A Bit of Good News

Despite a setback at the end of February that threw a wrench into things, my luck looks like it might be changing.  I can't post any more than this at the moment about the situation but do want to document the date.  Things turned around in a matter of hours this morning.  After all I have been through, and yet to experience I am being very careful on all fronts.  I have to get through a challenge on April 4, please say a prayer for me that all goes well, and then when I am recovered from that I will make my next move.  I am working with some good people back east and just wish it wasn't so expensive to fly back there.   Between my agency and many of my blogging friends I would have a great trip!  If only we could get airfares like they can in the USA!   Best wishes to all of you.  I am so grateful for your support and will get on my email asap!

ABC's of International Adoption - Part Three

I have just had yet another birthday!!!!!!!  Holidays and birthdays are painful reminders in this process and seem to be one way of marking time.  All I can think of is I'll be that much older if and when my daughter ever comes home. Due to an unfortunate accident at the end of February, I wasn't much in the mood for celebrating this year.   My parents are wonderful and amazing.  I can only hope to be like them one day.  They came over last Thursday and appeared in my classroom after school taking me completely by surprise.  I am facing a number of challenges at the moment and a lot of anxiety and it was so lovely to see them.  We had a lovely family dinner with my sister on Friday night and then I have used the weekend to write report cards!!!!!!!

Here goes for a few more letters: 
Source: Concise Oxford English Dictionary

hapless (pg. 649) - unlucky or unfortunate
On Tuesday, February 26, I had a hapless accident that has thrown a major wrench into things.

immigration (pg. 712) - the action of coming to live permanetly in a foreign country
The immigration process to bring an adopted child to Canada has two routes.  One is citizenship and the other is as a a permanent resident.

jump at (pg. 770) - accept eagerly
I was going to take a leap of faith and jump at the opportunity but my hapless accident has slowed me down.

kaleidoscope (pg. 774) - a toy consisting of a tube containing mirrors and pieces of coloured glass or paper, whose reflection produce changing patterns when the tube is rotated
The toy store near my parents' house has little plastic, pocket-sized kaleidoscopes perfect for little hands to hold and use.

More later, very tired and off to make some dinner. 

The ABC's of International Adoption - Part Two

Here goes for a few more letters: 
Source: Concise Oxford English Dictionary

flail around/about (pg. 539) - flounder or struggle
I was flailing in this process until Friday morning.  I was beginning to feel a bit like a fish out of water!

guarded (pg. 632) - cautious and having possible reservations
I now have some very guarded optimism.

I am off to a meeting but wanted to throw those two words up!  Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

The ABC's of International Adoption - Part One

My February blogging challenge!

Instead of griping I think I am going to try to describe the process of international adoption using each of the letters of the alphabet.  Perhaps this will be eye-opening to anybody beginning the process, familiar to those of you in it, and a reminder to those that are fortunate to have succeeded.

Here goes!
Source: Concise Oxford English Dictionary

advocate  (pg. 19) -  person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy
In my experience, there is no advocate for those in the process of international adoption despite the HUGE amount of fees that are paid.

*cheating with "B" - I don't want to be totally negative!  This one is at least educational.
balata (pg. 100)- a tropical American tree which bears edible fruit and produces latex. The woman in the Amerindian gift shop in my country told me it was like wax.
I have two balata figurines, a parrot and a turtle both symbolic, from my country which I have looked at recently and considered melting! 

capitulate (pg. 208) - cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; surrender
I will soon capitulate to the international adoption process as I have put up a good fight and am running low on mental and emotional reserves!

dishearten (pg. 411)-  to lose determination or confidence
I am one hundred percent disheartened by the process of international adoption.

endangered (pg. 470) - at risk, especially of extinction
I believe adoptive parents are becoming an endangered species. 
Sorry, I can't help feeling this way, especially after reading some annual reports. 
FYI: Did you know that adoption agencies in BC do not have to post numbers in their annual reports?

enervate  (pg. 472) - to feel drained of energy
The international adoption process will at some point cause one to feel enervated and confused.

Any other words you can think of ? 

Liebster Award

When Gina (One in Five Million) posted of her amazing news regarding her adoption from the DRC, Mia at Gypsy Mama nominated her for this award.  Today my blogging friend Gen  from (Cinammon Baby) nominated me!   Thank you Gen!  I so appreciate your support and understanding and so glad we were able to communicate by email.  I wish Gen and her husband Pablo the best of luck with completing their adoption from Sri Lanka THIS YEAR.   

Like Gen, I haven't done anything like this before.  I did read Lisa's 30 Day Blog Challenge a long time ago when I started following her blog and had thought that would be fun to do but never got around to it.  So with this Liebster Award comes the opportunity for you to learn a little bit more about me.  I have never participated in any of those chain letters/emails that require to send out and ask people to send back, but as the rules for this seem friendly, thought I'd give it a try.

The Liebster Award

This award is given to new or up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. The award is then passed along to other bloggers in the same category to help spread the word and support one another. If you receive the award, there are a few rules to follow.

Each blogger nominated must post 11 things about themselves.

Then you have to answer the 11 questions the tagger has asked.

The blogger must then create 11 questions of their own to ask the bloggers they decide to nominate.

They must choose 11  ( or less if you can't do 11) bloggers with less than 200 followers to nominate and link them on their blog post.

Bloggers must be notified of their award.

No tag backs!

11 Things about me
1.  I was born in England and lived in Europe (England, Switzerland and France) until I was 15 when I moved to Canada with my family.
2.  I have a job that is never dull, always interesting and on the go!  I am a primary teacher (K-3) and this year am teaching grade 2.  I love grade 2 but then I love K, 1 and 3!!!!  I have been teaching since 1991.  Yikes, that seems like a long time! 
3.  I like to scrapbook and quilt but don't seem to much time for them at the moment.  I have to get back to them as they are a good source of distraction from the stress of this process. Quilting is especially good as the seems have to be EXACT if you want perfect points and corners.
4.  I LOVE cats and dogs.  My first pet was a grey tabby named Tabitha and my dearest pet, our family cat Tinkerbell, also a grey tabby.  Dearest Tinkerbell would seek out the person who needed her most and comfort them.  Unfortunately she has passed away but I like to think shes found others on which to shower her affection.  I rent my apartment and am not allowed to have pets!!!!! 
5. I am very close to my family and they are a great source of support.  My parents live on Vancouver Island, my sister 20 minutes away, and my Nan (grandmother), aunt and uncle, cousins and their families in the Bay Area.
6.  I spent Christmas waging war, no not literally yet, against the urban deer destroying my parents' garden.  Fishing line, soap on a rope and motion dector sprinklers work so far!   The book I found says to attack their senses on a rotating basis!  Moth balls apparently work wonders but are bad for the ground water so we will not be using them. Any tips/hints here, please leave a comment.
7.  I love water.  I love being in it - swimming, deep water running, playing, being on it - on a boat, and by it at the beach.  Perhaps this is because I'm a pisces or just because water has a very calming quality.
8.  I am a fan of Downton Abby on PBS Masterpiece Theatre.  Any others out there?  I am enjoying 9:00 on Sunday nights.  No phone calls between 9-10 please.
9.  One thing to do on my bucket list is to visit Hawaii.  Any suggestions as to where to start?
10.  One of my New Year's resolutions is to start getting some exercise, when my knee is better, and to return to WW!!!!!
11.  With some things, not exercise see #10, I am like a dog with a bone.  For example; getting extra help  and designations for my students and completing this adoption.  With other things I am a total procrastinator.

11 Questions From Gen

1- What is your favorite movie?
    I hate having to chose.  Favourites include: Father of the Bride, Pretty Woman, The Notebook and Plane, Trains and Automibles

2- What kind of student were you in elementary school?

I was an average student who worked very hard.  I don't think I ever really got into trouble but I do remember having to write out the word "remember" 500 times!  The things teachers could back in the seventies!!!!

3- Your biggest success?
    Tough, other than my degree and diploma, I think I'd have to say saving enough money to pay for the adoption process.

4- What is your oldest memory?

Day trips to London on the train with my dad as a little girl and getting a doll's house for Christmas made by my grandad - I still have it in my parents' basement just in case it is ever needed!

5- Who was your hero when you were growing up?

     I don't think I really had a hero.  I am thinking on this one.

6- Describe a place you love close to your home.

I love to go to Spanish Banks.  It is a wonderful beach about 15-20 minutes drive from my place.  You can read more about here.  It is a great place to take kids, walk, or ride your bike along the trail.  Can't wait to share it with my daughter. 

7- What's your go-to meal to entertain friends?

I don't do much entertaining but if I have friends or family coming over it would have to be turkey lasgna.  Easy to make ahead of time and then throw in the oven.  Serve with a spinach salad and you have a delicious meal.  The lasgna gives me more time to be with the company.

8- One song on your playlist right now?

Always the one to go beyond expectations for an assignment I am including two!

Becca Fly by Kenny Hess  Yes, I know it's country, I have a real mix of songs but there is something about this one that draws me back to it time and time again.

 Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo‘ole - Wonderful World  - I love this song and have just put it into an "imovie" that I made of my trip to my country.  The music is perfect with my pictures, as is his version of "Over the Rainbow"  I first heard his music at a school assembly 8 years ago. 

9- Name one quality you hope one of your parents has passed on to you.

     determination and perseverance

10- Are you more into Science or Arts?

This is a tough one.  I never really liked Science but loved math, hated History but loved Geography!

11- How much time do you spend blogging and reading blogs each day?

Depends whether people have posted and whether I discover a new blog.   I can spend a couple of hours on a new blog.  On average though maybe an hour or so.

My turn! 

11 questions for my blogging friends

1)   What is your favourite book/author?

2)   Do you have any pets?  If yes, info (type and name) and pictures if you are willing.  If no, would you like one and what kind.

3)   Name one place you would like to visit. 

4)   Do you have a favouite app (phone, ipad, or if you don't have anything "i", an edible appitizer)?

5)  Tell about a surprise in your life.

6)  What was your favourite childhood activity?

7)  Tell about something you have learned, anything from anytime.

8)  What stresses you out?

9)   What are three words would your family and friend use to describe you?

10)  White wine or red wine?

11) A wish you have

If you guys are ever in Vancouver, please let me know, I'd love to meet you in person!

P.S.  You don't need to tell about the person's blog but I did for you info

Some blogs I nominate that fit the " new or 'up and coming'" category!

Francesca at Viaggio Vietnam - the first blog about Vietnam I found and started following, and like Gen a great source of support through emails

Karen at Dreaming Under the Same Moon - a woman of extraordinary strength and determination

Meg and Pat at Ottawahoabinhseoul - a wonderful family who just completed a second adoption before Christmas, I found this blog through Francesca

Not "new" bloggers, but GREAT blogs to read and follow!!!!   When I checked your sites I think you have less than 200 followers so you still qualify in my book!!!!!
Lisa at Are We There Yet Len - I found Lisa's blog through Wendy's blog about Honduras (On My Way Again), these were my second and third blogs before I chose a country, Lisa has faced, met and dealt with numerous challenges!
Shauna at My Greatest Adventure - the first blog I started reading about adoption from Ethiopia, my friend's doula connected me

Catherine at Catherine's Chatter - the first blog I found about China and the "go to" Disney expert