.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Molly just sent these to us. I was so surprised. So cute.
May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand... how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is. Ephesians 3:17-19
The anticipation builds as each month ends because we know we'll receive our update. Then it arrives.... and it's always a bit of a let down. Because I want more. More information. More contact. More pictures. Other adoptive parents feel as though they get to know their children. I feel so out in the dark. I feel as though I don't know anything. I know bits and pieces but I don't really know them at all.
Look at Peterson's knees. I can imagine that he is all boy. I can imagine that he plays on the ground and scuffs his knees. But what does he play? What sounds does he make? Does he have a favorite toy? How does he laugh? I don't know anything.
Gaëlle sounds like a little diva. But does she whine? What makes her laugh? Does she like her doll? In one of the first pictures we saw, she had on feet pajamas and she looked so tiny. Now she looks like a young lady. She always has sandals that are too big. Does she demand to wear them? Or are her feet just so tiny? I don't have a clue.
It doesn't look like I'll know the answers any time soon.
My daughter is participating in "Take your child to work day" on November 5. She didn't want to go with a parent because she's always been interested in medicine and neither parent works in that field. But, we didn't find an adult to take our child to their workplace so... she's going with her father.
When Kaylin initially confessed that she didn't want to go with her father she asked, "Can you really see me in law enforcement?" To which her father responded, "Well, not right now, but 10 years from now, who knows?"
And my memories of her 10 years ago flooded back. She was easily the most assertive of my young kids. I was used to my babies passively watching other kids take their toys, but not Kaylin. She fought back. And she pushed her older siblings away with, "My mommy, not your mommy!!!"
Now, she is perceived as gentle and sweet and soft. Not exactly police material. But like Robin says, who knows what 10 years will bring.
No matter what they choose to do with their lives, it will be fun to sit back and watch the journey.
Several students were trashing celebraties, not even specifically- just in general, for all their wasted spending. Now there's a topic most people would not dispute. From our middle class perch, it certainly looks like celebraties waste a lot of money. The students were particularly scornful because there's such poverty around the world. Places where money is desperately needed and just a little money could do so much good. Again, nobody can dispute that.
So, what on earth could my daughter object to? And what am I so proud of? Well, she said that she finally had enough of the discussion. And so she turned it back on them. What are you doing for the poor? We're all rich compared to the majority of the world. How much of your money are you giving away?
It is so easy to put others down for their spending choices. But until I can say with all honesty that I have not wasted my resources and I have spent my money wisely, I had better not get up on my high horse condemning others in a higher tax bracket.
I'm so proud of her for taking responsibility for her actions. Financial responsibility is a huge lesson and I think she understands the importance of not being jealous of others for their wealth (not an easy thing to do) and not being critical of others for their wealth and the perception of their selfishness. She is accountable to God and to herself. Way to go.
My daughter graduates from high school this year. So so hard to believe, but that's not what people don't get. She has decided to take a year off from school and volunteer. She is currently looking into a Christian organization in Thailand that works with physically and mentally disabled children. Her unltimate goal is to go into physiotherapy, making a difference.
Earlier this week she was discussing some of this with her dance teacher, who's also helping her become a certified highland dance instructor.
"Why would you want to do that? I'm sure you don't have to. I'm sure your grades are good enough for university."
I don't know my daughter's exact words, but she was a bit speechless. Yes, she has excellent grades. Yes, she can easily just go straight to university. But she wants to make a difference. She wants to help people. Life seems meaningless when it's all about me, me, me. What's hard to understand about that?
These are exciting times for my daughter as her dreams are starting to take shape... starting to look like a reality. I'm so proud of her and her determination.
I remember talking with other moms when my kids were quite young. Did we lie to our kids about little things that really didn't make a difference?
"No, sweetheart, there aren't any onions in the spagetti sauce," to a child who totally hates onions.
Even if it inconvenienced me, I declared that I would tell my children the truth- point blank - if they asked me a question. I was appalled that moms would do differently. If you would lie to your child in the small things, what would prevent you from lying with the really big things.
Well, so much for good intentions. Today I practiced "deception by omission" with my daughter. She had all 4 wisdom teeth out today. She had me laughing so hard in her drug induced haze. Apparently she was concerned with ice cream and teeth brushing. Repeatedly concerned. Then quite confused to hear she had already asked the same question 2 minutes before.
But she did ask a legit serious question (even with the drugs making her wonky) and I knew the answer would upset her, so I dodged it. Then wouldn't you know it, while I was running this afternoon I just happened to listen to a podcast about "Lies we tell our children".
Telling white lies eventually makes one color blind.
Ouch. Convicted! So, when I came home and we were sitting around the table, I confessed. Sure enough, she was upset. But I tried to convey the importance of this issue and she eventually accepted it, even though it upset her.
My lesson learned: kids will respect the truth. They may not like it, but they will deal with it, often better than our imaginations give them credit for.
This past weekend we went out and enjoyed the local fall festivities. I just love fall!!!! This is our hike to Cape Split.
Maritime fall fair. As a child I was terrified of petting zoos. I cowered in fear of those pushy goats and llamas trying to get any food I might have for them. My girls love, love, love a chance to pet the animals. They have always wanted a hobby farm. The closest they will get is visiting their Aunt Carrie's menagerie.
Who can pass up a beaver tail?
Robot guy... he certainly entertained my children.
It was Thanksgiving. I'm not too old for Thanksgiving crafts or I'm a Martha Stewart wannabe or something.
Peterson with Nadine.
Our kids are fortunate to be living in a really great orphanage - GLA. One of the areas that GLA takes seriously is bonding. Knowing that the children have suffered devestating loss in their young lives, the staff at GLA works hard to let the kids know that they are loved. The nannies are vital to their physical and emotional health. In September we all received photos of our kids with their nannies. Beautiful pictures.
I haven't voted since 1984. Yikes. That was the first year I was eligible and the last election I was physically living in the US. After I moved to Canada I didn't realize that I could still vote in the US elections. To be quite honest, the possibility never crossed my mind. During the 2004 elections there was a lot of media attention here to all of the Americans living in Canada and how they were voting.
So, I looked into it and what do you know? I can vote.
My absentee ballot arrived this week. I'm actually excited.