NOW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ1wtftL3nA

Thanks Heahter for sharing this piece on facebook this morning. I was totally blown away by this song. It actually rocked me to my core. What an ispirational message. All we have is NOW. The lyrics and melody are haunting. Wonderful message for those going through any difficult time in their life. I espcecially think it is fitting for anyone going through inferiltiy . Now, that we have moved on to adoption there still is some fear and doubt and worries about our future choices. Both inferitliy and adoption one an get so focused on the " what if''s " and hoping for something to happen in the future. This song this morning really reminded me of what helped me to move on and get " out" of my struggle with infertiliy.

During Lent 2008 I was sitting throught the church Mission and at the time I thought I was " pretty much together on infertily". The message was one of the way to peace is to focus not on what we don't have but to be present and start living for the moment and savoring our current blessings" This really was like God was shouting at me " Helllo Karen wake up " In our busy lives it does not take much to get all wrapped up in what we don't have . This song really makes you stop and be grateful for the NOW and to savor your blessings and don't take them for granted ! I hope this song brightens someone's day as it has mine and dedicate it especially to anyone who has been touched by infertiliy in their family.

Love and Blessings
Karen

New Family Pictures

I arrived home to find our new family pictures have arrived. So beautiful I cried. I wanted to have a family photo of Blaise , Piper and I before we adopted. Not that I think we will not take pictures of Piper once we have kids I just wanted a profesional picture to capture our family. I also wanted a professional headhot picture of Piper. He is only 61/2 but I am well aware of how quickly situtions can change for dogs and you never know. We had pictures taken at Rainbow Haven Beach in Cow Bay. It was a gorgeous May evening and the sun was perfect. Sabrina Thurlow was the photogragher. She did an amazing job of capturing Pipers personality and spirit. She wanted to keep him " dry "for as long as she could but once he saw the ocean he was off. She was impressed how handsome he was even wet. It was tricky to get him to settle down and pose but with the ocean for stress relief it was perfect. We ordered one family picture, one headshot of Piper and a collage of pictures. My little walls are going to be filled ! Will have to get a bigger house to put the "new"family pictures once kiddies come along.

Here is the link to Sabrina's website.

http://www.petphoto.sabrinathurlow.com/

Adoptive Mothers Letter

I came across this letter on one of my daily searches on adoption information. I love poems and stories. This letter really touched my heart and of course brought tears to my eyes. What a wonderful description of the somewhat unique emotional, and pychological skills required to parent adoptive children. I know it will be a challenge to incorporate the birth family and birth relationships into our family. The situation will tell the tale and we will relay on our faith as to the right way to do this when the time comes. I have come across some beautiflul stories of how apdoptive families have celebrated and recognized birth families. I will talk about these in another blog. I don't know who wrote this letter but I am grateful for finding it.

Adoptive Mothers
Being an adoptiove mother is not for every woman. She must possess not only the natural mother instrinct but an understanding and appreciation of the situation that brought a child into her amrs making her a mother. The adoptive family comes to be by choices made, choices made by the first parents and by the adoptive parents. The bond the adoptive mother has with her child grows over time, just like the child grew within his first mother's womb.
Day by day, touch by touch, with each tear, kiss and memory made they become a family. Adoptive mothers have that special knack to let love grow.
Adoptive mothers know that they are a mender of wounds, not just of the physical skinned knees with a band-aid and a kiss, but of the heart as well. They give love, acceptance, and permission to ask and talk to their child about the day they were born and of their first family.
Adoptive motehrs are embracers, not only of the child with many hugs and kisses, but of the child's heritage and history. They embrace the facts of their child's past with strength for themselves and their child. They are not only memory makers planning family vacations, activities and birthday parties, but are also memory keepers.
They are a tier of shoelaces and hearts. They weave lives together into a tapestry of a new family, with many different brightly colored threards showcasing their individualities and family orgins. Together they create one unit attached to each other.
Adoptive mothers are experts at finding lost objects, but understand and validate the profound deep loss left by adoption. They allow the tears to fall and grief to be felt, allowing the mounrning of the family that is no longer there. They are secure in knowing that they are not a replacement, but a finisher of a race for someone who, for whatever reason, could not run any longer.
This role is not for the weak spirit, or the easily wounded. Loving a child not born to her but calling him her own, as this is what she does, it is her calling....She is a MOTHER.

Adoption Agency Bankruptcy

Adoption agency's bankruptcy devastates families - The Globe and Mail


This story hits very close to home and my heart. It is so unfair and unjust that this situation was allowed to happen. As a couple going through adopotion in NS I can not imagine how devastating this news would be to a waiting family. Every one who contemplates and discerns adoption as their way to build their family has already most likely already been through the pain and heartbreak of inferitily or miscarragies. What about these waiting children? Of course there will be lots of talk in the media about this and the ethics of international adoption . To me it all comes down to basic human needs to love, nurture and provide a home for children who need parents guide them on the journey of life, no matter what country or background they come from.

I don't know anyone personally affected but have been following some blogs of folks going through the journey of international adoption. I somehow feel a connection to families that have the courage to write about their situation and share their story with others. My prayers are with all of the couples that are affected by this situation . My hope is that they can find some peace in this situation .

Paper Work Mix up

OK I guess I have to learn to be more assertive. We have been waiting for a call from Community Services to arrange for our homestudy. Well today I did get a call but our file is missing some forms, our crimial records check of all things. That was the first thing we both did and the Commuity Policing office was to forward it directly to Community Services. ! Oh my nerves. Oh well no biggy we will get it done AGAIN !

I knew it would take a while for our file to get looked at and now not have to WAIT more because of a missing form. I hope this is not a sign of things to come. One day at a time , one day at a time.

Karen

Summer in Halifax ( Finally )

I am glad to report that I am back to me ! I went back to work last Monday and it was a good week. I am still tired at the end of the day and very much miss my afternoon naps. This weekend we finally had some sun . There is nothing better than summer in Halifax. The city was hoping yesterday. The Paul McCartney concert on the hill, Jazz Fest, Dragon Boat festival. I did not have tickets for the concert but went down to walk around the perimeter. It was a nice night and there was thousands of people just out and on the perimeter. The gates from most vanatage spots you could see the large screen. Heather and Cathy and I found a good spot and stayed for the rest of the concert. It was so neat to be there and the energy from the crowd was amazing. Heather and I were in the right place at the right time and were very close to the motorcade and bus that Paul was on leaving the concert site. He was waving to the crowds it was such a surprise. Not bad for not paying for a ticket I say.

Next weekend is the Tall Ships Festival. I when they are in town. Walking along the Halifax waterfront at night with outdoor beer gargens, people, the ships all lit up. The best ! Hopefuly the the weather cooperates.

Blaise and I are enjoying our summer and staying close to home. No more big trips for the Curry's for awhile. Hoping to get to PEI for a weekend camping and of course Cape Breton but nothing much planned. That will keep use busy as we wait and enjoy our summer.

Happy Summer