Off to my first Vietnamese lesson.....

I'm going to try to take some one on one classes on the Vietnamese language...was able to get in touch with a teacher through the Vietnamese community centre contacts....they also sent me some links to a few youtube sites which are also useful....will let you know how it goes....

...a little birdy told me ....

or should I say a little dragonfly told me....that those in front of me in the line are getting referrals so my intuition has been telling me it is close...so hopefully will be able to report that my intuition is right....sooooooo....

A sleepless night for a different reason...

Well tonight I can't get to sleep though I need to because I have a busy and long day tomorrow; however, I am worried.......my friend is having her surgery in the morning and they'll decide if it will be a single or a double mastectomy...she spent most of the March break here with me and we had wonderful weather and were able to visit and sit on my porch with coffee and wander the downtown market area. I last saw her at Christmas and I can see the toll on her health this illness is causing. She went home on Friday and then wasn't feeling well so went to the hospital where she was scheduled for her surgery Monday morning....So tonight I await for a different kind of message, hoping and praying that all goes smoothly tomorrow and that her prognosis improves....we talked about the baby and she hopes she is around to get to know him or her and I pray she is too!...so for those of you who pray, I ask for some special prayers for M. as she waits for morning during what I imagine will be a restless night and challenging day and days ahead.

New baby blanket

Couldn't resist this blanket....have had my eye on it for awhile... definitely giraffes are my favourites.....well no news this week....though did contact my agency on Thursday, hoping for some kind of update...did not hear back....actually the person I usually contact had a very full email box, hence my message bounced back....soooooo I wrote to someone else and still no news, just more waiting.....it is amazing how even if I have lots to do, all that really matters is that phone call, that email that will give me the news that will change my life....so in the meantime I try to keep busy...my favourite activity is trying to make sure that I continue to prepare me and my home for a new person....so hence the purchase of this blanket, as well as a couple of crib sheets.....acting as if all of this will happen helps sometimes but not all of the time....and of course there's always farmville.....

Farmville and Waiting....

Well a rainy day here in Ottawa...and not much on my agenda....except for Farmville which is what I do when I get too wound up in no adoption news....somehow caring for my virtual farm is something like nesting for me, a virtual home away from home where I can care for animals, plant crops, choose buildings and create a space of belonging....posting some pictures below if I can...Farmville even celebrated Tet so got right into that.....on the reality front ...some travel news for lots of families so that is very good, and am hoping that means they can now get to some referrals...I hope!...Waiting is awful for everyone and in the last few weeks while it is awful, I also realize I'm waiting for news for something very positive...a former student of mine, and now a close friend, is also waiting, but she is waiting for a surgery date for a double mastectomy, so my waiting pales in comparison. My heart and hope go out to her. She's a single mom too of an 11 year old so is very worried about her daughter too...we are in touch daily and I have a glimpse of what waiting is doing to her...an awful time... she may be visiting me during March break and am looking forward to that.....so hope to share some of our waiting together....so when I think I can't bare the waiting and even though there is so much to do, both preparing for my child, and my marking and research etc. etc....I think of M. and know that waiting is never easy but waiting for a child is a good thing is easier than waiting for something not so great like surgery etc.....

Women's Filò.....Celebrating and Waiting....

Well had a wonderfully busy week. This week I was invited to give a presentation at the annual women's Filò: Celebrating Italian Women of Ottawa....the theme was women in the arts and I got to speak about my artwork and my research to about 300 women...it was fascinating....I have given presentations many times but no doubt this was the largest group!....anyhow while I was nervous and still editing my speech even in the minutes I was giving it, I also got to speak and share some memories about my mom......got emotional at that point....but made it through. Got a lot of positive feedback afterwards, my words moved people and for that I am humbled. Am posting a couple of photos here. On the adoption front, well another family from Vung Tau 3 got their travel date so some things are moving...no news for me but somehow I feel if other children are going to be picked up soon, then my child will soon find her/his way into my life and arms.....