Where have I been??

Exciting news and updates!

I apologize for my long absence. I hadn't even stopped in to check messages prior to today, so I apologize for not returning your comments and questions.

Things have been busy, particularly on my end. I have taken on a new role at Linked Through Love as Internet Marketing Coordinator, which means I am in charge of web design, editing and blogging in addition to some Facebook stuff. So basically, any free time I would have used to blog over here, has been utilized over there. Which is okay, as this moment in time I feel my time is more valuable in assisting and supporting children from there.

Zahra is doing amazing, growing like a weed and steadily advancing in all areas. Quite frankly, things have been so low key, there really hasn't been anything that I can share to help you all along in your adoption journeys. I'm sure we will reach some milestones and stumbling blocks in the future that will have me back in this space, now that the LTL website is complete. Check it out by the way and tell me what you think! (Take it easy on me, I'm not a professional. ;) For those who want to follow via Facebook, you can find us here.

Some exciting news is the completion of the Mogra Playground. My smile is big, and heart is full knowing how much joy this will bring to every 123 children at Mogra. Also exciting is Mogra is in full swing of their adoption program, having processed over 20 children for adoption now!

We are also working in the DRC, on a few orphan care projects. We have fitted out a couple orphanages with shoes to keep them from getting Jigger infections. We are also still working on treating the children who have Jigger infections (which is sadly, most all of them in our partner orphanages). Yes, it's extremely nasty... and we have some photos and more information here if you have the stomach for it.

And, last but not least, we also got a new puppy. (Just in case I wasn't busy enough!)

Don't give up me, I'm sure I will be much more available come fall!

Mom of the Year - 2014!

Yep, that's right. This year, I didn't even have to be nominated. It was hands down, no contest.

To make a long story short, and cut straight to the embarrassing facts...

I dropped Mister Man and Zahra off to spend the afternoon at the 'FAIR', but in reality, I dropped them off at a FUNERAL!

Fair, funeral - similar right!? Good Lord!!

I made arrangements with a friend to drop the kids off at the indoor 'fair', where she would keep an eye on them for the afternoon. I pulled up front to the kids' school and took their jackets before shooing them inside. There was a lot of activity and cars out front. Seems normal for a fair. I drove off.

My poor son, after living with such a courageous, outspoken, older sister, he is not used to handling 'situations' on his own.

Shortly after arriving, the somber tempo and crowd of elderly folks dressed in their black funeral attire, was a clear indication that they were in the wrong place. The office phone was locked up, so he couldn't call me. They had no jackets, so they couldn't walk home.

He finally mustered up the courage to enter the school gymnasium (where said funeral was taking place) and asked someone if they had a phone. He miss-dialed my number twice. Tried Dan, who purposely didn't answer the 'strange' number twice. Third attempt, Dan answered and Mister tried as best he could to hold back his tears as he asked Daddy to come get them.

The folks at the funeral shed pity upon my children, giving them juice and cookies to make up for their Mother's stellar parenting.

As it turned out, I obviously got the venue wrong. Funeral was at the school, Fair was at the church. Makes sense right? Ha.

Fair to Funeral - the only thing that could have possibly made this worse, is if they walked into an open casket!

Now top that!

Whiskey and Gold

 

This is a Leprechaun Trap 

 

I realize not every child is aware that the Leprechaun has a hankering for Irish Whiskey.

But, according to my children, they love it almost as much as they love the gold.

 

The signs read 'Have some Whisky', and 'Free Gold'.

What Leprechaun could resist?

 

Any smart Leprechaun would follow the trail of pennies, err.. gold, catch whiff of the whiskey (not yet there, as we don't have any left in the house. Darn Leprechauns!), sight of the gold and would sprint across the top of the box, to where he will meet his demise, fall into a hole and get stuck to the sticky tape at the bottom!

 

Today is the first day of spring break and as you can see, the kids are enjoying themselves. We are looking forward to 2 weeks of sleeping in, pool time and fun projects.

 

 



Happy

This week has been a little chaotic due to a flood we had in our house on Saturday.

Unfortunately, it has resulted in damages to our recently renovated laundry room and kitchen. Why not in the bedrooms, where the carpet desperately needs replacing, or the living room where the flooring is tired? No, we get damage in places that inconvenience us the most and don't need fixing up. (Just to aggravate the situation I'm saying...)

So while we are living in the chaos of a home that is really upside down, it is all too easy to get depressed, annoyed or frustrated by the fallout implications of this, and our daily living situation.

Kitchen

Dining Room

Laundry Room

Toyroom

For the most part, we are just going with the flow, but at the end of many nights, we fall back on a bowl of ice cream or glass of wine, to somehow pacify the situation. Even Dan, who is the forever optimistic, has been caught saying, 'No good deed goes unpunished.'

So while it's a slippery slope down to the pit of despair, we keep reminding ourselves that these are first world problems. Insurance, washing machines, ovens, kitchen sinks, dishwashers etc., all first world luxuries that we take for granted.

We try to take things in our stride, reminding ourselves of the good, trying not to dwell on the bad.

Today, I came across the 100 Happy Day Challenge, which I thought could really help me look at the positives in our lives, the big things I take for granted, and the small things that I often overlook.

The challenge is simple. Sign up, and submit a photo every day of something that makes you happy. Photos are submitted through hashtags via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. At the end of the challenge, you can receive a book of your 100 happy moments.

People successfully completing the challenge claimed to:

 - Start noticing what makes them happy every day;

 - Be in a better mood every day;

 - Start receiving more compliments from other people;

 - Realize how lucky they are to have the life they have;

 - Become more optimistic;

 - Fall in love during the challenge.

I challenge you to join me. 

I will be submitting photos via my personal Facebook page, but I will be making the posts public. Feel free to follow my 100 Happy Days, and if your interested in accepting this challenge, please shoot me a message, or leave a comment so I can follow your Happy Days as well! 

Day #1

The Perfected Pout

She has perfected the 'Pout' ladies and gentlemen! 

In all fairness, I don't think she was feeling well. Her entire morning seemed off. 

This is not normal behaviour for her, and she was SO dramatic about it, of course I had to take photos! 

(Secretly though, she thought I was texting.)

What is this all about? 

She didn't want to listen to the playgroup rules and hold Mommy's hand down the stairs to go to the library. 

My reaction?

'That's fine. We will wait here until you decide you want to follow the rules.'

Her Response?

As seen above. Only she kept doing the 'Huff', and dramatically changing positions, and forcefully crossing her arms.

She played this game for a couple of minutes, and then tested me further by attempting to go down the stairs by herself. That resulted in me lifting her up and carrying her back to the playroom, losing her library privilege. Not saying a word, I quietly placed her on my lap and she had a little cry/cuddle until she got distracted and got up to play.

She was sad at the end of the day that she didn't have any books to leave with, and at this point we discussed why, and how we could correct it for next time. 

I love easy, pivotal parenting moments like this. 

No skin off my teeth to miss out on library, but a great opportunity to teach a lesson in listening and consequences in a way that will have great impact on her, as she really enjoys library. 

I don't think it will happen again. 

Good Bye 2013!

Welcome back! Hope you all had a great holiday! I went offline for the holidays and focused on the family. It was a nice break, many days not even turning my phone on!

Now for a quick recap to finalize the year!

We chose to spend the holidays out of town this year to further promote peace and family.

We packed up the kids, the dog, Grandpa, suitcases, all our outdoor gear, Christmas gifts, baking, food and cheer, a home oxygen machine and a wheel chair to boot and shoved them all in to our van.

I know a number of you got a kick out of this photo from Facebook. Was not the most comfortable drive! We were all squished!

A little ski condo in a beautiful location, offering us a winter play land (and hot tub!) was where we spent Christmas.

We enjoyed treks in the snow, hunting the elusive 'Christmas Tree'.

Dan, Koda and the kids with Aunty Kato. The tree has been chosen!

We didn't exactly have a tree permit, so we let the children cut it down! Ha!

Mister and Z hitch a ride back to the van.

We also enjoyed Cross Country Skiing, of which I only have a video to show for. It's a comical video, as I had just turned on my iphone to video my brother in law. It was his first time, and he had fallen. The snow was so deep which made it really difficult to get back up. I was laughing at him so hard that I ended falling myself and twisted my ankle. We make quite the comedy act. lol.

Zahra's first time decorating a real tree! Hanging Kenyan Angels and Grandpa looks on.

A Micheal Jackson Tree Topper Moment as Daddy holds Zahra over the stair railing.

In their Christmas PJ's. Cookies and Carrots set out for Santa. 

In the morning, I woke first and quickly snapped a photo of the gifts that Santa left, started a fire and put the coffee on. (Baileys was standing by!)

It was a great Christmas spent with family.

Back home, we welcomed the Gibson family, who stayed for a few days with us. (The Gibsons adopted from Kenya the same time we did.)

Unfortunately, I was only able to get a couple photos as I became quite ill with the death flu. Now that Baraka is a bit older, they are able to communicate and interact with one another better, which meant they played quite well. They had a lot of fun, running around the house after one another, giggling up a storm.

I brought in the New Year in a horizontal position from the couch. I was glued there for 4 days straight. I guess it saved me a lot of calories I would have otherwise ingested, but it also gave me a lot of time to think.

2012 & 2013 we spent with a primary focus on the adoption. It feels good to have that past us, and often surreal when we look at her. It's hard to imagine what we did to get here. Unbelievable really.

2014 I am going to make a better effort to focus on myself now. Anyone who knows me, knows that Dan and I rarely do anything for ourselves. I get my hair cut every 8 months if that, my nails and skin look after themselves. No massages, pedicures or yoga classes. Not that I'm about to start to do all that either, but I am taking myself off the back burner.

I'm taking baby steps to a healthier me... mind, body and spirit.

I've started a 30 day juicing challenge. Good and easy, they even provide the weekly shopping list!

I've promised myself to start to maintain my nails. I think nail stickers is a realistic avenue for me.

I've finally (thanks to the help of a good friend), invested a little time and money into a green makeup line. I ordered a couple pencils and some sample powders. I am so impressed with these products, and the price point is fantastic, so you should check it out! ($6 shipping to Canada!) Lucy Minerals.

I've started doing brain exercises to coax my brain out of the fog. Lumosity, a phone app, check it out, I really enjoy it.

I spent a little money and purchased a set of Cross Country Skis. We hope to get the kids outfitted soon, but at least Dan and I can sneak off now and again. (Crazy it took this long, considering the trail is right behind our house!)

I've decided to focus less on relationships/people that are not a positive influence on my psyche and more on those who are, in addition to seek out more and make time for others.

And finally, I have decided that 2014 will be the year of this man...

The most giving, generous, kind, man I know, who is constantly at the beck and call of others. Constantly giving selflessly to all those who know him or not... and yet the man cannot catch a break. He has done more for others than anyone I know, never expecting anything in return. His happiness lies in the happiness of others. Yet, he has suffered a great deal in the last couple years, often at the hands of others. I'm starting to believe the expression, 'No good deed goes unpunished', was invented for him.

It's time this was turned around. Karma needs to realign itself. I am putting this out to the universe. Please stop dumping on my man. Open those storm clouds and let the sun shine down on him. Stop knocking him down. Help me pick him up, shed his stress and let him become the man he once was, carefree and happy.

What's in Santa's Sack?

Shhh.... Don't tell!

For the Muffin Miester

Ukulele

 

For Mister Man

 



Microscope

 

For Zahra Joy

 

 

Purchased used from a local FB Buy and Sell group. Isn't it fantastic!!!? What a lucky find!

 

To go with it, I purchased some Ethnic dolls (which just so happen to cost $3 more than the white dolls. ???), and a nursery.

 

Ethnic dolls

 

 



Nursery 

This could have me arrested in Kenya...

As we were walking through the playground, Zahra looked up at me and said, "Mom, that boy eat snow!", as she scrunched up her nose in disapproval.

My eyes lit up at the thought of another first I was going to be able to witness. "Try it!" I told her. She looked at me like I was crazy and said "Nooo!"

Until, her little friend dipped his mit in the snow and licked a tongue full off.

She reached down, filled her mit full and took at big mouthful. I was able to capture it on my iPhone.

She ate her little heart out. Then when we got home, she had to eat her way to the door. This is when I explained the snow eating rules - only from fresh fallen snow with no tracks. (And heaven forbid, stay away from the yellow stuff!)

I swear she would have stayed outside for an hour eating snow had I not make her come in for lunch.

While this is a very normal activity for our Canadian kids, my Kenyan friends at home will be horrified. Scrunching their faces up, doing a little shiver dance in their seats, turning their faces away from this picture of snow in her mouth. YES - I can see you all right now!

They do not eat or drink anything cold for belief that it will make them sick. Cold = Cold. If they develop a sneeze or a runny nose in the afternoon, they relate it to the cold juice they drank in the morning.

I know this sounds ridiculous to us, who would not dream of drinking juice at room temperature (Beer? Yuck!) or not having ice in our soda, ice cream, refrigerated milk etc. But, for whatever reason, somewhere down generational line, someone came up with this theory and it still remains a traditional belief. It does not matter how you explain the science behind viruses, they will still remain steadfast in their belief. Some even believe they are 'allergic' to the cold.

We were able to corrupt a couple of our Kenyan friends and talked them into Ice Cream, and cold Beer, but at the end of the day, the preference was still 'warm'. Which makes perfect sense as they were not raised with and do not live with refrigerators.

Dan and I fight over fruit temperature, he wants them refrigerated and I want them room temperature. It all comes down to what our parents did and what we are used to.

However, my Rafikis.... I maintain my position here with this cold/sick business. If Zahra even comes down with as much as a sniffle or a sneeze, I will let you know. (But I pretty much guarantee you she will survive this 'snow lunch' without any side effects. :)

In Studio Photo Shoot - 1 yr

We've been home for 5 months now!

I've been wanting so badly to get photos done, but since we are still recovering financially from the last years events and preparing for upcoming needs (new vehicle, flooring, toilet - ALL I want for Christmas is a new toilet BTW. How is that for low maintenance!?), we had to forgo the type of photo shoot we normally would have. You know the one in nature, of candid shots instead of staged shots?

The thing is, I am capable of taking some pretty good photos, but Dan likes to take photos of his thumb prints, and without a tripod (hmmm... another gift idea? Of course my husband will (Should ?) be reading this. ), it means we are unable to have a family picture. Also, I am finding that more photographers are no longer offering digital files for a set fee. You have to pay for the session, then for each individual photo or package - printed. I prefer to have the files, for uploading, and editing/playing around with, and I don't need a bunch of prints, nor a $400 bill. I don't mind paying for a photographers time, but just let me buy the digital files. Non edited even.

I need to make friends with some hobby photographers. Anyone?

So we went to Tot Shots. They offer a digital photo package for $50 (in addition to other package of your choice.) Perfect. Affordable.

Zahra wasn't exactly what I would call the perfect model, as she was uncooperative in the beginning and then just wild at the end. (Certainly this is where a photographer would have come in handy!)

 

 

 

 

OUTAKES

 

Snow

The 'COLD SCOWL'



 

 

 

On the way to visit family in Alberta last weekend, we came across some first snow of the season. Of course, the kids wouldn't allow us to continue without stopping. We were also excited to show it to Z as well.

 

She knew what it was right away, and she knew it was going to be cold. At first she wouldn't even allow me to put a piece in her hand. "Cold Mommy!"

 



I'm not so sure this is a 'good' thing.

HMMM.... maybe it's not so bad.

'Okay Mom, what do you want me to do with it now?'

'Throw it at my brother!'

 

'Throw it at my sister! Now it's fun!!'

This snow was just a teaser, we are waiting for our big 'dump' of snow here, of which we will certainly video tape her reaction!

 

OUTTAKES

 



Perfect timing of Mister whipping a snow ball at my window. Look at the look on his face! Cracks me up!! My sweet little boy - possessed.