Fuller Lake

Me: Boys, would you like to go to the LAKE this morning?

Boys: Yaaa. Blast off!! (Don't ask - it's a bit of a long, silly story.)

We had such a great time at Fuller this morning. With Daddy at an all weekend workshop, we (read: I) were (was) determined not to get cabin fever or simply wish the weekend away. The only thing that would have made our morning more fun would have been going as a family of 4. (Well, actually 5...but these things take time, apparently.)

So, we gathered all beach-worthy items.

Headed out...full speed ahead, once we caught sight of the water!

We had an incredible time acquiring new skills while watching kayakers.

Learning how not to drown.
(No kidding, there's a guy under there...skirted to his kayak and everything.)

Seeing how much air one small child really can get.
(Apparently, the guy made it out from under his kayak.)

Practicing our cuteness.

Splashing - oh, the splashing.

Prepping for Sand Castles.

All good sand-castle-building-sand needs to be wet, you know.

Chasing ducks.
Oh, those dumb, dumb ducks.
How close did they really need to come?

Covering Mama in sand.

Self-portraits - you know, to prove I really was there.

And face paint.
What is a trip to the lake without face paint?
It boasts zero sunscreening abilities.
It's just run of the mill face paint - but it makes for a cute cat, ah hem, kid...
...don't ya think?

Pondering in the beauty of the lake...while taking a rest from all that hard playing.

And because the day wasn't quite full enough, we thought an afternoon playdate was in order. Guess who wears the pants in this friendship?

Eight

We've made it to eight months. And this one flew by.

I'm excited because it's hot, sunny, and I know the months will continue to fly by. Before we know it, we'll need a quick update on our homestudy and then the summer will feel like a dream.

And, then our dream will become reality.

This month held a few exciting updates.

Referrals still seem to be coming in after about a 12 month wait. So, while this is still double the timeline originally estimated for us, I'm happy to know that it's holding.

Ethiopian courts close every summer for about 2 months. This is either July/August or August/September. We found out the other day that it's looking like they will close August 5. So, sometime early October they should reopen. Though this doesn't mean anything for a referral, it does mean that if/when we receive a referral while the courts are closed we will have to wait for them to re-open before having our adoption heard. I can live with that.

And of course at the top of the list of "happy days" was the homestudy information just earlier this week.

We can tell the boys are becoming more and more aware of the wait (and imminent arrival) of their newest sibling. Ben and Noah went to get their hair cut the other morning. Our hair dresser is a sweet lady who works out of her home. Noah loves her - partly because she is so kind and I'm sure partly because she always gives him cookies at the end of his cut. (Imagine my cringing at this moment.) The other day they returned home and Noah instead, had a small bag of mini marshmallows.

"They are for me, and Tait, and we will save some for our Baby Sister, Mama" he told me.

Ben later told me they hadn't talked about this at all when in the car together.

We've been spending much time outside over the past few days...

Visiting with a childhood friend (of mine) who is starring in the lead female role at the Chemainus Theatre this summer!

Covering ourselves in stickers from school.

Stalking, ah hem, watching caterpillars inch their way to freedom.

Face Painting.

(Ok, so my artistic face painting skills may need a little practice.)

Today may hold a trip to the lake.

Cloud 9

Ok, so today's news pales in comparison to what our referral will feel like but I am on Cloud 9.

For some reason I had it in my head that a year after Ministry Approval, our homestudy would need to be updated. I also had it in my thick brain that this meant a couple of interviews and of course quite a cost. And man, am I elated to be a real question-asker. I usually see myself as a nuisance - wanting to know more than is necessary and thinking way ahead of what is truly needed.

Today, my anal-tendencies paid off big time. Emailing our social worker about it 3 months before our anticipated homestudy-update would be needed, I just had to know.

• When would our homestudy officially need updating
• How many interviews would be needed...how much time should this all take
• What is the cost

Our social worker's reply took the weight of the world off my shoulders.

Yes, an update is required at the one year (from Ministry Approval) date. This will be late August.

The update will include:

1. a short phone call
2. an even shorter form she will fill out
3. no cost

Seriously people.

I Am On Cloud 9.

It Always Happens Around Now

Right around this time each month, just before we hit our monthly marker I get antsy. Some might call it impatience. Others would say it's normal.

As we climb higher numerically and our wait time grows, I just find it tough. Some days I doubt our decision - after all, I was pregnant for a mere 4 weeks more than this and presto: baby. Ok, well maybe not "presto".

Then I come across articles like the one below and I am encouraged. Don't get me wrong - I still clean like a freak, purge the closets/cupboards/toy bins/whatever else gets in my way (hey, we all deal with stress in our own way!) - but I am also reassured that this truly is the path we were meant to take.

From Guilt to Gospel

I’ve been there. You’ve probably been there too. I’ve not only had it happen to me, but I’ve done it. I’ve tried to motivate folks to do good and ended up leaving them feeling more guilty than feeling moved by the gospel. The dangers of that are plenty.

Here’s a small list to know if you are being motivated by guilt or by the gospel. I’d love to hear your thoughts and additions to the list.

Guilt may motivate you but often leaves you:

• Feeling like if I don’t do this God will not love me as much
• Feeling as though my eternal salvation depends on my good works
• Feeling tired and worn
• Feeling like I ought too
• Feeling anxious
• Feeling fearful
• Feeling like God needs me

Guilt happens when we speak more about what we should do than what Christ has already done and promises to do for us and through us.

The Gospel motivates us by:

• giving us the freedom to do this because God’s acceptance of me is not based on my performance
• joy in the reality that my salvation is dependent upon Christ’s works and not mine
• leaving us energized and strengthened
• the awareness that I am privileged too
• trust that God will take care of the impossible, the details, and the outcomes
• faith
• the truth that God doesn’t need me but loves to use me
• joy in reflecting the heart of God in our world

The Gospel is communicated when we speak about what Christ has done on our behalf through His death and resurrection and what that means for us today and what that leads us to do. May this be what motivates us to great acts of love and compassion and justice for the good of our fellow man and God’s glory!

-Jason Kovacs

The Immigration Saga

I think the word "saga" maybe minimizes a huge problem. A while back I addressed the fact that, because our daughter will be brought into Canada as a citizen (as opposed to the PRV route) she will be considered a second-class-citizen, in many ways. Should she ever have children outside of Canada, they will not assume citizenship immediately. My grand-children will have to be sponsored and then hopefully assume citizenship after a period of application and waiting. This is huge because the government did not forewarn us adoptive parents of this, when implementing a new legislative bill back in December of 2007, which allowed us to chose the Citizenship route if we desired. Had we chosen the PRV route, our daughter would not have had to face any sort of second-rate status. The new legislation (implementing this second-class status) was passed April 17, 2009.

Argh.

Sigh.

And all those other emphatic, angry, frustration-venting words.

During an interview with a journalist in and from Hong Kong I had the opportunity to voice the frustrations and concerns this new legislation brings. And, it doesn't only affect us adoptive parents.

Read on...

On April 17, amendments to the Canadian Citizenship Act will come into effect that will have far-reaching implications for many Canadians and their future generations. Under Bill C-37, children born or adopted outside of Canada to Canadian parents who themselves were born or adopted from outside of Canada will no longer inherit Canadian citizenship. This is to say that the second generation born or adopted outside of Canada will not be granted Canadian citizenship by descent. These amendments have provoked anger and confusion amongst many Canadians, particularly in the expatriate and adoption communities.

Bill C-37 was intended to address concerns about “lost Canadians” of the 1947-1977 period and “Canadians of convenience”—people who earn Canadian citizenship to exploit its benefits, but who have little loyalty or non-legal connections to Canada. Examples can be found locally, as many Hong Kongers of means, spooked by the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre and its potential implications for Hong Kong’s post-handover future, fled to Canada in the early 1990s to secure Canadian citizenship as a safety net. The “Canadians of convenience” issue was brought to the fore in 2006 when the Canadian government spent $85 million evacuating 15,000 Lebanese with Canadian citizenship during the Israel-Lebanon conflict; an estimated 7,000 of the evacuees returned to Lebanon within a month.

However, the new legislation has ensnared many Canadians residing in Canada and abroad who do not fit these archetypes. One adoption agency describes it as a “sledgehammer…used to kill a flea.” Critics argue that the amendments have effectively created a two-tier system of citizenship, whereby native-born or naturalized Canadians will pass on diminished citizenship to their foreign-born-or-adopted children, who will themselves be unable to pass on their citizenship at all to their own foreignborn-or-adopted children.

Canadians abroad, an estimated 2.7 million people, are struggling to come to terms with Bill C-37’s implications for their children, grandchildren, and further generations. It has forced people to reconsider their life and career plans as they try to reconcile their desire to have children holding first-class citizenship with their imperatives to be abroad. Given their global lifestyles, many expatriates are likely to have children abroad. Veronique Raymond, a Quebecois immigration lawyer working in Hong Kong, feels penalized for seeking international work experience. She had planned to have a child within the next few years, while working abroad, but now fears she will do little more than “pass on a problem to her child.” Furthermore, Raymond sees the Bill as a violation of her legal right to enter and exit Canada freely. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom states: “Every citizen of Canada has the right to enter, remain in and leave Canada.” It would seem that this right is being infringed upon if Canadians need to think twice before going abroad.

The amendments have also drawn ire in the adoption community. Ashleigh Keizer, an upcoming adoptive mother in Vancouver, feels blindsided by Bill C-37. Like other adoptive parents in Canada, she was delighted to hear that under new legislation (separate from Bill C-37), her adoptive child could arrive in Canada as a Canadian citizen. She was told by adoption agencies that there would be no long-term difference between choosing this direct citizenship route over the permanent resident (eventual naturalization) route and was strongly encouraged to take the former. With the introduction of Bill C-37, under the direct citizenship route, her daughter would be considered a first-generation foreignadopted citizen and therefore, disallowed from passing on citizenship to her own child. But through the permanent resident route, the adoptee would be treated just like any immigrant who becomes a naturalized Canadian and therefore, could pass on her citizenship to her children, as they would constitute the first generation. Had Keizer been aware of this implication, she would have obviously chosen the permanent resident route for her daughter to avoid the problem altogether. But it’s too late now for Keizer and many other adoptive families: “There’s nothing we can do about it—we’re too far into the direct citizenship process and there’s no going back.”

Critics have also raised concerns about potential statelessness, as some countries will not automatically grant citizenship to persons born within its borders. While this problem may be resolved if the couple sponsors the child as a permanent resident, the process is highly impractical, as it requires a year of processing time, application fees, and the child to reside in Canada for the majority of that period—impractical if the parents are working overseas. Moreover, it is unclear how the stateless child would travel to Canada in the first place without a passport of any country. Canada is a member of the Convention of Reduction of Statelessness—it will be interesting to see how the new legislation will be reconciled with this fact.

Also, many find the law especially unfair in its retroactivity. While it will not revoke citizenship from anyone who already has it by April 17, Canadians who were born or adopted outside of Canada, who previously could pass on their citizenship to their children without restriction, are now unable to do so if their children are born or adopted outside of Canada. As such, expatriates who gave birth to children overseas have been left reeling, as they never imagined their grandchildren might not be Canadians. Expatriates in Hong Kong and mainland China may be particularly charged about the issue, as second-generation foreign-born children, if unable to inherit citizenship from either parent, will only have Chinese citizenship— less than ideal in its relative inflexibility.

What is also frustrating is that affected persons have no legal recourse. There is no way for first generation foreign-born-or adopted Canadians to reach full-status citizenship, thus avoiding the problem in the first place. By comparison, the United States, the UK, and Australia all have legal mechanisms to allow citizenship by descent. While concerned Canadians feel that citizenship is not something that should be taken lightly, they argue that those affected should have legal recourse to earn full citizenship, should they be able to provide a sufficient link to Canada. The question then arises of how to define that link.

The outrage over Bill C-37 is particularly charged because it has aroused a complicated identity politics: it raises fundamental questions of what it means to be (culturally) a Canadian and what it means to be a Canadian citizen—two matters that are often conflated but which are actually distinct. Reactions to the new legislation depend on the extent to which people feel emotionally and practically connected to Canada. The greatest indignation has come from Canadian citizens who feel strongly “Canadian” in terms of their cultural practices, knowledge or family background and have raised their children accordingly, but whose children or grandchildren will have second-class or no Canadian citizenship. To them, legal citizenship is part and parcel of cultural citizenship.

On the other hand, expatriates who have resided out of Canada for many years and have no intention to return tend not to feel strongly one way or another. To them, cultural citizenship and legal citizenship are distinct concepts. As one expatriate argued in a recent South China Morning Post editorial, knowing the words to the national anthem and that maple syrup is served with pancakes does not constitute Canadian citizenship. L. Walsh writes: “I was born in Canada, grew up and went to school there, paid taxes, contributed to the community and took part in the political system. However, since moving to Hong Kong, I no longer pay Canadian taxes nor go about my daily life there…While I retain my cultural heritage and roots, and have also passed many Canadian traditions to my children, they are also influenced by their environment, Hong Kong. If I wished my children to be totally, 'only and always Canadian', then I would choose to live there…If, as a Canadian citizen, you value the country so much, then you should make this country your home. To be able to give my children Canadian citizenship is a gift, not a right.”

Finally, Bill C-37 appears to go against the modern realities of globalization and transnationalism, as it restricts an internationally mobile Canadian workforce. What does it mean for Canada’s future economic competitiveness if Canadians and members of the Canadian diaspora are limited, alienated, or excluded altogether? Employees may refuse international assignments rather than risk having their children born abroad with second-class citizenship. The intercultural acumen that Canadians develop while abroad and bring back to Canada will be valuable personally and professionally. Canada may also be closing herself off to contributions from Canadians or potential Canadians with valuable international business networks. It should be noted that children of government and military personnel are exempted from this law—an exemption which some see as an acknowledgement that the new legislation puts those working abroad at a disadvantage.

There is currently a lot of confusion over the finer points of the law, but until it has been officially interpreted and applied after it comes into effect, members of the expatriate and adoption communities are worried and angry. So far, the government response in national media has been muted, with a simple restatement of the law rather than a substantial engagement with the counterarguments raised. It remains to be seen how the uproar over the ramifications of Bill C-37 will be resolved.

-Alexis Lai
-The Canadian Chamber Of Commerce In Hong Kong

Weeks In Review

It's been busy around here with International Guests and Athletes entering and exiting the revolving door that has become our house.

Kidding.
In all seriousness, we have been busy with comers and goers but they've been family. And it's been great.

After Run For One Planet invaded Crofton for a night, they continued up to Powell River then onto Vancouver where they were police escorted across the Lion's Gate Bridge. This destination marked the end of their One Year, 17,700km run around all of North America. If anyone's keeping track, this would be the first time in 14 yrs (or is it 17 yrs?) that a lane has been closed down to allow for someone on foot to cross. I digress: Rick Hansen was in motion, just not on foot.

Impressive eh?

Following this feat, Matt and Steph were officially recognized not only with this plaque but with it's announcement that May now holds a recognized Run For One Planet Day in the city of Vancouver. Thanks Mr Mayor.

In other news, our (my) Mother's Day was a little different that one would expect. After leaving our kids with their grand-parents, (thereby blessing my Mum with the presence of her two grand-kids) and high-tailing it out of here first thing Mother's Day, the two of us celebrated alone. Off for a getaway which included a night in Victoria (an anniversary gift cashed in) we had a great time...so did they!

Now it's back to "life as usual" which is anything but usual around here during this time of year and season. Spring is here and Summer is lurking somewhere around the next corner.

While there is no actual, tangible new news on the adoption front...

There Is Hope

Things are progressively picking up: referrals, passed court dates, visas and travel are on the horizon and many are enjoying the results...Family United Forever.

Our turn is still a ways off but I feel renewed excitement and anticipation for what is to come.

The Day Before...

On the day before we celebrate Mother's Day, I feel it is very important to highlight the value of today.

Did you know that the day before Mother's Day is actually Birthmother's Day?

Yep.

And while us mothers work our hind ends off, birthmothers make the sacrifice of a lifetime to give us others the opportunity and privilege of a lifetime.

Today is a day to acknowledge, and honor, women who gave birth and placed their children for adoption.

And I am going to do just that.

World AIDS Orphan Day...

...was yesterday.

I believe that this could very well be looked back on as the sin of our generation. I look at my parents and ask, where were they during the civil rights movement? I look at my grandparents and ask, what were they doing when the holocaust in Europe was occurring with regard to the Jews, and why didn't they speak up? And when we think of our great, great, great-grandparents, we think how could they have sat by and allowed slavery to exist? And I believe that our children and their children, 40 or 50 years from now, are going to ask me, what did you do while 40 million children became orphans in Africa?

-Rich Stearns, President of World Vision

Fear Of The Dream

I had the privilege of running somewhere in the mid-ten thousands of miles with Matt and Steph the other day. Running out of Crofton, through Chemainus, and into Ladysmith was a jog I won't ever forget. Not only the company, the cyclist posse, but the conversation and inspiration was one-of-a-kind. (Sidenote: This was a great way to begin getting some extra mileage under my belt in time for Oct 11.)

And, there really is nothing like a pure, unhindered 7am conversation with a guy who has nearly completed a round North America tour over the past 51 weeks. Barriers down, adrenaline pumping Matt and I chewed on some awesome thoughts. We shared a bit of insight, encouraged and empathized with one another.

We discussed how, perhaps, neither one of us would have attempted the dreams we are fulfilling, had we not been somewhat blind to it's reality. For us both, the dream has morphed into what could only have been imagined. We are better people now, than we were only one year ago.
You see regardless of the dream, we never fully comprehend it's immenseness until we find ourselves at the heart of it. Once fully immersed in something much much bigger than us, we understand maybe a part of what we are becoming and how we got to this point. We then realize that the dream, our dream is so much more than just our being; our desire; our motivation.

The word inspirational has been thrown around here quite a bit lately. That was never the intention or the planned goal. And, simply stated: I. Am. Not. Desiring to do something small with a big heart was the objective - following where we felt led. Baby steps add up to a bigger picture and I think that is what is beginning to take form. It's exciting.

What's even more crazy is that, though this is our dream, we never realized it's size or impact until we began to change. It's incredible how choosing to open one door has a domino effect. We have now entered a room we'd never before dared to access, only to be in the centre of a place with dozens of other doors opening and inviting us in.

People we have met, lessons we have learned, experiences we never would have otherwise been exposed to are all because of a small dream, with big hearts.

Our adoption is about more than just the journey to a little girl, in a small yet beautiful, developing country. This is about more than just the end result.

This dream is about the little things...for me, it is about growing into a better person. It is about learning empathy, tragedy, love, happiness, faith, perseverance (!), patience, seeing fruition. It is about not giving up. It is about waiting and knowing that the end (meeting our daughter face-to-face) will actually only be the beginning.

Small stepping stones like yard sales, marathons, other fundraisers, rolling pennies that are "heaven sent" for Baby Keizer, blog posts...all these details are just that: Stepping Stones. They are growing us toward the dream.

One day at a time, we get closer.

I guess the Coles Notes version of this post is simply not to fear the dream.

Diving in head first may not be the way to go but...

Never

Ever

Fear

The Dream

What we will find on the other side of our personal Goliath is more than likely worth the fear. When looking back at The End and reflecting on life, the last thing any of us will ever do is regret what we did. Yet we will always regret not knowing what would have happened if we had simply followed our dreams.

A Decade In The Making

I think doing anything for 10 years is a long time.

I think staying at one job for a decade takes dedication.

I know that serving in a ministry for that length of time is exhausting, yet uniquely exhilarating. The rewards received by those who commit themselves to this vocation are remarkable. They are one of a kind. These servants see in others what most of us don't. These people seek to serve God above no other. They are selfless, tireless, wonderful. They do not seek fame, attention, or recognition.

Today, however, it is deserved.

Because...

I am married to one of these people.

And this day marks his 10th year serving in a ministry.

On May 3, 1999, 2 days after graduating University he stepped into a plane, (for the first time in his life) and flew clear across the country to fill a position he knew he was meant to.

There are a small handful of people I consider full of integrity, honestly, heart, and passion...he is one of them.

So on this day, to my husband I say:

From a small town in New Brunswick...

...to a church in Tsawwassen

...to the sandy beaches of Hong Kong

...to the shores of Vancouver Island

...to our first Christmas

...to the shaky ground of Thailand in 2004

...to the birth (and dedication) of our two children

...to the sale of our first house

...to the fields at Camp where we met, later dated, where you proposed, and where we play with our kids today

...There's No Place I'd Rather Be

...There's No Better Place To Make A Difference

...Though You Get Tired And Weary, Your Life Makes A Difference

...This Is Where We Are Meant To Be

...You Matter

Thank You For Following Your Heart