THERE WAS A CHRISTMAS AT THE BAYNES / Part 406 / For Love and For Justice / Zabeth and Paul Bayne

There was a Christmas celebration at the Bayne family home. Weeks ago when court case was concluding, the Baynes asked for a variance on the visitation order. They were asking for an unsupervised couple of visitation days with an overnight at Christmas at their home. Judge Crabtree instructed MCFD and the Baynes to see if they could work out a plan together and if the couldn't then the Baynes could come back to the Judge for a ruling. Predictably, the Director would not approve unsupervised time. Last week on the 22nd of December Judge Crabtree heard MCFD legal counsel and Zabeth and Paul Bayne. He did not grant the unsupervised visit.

Nevertheless, the Baynes have been very grateful for the precious time and type of visitation they have had this year. The Baynes made the best of their Christmas visits with their three children. On Friday, Christmas Eve they were able to enjoy their children for three hours from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and the children's Bumpa and Gammy (Grandpa and Grandma) were present as well. Among their activities the children decorated Christmas cookies. The time was brief but treasured.

On Christmas Day, Saturday December 25th, the Baynes had six hours together from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Bumpa and Gammy attended once again with a family dinner and sounds of children at play and gift exchanges. Even the supervisor who was contracted for this special day came with gifts with the children. The Bayne family gave this supervisor gifts as well. They were all making this situation as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. The grandparents enjoyed this time with their grandchildren immensely because they are generally not allowed to be with the children in the family home. Paul read a Christmas story. The family played together and told one another how much they loved one another.

This was by far a better Christmas celebration than the previous three Christmases. It was difficult to say goodbye. Then the children were off to join their foster family for seasonal visits to other foster family members.

They were together yesterday as well, New Year's Eve Day and enjoyed an outstanding time. You can see some of the celebratory photos on a Facebook page. 

Zabeth and Paul Bayne – Part 69 – The Bayne Campaign for Justice

This is Christmas Day

Merry Christmas visiting friends. Your reading visits please me greatly. For the past three months my GPS blog has concentrated upon the dilemma of one family – the Baynes. Reading regularly, you will have become familiar with their story of shock, despair, loss, faith, advocacy, encouragement and optimism.

The conclusion to their story has not yet been written. At least we don’t have access to the manuscript.

Paul and Zabeth Bayne and their children Boy K, Boy B, and Baby B have awoken this Christmas morning in different houses. Paul and Zabeth together today, are without their children for the third Christmas in succession. The children will open presents and foster parents will watch their faces. Behind the happy eyes of children at Christmas, what inarticulate, indefinable sadness is concealed? Customarily when young parents with children at home read this account, the needle of their sympathy meter is in the extreme zone. Grief and disgust are apt descriptors of the intuitive response that most of us have to the grim tale of the Baynes.

A child injured, a medical diagnosis, a suspicion, a confiscation of children, no opportunity for defence, no access to appeal, a shattering legal bill, sale of a home and grand piano, a stack of injustices, a catalogue of discourtesies, unresponsiveness to birth parents, a flouting of law, an unconscionable delay of legal hearing, an appalling demonstration of administrative incompetence and a family devastated but not yet broken.

And here is the reason why these particular parents are not broken. On this Christmas morning Paul and Zabeth rejoice in the birth of another child, not to them alone, but to the world. A birth of God’s own Son Jesus Christ. People of faith, Paul and Zabeth, before they had children of their own, committed their lives to trust exclusively in Jesus Christ as the Lord and Saviour. They know that Christ came to make things right. Righteousness is the economy in which Jesus operates. They believe that during this year 2010, righteousness will be administered to them and to their children. Surrounding them even now is a vast number of supporters, some of whom do not necessarily share their faith commitment but who nonetheless are encouragers because it is the righteous thing to do.

Merry Christmas to each one of you and Merry Christmas to you Paul and Zabeth.

Reader, please hit this link and sign this petition