Rascal Flatts - My Wish ( NO SKIPPING in this vid)

Special Needs Adoption Day

Today may be a day that will change our lives, or my hope is that it will be a day that changes the lives of all of the kids presented today. This was our second SNA Day and I found I was much more prepared for today. The first one in June was a good experience and started us on a path to considering older children adoption. SNA Day is a day that Social Workers, Foster Parents and those involved with assisting the children present the " story " of the children and a short video of the children. As you can imagine hearing the story and history of some of the children is heart breaking and sad. However the kids keep on smiling and are so reslilent in their hope of finding forever parents. Some of children are older with some diagnosis of FASD, ADHD , mental or physical abuse. but some are just in care because of breaddown of the parents level to provided a safe appropriate home.

There was about 100 people at this day. Looking around the room and seeing couples in the same situation as us is very humbling for me. Everyone is deserving and I now the right child will come to the right couple. Most of the children presented today were over 5 years old. Initially like most folks we wanted a " younger " child however after seeing how much these kids need a stable loving family life it really made us reflect. We believe we want to adopt to " love, nuruture and care for a child " so why should we put limits on age ! So much to think about.

Some of the videos were lovely and well put togethe and others had music and lots of pictures. Well the music just got me ! MY Wish by Rascal Flats was one song and I looke up the lyrics. Well here it is for you to enjoy. I believe this sone sums up our hope and " Wish" for any child that will come into our family.

We have lots to think about and discuss with our Social Worker. So all in all a good day and my prayers are will all those beautiful children and the folks that foster and support them in their journey to their forever homes.

Nameste
Karen

What a summer ! Heat waves and Hurricanes

It has been an amazing summer. Fantastic warm hot sunny weather. I have not been spending much time indoors so hence the lack of posts. Summer vacation and trip to Cranbrook for work was amazing. We just finished a week of record breaking high temperatures. Our in house temp record was 32 ! Hot and sticky. Piper and I had a few lovely beach evenings. He loves the water and is addicted to rock diving. Now today the Friday of the long weekend we are gearing up to prepare for Hurricane Earl. It is touch and go whether it will be as bad as expected, however it is a bigger storm than Hurrican Juan.

We are all prepared and have suppllies now we just wait it out. Wait it out seems to a theme for my life at present. I have to much to tell about the summmer and pictures to post. Hopefully the rainy blustery weekend will leave us with power so I can take some time to put some pictures up. Great family times and I had a few vunerable moments. My new meditation and daily yoga practice is really helping to keep me in the present and not get "lost" into " poor" me or complain about " when are we finally going to have some kids to fill this house" The universe will bring things to me when it is supposed to happen.

Heading out to make sure eveying thing is tied down and ready for the storm

Nameste
Karen

Family

This past weekend we spent celebrating with Blaise's mothers family the Gillis's. It was a wonderful time with lots of fun, family and fun. Almost 100 people attended. We were out on the Mira all weekend and the weather was amazing. Such a great reminder to live in the moment and not take anything for granted as well. We opened a 10 year time capsule yesterday. Lots of tears flowed remembering family members that were not longer present in body but definitely present in spirit and soul.

Seeing all the "kids" that have grown up and how much things have changed in 10 years. We are putting together our contribution to the time capsule that will be opened in 10 years. Not sure what we will put in but thinking of doing a letter to "our family " or a love letter to each other.

It was lovely to get up early and meditate on the dock on the Mira and do my yoga routine. The land that Joe and Jacquie live on was MacEachern and Nanny Macneil's fmaily land. I certainly felt the presence on my " family " and Nanny Macneil on this property. Very peaceful and relaxing, no wonder the Scottish settlers liked the Mira River.

Now on to the next phase of my three weeks, off to Cranbrook in the morning for the final First Nations advisory commitee meeting. Next Friday Nanny's 90th and more family memories to be made

Nameste
Karen

Happy Summer Solstice

Stray Dog and Capacity for Love

Last weekend we went home to visit with family and see my new niece. I still can't beilive my baby brother is a daddy. It is alwyas good to be home in Glace Bay and hang out with family. On Friday night when we arrived home we found a young dog on our back step. She was just frigtend and shaking. Of course I could not let her just keep running. She had a collar but had a " hockey lace tied to it, not very storng a leash. We had a long ling for Piper so I hooked her to that and would figure out what to do in the morning. She did not bark or whine or make any sound all night.

In the morning I called the SPCA and no one was looking for a young dog in Glace Bay and put a call into the radio stations. She was just a sweet kind, gentle girlie and warmed up to me and was very good on leash. No one in the neighborhood recognised her. I was not sure what I was gong to do but I knew this doggie needed a good home and she was so loving.

In the afternoon we planned a walk on Dominion Beach with Piper. So we packed the little dog in the van with us. I don't think she ever was in a car before. She was shivering and jumped into my lap. At the beach I kept her on leash until we were way donw the beach and when I let her run she did come back however she did not really know how to play. It was so sad and Piper dog tried to play with her but was too obsessed with the water.

I know I had to find this doggie a home and that if she came to Halifax it would be very difficult to give her up. When we got back to Mom's after the beach walk my neighbor across the steet had come over as she had " orgininally " found her while searching for one of her cats int he back woods. She was so glad that we had kept her safe all day and she took her in and was going to decide if she would keep her or take to SPCA. She would get picked up so quickly if she went to the SPCA.

So I left the doggie and went home. It was so hard as this little beastie had found a way into my heart. I was very shocked as I generally don't think about adoptiong an " older dog or mix " my heart is set on getting another Golden Retirever puppy in the near future. So my feelings surprised me. This little beastie came into my life for a reason I think. To teach me the capapcity of love that I can feel for something that I did not think I could or wanted. Did she come inot my life to teach me that yes Karen you can love and open your heart to an older child and not just a child or children " 0 - 5 " Or to reaffirm that it does not take much time for the heart to open and give love.

Of couse I realize adoption of children is so much larger and I know I do have a large heart and lots of love to give. Yestersday we went to a Special Needs Adoption Day. Most of the cases presented were children over the age of 5. My heart just mealted they were so sweet and just wanted and need a stable loving environment to help guide them to their potential.

It made me start to quesiton? Can I adopt an older child ? Am I ready to take on the challenges of older child and miss the growing and changing of inftants and toddlers. How do I know if and when it is OK to change our plans? I want to ensure if we do change our pland that it is for the right reasons and not just a " quick fix" I am kind of confused and wondering what God is trying to tell me. How will I know when the right referral comes along? It just seems so wrong to pick and choose what type of profile is going to be our best match.

I belive in fate however there were so many lovely deserving couples at this session yesterday. Why should we be more special than any ohters? What makes us so special? It is such a challenging journey and I know in the end it will all be worth the emoitional ups and downs.

Thank you little beastie for teaching me my capacity for love and beginning my questioning of what is best for our family.


Que Sera Sera

Karen

Patience

I am roving around the internet tonight and came across some lovely blogs of Catholic women and their journey through infertility and adoption. This prayer really touched my heart tonight. This whole process of adoption and waiting is certainly and exercise in patience.

Karen


Prayer for Patience


Lord, teach me to be patient - with life, with people,and with myself. I sometimes try to hurry things along too much, and I push for answers before the time is right. Teach me to trust Your sense of timing rather than my own and to surrender my will to Your greater and wiser plan.


Help me let life unfold slowly, like the small rosebud whose petals unravel bit by bit, and remind me that in hurrying the bloom along, I destroy the bud and much of the beauty therein.

Instead, let me wait for all to unfold in its own time. Each moment and state of growth contains a loveliness. Teach me to slow down enough to appreciate life and all it holds.
Amen.


Prayer Source: Unknown.