2 Years Ago Today.....

2 years ago today it was just another day. Or so I thought......

I woke up, went to work, had a morning meeting and came back to my office. It was then I saw the light flashing. I had a message. For a split second I let myself believe that it might be the call, but just as fast as I let that thought slip into my brain I pushed it away. It was only a few hours ago that I had a conversation with my step mom about our adoption. The bankruptcy was over and the adoption agency told us that referrals would start again, but they said not until at least March. It was January there was NO way that they would start this soon I told her. I fully expected that I wouldn't know who our son was until at least May. April if I was really lucky.

I picked up the phone, dialled my password...... "you have 2 messages". First message.... an interview candidate returning my call. 2nd message....... the name Imagine Adoption read on my caller ID. In an instant my entire body started shaking and my eyes filled up. This was it, it was the call I had been waiting for. I could feel it. In that moment I knew I had a son. I was a mother of two.

I returned the call and heard the words I had been waiting years to hear......"Congratulations, we have a referral for you". Those few little words changed my life. I did have a son, and I was a mother to two. In that moment, all the heartache was over.

After the tears stopped and I could talk I managed to find out how old he was, but that was it. I wanted to share the experience with Darryl. After about 1 1/2 hours we were at home and ready to open the file. And this is what we saw. Our hearts melted........

We had a little boy. We didn't know anything about him other than his age, height, weight and the fact that he looked very sad.

Fast forward 2 years and here is our son!

We now know that Tegegn is a wonderful happy little boy. His smile is magical. It can brighten your day in an instant. He has a wonderful sense of humour and is so determined to be involved in everything. The experience of being a parent to our son, this little boy that we first laid eyes on 2 years ago has been one of the greatest joys of my life. In 2 short years I have gotten to know our son, and I can't wait for the future. I know he is going to grow up to be a wonderful man (hopefully not to fast).

What a difference 2 years can make.

Goals Met

Goals Met

African Food Crisis – What we did

African Food Crisis – What we did

I Took Him To The Doctor

Tegegn was sick yesterday. He had a fever, a rash and wasn’t feeling well. Today we took him to the doctor. This shouldn’t be anything to blog about. It is something we do when our children are sick. Here in Canada, when you are not feeling well, you go to the doctor. We make a phone call, walk in the office, hand over a little credit card size piece of laminated plastic that allows us access to health care, medicine and a better way of life, and we get better. This is one of the many things that separate us from other countries. With everything that is going on in the world, from the American economy to the famine in Africa this little act of going to the doctor has made me think.

We are lucky. I mean really lucky. Sure our health care system has its problems. I have been dealing with, and have complained about the long waits, differences of opinions ect. myself over the past 2 years since my accident, but let’s face it. WE HAVE HEALTH CARE! When I watch the news, read the papers and follow people on the ground in Africa on Twitter I can’t help but think of the differences in our world. In the United States, people go bankrupt trying to pay their medical bills due to a sickness or accident (I know, I have seen the bills), In Africa children are starving, lack medical attention and are dying….. and we (myself included) complain about wait times. Honestly, I’m embarrassed. I’m embarrassed for myself and for Canadians in general.

My children will never know the pain of hunger (again), they will get medicine when they are not feeling well, they will have dental surgery and have eye glasses if needed. These are things that as Canadians we have access to and take for granted every day. Although it is not a new year, I am going to try a mid-year resolution for myself. I am going to try not to take these things for granted. I am going to try to be aware every time I step into a doctor’s office, dental office or go to an eyeglass appointment that these situations will never happen to me because I live in this country.


http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/08/09/largest.refugee.camp/index.html

Newspaper Article.....

GuelphMercury - Guelph woman starts charity for Ethiopia after...

Ethiopian Food Crisis - What We Are Doing.....

As some of you are aware, I am involved in a Charity called Chance For Change International Outreach. Currently there is a major food crisis in the horn of Africa, and Chance For Change wants to help. If you are interested in knowing about this crisis or donating to help us bring aid to some of the 4.5 million Ethiopians affected, please read the link.

Ethiopian Food Crisis - What We Are Doing.....

THE WORK HAS BEGUN!

We have raised enough money to start.


THE WORK HAS BEGUN!