Another key date

All restructuring fees are due to the new Imagine on November 30th and like so many, I'm feeling nervous again. It's hard to believe we signed on with Imagine Adoption in November of 2007. During the first week of December, we will be waiting for news from the new agency about whether or not they receive the funds they expect to get from families to restart the agency under new management.

Here's some song titles that sort of sum up this roller-coaster ride since early July of this year.

Freight Train Blues - Billie and Dede Pierce

This low - Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

The Hill - Marketa Irglova

Hope for the Hopeless - A Fine Frenzy

The Light - Common

Hope - The Submarines

Hope - Jack Johnson

I hope - The Dixie Chicks

There is still hope and I'm hanging on to it. That's not a song title just me signing off from this post.

Seventeen and Halloween

Seventeen - the number of months we will soon have been waiting for a referral since our file arrived in Ethiopia. I can almost say we are officially waiting again. I think I can safely say the new agency will soon be in full operation and we will be back in the swing of things. I feel terrible for families involved in the Ghana program who will not be able to see their adoptions through. It sounds like moving forward with that program was just too complicated for the new agency.

Halloween - Fun, fun, fun. The kids were thrilled to finally get to go trick or treating. They love Halloween. For two years I had been suggesting to Noah that he be Robin (to go with Leo's Batman costume) but he was never interested and he never really knew who Robin was. This year Leo wasn't interested in being Batman for a third time but Noah insisted he wanted to be Robin. Go figure! I did get a photo of Batman and Robin this morning when they felt like dressing up again but it was a ghost thet went trick or treating with Robin last night. I think Robin's new super power is his ability to collect candy at a very fast rate. My little Robin was on a mission going from house to house until he lost steam towards the end. Thomas put on his smurf costume to go out with the boys and then later we dressed up as pirates for our party. I have never seen so many great carved pumpkins. I think my favorite was the bird in a bird cage - very creative and I wish I had a picture of it but I don't.

good for a laugh or to make you gag

I haven't been blogging much but when I saw this clip, I thought some of you moms and future moms would get a kick out of this.

Big Thanks

I am so very grateful to all those people that played an integral part in getting Imagine up and running again. The hope continues to grow and we remain cautiously optimistic that all will work out.

Here is a recent post by MP Glen Pearson. I think he sums it up so very well.


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Months ago, families attempting to adopt children from Ethiopia received the shattering news that the adoption agency they were working through was declaring sudden bankruptcy. Most of us recall the pain reflected in the faces and comments of the prospective parents and our hearts went out them. Their hopes were finished.

Except they weren’t. From the ashes of deep despair emerged a collective effort that turned tragedy on its head and produced hope when people believed there was none. What is remarkable about the collective effort of these parents-to-be was that they kept themselves together when anger and frustration could have split them in numerous pieces.

Imagine Adoption, and the moving story surrounding the parents, has been alluded to a number of times in this blog. I’ve written of the first meeting my wife and I had with them and how they constructed a plan in those earliest moments that hatched a truly remarkable story of how citizens who organize, share the burden, skillfully express their honest emotions, and arouse their talents can in the end even make government move with alacrity and compassion.

Under the adroit influence of a steering committee, the hopeful parents engaged media, community partners and politicians from various domains and successfully gained support for their efforts. And then just today, the news: “An international adoption agency that collapsed this summer, stunning hundreds of would-be adoptive parents … was moved out of bankruptcy yesterday” (London Free Press).

I’m not sure any of us can really understand the sheer heights these parents climbed, not so much to overcome obstacles, but to get to their children. They turned their collective grief, not to anger, but to faith and endurance. When it seemed all was lost, they could never accept that news because that meant the children in Ethiopia had lost as well. It just wasn’t good enough … and so they organized and prevailed.

Working with government, creditors and a bankruptcy firm, they succeeded in forming a new board of directors, along with an advisory board. Moreover, each family had to pay another $4,000 each to make it work. And it did. Starting at this moment, the board will hire two full-time workers and a part-time worker. At this rate, most of the adoptions will be completed.

I concluded an earlier blog on these inspirational parents by saying, “If only Ottawa worked like this.” That was just speaking of the spirit of cooperation shown by this hardy group. But now that cooperation has reaped its reward, showing us all once again that if citizens can overcome such obstacles with such cooperation and dedication, our own politicians could surely learn some lessons. I can honestly say they have taught me much, but more importantly have given me hope for what is possible.

We live in a strange world where a sports figure, who can masterfully move a small round ball into a cup on the green can be asked to dine with presidents and prime ministers. Self-serving and self-absorbed entertainers gain immediate access to the halls of power. What are we thinking? The kind of people who should be extended the red carpet into Parliament are people like these parents. They are neither masters of the inconsequential nor purveyors of their own self-image. Instead, they are what we should all emulate. Their secret of power and success was their humility and belief – the very things in such short supply in our nation’s capital these days. Well done. Enjoy your kids.

View Post by MP Glen Pearson

It seems appropriate to blog about good news now after the sadness that consumed all families involved in Imagine's bankruptcy.

There is lots to celebrate this week. As most of you already know, families voted to accept the proposed restructuring plan for Imagine Adoption (with new management of course). This is a huge relief to us but there are still more hoops to jump. Right now I would describe feeling cautiously happy.

Congratulations to L. for her referral for a baby boy from South Africa. It sure feels good to hear about a referral (even if it isn't my own). I am so tremendously excited for you guys. I can't wait to meet him and I wish you a safe trip to South Africa.

Finally, Noah has adjusted really well to morning JK, no more meltdowns when he gets dropped off at the school. My little boy is growing up fast and he sure likes to dress up (see photos).

Expect the Unexpected

When it comes to adoption, I had been told by a friend, who had already been through the process, to expect the unexpected (I think I've said this before in an old post). I could handle the increasing timelines but the news of the bankruptcy was certainly unexpected and shocking. The terrible news was replaced with hope that maybe we would one day see this adoption through. I held onto that for the summer and focused on having fun with my family. There were many good times and lots of highlights and at some point I might find the time to post some photos and elaborate.

Today Noah and I were in the car and he was asking about "baby sister." He wanted to know when she would join our family and once again I had to tell him that I didn't know. He wanted to know if she would come on an airplane and I explained to him again that Daddy and I would have to take an airplane to go and get her if/when the time comes. He said, "Well let's get that started!" Next week we will be closer to knowing whether or not we will be getting that started (again). My fingers and toes are crossed.

Here's a picture of Noah just before we set off for his first day of school. He had no problem smiling for the photo but by the time we got to the school there were no smiles. His teacher had to help loosen his grip on my hand and then I said one more goodbye and walked away. When I finally looked back, the kids were all heading into the school and Noah was at the front of the line in his teacher's arms. That was better than the staggered entry start the week before where I had to go into class with him and stay for an hour before sneaking out. Every day will get a little better and a little easier - I hope.

Very sad news

I wasn't going to create any more posts but I thought that it would make sense to add just one more because I know that some of our friends check the blog every once in a while to see how things are progressing.

I am so sad to say that our adoption agency has declared bankruptcy. We have been told by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services that those families who had already received a referral for a child will likely receive assistance in getting their children home. The future is unclear for the rest of us...And we were so close to a referral. Part of me tries to stay hopeful but the other part of me feels like I need to face reality that this adoption may very well be over. We are waiting for news one way or the other so that we can move forward. It's been an emotional week for Thomas and I. We have yet to tell Leo and Noah and won't do so
until we know for certain what is going to happen. They continue to talk about "baby sister" and every time they do, I want to cry.