Does anyone else have kids who turn into little monsters after Christmas? I can't believe how awful they are today! Grrr. Over sugared, spoiled and tired. That's it! Next year, no presents. No candy. More rest.
Really. They got so much that it is just ridiculous. I feel embarrassed. All of this extravagance is so distracting from the essence of this time of year. Everything that I love about Christmas. The magic. The spirit. The mood that I apparently try to re-create through the disproportionate amount of food and presents. It has robbed me of fully experiencing what I set out to encounter. The value of appreciating what you have. Enjoying the gift of nature, of life. Gratitude and joy!
Instead, I am left with this post-Christmas hangover of greed, consumerism, and over-indulgence. A deflated sense of disapointment looms over my head like a Eeyore's raincloud. Do you know how many bags of garbage are going out in the trash tomorrow morning? I am embarrassed at the pile that will be sitting on my curb. Of packaging and non-recyclables. Not to mention all that plastic toy goodness that will spend the next 6 months in my basement and three thousand years thereafter in the landfill. Thank goodness the garbage man comes early and the days are short, so it should still be dark at pick up time! If I am lucky, my neighbours won't notice. I am so sorry planet!
It's no wonder there is such thing as a New Year's resolution. How could you not want to turn over a new leaf after all of this gluttony? Yep. Next year I want to try something new. No presents. No excess. This is my New Year's resolution. Can someone please remind me of this when the mad Christmas rush starts again next season?
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
A new beginning; another mountain
I have been waiting to write this post until I was comfortable enough with this decision to put it into words. We have decided not to renew with the new Imagine for various reasons. A major factor was our decision to begin an adoption from Haiti late this summer. We initially intended to proceed with both countries, but have now settled on Haiti alone.
We feel we have come full circle, since Haiti was our first country of choice, however, at the time we began our adoption, we did not meet the country's requirement of being married for 10 years. So this summer, when our adoption practitioner mentioned that there were 12 baby boys waiting for families in Haiti, we re-assessed our situation and discovered that we will have been married for 10 years by the time we get to court. We realize the risk in starting all over again, and it is a calculated one, however, the risk is no greater than proceeding with Ethiopia, either. We have learned the very hard way that there is no guarantee in International adoption.
On a lighter note, we LOVE everything about the orphanage we are adopting from. We are doing this adoption privately right from the orphanage. Which means, we work directly with them, with no facilitator in between. We are very confident in the people running this orphanage and are so happy to have access to information, pictures and videos along the way. I have posted a video at the bottom of this blog from Haiti Children's Home. If you have ever considered adoption, please watch the video with an open heart, as the majority of the children currently residing in the home need forever families!
I want to thank everyone again for your loving support on this journey.
We feel we have come full circle, since Haiti was our first country of choice, however, at the time we began our adoption, we did not meet the country's requirement of being married for 10 years. So this summer, when our adoption practitioner mentioned that there were 12 baby boys waiting for families in Haiti, we re-assessed our situation and discovered that we will have been married for 10 years by the time we get to court. We realize the risk in starting all over again, and it is a calculated one, however, the risk is no greater than proceeding with Ethiopia, either. We have learned the very hard way that there is no guarantee in International adoption.
On a lighter note, we LOVE everything about the orphanage we are adopting from. We are doing this adoption privately right from the orphanage. Which means, we work directly with them, with no facilitator in between. We are very confident in the people running this orphanage and are so happy to have access to information, pictures and videos along the way. I have posted a video at the bottom of this blog from Haiti Children's Home. If you have ever considered adoption, please watch the video with an open heart, as the majority of the children currently residing in the home need forever families!
I want to thank everyone again for your loving support on this journey.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Gratitude
First of all I would like to say a gigantic THANK YOU to everyone who showed your support at the garage sale.
We live in the best community in the world!! The show of love and support was outstanding. It makes me all emotional to realize what a solid support system we have here - great neighbors, great friends and great people. We are truly overwhelmed by the generosity and caring. Full of gratitude!!
The sale was a great success!! I believe the last count we were at about $1500,and we haven't even added up the recyclables money yet! Fantastic!! We are all wonderful :)
On another note, I had a dream last night that our referral came in. For some reason, it was a little baby boy. I got to meet his mother. I was crying and bouncing off the walls I was so happy. So since I woke up and realized that I was dreaming I have been feeling a little down this morning. I hope that one day I will be able to cry those tears of joy and scream with excitement. I pray for that day every day. I will keep at it until we bring our children home. Thank you all again for helping us take another step in that direction.
We live in the best community in the world!! The show of love and support was outstanding. It makes me all emotional to realize what a solid support system we have here - great neighbors, great friends and great people. We are truly overwhelmed by the generosity and caring. Full of gratitude!!
The sale was a great success!! I believe the last count we were at about $1500,and we haven't even added up the recyclables money yet! Fantastic!! We are all wonderful :)
On another note, I had a dream last night that our referral came in. For some reason, it was a little baby boy. I got to meet his mother. I was crying and bouncing off the walls I was so happy. So since I woke up and realized that I was dreaming I have been feeling a little down this morning. I hope that one day I will be able to cry those tears of joy and scream with excitement. I pray for that day every day. I will keep at it until we bring our children home. Thank you all again for helping us take another step in that direction.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Good News!
I got to go on Global Edmonton tonight to talk about the restructuring plan!
Yahoo!
All is looking good. What a difference from almost 2 months ago when our world shattered. This is totally an answer to our prayers, and a resounding echo to our mantra from the very beginning "Yes We Can!"
Late Friday night we received a restructuring plan from BDO Dunwoody that outlines a very viable plan to allow our adoptions to be processed. Each family has been asked to contribute a $4000 renewal fee which will allow the agency to resume operations and complete our adoptions.
Another huge blessing is that many of the creditor's who were not families have agreed to reduce their claims, which have kept the restructuring costs lower.
There will be a new board of directors, and the new agency will be closely monitored by both the Trustee as well as the Government.
I am trying to remain cautious, as this plan hinges on the approval of the majority of creditors at the creditor's meeting on Sept.21st. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we wait to exhale.
If you want to check out the news clip from this evening, go to the following link and click on Sept.7th evening news - it is about 8-9 mins in.
Thank you all who have maintained your love and support through these past 2 months.
http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/video/index.html
Yahoo!
All is looking good. What a difference from almost 2 months ago when our world shattered. This is totally an answer to our prayers, and a resounding echo to our mantra from the very beginning "Yes We Can!"
Late Friday night we received a restructuring plan from BDO Dunwoody that outlines a very viable plan to allow our adoptions to be processed. Each family has been asked to contribute a $4000 renewal fee which will allow the agency to resume operations and complete our adoptions.
Another huge blessing is that many of the creditor's who were not families have agreed to reduce their claims, which have kept the restructuring costs lower.
There will be a new board of directors, and the new agency will be closely monitored by both the Trustee as well as the Government.
I am trying to remain cautious, as this plan hinges on the approval of the majority of creditors at the creditor's meeting on Sept.21st. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we wait to exhale.
If you want to check out the news clip from this evening, go to the following link and click on Sept.7th evening news - it is about 8-9 mins in.
Thank you all who have maintained your love and support through these past 2 months.
http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/video/index.html
Monday, August 31, 2009
Waiting for a re-structuring plan
For those of you you haven't been following the unitedfamiliesofimagine.blogspot.com blog, we are anxiously awaiting a re-structuring plan this week. I have no idea what to expect. The creditor's will all get a chance to review the plan and then cast a vote in favour or against. If this is a viable plan I cannot see it failing, but that remains to be seen. We are holding our breathe.
When we began this process last year around this time, I dreamed about sharing this Christmas with our new children. That was probably unrealistic even in ordinary circumstances - I suppose. But I am still keeping the faith. And I am dreaming that next Christmas (2010) we will all be together.
When we began this process last year around this time, I dreamed about sharing this Christmas with our new children. That was probably unrealistic even in ordinary circumstances - I suppose. But I am still keeping the faith. And I am dreaming that next Christmas (2010) we will all be together.
Abebech Gobena Orphanage
I stumbled upon this video while on youtube. I am posting because this woman's story is similar to the one in the book "There is no me without you" by Melissa Faye Greene. If it was not for brave people like these women, then there would be many more children on the street in Ethiopia.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Please write to your MP
Dear Mr/Ms MP - Just Copy and Paste
Find your Member of Parliament using your Postal Code:
Dear MP
I am writing to you regarding the recent bankruptcy announcement of Imagine Adoption, based in Cambridge, Ontario. This agency was one of only two that is currently licensed to complete adoptions in the country of Ethiopia. Many families from all over Canada (once approved by a provincial adoption agency) have become clients of Imagine Adoption. It has been reported that there are over 400 families that are directly affected by this tragedy.
In the long process to adopt, these families have invested both emotionally and financially in order for Imagine to fulfill not only a legal contract, but their dreams to complete their family. It is imperative that the contract be fulfilled and that these families may bring home their long awaited children from Ethiopia, whether they have received a child referral already or not.
This has been an already very long journey for most of these families. They did everything by the book. They trusted Imagine and the government who licensed them. I am asking that the government now take action to support all the families affected.
I am writing to you to ask for your help; to immediately determine a solution to facilitate and complete all of Imagine Adoption's active files affected by this bankruptcy.
It is imperative that the federal government take an active role in ensuring the well-being of the many hundreds of children and Canadian families who have found themselves completely at a loss in this situation.
We trust that swift government action will accompany the bankruptcy announcement of Kids Link/Imagine Adoption and we await your timely response to this letter.
Sincerely,
Find your Member of Parliament using your Postal Code:
Dear MP
I am writing to you regarding the recent bankruptcy announcement of Imagine Adoption, based in Cambridge, Ontario. This agency was one of only two that is currently licensed to complete adoptions in the country of Ethiopia. Many families from all over Canada (once approved by a provincial adoption agency) have become clients of Imagine Adoption. It has been reported that there are over 400 families that are directly affected by this tragedy.
In the long process to adopt, these families have invested both emotionally and financially in order for Imagine to fulfill not only a legal contract, but their dreams to complete their family. It is imperative that the contract be fulfilled and that these families may bring home their long awaited children from Ethiopia, whether they have received a child referral already or not.
This has been an already very long journey for most of these families. They did everything by the book. They trusted Imagine and the government who licensed them. I am asking that the government now take action to support all the families affected.
I am writing to you to ask for your help; to immediately determine a solution to facilitate and complete all of Imagine Adoption's active files affected by this bankruptcy.
It is imperative that the federal government take an active role in ensuring the well-being of the many hundreds of children and Canadian families who have found themselves completely at a loss in this situation.
We trust that swift government action will accompany the bankruptcy announcement of Kids Link/Imagine Adoption and we await your timely response to this letter.
Sincerely,
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