NOT KIDDING!  Apparently my sister-in-law wrote a little something for the queen’s website a couple months ago, thanks to our persistent little cousin who is living in the UK.  So D wrote this “blog entry” about what the Commonwealth means to her – and it went on the Queen’s website.

An excerpt:

I am from Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. I recently graduated from university and moved to a small northern community where the winters are long and cold, and the skies are perpetually a crisp clear blue.

I currently work for an aboriginal run non-profit organization as a Youth and Family Program Coordinator. During these winter months I have to bundle up in a wool parka and mukluks for my walk to work through temperatures plunging to -45 degrees celsius.

When I arrive at work I complete reports and paperwork, and in the afternoons I spend time with a group of about twenty aboriginal youth, many of which have had troubled lives. They come into the youth center where I work to use computers, play a game of pool, or visit with their friends. I hope to find a way to positively touch their lives in the time that I share with them each day.

OK, cool. 

But THEN yesterday in her inbox she gets an email from “Elisabeth R.”  I kid you not.  It was the first or second email that she’s ever sent to the public.  Isn’t that neat?  So I told her she should send some pictures of her family back and tell the queen about the issues that are important to her.  Heck, she has email address.  Why not!

We both just wanted to say “thank you” so much for everyone’s comments and encouragement.  It’s been a really rough day – and the future is uncertain.  We don’t know when our next court date will be – we don’t even know if our adoption is going to happen or not.  But its so comforting to hear all your words of concern and for Jrock, he said it was nice to hear that we aren’t the only ones it’s been a bumpy ride for.  Anyway, thanks.

Our court date didn’t go through again.  And this time, we don’t know when it will be rescheduled.

Everything has got more complicated. We have a lot of questions, and very few answers.

We are expecting an update today – but I’m almost not looking forward to it.  It’s sort of like looking at something you really want, but can’t have.  Just out of reach.

Today stinks.

Monday is court date #5 -

Keep your fingers, toes and eyes crossed for us!

The spring wine festival starts at the end of the month – it’s the biggest event in the year in the Okanagan – aside, of course, from the fall wine festival.  We have noticed that we have been drinking more wie since we moved here… not too much! but we did go through three barrels since the fall. Two were merlot – one was cab franc.  You know we had to mix the CF with the one barrel of merlot (we used the patented two straw approach.)  It’s definitely too harsh on it’s own. 

And what to do with all these leftover barrels?  Luckily, it’s easier to plant tomatoes in them than in a glass magnum. (Now if wine came in plastic bottles – well, I have heard that you can plant tomatoes in them. But not glass.)

So Jrock cracked open the power tools yesterday and cut the three barrels in half.  Didn’t he do a nice job?  Now all we have to do is fill the suckers with dirt and plant some tomatoes.  I haven’t decided what else should go in them. 

Any suggestions? They’re on the east side of the house, but they don’t have any shade until late afternoon, so they’ll get pretty hot. Gardeners?  Ideas?

Oh – and I have to be able to eat it.  No flowers. Ba humbug.

And PS: Happy Earth Day tomorrow!  These barrels, my learning to weed, our increasingly huge garden, the new berry plot, our freshly insulated basement and cellulose-filled ceiling, cooking more lentils and actually making them tasty, etc. are all some steps that we’ve taken to be more sustainable this past year – that I think also really enhance our quality of life. 

What are you going to do this year? 

I bought another apple tree. For the other side of the yard.

Don’t tell Jrock.

__

PS: No, we didn’t drink it all.  A barrel holds 27 CASES of wine, silly. That would be 486 bottles each.

We actually saw this video at the beginning of a staff meeting the other day – it just lifted me up.  I think the media make too much of the lady’s appearence – what I find so wonderful is the clarity of her voice and the conviction she sings with.  I hope she manages to have a career out of this – not just the 15 minutes of fame. Click the picture below to view her live performance… and here is another song by her, recorded 10 years ago for charity.

You were introduced to some of our friends who live on the other side of the lake in several previous posts, including their feature picture in the Globe and Mail.

When Mom and Dad were in town two weeks ago, we went out on a Sunday afternoon and had some lunch with my friend and her four kids. 

It was the first time I had seen them all together as a family – they have been hibernating a bit since they came home with the older girls – and it was neat to see them functioning as a family. It was especially interesting to see the little ones and the big ones interacting! and settling into their new roles.

I do want to mention something that is particular to adoption.  My friend issued a “hands off” policy with friends and family for the first few months with the new older girls and, so it is fair, with the younger ones too. 

Many families start with policies like this because exclusive hugs and cuddles from parents promote attachment. (Here are some other tips for promoting attachment.)  We’ll be doing this too – I think it’s a wise strategy! but boy, is it hard to keep your paws off super cute kids… especially if you have known them for a while and are used to doing so, like I am with the little ones. 

(If you are new to the adoption world, you can read more about attachment cycles here. It’s a must-read topic.)

My parents really enjoyed seeing the kids and spending time with my friend; however, they commented on how hard it will be as well for them to not cuddle or hug OUR girls at first. I agree, and after our visit to our friend’s house, I felt for my parents a bit too. They didn’t quite know what to do with themselves… we’re such a physical family. I think it was good for me to have that experience so I know what I’m asking of my huggy/cuddly family members! :-) Of course, the policy will stay. But now I think I know a bit more what I am asking of them.

Completely on a different note, I brought the soup for lunch – L supplied the homemade buns – and I wasn’t sure if the kids would like it or not.  But it seemed to be a hit! (Whew!)

My best friend S and her husband T were here visiting from Prince George last weekend.  It was great to have them here.  It’s actually the first time they have visited us in Kelowna (- although we’ve seen each other every year.) It was so fun to show them the sights and get a taste of Kelowna. 

The weather was horrible (for here – a paradise compared to PG! lol) but we still got out and about. enjoy our exploits below!

Our little Laughlin had a run-in with the nail clippers last night – what started as a too-short toenail turned into a persistent toe that wouldn’t stop bleeding. So he had to go and get a proper bandaid at the vet clinic.  Poor baby! Notice the super duper foot bandage with a lightning bolt on it – nice touch!

I also sewed a few light, bright cotton nighties for the girls.  You can see one on my model, Laughlin, below:

I really do torture that puppy too much. 

But it was funny – I was trying to get a picture of the nighties and Jrock clued in that he was in the background of my picture.  So he started jumping in behind the camera and ruining my shots! 

So just to get him back… here they are for the whole world to see.

Serves you right, husband-of-mine!

A little surprise photo for my family, who will recognize all the kidlets below. (Hint – they are not so small any more!)

Any guesses from non-family who the kids are?

Any guesses how tall the little boy is now?

I think it is inevitable…   I mean, it is way too fun to make them these clothes!

I am making two of this same dress – I just have one done now.  It does take an hour or two to put one together.  But I do it while I’m watching TV, so it’s a good double-up of time.

On Friday April 3rd, our Rotary Club held a Single Malt Scotch Tasting to raise money for Faya Orphanage. It was blast – and we raised $1062.50 over $1300 for the kids!

I worked with my buddy from Scotland to put this event together, and it went so well.  I sold 55 tickets without much effort and planned the logistics.  My friend organized the single-malt end of things. He runs a company with offices in Scotland and brought the scotch, bottle by bottle, home with him on flights over the last few months. The “whiskey” as he calls it, was all donated from Rotary members in Scotland.

We had a lot of fun! The evening included several premium single-malt scotches, some great appetizers, tasting help and heckling from my friend, wonderful company, a slideshow about Faya Orphanage (presented by me) and a fabulous atmosphere!

We are so happy to report that the event tickets and some donations raised net proceeds of $1062.50 over $1300 – every penny of which will go to deserving children in Ethiopia.

The recipient of the proceeds is Faya Orphanage, a Canadian Ethiopian partnership. Children who are orphaned and often HIV+ find a warm and caring home at Faya in Nazaret, Ethiopia. The facility can house up to 30 children; currently 11 children and 5 caregivers live in the home. The children are provided with food, schooling, medicine and loving care.

Learn more about or donate to this inspirational charity.

My mom hosted a baby shower for me yesterday -and it was wonderful!

It was held at a restaurant down in our neighborhood – the whole restaurant fits 20 people, so we were the only customers. We had a four course meal (baked pear salad, pan-fried scallops with risotto, rack of lamb with roasted yams and lavender chocolate creme brule!) lots of good conversations, good company, and of course, presents! We had pictures of the girls all over the tables and everyone commented how much they have grown and how happy they look…

Mm mom actually planned a game for the shower — she was all nervous (“Do you know the last time I was at a baby shower?!?!? I was your age!!”) but we never got to it – lunch was 2 hours and then the presents.  So later in the evening after friends had come over for tea and the menfolk felt safe to emerge, we played it with Jrock and Dad! lol

Thank you so much to all my wonderful friends who made it out and celebrated with me.  My mom (and dad, who came for the meal) commented on what an eclectic and wonderful group of friends I have.  I truly do feel blessed to have such amazing women in my company in Kelowna!

Some pictures of the luncheon:

My sister has premiered our girls’ amazing, beautiful room on her artist blog:
Moss Campion Art Gallery.  Check it out!

I’ll have some more pictures here in a week or so.  In the meanwhile, click the picture below to take you there and see her shots.