UNICEF Involved, Law Passed

The Ortega law, covering new guidelines for adoptions form Guatemala was passed today. There still needs to be a great deal of clarification in order to fully understand what it all means. What I find rather interesting is that there are new laws pending in Haiti as well, and it is the same organization that has been stated as the culprit in both countries that essentially shut down adoptions. That organization is UNICEF. It seems their intentions may be (at least) stated as good, but in the course of pushing their agenda, many children get caught in the cross fire and left without homes. UNICEF has left a dark, long and twisted trail in every country they have influenced in the way they want adoptions handled.

I find it difficult at times like this to fully understand or see the big picture. People within organizations or hold specific beliefs like to "sell" their way of thinking, and it is rather difficult to see the full truth. This is why I dislike politics. It is too shady of an arena for me. Anyway, time will tell if the passing of this law is a good thing or not.

Disturbing Article!!!

http://www.texasobserver.org/article.php?aid=2645

Highlights on Tuki's Birthday Party

Tuki's birthday party was today.


Tuki's birthday cake. It was a pumpkin/chocolate chip muffin recipe. I made it into a cake. It was a little heavier than a cake usually is, but ohh so good. I had froze the pumpkin weeks ago, and rather excited it turned out so well since it is the first time I had done that.


Tuki enjoying the family singing Happy Birthday to her.


Blowing out the 8 crayola candles and the number "2" candle.


Enjoying the cake. In her eyes it was the best.


Opening gifts. She had received many wonderful gifts from our family and friends.


Playing with her new cars (yes, she likes cars) with cousin M.

BELOW ZERO

My backyard.
Ok, not exactly (a little fib), especially since the tundra is melting!! But it sure feels like it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


It was 10 degrees below 0 this morning. We are having winter a good month earlier than last year. So that means we will experience 3+ months of this uckiness. The older I become the more I dislike the cold winter.

So here is a question:

What is the best warm place, accepting in trans-racial families, and have wild natural areas located around it. I have played with the idea MANY TIMES that in a few years once all the girls are home, I'd like to look for a new location that I would call home. Nothing serious at the moment, just brainstorming. Any suggestions, ideas or favorite places year round??

On the positive side, My paperwork for Cheetah came back from the Chicago Consulate, so now I just need to make 3 copies and then send it to Haiti. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Big Happenings on the 5th!!!

T-shirts I made for 3 of the girls at the O. Marie, the O's director is planning a huge Christmas party for all the kids and different families had chosen kids to make t-shirts for gifts. This was my first attempt at transfers. Anything else I should add to the shirts..Any ideas, let me know. I have until the weekend to finish them,
and then I need to send them out.


Tuki's 2 year appointment was today.

She is 36" tall (95%), that is 3 feet folks. THREE FEET at only 2 years old!!!!
I am only 2' 6 1/2" taller than her. WILD!!!!!!

She also weighs 30'15oz at 90% with a 48 1/4cm head circumference at 75%.

Tuks was entertaining all the nurses with her new talking skills. She was extremely happy go lucky tonight. Matter of fact she has been for the last week. I think due her increased speaking skills decreasing her frustration of not being able to communicate.


The Doctor also told me I could move her to 1% milk.

We talked a great deal about Panda and Cheetah too. She is looking forward to meeting them once they are home.

And lastly

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHEETAH...She turns 7 tomorrow.

and

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Nephew C. His birthday is also tomorrow.

The 5th also marks the 3rd month in IBESR for Panda's paperwork. Another adoptive parent just heard the OUT news from IBESR and her number is relatively close to Pandas. Maybe soon, maybe not.

The Dancing Scorgie?

Heathcliff on the left, and Einstein on the right. Scorgies (Scottish Terrier/Welsh Corgi Mix)

I have linked many new blogs under Guatemala. They are not new to me, because I have been following them periodically throughout their journeys. But I have never linked them before, because I had linked the blog that they were linked to, to my blog. Does that make sense?? Still with me?? Anyway the blog that contained all these new ones is going private, so I decided to link them on my blog for easy perusing.

Ok, now if you go back and read it slowly and then check the blogs to the left it may make sense HA HA HA.

Tuks is madly in love with two things lately;
1. Baby Bop
2. Einstein our little black scorgie dog..she calls him Einie, and tries to hug him constantly. He on the other hand wants nothing to do with the hug. She also wants to dance with him, but again he only wants food from her, nothing else.

She also calls sMurph the cat "meow". She hugs him too, but HE lets her. Too cute. This language explosion is a BLAST!! One never knows what she will say next.

I also sent out the dossier papers to the Chicago Consulate today, so if all goes well, I hope to get it back no later than Thursday of this week and then HOPEFULLY, please pray for this, the dossier will be sent to Haiti by Monday, the 10th, at the latest. Ten days later than I had hoped, but oh well!!

Change of plans-TWICE

On Saturday, we had planned to go Christmas shopping at a town about an hour or so east of us. We, meaning me, Tuks, my sister and her daughter N, and my niece M. We planned this months ago, but our plan was canceled due to the snowstorm coming in. So instead Tuks and I ran out and bought our tree. We picked it out in 15 minutes, or maybe even less because there was a fierce wind out of the north and it was blowing snow. It isn't a perfect tree, but perfect for us. As of now, it is in the stand with several strands of lights on. I will leave it this way until I can buy more lights and I want to test drive it with my child and cat since last years was a small fake tree.

Then today after playing and shoveling in the snow, Tuks and I attempted to get out of our 150 meters long driveway to go to church. Couldn't do it. My brother informed me 11 inches had fallen last night. So, thank goodness we were able to back up towards the garage without getting stuck again. So now we are home for the day, again!! Maybe I will work on decorating the house. Then again, maybe not.

Hopefully the plow will come through later today so that we can get out for work tomorrow morning.


Kind of, sort of, attempting a snow man. She wasn't quite into it. She didn't like the snow suit, mittens and heavy duty boots, and walking in the deep snow. She wasn't walking last year so she had no idea what being "in" it was like.


Packing the snow.


Pleading with her eyes.."let's go inside" Her word for "snow" sounds just like "no" because she does not have the "s" sound down yet.


This is her response when I asked her if she wants to go in the house.