F orward falling into splashes of snowy winter slush
A ction of daily life paced like a morning to night metronome
I mitated through life’s shadows – movements so familiar and distant
T hankful for routines keeping pace and rhythm
H opeful for change as snow melts and playful puddles emerge
Friday, November 26, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Restless Wonderings
A sweet starling talks of
faces in dreams
like time machines
bending us forward
through Rwandan doors where
feet shuffle on dirt floors
Barbers and braids
boys and girls
curly curls and
afros
shakes each hand where
water meets land
inside translations and tickets
voyages yet to be planned
meets language to complete
immigration and citizenship
a thousand hills
of questions
upon a lifeline trill
of nature and nurture
steeped in bureaucratic speech
built upon fragrant dreams
reliant on a floating reach
sweet songs simmer as
day light becomes dimmer
fall leaves dance to the ground
lost and found
paper piled families swing on mary-go-rounds
and hair tossles amidst
cut outs of
sugar and spice and lollipop swirls
blending into curly curls and
afros
startling starlings wake up
and blink
faces in dreams
like time machines
bending us forward
through Rwandan doors where
feet shuffle on dirt floors
Barbers and braids
boys and girls
curly curls and
afros
shakes each hand where
water meets land
inside translations and tickets
voyages yet to be planned
meets language to complete
immigration and citizenship
a thousand hills
of questions
upon a lifeline trill
of nature and nurture
steeped in bureaucratic speech
built upon fragrant dreams
reliant on a floating reach
sweet songs simmer as
day light becomes dimmer
fall leaves dance to the ground
lost and found
paper piled families swing on mary-go-rounds
and hair tossles amidst
cut outs of
sugar and spice and lollipop swirls
blending into curly curls and
afros
startling starlings wake up
and blink
Monday, September 20, 2010
2 months DTR
Two months ago our Dossier landed in Rwanda and was passed into the hands of the Ministry of Gender and Family.
We found out that we are number 93 in a list of Dossiers waiting to be processed. For us, that is good news. We have a very little concrete information about timing - nothing more than that, but it felt like a little piece of relief in knowing something.
and from here...we carry on.
We found out that we are number 93 in a list of Dossiers waiting to be processed. For us, that is good news. We have a very little concrete information about timing - nothing more than that, but it felt like a little piece of relief in knowing something.
and from here...we carry on.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Rwanda Joins the Hague Convention
We have a new twist on our adoption journey. Previous to this post, Rwanda was not part of the Hague - an international convention that governs adoptions. The purpose and principles of the Hague are great; however, in the transition for Rwanda - we don't quite know what this will mean for families who have their dossiers there (us). The Rwandan Ministry will not be accepting any new dossiers, but have stated they will process the ones there.
In terms of the politics and procedures of international adoption, this is a good thing. Of course, we all have the best interests of the child/ren in mind.
In terms of children waiting for loving families, this could make the wait that much longer.
This is wild news and places our adoption in a much larger state of unknown.
From here, we wait and see and continue on...
Until we know more, there won't be much to post...
thanks for reading and keeping us in your hearts,
G & S
In terms of the politics and procedures of international adoption, this is a good thing. Of course, we all have the best interests of the child/ren in mind.
In terms of children waiting for loving families, this could make the wait that much longer.
This is wild news and places our adoption in a much larger state of unknown.
From here, we wait and see and continue on...
Until we know more, there won't be much to post...
thanks for reading and keeping us in your hearts,
G & S
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Dreaming Rwanda
Chubby cheeks and sneak a peaks
Little toes and wooden floor boards
Creak
As we speak in heart crevices
Deep
Tiny eye lids sleep
And dream
As spirit unfolds
Heart beats
And tiny crumbs feed our two dreams
Nestled in a forever homeland
A blood land tie
A forever lullaby
We will build a home
with sweet love
And always remember
Your story of who you are
And where you are from
And we will love you
Wrap you safely in our home
And grow with you
Until you grow on your own
Your chubby cheeks and sneak a peaks
Little toes and wooden floor boards
Creak
As we speak in heart crevices
Deep
Tiny eye lids sleep
And dream
As spirit unfolds
Heart beats
And tiny crumbs feed our two dreams
Nestled in a forever homeland
A blood land tie
A forever lullaby
We will build a home
with sweet love
And always remember
Your story of who you are
And where you are from
And we will love you
Wrap you safely in our home
And grow with you
Until you grow on your own
Your chubby cheeks and sneak a peaks
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Dossier goes off to Rwanda!
It is cause for celebration, as we have movement again!
The Dossiers are stamped and authorized by all Canadian parties...they will go in the mail tomorrow morning via Fed Ex. It is a 4 day delivery, that is not guaranteed...what is these days?
I asked our Power of Attorney there about the time line for the Ministry processing (this is before our package goes to the orphanage for the referral) and he said it is not fixed and could be any where from 4-6 months. I thought, that's not too bad. Although, it too could change, at least we now have a new time line to hope for.
I'm the eternal optimist anyway, so I will still hope it goes faster.
Anyway, to those following this blog...thanks for keeping posted. It is a celebration of sorts tonight.
Good night,
Gail
The Dossiers are stamped and authorized by all Canadian parties...they will go in the mail tomorrow morning via Fed Ex. It is a 4 day delivery, that is not guaranteed...what is these days?
I asked our Power of Attorney there about the time line for the Ministry processing (this is before our package goes to the orphanage for the referral) and he said it is not fixed and could be any where from 4-6 months. I thought, that's not too bad. Although, it too could change, at least we now have a new time line to hope for.
I'm the eternal optimist anyway, so I will still hope it goes faster.
Anyway, to those following this blog...thanks for keeping posted. It is a celebration of sorts tonight.
Good night,
Gail
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
waiting waiting...
Just in case you are curious...our Dossier is still stuck in Ottawa. We're hoping that next week they will be able to get to and get it back to us. With it being the holiday, that may delay it a bit more.
Ah, well.
We are going to begin enjoying the summer and letting this adoption continue on its course. It seems that most of this is out of our control at this point anyway.
We're heading out on a little camping trip with our new/old trailer and of course, Ping (the dog).
that's it for now...
Ah, well.
We are going to begin enjoying the summer and letting this adoption continue on its course. It seems that most of this is out of our control at this point anyway.
We're heading out on a little camping trip with our new/old trailer and of course, Ping (the dog).
that's it for now...
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Dossier Travel
Our Dossier is now at the Rwandan Embassy in Ottawa. One step closer...a few stamps away...
Friday, May 21, 2010
Slow and Steady
Today our completed dossier went into the mail, destined for Ottawa and the Rwandan Embassy.
Our hopeful timeline is 2 weeks until we see it back here on BC land, stamped and ready for the long journey to Rwanda. At this point, we have completed as much as we can; and the rest is more of the unknown.
In the in-between time, life is full and summer is on its way. There is a garden needed planting and a pond needing filling. It is May long weekend and I can say with more hope than certainty, that next year, during May long weekend, we will be camping with the kids.
Today felt like a relief. A parcel in the mail - slow and steady.
Our hopeful timeline is 2 weeks until we see it back here on BC land, stamped and ready for the long journey to Rwanda. At this point, we have completed as much as we can; and the rest is more of the unknown.
In the in-between time, life is full and summer is on its way. There is a garden needed planting and a pond needing filling. It is May long weekend and I can say with more hope than certainty, that next year, during May long weekend, we will be camping with the kids.
Today felt like a relief. A parcel in the mail - slow and steady.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
One last piece of paper...
Last week we went to Vancouver to get our 4 Dossiers notarized. We had everything there we needed, but our agency hadn't sent the Ministry the fax for our final approval letter.
So here we are waiting.
again and still.
It is has been a challenging week because we have all of our information organized and ready to be sent away, except one last letter. It has been such a long process and the last week has felt like a week of unnecessary waiting. I hold in my heart that the timing will all work out perfect in the end and I try to let go of what I can't control.
This is an ongoing and reoccurring lesson for me.
In the inbetween time...I will be out in the garden and in the sunshine with my pup. We both energize from that sunshine and it is a reminder of the long summer days on the way. There is lots to do around the house to keep a girl busy.
So here we are waiting.
again and still.
It is has been a challenging week because we have all of our information organized and ready to be sent away, except one last letter. It has been such a long process and the last week has felt like a week of unnecessary waiting. I hold in my heart that the timing will all work out perfect in the end and I try to let go of what I can't control.
This is an ongoing and reoccurring lesson for me.
In the inbetween time...I will be out in the garden and in the sunshine with my pup. We both energize from that sunshine and it is a reminder of the long summer days on the way. There is lots to do around the house to keep a girl busy.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
A little bit of hopefulness for the morning...
Hope
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all...
Emily Dickenson
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all...
Emily Dickenson
Friday, April 23, 2010
The Last Part of our Dossier
The good news: I think we have confirmed our lawyer! This is very exciting as it is the last part of our Dossier and the stall for sending this off for the last month. We will confirm all of the contract with our lawyer on Monday and hopefully by Friday next week, the beginning of May, we will be sending this all to the Rwandan Embassy.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Why Rwanda?
People ask, and some don't ask...but many will be wondering, why Rwanda?
The truth is, there is not one single reason, except to say that we are basically two people who make decisions based on what "feels right" in the moment.
In the fall, Scott had an opportunity to meet a fellow from Rwanda, Seleman. Previous to this face-to-face meeting, Scott and Seleman had already been working together on awareness building and fundraising for Seleman's schools. An x-child soldier, who, post war gained his education and grew up to open 3 trades schools for orphaned Rwandan children, Seleman was brought to the west coast of BC as a guest at the Dalai Lama Peace Conference in Vancouver. Seleman stayed here with us for a couple weeks, shadowing our lives and sharing his stories with us and students at local schools.
We were sitting together one evening in our living room, and we can't remember who said it out loud first, but there was one of those moments where we both knew that we would adopt from Rwanda because it just felt right.
We have been together for nearly 13 years, always knowing that we would begin a family. We had discussed adoption casually, and knew that would be a good fit for us.
I guess the answer to the question is just a bit of the right timing, the right faith, and the right moment. And we'll take it from here.
The truth is, there is not one single reason, except to say that we are basically two people who make decisions based on what "feels right" in the moment.
In the fall, Scott had an opportunity to meet a fellow from Rwanda, Seleman. Previous to this face-to-face meeting, Scott and Seleman had already been working together on awareness building and fundraising for Seleman's schools. An x-child soldier, who, post war gained his education and grew up to open 3 trades schools for orphaned Rwandan children, Seleman was brought to the west coast of BC as a guest at the Dalai Lama Peace Conference in Vancouver. Seleman stayed here with us for a couple weeks, shadowing our lives and sharing his stories with us and students at local schools.
We were sitting together one evening in our living room, and we can't remember who said it out loud first, but there was one of those moments where we both knew that we would adopt from Rwanda because it just felt right.
We have been together for nearly 13 years, always knowing that we would begin a family. We had discussed adoption casually, and knew that would be a good fit for us.
I guess the answer to the question is just a bit of the right timing, the right faith, and the right moment. And we'll take it from here.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Dossier
The Dossier:
There are two paper parts to an international adoption: the Homestudy and the Dossier. Both end up together and are eventually what is forwarded along to the Ministry in Rwanda. Here is what is needed for the Dossier:
The prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) will write a letter of “Application” to the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion indicating their names, date and place of birth, nationality and full permanent residence address and stating the reason for adopting a child from Rwanda.
and...
1. Marital status of the prospective adoptive parents (married or single, or widow) with a Copy of Marriage Certificate (where applicable);
2. Family composition with own children and their ages;
3. Background criminal record;
4. Copy of birth Certificate
5. Copies of other current Identity papers;
6. Proof of income;
7. Consent of spouses;
8. Consent of own grown up children (if applicable);
9. Latest medical record (not more than 3 months old);
10. A home study report by State authority or an approved Agency;
11. If the applicants are from a country that has ratified the Hague Convention, they shall present an adoption approval from their home country’s Central Authority,
12. A Letter of “Recommendation” from the Rwandan Embassy accredited in the applicant’s home country;
13. A letter of consent by the would-be guardian in the event of the death of both adoptive parents.
There are two paper parts to an international adoption: the Homestudy and the Dossier. Both end up together and are eventually what is forwarded along to the Ministry in Rwanda. Here is what is needed for the Dossier:
The prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) will write a letter of “Application” to the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion indicating their names, date and place of birth, nationality and full permanent residence address and stating the reason for adopting a child from Rwanda.
and...
1. Marital status of the prospective adoptive parents (married or single, or widow) with a Copy of Marriage Certificate (where applicable);
2. Family composition with own children and their ages;
3. Background criminal record;
4. Copy of birth Certificate
5. Copies of other current Identity papers;
6. Proof of income;
7. Consent of spouses;
8. Consent of own grown up children (if applicable);
9. Latest medical record (not more than 3 months old);
10. A home study report by State authority or an approved Agency;
11. If the applicants are from a country that has ratified the Hague Convention, they shall present an adoption approval from their home country’s Central Authority,
12. A Letter of “Recommendation” from the Rwandan Embassy accredited in the applicant’s home country;
13. A letter of consent by the would-be guardian in the event of the death of both adoptive parents.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Kinyarwanda Introduction...
Family
- Family: MeerYahnGo (Miryango)
- Mama: Mama
- Papa: DahTah (Data)
- My wife: OoMooGorAy WahnJeeYay (Umugore wanjye)
- My husband: OoMooGahBow WahnJeeYay (Umugabo wanjye)
- My child: OomWahNah WahnJeeYay (Umwana wanjye)
- My children: AhBahNah BanJeeYay (Abana banjye)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)