Sunday, December 18, 2011

Great news!

As you all know in my travels to Haiti, Heartline Ministries has carved a way into my heart...and for good reason. I have raved about Beth and John and all the people attached to Heartline (Tara, Troy, Heather just to name a few) and all the great things they do for the people of Haiti. Many of you have asked me about donations and who you could donate to ensure the money actually gets to the people/services that need it and time and time again I have said without hesitation Heartline.

The people of Heartline are so beautiful in their acceptance of all human beings (and bull mastifs..) and I am so grateful for their place in my life.
This past week Heartline became the recipents of a 50K grant... and oh the things they will do with that money!

I am so, so proud of them and give thanks to those of you who voted for them in this contest. See the video of the winners here...
Beth is last and as I predicted..well you'll see...

http://givingoflife.com/winners

Warms my heart....

Monday, December 5, 2011

A new beginning...



For those of you who know me well know I am usually not at a loss for words....In terms of this blog there are times that I know exactly what it is I want to say but I have trouble finding those words..this time is no exception...

The past week has been one of many emotions for me and they have reached all ends of the spectrum. So as I sit here tonight I feel that although I still have a sense of sadness in me I know that this event is one of happiness for a little someone I care very much about.....

Most of you have followed me throughout my journey with Haiti over the past 20 months and more importantly you have helped me support and love a little lady and her family. We, collectively have helped to care for her and her family in many ways from monthly funding to gifts for special occasions to building a home for them. You have read about the ups and downs of their life in Haiti, you have helped me keep connected to them while living 5242 kms and/or 3257 miles away and when I am only 5 miles away and you along with me have fallen in love with the hope that comes from a life starting out even if the beginning was a bit bumpy!


I personally have been able to see and experience how life comes full-circle and I am so grateful for the learning that has occured as a result of my expeiences in Haiti and with this family in particular!

Over my trips to Haiti grandma has asked me multiple times to adopt little lady...not because she doesn't love her but exactly the opposite because she does love her so much (not that a life away from Haiti and family is "better", that is not what I am saying). But grandma has an awful lot on her plate. I won't go into details here about her situation but Beth (who has lived in Haiti for 20+ years) tells me every time we talk how she doesn't know how grandma does it, how the needs she must meet on a daily basis are astounding and would be overwhelming for those of us living in the "first world" with far more means then she has... So her want for me to adopt ti Rose I know comes from a place of love and how I have wished I could do exactly that...But in all things real, I know and have known deep down there were many reasons that I could not do what she asked of me...financial reasons, personal reasons and a mixture of both. I also do believe strongly in supporting people where they are at...I know Rose has a family and one that loves her very much as I see evidence of with every trip to Haiti.
Life in Haiti is difficult and I know that is what grandma is thinking. Grandma is also an older lady looking down the barral of overwhelming responsibilities and I know that to have Rose and John-lee living in a place where they will be cared for if anything were to happen to her is and always has been her ultimate wish...

So why all this background? Well this week I found out that Ti Roses brother (John-lee) is being adopted by a Canadian couple and that the couple also wanted to adopt Rose..... I don't have really any details (as I have no real rights to any) but I know that it has been a sad, yet happy week for me. Before the news I had been giving the whole adoption topic some really serious thought..had looked at my life...this wasn't in the plan but really what is my plan anyway!? I had done a lot of reading on international adoptions and had sat down and had a serious look at my finances and had put lots of thought into the questions...

"Can I do this?"

"Is this what is best for everyone? Me (really the only person I could have an answer for in this question), Rose, John-lee, Grandma and family?"

I hadn't finished answering them when I received the email telling be about the adoptions... but I think in my heart I always knew the answers...

Grandma still contested that I be the one to adopt Rose..something that broke my heart to have to decline. I grew up with an older brother and although I might have thought differently when I was 7,10 and 15 I would have not wanted it any other way and I could never separate little lady from her older brother...Grandma is one of the most amazing women I have ever met, so disappointing her crushed me... Beth and Agathe explained to her that I didn't want Rose and John-lee separated and that I could not afford to adopt them both.... In the end I think she understood and as Beth said she just wants what she feels is best for them.

So as it sits and from my understanding things are still in the preliminary stages but it looks like little lady and her brother will be joining us north of the 49th parallel but with other (I am sure) equally as loving Canadians...

I will continue to provide support to them during the process (if possible) and I will in no way stop going to Haiti. I also hope that I can in some small way remain a part of these two precious childrens lives while remaining respectful of their new family.


Some People

By Flavia Weedn

Some people come into our lives
and leave footprints on our hearts
and we are never ever the same.

Some people come into our lives
and quickly go...Some stay for a while
and embrace our silent dreams.

They help us become aware
of the delicate winds of hope...
and we discover within every human spirit
there are wings yearning to fly.

They help our hearts to see that
the only stairway to the stars
is woven with dreams...
and we find ourselves
unafraid to reach high.

They celebrate the true essence
of who we are...
and have faith in all
that we may become.

Some people awaken us
to new and deeper realizations...
for we gain insight
from the passing whisper of their wisdom.

Throughout our lives we are sent
precious souls...
meant to share our journey
however brief or lasting their stay
they remind us why we are here.

To learn...to teach...to nurture...to love.

Some people come into our lives
to cast a steady light
upon our path and guide our every step
their shining belief in us
helps us to believe in ourselves.

Some people come into our
lives to teach us about love...
The love that rests within ourselves.

Let us reach out to others
and feel the bliss of giving
for love is far richer in action
than it ever is in words.

Some people come into our lives
and they move our souls to sing
and make our spirits dance.

They help us to see that everything on earth
is part of the incredibility of life...
and that it is always there
for us to take of its joy.


Some people come into our lives
and leave footprints on our hearts
and we are never ever the same.


So because all of you have helped me and have also loved this family I wanted to say thank you and that as much as I can I will keep you informed. I am hoping to be able to show this new family that Rose, John-lee, Olez and the whole family are so loved by another "family" here in Canada and that as the old saying goes "It takes a village to raise a child" maybe in this case we can substitute "village" for "country"...

Love Lise