Winter has returned

After a full month of beautiful weather and no snow, winter has returned. Saturday we had a big snow storm and we got more snow on Monday and more today. We were supposed to leave on our trip to Hawaii today but we had to cancel as Mom ended up having to work and couldn't get time off. We are hoping to book another trip sometime in May or June but Hawaii would be pretty nice right now!

All of my running group are heading out of town for the weekend in 10 days. I am really looking forward to the break and to the great company. We just eat, talk and laugh. You can't beat that!

My cousins funeral was cancelled on Saturday as the weather was so bad and they ended up having it on Sunday. It was very sad and the church was full both upstairs and down. It ended with someone playing Amazing Grace on bagpipes. It was beautiful. Now all of the 17 funerals are completed and they feel they have found the cause of the crash. I hope that all of the families can now begin to heal although I can't imagine how hard it must be.

Another step completed

We just received word on Monday that we have been approved to sponsor a child into Canada. I only sent the immigration paperwork off in early March. I was surprised to hear so quickly but I'm relieved that there is now nothing else standing in our way. Now we just wait for our referral! Several more families have received referrals this week. It is so good to hear of more referrals every time I check out the Philippines adoption group. It makes everything seem so much more real. My fingers are crossed that Joanne and Jenny both hear something very soon!

10 month anniversary!

Another month has passed and here we are at 10 months. The time really seems to be moving faster and faster and before you know it, we will reach our 1 year mark. I have met several families from Newfoundland now beginning the homestudy phase to adopt from the Philippines. It will be good to have contact with families who have children from the same country, especially since they all live within a 20 minute drive.

This has also been a very sad past few days. My cousin who I went to school with from Kindergarten to Grade 12 was killed in the helicopter crash here in Newfoundland. It is still quite unbelievable that it has happened. There were several people at my work who had relatives on board the helicopter. One person survived but the other 17 did not. They have located the wreckage and plan to bring the helicopter up soon and they think the bodies are inside. I hope this is true so that all of the families can get some closure and begin the healing process.

8 years old!

Today Sid turns 8! It is hard to believe that he is that old because he still acts like a puppy. He is always getting into some kind of trouble. I took him on a hike this morning with his other dog friends. I made blueberry muffins and I bought treats for all of the dogs. It was a beautiful sunny morning but it was very windy and cold. Sid is gone up in the woods with Brian now cutting wood. Sid runs up the path ahead of Brian who is on the ATV. I'm sure by the time he gets back, he will finally be tired!

On Thursday I sent off my immigration papers so that I can sponsor a child into Canada. I didn't even realize that I had to do this until I was reading someone elses post on the Yahoo group. Thank goodness I found out when I did. The adoption coordinator here in NL said that if I had gotten a referral without having this done I couldn't even have accepted the referral! Anyways, the paperwork is now all sent off and hopefully I'll hear something fairly soon. I don't know how long it takes for them to get back to you but I've heard from others that it is not too long when it has to do with adoption.

This past week there were two more referrals received. It is always exciting to hear this especially when it is someone you know (well kinda know). Congratulations again Julie!! We almost have 10 months in and I hope that we are now half way there. Only time will tell. I purchased a few childrens books this past week. One had lots of pictures of dogs and you could touch their fur. It was pretty cute so I had to buy it. That's it for now.

Little white footprints

When Brian came home from work yesterday, there were little white footprints all over the basement floor. Sid had tipped over a can of white paint and had walked all through it. Brian said that Sid's paws were huge because there were so many layers of paint on them. His belly, back, tail and head were all covered. Brian had to put him in the tub for an hour and when I got home I had to cut alot of paint out of his fur. I can't imagine what Sid was thinking as he sat in a pool of paint all day, especially as it hardened around his paws. Sid is always getting into some sort of trouble. He turns 8 on Sunday yet he still acts like a puppy!

Brian was quite mad at Sid but I told him that it was just good preparation for when our child comes home. We will need lots of patience then so Sid is giving us some practice with that right now!

Where has the winter gone?

I can't believe that it is March already. Where has the winter gone? Now don't get me wrong, I'm quite glad that it is passing quickly because by the end of February, I'm ready to see the end of the snow. I only got to use my snowshoes once this year because the snow was always quickly followed by rain, so the snow was never that great. Yesterday it was 12 degrees here, around 54 degrees farenheit. That is pretty amazing for this time of year. Sid lay out in the sun all day.

I had a great work trip to Gander and I got back on Friday evening. I've been on a cleaning kick ever since I got back and have gotten rid of ALOT of junk. I just love to sit back and enjoy after the house is all clean. Brian has finished laying the flooring in the spare bedroom (Sid's room) and now just has to paint it. Then he has to start the flooring in the other spare bedroom (to be the kiddo room but right now it's our computer room). I'm hoping that will all be done before the end of Spring.

In between my spurts of cleaning, I have been hooked on watching curling. I've never played but I love to watch it on tv. I've watched several matches live but it's definitely easier to watch on tv. The women's Canadian championship game is on this evening so I'll need to get all my junk cleared out by then so I can sit back and relax.

I head to Hawaii with Mom in just 3.5 weeks. The countdown begins. Just three more weeks of work!