Flower Power

The other day we received a surprise gift from the family that delivered our last care package to our daughters. Three pictures that T had drawn while the family was visiting with them. She wrote her name in both Amharic and English at the top of the pictures. I have hung them in a place of honour on our refrigerator, but will be putting them into an art portfolio for her soon. The most amazing thing is that one of the pictures is of beautiful flower. She is going to fit right in. When her momma was out photographing flowers, she was drawing them. Homer is hoping that she is a budding gardener. I'm hoping for a budding artist. Either way, we already have a connection and we have not even met.

Here is the picture drawn by our sweet rose. I am a proud momma.

Let your Bright Star Dreams blossom

Just When Africa's Luck was Changing

Blog (Red) had a link to this article about the impact of the global credit crisis on Africa and it really hit home. I've been worried about my job situation as a result of the economic downturn. Since I work on contract, I have no guarantees of a job when I return from parental leave. We are lucky and have been saving for a long time to do this, so we have resources to last a while if we need to.

Africa had hoped to weather the storm of the global credit crisis, but it has been hit hard as well, as foreign investment is drying up. For Africa, this crisis is the difference between subsistence living and long-term sustainable economic growth. For me, it is the difference between one car or two. It really puts perspective on how lucky we are to have been born in Canada.

The article has caused me to think about how I could invest in Africa to move them closer to their long term goals. KIVA is an organization that provides micro credit to small business owners in impoverished nations. I am going to go look to see if there is a business owner like myself that needs my support.

Supporting others
Bright Star Dreams

Medicals are Done!!!

T & M's Immigration medicals were completed on Wednesday, along with the other families in our travel group. Our documents are finally on the way to the High Commission in Nairobi!!!

We hope to get confirmation that the documents have been received at the HC later next week. CAFAC (our agency) is projecting 8 - 12 weeks for travel after the documents are received by in Nairobi. 8 weeks from Monday is October 5th, so we could be in Ethiopia for Thanksgiving and we will have a lot to be thankful for. Visas were "only" taking 6 weeks in the spring, so maybe just maybe, we can travel sooner and give our thanks in Canada. A girl can hope can't she?

Both girls have really grown and are very healthy. CAFAC now has a teacher that comes to the transition home 5 mornings per week. T knows her ABC's and can count to 20. She led a song at a concert they put on for the representatives from CAFAC when they were in Ethiopia. M is picking up English words from T and the other older children at the home.

It has been a long hard summer waiting for our medical news and watching the tragedy of the Imagine families from the sidelines. I am starting to get excited again about the prospect of traveling. I even emailed our travel agent with our update and she has never even met me. I guess I just was so thrilled I had to tell everyone. Hopefully, we can start looking for flights again soon.

Keep dreaming to reach
Your Bright Star Dreams

I've been slapped

Last night I noticed that my wrist and thumb were extremely itchy. It looked like I had hives. At first I thought it was an allergic reaction, so I took some benedryl. No response. This morning I woke up stiff and sore and then I remembered someone else at work had a similar rash and aches a couple weeks ago. Turns out it is likely Fifth Disease - aka the slapped face virus. The kicker - once the rash appears you are no longer contagious. However, I could have a rash and other symptoms for up to 20 days. There is not much that can be done for it either. That's one smart virus. I guess it is a good thing that we are not travelling to Ethiopia this month.

Here's a picture of what the rash looks like - lots of small red dots. I think is is spreading to my ankles now.

Pookie is also not feeling well. You know a beagle is really sick when he turns his nose up to food. I had him at the vet and they gave us something to settle his stomach. Hopefully this will pass quickly.

I guess we will be having a quiet family weekend at home.

Be well

Bright Star Dreams

Medical Update and Sunday Garden Tour

We've been told that our medical request is in the pouch to Addis this week. So hopefully the medical can be completed and all of our paperwork will be sent to Nairobi this week. Then next week we can start to officially count the weeks to get the visas issued. Unfortunately, our agency says the visa time lines have been averaging 8 - 12 weeks, not the 6 weeks we had hoped. So for us that means we are at least 11 weeks from traveling. October it is. I was hoping we would be able to celebrate the Ethiopian New Year (September 11) in Addis, but it was not meant to be.

We received some new pictures this weekend of T & M, from another family that just returned from Addis. They have grown so much since the last set pf pictures we had in May. I am going to have to buy more clothes for T as I think the clothes I bought for her will fit M in October. We did manage to pick out the beds for the girls. They will be delivered at the end of August. So hopefully, we will have the basement done and the girls rooms painted in a month's time.

Here is how I am keeping distracted -- taking pictures of the garden. More roses 'cuz they are my favorite and some of the Saskatoon and Red Currants we have growing. Maybe next week I will add a picture of the vegetable gardens that I actually planted (only because Homer is busy with the basement - he is the green thumb at Chateau Bright Star - I usually just get to enjoy the flowers and fruit)

Morden Belle Rose

Morden Fireglow

Prairie Dawn Rose in full bloom

Coral Bells (I think)

Salvia

Red Currant

Saskatoon

Let your Bright Star Dreams grow.

No Medical - Update on Imagine Adoption Bankruptcy

Yesterday, we received confirmation from our agency that CIC has not yet requested the medical. Until this is done, we cannot move forward to request the Permanent Resident Visas. We have been told by our agency that once the medical is requested it is a matter of days for them to send the remaining paperwork to Nairobi. Then it is normally a 6 to 12 week wait for the visa to be reviewed, issued and sent to Addis. Since my mother-in-law has to give her work 2 weeks notice before she leaves, that means we are 8 to 14 weeks waiting to travel after the medical is done. However, with the bankruptcy of Imagine Adoption and the urgent need to get the children home, I am expecting that we will be on the long end of this timeline or potentially even longer, before we can travel.

I do not mind waiting for the Imagine families. I know that their need is urgent. I am sad that the greed of the few can impact the well being of the many. My children are well cared for, just not by me. I soooo want to be the one caring for them.

The Imagine families are developing an action plan to save their adoptions. Most of the families would prefer to have their adoption files continue and a match made to a child, rather than getting their money back. They have started the blog Families of Imagine Adoption (FIA) to coordinate their efforts and to increase the awareness to their plight. They have been very active all week and I believe they are very close to formulating the solution they desire. I hope their efforts prevail.

I have started a list of why this delay is a positive rather than a negative:

• All our renovations will be done, the girls rooms will be complete and both will probably be fully paid.
• I will be working at least one more month, so we should have more money in the bank.
• I will have more time for shopping (so much for the bank account)
• I likely will be able to take the full 12 weeks off I had planned.
• If we had left in August, my 12 weeks would have been up in mid November. Since I work contract, this is the worst time of year to be looking for a new contract.
• August is the rainy season in Ethiopia and the high season for flights, so we will be saving money and we will get good weather.
• I will likely be off work at Christmas time

I hate the fact that we are not leaving when I had hoped, but I know it will happen. During these dark days that is truly a blessing.

Patience will bring you

Your Bright Star Dreams

Ways to help

I was given this list of ways that we can take action to help the families that have been devastated by the bankruptcy of Imagine adoption agency.

Here are some things we can do to help:


1 - There's a Facebook page that has been created called Imagine Adoption Program - Support Group.
http://www.facebook.com/s.php?q=imagine+adoption+support&init=quick#/group.php?gid=100987897477

2 - sign the petition to urge the Ministry of Children and Youth Services into immediate action. Post the link on your Facebook page (if you have one!), your blog, your website, etc. and urge your friends and family to do the same.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/SaveOurDreamofAdoptingInternatio/

3 - sign the petition to urge the Ministry of Children and Youth
Services to immediately return the files of the families working with
Imagine to the families so that they may retain another agency to
continue the work. Post the link on your Facebook page (if you have
one!), your blog, your website, etc. and urge your friends and family to
do the same.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Returnfiles2day

4 - If you want to help financially, Jenny Adachi has set up a PayPal account on her blog to accept donations that will be sent with a family travelling next week - the money will be going to help care for the children - and if that has already been taken care of it will be given to the caregivers who are no longer being paid by Imagine.
**Update: Jenny has indicated that they have collected more money than they could have expected ($3,100 CDN) Some of the money has already been sent, the remainder will be put in a bank account that will be accessible to assist families in Ethiopia.

5 - Write to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Jason Kenney asking that he issue emergency visas to those children who have been legally adopted and are waiting for their travel docs. Make sure you say in your letter that you are copying in the Citizenship and Immigration critic, Maurizio Bevilacqua, and Leader of the Opposition, Michael Ignatieff. Then send a copy to Mr Bevilacqua and Mr Ignatieff with a cover letter asking that they follow up with the Minister. Details are below (Parliamentary mail is the same for all MPs.).


Parliamentary address:

House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Honorable Jason Kenney:

kennej@parl.gc.ca

Hill Office:

325 East Block
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

Constituency Office:

1168 137 Ave SE
Calgary, AB
T2J 6T6


Take action to achieve
Your Bright Star Dreams