Today, is my husbands birthday, and to celebrate we will be in court.  We have been going to court hearings for the past four months.  We have not so much as caught one glimpse of our 3 daughters.  They will have grown so much after all this time, especially Miriam, who had only just turned 2 when they were taken.  The oldest, Bethany, was only 5,and the middle one, Lydia was 3.  How do you think children that small deal with being separated from all they know and love?

     Well, my children have a whole new life now, even a new identity.  They are called "wards of the state"!  They have a new home, new clothes , new toys, even a new mother and father.  They do not know where mommy and Baba are( that’s what they call their papa).  They do not know what has happened to us, no one has told them.  The two youngest girls will barely remember anything of their real lives once they are returned.  Only Bethany will really remember who she is.  She knows that she is not property to be passed around, prodded and poked, but is a flesh, blood and spiritual being in her own right.  She will also know that I am not there.

     Their way of life is very different now, no more innocence, only the pain and heart ache that no child should know.  Since birth, we protected them from the World, from as much of its corruption as we could.  We raised them to know right from wrong, to know that possessions don’t matter.  Yes, I tell you, even though they were so young, they understood such things.  They were raised to understand that love is the most important thing, real love, not fake trash, but real love, the kind Jesus has for us.

     We have a simple faith in God.  All that we taught our daughters sprang from that same faith.  I home schooled the oldest two.  Bethany had just learned how to read , and could even speak a few words of French.  Lydia was working on her letters.  They learned practical skills, like how to fold laundry or help Baba fix things.  Bethany’s passion was helping Mommy do anything, and Lydia’s was collecting what she called "crystal rocks".  Whenever she found one, she had to run and show Baba.  As for Miriam all she ever wanted in life was to follow me every where I went !  Now they are told all those things they value are unimportant, or even worse that they are wrong.  Children's Services say Bethany is strange for wanting to take care of and protect her sisters.  In the juvenile court Bethany was criticised for not drawing triangles as they thought she should, but no one asked her to draw houses, people , animals or any one of the things which she draws beautifully.  What do they tell her when she wants to pray for someone, do they encourage her, or do they tell her "that’s nice, now go and play".  I know they put her in a public school where children cannot even pray, where they will try to crush her individuality and make her into something she is not.

     Did anyone even ask me whether I wanted Bethany to be placed in a public school or if we wanted our daughters to receive vaccinations (which we strongly disagree with on both religious and health grounds.  Also The last injections that Bethany had received while with us had made her violently sick)?  Did any one ask us if we minded them subjecting our daughters to invasive sexual tests?  Has anyone asked us anything about who our daughters are, what they like or how we wish them to be treated ?  NO

     Our daughters were taken away from us totally against our wishes and without our consent (which is illegal !).  At that moment ALL our parental rights were taken away.  That is not what they tell you.  They tell you that all you need to do is cooperate with them and maybe you will get your kids back.  They smile and tell you its all in the best interest of the child, and they are just there to help… all smiles and cute cuddly toys.  IT IS A LIE!  The law states they cannot terminate parental rights before one year has passed.  In reality they do it the moment they take your child.

     Children's Services has many excuses for taking people's children away, they do not even need proof of an allegation to do it.  It can and does happen to all sorts, but if you happen to be poor, weak or isolated then they are even more likely to prey on you.  The police will assist them, the courts will cover for them, while the victims lie naked and bleeding in a gutter somewhere.  The Scribe and the Pharisee will walk by on the other side of the road, only the Samaritan will stop to help.  Most people do not care, they simply make excuses about why it happened to us (and not to them ).  I thank God for all those who have stopped to help us, and not judged us for our life style or for what we do or do not do.  But as for all those who have shown us love and compassion, I know they will be rewarded.  I also know that those who turn a blind eye to what is happening are as guilty as the ones who are carrying out the crime, and they too will receive their just reward.

May God have mercy on us and upon our nation.

Ruth Christine -