AFA BC's On Line Auction...

Is underway and coming to a close soon.
I've been asked to share this with you all and I encourage you strongly to participate.  There are really great items up for grabs and you are supporting a great cause.  Supporting the AFA BC (Adoptive Families Association of British Columbia) helps support families who are looking to adopt and the children who are waiting to find their forever families.

So please sign up and bid!

Adoptive Families Association of BC 200 / 7342 Winston St., Burnaby, BC  V5A 2H1 T: 604-320-7330 F:604-320-7350 www.bcadopt.com Last Mile Online Auction AFABC’s Last Mile Auction is back! Great items are available in your community for a summer's worth of fun: date nights, family fun, adventure, golf, spa packages, and much more! And the bidding process couldn't be simpler. You don't even have to leave your chair! Don’t miss your chance to participate in this exciting online event, open through June 2nd.  Bid on great prizes while supporting adoptive families and youth across the province.  All proceeds raised go toward supporting AFABC's crucial programs and services. It's a win/win as we cross the finish line together!   View items and bid now! Thank you for checking us out!

It's Been Over a Month...

And it's going beautifully!

Our new daughter feels to us like she's been here forever! She is so much like us it's hard to believe we haven't had her since day one!

So in the last month we have gone through our trials and tribulations of transition but much less than we expected and were prepared for.  Don't get me wrong I am very aware that we could be in the honeymoon period still, however, when do you know the honeymoon period is over?  Is it over when your whole family has a great big blow out? Is it over when a couple of you goes through a huge emotional flare up? Is it when the new addition and a parent has a moment that lets you know the newest member has accepted you? I don't know. All I know is that it feels so very right.

In the last month we had her homecoming party too.  What a wonderful afternoon! There had to be over 60 people there in the 2 and half hours we had the event going. Our beautiful little girl spent her time going between each of us in the family and our babysitter (who is like a member of our family anyway) and all the kids that came. All 3 children kept coming to me asking if they could open their gifts yet and were disappointed when each time they were told not until we went home. The whole event was overwhelming and I didn't want to overwhelm the children more by opening all the gifts. To each and every person who came, "Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for coming and for sharing in our joy." We also thank you for the bounty of gifts for the children, they were overjoyed by everything. There was someone missing from the event that we and our daughter truly missed, and that was her foster family. She did miss them greatly and so did we but we'll see them soon and hope they are over the illness. 

We began the event by having our Pastor say a blessing over the buffet table and especially our family. Thank you Pastor, it was beautiful.  After the Pastor said the blessing I gave a little thank you speech to everyone who came and expressed our joy and sense of completion with our daughter coming home.  We truly feel that God has blessed and completed our family.  Of course we never know what God has in store for us but for now...we're done! 

Since then our girl has started school and is doing very well.  We were told that our daughter suffers from anxiety and I'll tell you that this little girl handles changes so well. Her anxiety seems to be coming more under control and maybe it's because she knows she's got her forever family and there's no more family changes. I think in a child her age it makes a huge difference. I think in a child any age it makes a huge difference.

So, in this last month or so we have come together and solidified the glue that brought this family together. We are here, we are whole, we are blessed by God.

God Bless you all and don't let go of your dreams either.

One Week...

Today! It's exactly one week today that our Princess has been home.  

It's been a pretty good week too. So let me tell you about it.

So, we came home last Saturday afternoon with our Princess.  Everyone was so excited.  Nana and Papa were here at home with the boys waiting for us.  On the front door was a sign that read "Welcome Home Princess. March 9th 2013" It was simple and on blue construction paper, but it meant the world to us.  Thanks to Nana and the boys. 

So we made it home just in time for dinner.  None of the three of us were very hungry but we nibbled. Then Daddy had to fight with the lift gate of our vehicle.  The one that was fixed just this past October? Yeah not so much.  When my brother gets back to work I'll have to let him know. We bought the vehicle (and warranty and insurance) from his dealership. If you want to deal with some really great professionals send me a message and I'll tell you where he is.  They're awesome!  Anyway, sorry about the sidetrack. After a bit Daddy got the back of the vehicle open and we started bringing Princess's belongings in. We got her set up and got everyone ready for bed.  It had been a long, emotional day for everyone. 

When everyone was in bed Daddy and I sat back and started to relax. All the going back and forth was over. We had our 2 beautiful boys and finally our wonderful, long prayed for and wished for Princess. Within a few minutes we got called upstairs.  Princess was in bed and crying. She finally had everything sink in. The former 6 weeks finally hit her. She realized that she was home. She was worried that we wouldn't let her see her foster family ever again. So Daddy and I spent a little while comforting her and reassuring her that she would see her foster family again because we weren't taking anyone away from her.  We were adding to her family and that her foster family would be up to see her in a few short weeks. After that she slept quickly and soundly for the rest of the night.

The rest of the week went by very smoothly with only one or two minor issues about family. Each time we reassured her that nobody was gone and that she would get to see them again and that they would all be part of her life forever.

Openness agreements are a great thing. When you can keep as many parts of a biological or foster family involved in your child's life it's good. It gives your child the ability to know their whole story.  Good and bad.  It's up to you to make sure that things happen when they should and that your child is informed at age appropriate times and ways.

So, now we're starting week 2 and things look good.  The children are bonding and attaching at a good, steady pace and it looks like they've been together forever. The attachment and bonding between Daddy, Princess and myself is going well too.  We don't look like we've been together forever, but it's not too bad.  We're all learning each others ways as we go. It's a good thing.  

Stay tuned for future updates.

God bless.

Our Forever Day....

Is here!  March 9th, 2013 we brought our daughter home!

We are so tired and so happy I can't even describe what's going on in my mind. This little one had her going home party today.  We met so many of her lifetime friends and they were all so happy for her.  There were tears everywhere!  Including with me.  The hardest part for me today was watching her beautiful foster mum say her good byes.  Well it's not good bye, it's see you soon.  Her foster parents and my hubby and I have developed a beautiful friendship and we have all agreed that we are one, big, happy family now.  Our girl won't get to see them for a few weeks in order to help her bond and attach to us, but they will be a part of her (and our) life forever.

Today was extremely emotional.  For all of us.  There were 5 or 6 social workers at the party today.  All of whom (except our adoption worker) have known our Princess most, if not all, of her life.  They all love her and are so happy for her having found her forever family.  They all made sure we knew exactly how precious she is and we assured them that we know and won't be taking a single moment with her for granted.  We assured them all that we know and appreciate that she is God's gift to us.

Around 2:00 PM today we had her foster parents take her to our vehicle and wave us off. It was bittersweet.  These wonderful people have raised her for the last 4 years (she's 6 years old) and love her like a daughter.  It was hard for me too to hug my new friend good bye for a while.  But like I said, it's not good bye, it's see you soon.

So for now I'm going to sign off and know that I'll keep you posted as we progress.

For those of you still waiting, hang in there.  It's always, and I do mean always, worth the wait.  The child or children you're waiting for will come at the exact right moment.

Good night, and God bless you all. 

The Last Matching Event...

...Brought us our new child!!!!  Can you say ecstatic? We can.

Sorry it's been so long since I've written.  There's a myriad of reasons, most of which I can't go into here.  So I'll share this matching story instead.

So October 26th was the date of the matching event.  We went and did our usual introduction to the other adoptive families and all the social workers.  We were having a great time.  We always do.  Meeting new people and commiserating with the families you've seen at every event for the last 2 years or so is strangely comforting.  Knowing you aren't the only family that hasn't been chosen in that time makes it a little easier to swallow that 'waiting pill'.

So, there we are.  Sitting at the matching event with one of our very good friends (who is also helping us talk to the guardianship workers) and up on the big screen pops this beautiful little girl.  Paul looks at me and says, "Honey! There she is!" I nod and say Ok, we'll check her out.  You have to understand that at this point I'm so discouraged and because she needs an aboriginal home, and we've just only learned about our aboriginal heritage, I just don't see it happening.  Our very good friend is prodding me from the other side saying there she is!

So, within a few minutes we get our lunch break.  I see the girls worker going to the table with all the families mini profiles and I sent Paul up to make sure she got ours.  That worker tells Paul that she knows where we're sitting and will be over in just a minute!  True to her word, she comes over and spends most of the lunch break talking to us about this beautiful girl!  Our very good friend stayed with us and interjected at just the right moment telling the worker a little bit about us and our commitment to our children.  Thank you CG!!!

So fast forward 3 and a bit months to February 2nd and we finally get to meet our beautiful daughter.  She's amazing!  She's a perfect fit in every way possible.  Our dream to have a girly girl daughter who has a little bit of tomboy in her too, is fulfilled. She knows how to handle her brothers and hold her ground.  We couldn't be more in love.  We couldn't be more complete.  And when the adoption is fully finalized I'll tell you more about her.  But for now this is all you get.  You get to know that we, as a family, are complete.

God's timing, of course, was perfect. We met her at just the perfect time in our lives. Our boys are thrilled, especially our little one.  Oh yeah, she's the middle child. Our youngest is so enamored of her it's unbelievable.  He is not happy about only being with his sister on weekends he wants her here permanently now!  The good thing is so does she! We have some very interesting conversations about names, and people of the family and birthdays, and when she comes to live with us forever.  She's a pretty smart little cookie.  I've been given heck a few times for calling her "Baby" when "I'm not a BABY!"  So we've gone to Princess, which she loves!

So our family is getting along well.  Our oldest is adjusting to his role as big brother to 2 quite well, but it is an adjustment. 

So, we have a couple more weeks and then she's home forever.  We can't wait!!!

See?  The wait is worth it...EVERY TIME!

I'll update you again, soon.

God Bless you!