Incredible Iceland

From icebergs to waterfalls to cool rock and lava formations, Iceland was a country to behold. Such rugged beauty!

Meaford Memories

This summer has gone way too fast.  It seems like we didn't spend nearly enough time at the cottage.  But when we were there we had good weather and fun with friends.  Here are a few snaps from the summer...

Maya, Chloe and Ella petitioning to keep the old book nook!

Gabby and Maya doing crafts on the deck

The cottage gang having fund with the raft

Sampling beers and non-alcoholic juice at the Thornbury Cidery

Having a snack at the Cheese Gallery

Enjoying Open Mic at the Barn

Me, Ella, Maya, and Neeley

My flowers look terrific thanks to all the rain 

Mini putt anyone?

A paddle down the bay

 Fishing in the river in town

A Summer of Music

The theme this spring and summer was music!  We were entertained by Aidan playing trumpet in the stage and concert bands in May.  Then this summer, Maya started singing at Open Mic at the Barn.  And Aidan started playing the guitar. So fun to hear Maya sing to a very friendly crowd and I love Aidan plucking away at his guitar at the cottage.  We also attended a very unique concert at a dairy farm near the cottage .

 All dressed up and ready to play!

Aidan in the Intermediate Stage Band

They won gold standing at the regional competition

 Maya decides to sign up for Open Mic at the Barn near our cottage

She bravely sang to a very supportive crowd including her friends Ella and Chloe

 Aidan started playing the guitar this summer.

We all went to Symphony in the Barn, about 1 hour from our cottage

We heard some fabulous musicians in a barn setting.  So unique!

Catching up on Birthdays

It's been a while since I posted so I thought I would catch up with a few photos of the kids' birthday dinners.  Aidan turned 15 in March and May turned 9 in April.  They are growing up so fast.... especially Aidan who is 6' 2" now.  

 Aidan turns 15

 Maya turns 9!

 She lost her favourite stuffed monkey so she was thrilled to get a replacement one!

Maya on her new green bike, sporting her new green helmet

If you want to give back to Vietnam - Part 2

Another wonderful charity is APER.  It is a French charity run by the father of adoptees from Vietnam.  APER provided funding for the orphanage in Vung Tau City as well as funding to build and run the nearby Long Hai vocational centre.  We are currently sponsoring two girls through APER.  One is living at the Vung Tau orphanage.  The second is the daughter of the cook at the Vung Tau orphanage and we are sponsoring her university education. She is studying pharmacy. We get regular updates (in English) about the girls and we write back.  We have visited one of the girls twice. It's wonderfully personal.  If you would like more information, please check out APER's website (only in French) at this link.  Note that if you email the president, he is able to write back in English.  Also the woman who administers the sponsorships locally speaks English. 

If you want to give back to Vietnam...Part One

I've had the opportunity to donate to several worthwhile organizations that are doing wonderful things in Vietnam.  The first I'd like to highlight is the Canadian charity called the Vietnam Education Society (or VES).  This charity made it possible for us to completely sponsor the school in Maya's home province of Ba Ria Vung Tau as well as partially sponsor a school in the north near Bac Giang.  I was able to visit both schools and could see first-hand the positive effects it has had on the children.

Please watch the following video and consider donating to the Vietnam Education Society:

If you would like to make a dedicated donation to the school in Ba Ria Vung Tau, I know the school needs desks and chairs.

Last Night in Saigon

On our last full day in Vietnam we relaxed by the pool and then took in a wonderful show at the opera house complete with dancing, acrobatics, and traditional music. Aidan was well enough to attend and both kids enjoyed the show. 

On our way home today.

Visit to Maya's Orphanage and Vung Tau Orphanage

Our original plan was to spend two nights in Vung Tau city after visiting the school, but we ended up in Saigon after Aidan's health scare.  Fortunately Aidan was recovering but still had a fever.  We decided that Mike would stay with Aidan in Saigon and Maya and I would return to Vung Tau to visit her orphanage in Ba Ria and our sponsored child in Vung Tau City.  I wasn't feeling much like a return trip to Vung Tau after the long and scary trip the day before, but we couldn't leave Vietnam without a visit to Maya's orphanage, as this was the main reason we were here!  I also wanted to leave a donation in memory of Sharon at the Vung Tau orphanage.

After a few coffees and a big breakfast, I felt re-energized and Maya and I set off by private taxi to Vung Tau.  The hydrofoil tickets were all sold out.  We stopped in Ba Ria to buy a few treats for the kid and then stopped at her orphanage in Ba Ria.  While there were no nannies there that we recognized from when Maya was a baby, she was warmly received, hugged and kissed by the staff.  She was swarmed by the kids when she gave out the treats.  We were able to see the baby room and tour the orphanage.  The orphanage had been fixed up since my last visit.  Someone had built a new playground and painted the walls, so it wasn't so depressing any more.  Maya seemed happy to see her orphanage.  It was a positive experience.

Then on to Vung Tau city to visit our sponsored child, Ngoc Anh.  We had a little belated Christmas present for her and also for the student we are sponsoring.  I also wanted to drop a donation off in Sharon's memory.  Maya enjoyed playing tag with Ngoc And in the playground.

Here are some photos from our day:

Maya inside Ba Ria orphanage with man who works there

Maya in room where we met with the director when we adopted her

There was a new playground and the fence was painted 

Maya handing out treats

Maya's original baby room is an office but she saw a similar baby room

Maya looking at the kind of crib she used as a baby

Photo of Maya with kids and staff

Maya at the front gate.

Meeting Ngoc Anh at the orphanage in Vung Tau city

Meeting "pagoda" children, abandoned kids at a nearby pagoda who have been taken in.  They were a little wild!

Photo of me and Maya with Ngoc Anh and Anh Dao's mom (mother of student we are sponsoring)

Maya playing tag with Ngoc Anh

Maya with Ngoc Anh and others

Maya with Truyen, who showed us around the orphanage