Wake up= after 10:50am.
We went to the dollar store today because Andrés wanted to buy some toy cars. We stopped at a fellow "summer magic" family's home for a BBQ. Andrés was having a hard time.
After the BBQ we went to UB for fireworks. I forgot food. Lesson #1 in packing a "bag".
We are watching a movie now.
Bedtime= after midnight.
Andrés
Summer 2015
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
March 28, 2009
Updates... sent in paperwork! Just waiting for fingerprint cards and a call to set up the home study. I feel like I should study for the home study! Other than this... not much more to report. Oh! I've been in contact with two other families planning on participating this summer, too. Very cool people!
Friday, March 20, 2009
March 20, 2009
I am going through a gamete of emotion right now. Can I do this? Am I certifiably crazy for even thinking to ask for a home study? Will I be good at parenting a stranger between the ages of 8-12? I feel silly thinking about steps x,y,z when step "c" isn't even reality yet! How do I proceed without thinking of EVERYTHING? What kind of parent am I? How would I set the rules, limits, and lines to be drawn? How will my child see the need to respect my rules, ideas and non-negotiable ways of life?
I spoke with a couple, who are in the Colombian process as I type. We had a great conversation. I point blank asked them everything. They assured me that the background given was accurate and the kids come here with a huge support group. They keep an eye out for us and for the kids. The Colombian government doesn't want this to fail. So... they take this program seriously.
We spoke about some other issues which I won't blog about. Sometimes people just say what you know is true in your heart, but you can't hear your heart until someone turns up the volume for you. I'm so happy I called them! Good move!
I spoke with a couple, who are in the Colombian process as I type. We had a great conversation. I point blank asked them everything. They assured me that the background given was accurate and the kids come here with a huge support group. They keep an eye out for us and for the kids. The Colombian government doesn't want this to fail. So... they take this program seriously.
We spoke about some other issues which I won't blog about. Sometimes people just say what you know is true in your heart, but you can't hear your heart until someone turns up the volume for you. I'm so happy I called them! Good move!
Friday, March 13, 2009
March 13, 2009
I spoke with a dear friend in detail about my thoughts and concerns. He is a very cautious man. Negative at times, but in a polite way. His concerns were more for me not getting hurt, I assume. He encouraged me to talk to more people in the program. If possible, to the kids in the program from years past. We talked about the diversity in Colombia about the kids that sniff glue to the kids who grow up in the country clubs. Good talk!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
March 11, 2009
BVS informational meeting today! In all honesty, I didn't want to go alone. I was scared. I asked my mom. She was ecstatic! On a side note, my mom should have been a detective. She knows what to ask, when to ask it, and how to listen for BS. She was a great choice! The ride to Lackawanna was memorable. I shared with her my concerns, curiosities, and hopes. She shared with me her excitement and her fear of the language barriers. The meeting was informal yet very informational. Every detail I wanted to ask, I asked. Laura talked about the background of the kids, their health on a physical, mental and emotional level. She explained the paperwork, INS forms, and other documentation. She gave me a price list! A broken down figure of how much I need and when I will need it! We watched news footage of last year's group. We left with my mom crying. There was so much information in my brain. I needed an outlet. I turned to eating. Something I haven't done in over 2 and a half years. It made me sick! Lesson re-learned. Hopefully lesson not forgotten!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Feb. 28, 2009
Here I am sitting in my living room wondering how my life took a very unexpected turn. I am actually going to try to adopt an "older" Colombian child.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
February 28th 2009 is the day it happened. I attended a Western NY Foreign Language Educators Conference with 2 co workers. During the conference I sat in on some workshops and perused several vendors, textbook sales reps, and a few social rights groups. Nothing caught my attention except the outrageous prices of home made jewelry and some screen print t-shirts!
During the first workshop, Jen (co-worker) passed over a newspaper article from an adoption service at the conference. She whispered, "Linda, this would solve your day care dilemma!" I read the byline and laughed aloud, as for some reason I complain all the time to Jen about the skyrocketing cost of daycare. I don't even have kids, but I have a big beef with the cost.
The idea of "having" a school aged child never entered my mind before! Needless to say, my curiosity got the best of me so... I stopped listening to the presenter and actually read the article. OH MY GOD! The story captured my mind, touched my heart and warmed my soul. Here were these (amazingly) strong kids, dressed in little orphan uniforms, looking into the camera with glistening eyes hoping to catch the glance of someone willing to just love them. After the workshop session, I returned to the BVS table to read more about their program, take the "free stuff" and smile at the lady (Laura) behind the table. I asked her a few questions about the program, the kids, about being single, about living on a teacher salary, etc...
We left the conference. I picked my Mom up for lunch and to visit Grandma. As soon as my mom got into the car I shoved the papers in her lap. After reading them she looked at me and said "You know, I always thought you'd do something like this, Lin." She said some other things, which will remain private. Needless to say, they were very touching. My mom's support was all I needed to make another contact with BVS and talk about the "real" stuff.
In the meantime I started worrying about who these kids were in the orphanage? Why are they there? Whey weren't they adopted at a younger age? How long have they been there? How much will this really cost me? These questions were mind consuming. When I ran, I thought about them. When I ate, I thought about them. When I was was trying to fall asleep, I thought about them. When I was teaching, I thought about them. My thoughts were almost obsessive and out of control! I was self diagnosed with ADD unless it was about adoption.
Before attending the informational meeting, I told 5 friends outside of my immediate family that I was considering this. Every single one of these friends had some kind of positive reaction. If not about the kids in the program then about the idea of just considering the program. These friends I told were planned out for a reason. They are the listeners and the thinkers in my life. In distinctive and unique ways they are all super bright people that I am blessed to have in my life. Some of these friends are very old and some of them are very new. Some like to listen, absorb and ponder while others have an opinion before hearing the entire story. These friends helped me reach new levels of thinking, questioning, and mind mapping. I hope they will continue to play a roll in this adventure...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
February 28th 2009 is the day it happened. I attended a Western NY Foreign Language Educators Conference with 2 co workers. During the conference I sat in on some workshops and perused several vendors, textbook sales reps, and a few social rights groups. Nothing caught my attention except the outrageous prices of home made jewelry and some screen print t-shirts!
During the first workshop, Jen (co-worker) passed over a newspaper article from an adoption service at the conference. She whispered, "Linda, this would solve your day care dilemma!" I read the byline and laughed aloud, as for some reason I complain all the time to Jen about the skyrocketing cost of daycare. I don't even have kids, but I have a big beef with the cost.
The idea of "having" a school aged child never entered my mind before! Needless to say, my curiosity got the best of me so... I stopped listening to the presenter and actually read the article. OH MY GOD! The story captured my mind, touched my heart and warmed my soul. Here were these (amazingly) strong kids, dressed in little orphan uniforms, looking into the camera with glistening eyes hoping to catch the glance of someone willing to just love them. After the workshop session, I returned to the BVS table to read more about their program, take the "free stuff" and smile at the lady (Laura) behind the table. I asked her a few questions about the program, the kids, about being single, about living on a teacher salary, etc...
We left the conference. I picked my Mom up for lunch and to visit Grandma. As soon as my mom got into the car I shoved the papers in her lap. After reading them she looked at me and said "You know, I always thought you'd do something like this, Lin." She said some other things, which will remain private. Needless to say, they were very touching. My mom's support was all I needed to make another contact with BVS and talk about the "real" stuff.
In the meantime I started worrying about who these kids were in the orphanage? Why are they there? Whey weren't they adopted at a younger age? How long have they been there? How much will this really cost me? These questions were mind consuming. When I ran, I thought about them. When I ate, I thought about them. When I was was trying to fall asleep, I thought about them. When I was teaching, I thought about them. My thoughts were almost obsessive and out of control! I was self diagnosed with ADD unless it was about adoption.
Before attending the informational meeting, I told 5 friends outside of my immediate family that I was considering this. Every single one of these friends had some kind of positive reaction. If not about the kids in the program then about the idea of just considering the program. These friends I told were planned out for a reason. They are the listeners and the thinkers in my life. In distinctive and unique ways they are all super bright people that I am blessed to have in my life. Some of these friends are very old and some of them are very new. Some like to listen, absorb and ponder while others have an opinion before hearing the entire story. These friends helped me reach new levels of thinking, questioning, and mind mapping. I hope they will continue to play a roll in this adventure...
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