This time of year, January is a time to look back and much more forward to the year ahead.
After all the holidays (for most of us a busy period )
It is always good to think about things you have done, learned, and could have done differently or better in a certain period of time. ('cause of over use I dislike 'reflect')
I do believe in life-long learning. So also learning from my mistakes.
What's been keeping me busy in 2011 in time but also in my thoughts?
Is it one and the same thing or is there a gap between what I have done, and what I was thinking about ...
If I look back in my (our) "photo album" of 2011, What do I see?
Is it the highlights, or lowpoints in my professional life or more so my personal life or a bit of both?
And, also very importantly what were my motives, my "red thread" or theme that was leading in my life for the last year.
So, how do I evaluate 2011?
Since I save rather a lot of things, (I am a bit of a hoarder) I go through 'stuff' articles, magazines, cut-outs etc.
I also go through my agenda (a filofax ;-) for the last year and have a look through my photographs.
My year in a nutshell:
In January I became 40, my 40th birthday was a great day on which my wife & son gave me 40 presents, some silly and some practical.
Certainly a great highlight was my birthday bbq party (held in June, due to weather reasons) which was attended by family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. It was a great sunny day with lots of fun!
Going to Disneyland and seeing the total joy & happiness on our son's face is also worth mentioning.
As well as him getting his first swimming diploma,scoring a great point at a basketball match,and me feeling very proud after his first report of this school year.
Meeting new people, and strengthening friendships, going to football matches, out for a meal or a drink and a great trip to the champagne!
A big theme has been (and continues in 2012) CHANGE...
The Decision to Adopt from Kenya has already had a big influence in my (and our) lives.
On the downside that is my current situation at work which is 'stationery'.
The upside is the start of my blogging, and finding this to be a good way to think about things and helps me to put things in perspective..
To make 2012 a great year for me and us, these things will be my focus:
The First and main thing will be the completion of our family,
anything else really just follows after ..
Of course one's (my own) health is always important, losing a bit of weight,
sporting a bit more...AND staying mentally & spiritually healthy and satisfied are all logical components to me at least.
Eventually after, hopefully a great adventure abroad, to come back and settle with our family of four!
After which I can turn my attention to finding a job, or position, where I can use my experience and background and feel appreciated.
So, Here it is an outline for 2012 seen through my eyes..
What is it going to be for you ?
---
A few lines about what is happening now, regarding the adoption.
We are waiting for news from Kenya, we have collected loads of documents and given all information and really feel is now up to the National Adoption Committee to come to a decision.
Of course the waiting is annoying, but that is how it is.
Up till an answer I have deciced not to shave, so I have a wild beard :-), so when I do shave it is clear there is news to be reported!
We have looked at all the contacts we have had with Wereld Kinderen and through them with Kenya to see if there is a logical time frame to be found, unfortunately there is not.
And there is not really anything anyone can do...patience,
and bear with us, we hope!
All the best to you all for 2012!
Sunday, 22 January 2012
Friday, 16 December 2011
Family
Subtitle: Presence or Presents.
We have a lot and (sometimes) we give a lot.
But is it what is needed and asked for, is it what really makes a difference ?
What I am talking about is what we do, say and how we act in regard to our family and friends.
We all live in a material world, and I am certainly no exception.
The last decades all our wealth has steadily risen to enormous heights,
and our 'free time' (or perception thereof) has declined as it seems to be.
Since 'the month of giving' is now here; Sinterklaas (Netherlands) and Christmas (most of the English speaking world) I feel it's a good time to post my thoughts..
Being a child with parents of different cultures our son grows up with both Sinterklaas (5th of December) and Christmas as a time of receiving presents.
We have said that eventually (when he does not "believe" anymore that there is a mythical figure that distributes presents in the winter), he will have to choose between the 2 occasions.
Funnily enough, especially this year it strikes me, that he is not particularly bothered by the size or 'cost' of a a parcel, but more with 2 other things;
- Who to play with (with the present)
- Who to share his good fortune with
Illustrated in the next anecdote; while opening his first present, Matthew says, while looking at his auntie & the present ...
"I do not think there is a brother in there .."
It is a funny process 'blogging' for me, this post has been in the making for months and changed titles (and content) a couple of times, but I feel I know more clearly what point(s) I want to make.
Because of the privileged world most of us live in nowadays TIME is a real commodity, and what follows from that is our full ATTENTION is sometimes rare.
With the new ways that information now reaches us, all the gadgets & social media on/through them, we sometimes forget about the most important things, the basics of life one could call them.
Being PRESENT during a conversation with your child,loved one,family member on the phone or even during a conversation at work or a discussion at work.
It is really horrible if you keep track of yourself (as I did)for a while and look back at your behaviour during conversations with other people, especially one on one!
I myself am surprised that not many more people have shouted out at me:
" Will you please, LISTEN, to me while I'm talking to you!"
(bet that just that is going to happen from now on;-)
But Awareness is the first step of changing ones Attitude.
So,
When we next buy a present maybe look less at the price tag and think more about the person we buy it for!
And while talking & listening give the other person the time & attention he or she deserves!
To illustrate and underwrite this post somehow, 2 more short video's from
Sarah-Kay (a wonderful wordpoet) and an amazing speech of the 19yr old Zach.
Whoever you are and Wherever you maybe right now and at Christmas, we wish you:
Prettige Kerstdagen en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!
Joyeux Noel et une bonne annee!
Frohe Weihnachten und ein glukliches Neues Jahr!
Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus un laimīgu Jauno gadu!
Merry Christmas dan Happy New Year
С Рождеством и Новым Годом
Feliz Navidad y un Feliz Ano Nuevo
Merry Christmas na Heri na Mwaka Mpya
Merry Christmas va Happy New Year
God Jul och ett Gott Nytt Ar
PS: with thanks to the following people in my life for inspiration for this post.
My wonderful family, both in IJsselstein & Montfoort as well as in Lichfield.
My friends, as well outside as inside the yellow & blue box.
Last but not least my lovely wife and beautiful son!
We have a lot and (sometimes) we give a lot.
But is it what is needed and asked for, is it what really makes a difference ?
What I am talking about is what we do, say and how we act in regard to our family and friends.
We all live in a material world, and I am certainly no exception.
The last decades all our wealth has steadily risen to enormous heights,
and our 'free time' (or perception thereof) has declined as it seems to be.
Since 'the month of giving' is now here; Sinterklaas (Netherlands) and Christmas (most of the English speaking world) I feel it's a good time to post my thoughts..
Being a child with parents of different cultures our son grows up with both Sinterklaas (5th of December) and Christmas as a time of receiving presents.
We have said that eventually (when he does not "believe" anymore that there is a mythical figure that distributes presents in the winter), he will have to choose between the 2 occasions.
Funnily enough, especially this year it strikes me, that he is not particularly bothered by the size or 'cost' of a a parcel, but more with 2 other things;
- Who to play with (with the present)
- Who to share his good fortune with
Illustrated in the next anecdote; while opening his first present, Matthew says, while looking at his auntie & the present ...
"I do not think there is a brother in there .."
It is a funny process 'blogging' for me, this post has been in the making for months and changed titles (and content) a couple of times, but I feel I know more clearly what point(s) I want to make.
Because of the privileged world most of us live in nowadays TIME is a real commodity, and what follows from that is our full ATTENTION is sometimes rare.
With the new ways that information now reaches us, all the gadgets & social media on/through them, we sometimes forget about the most important things, the basics of life one could call them.
Being PRESENT during a conversation with your child,loved one,family member on the phone or even during a conversation at work or a discussion at work.
It is really horrible if you keep track of yourself (as I did)for a while and look back at your behaviour during conversations with other people, especially one on one!
I myself am surprised that not many more people have shouted out at me:
" Will you please, LISTEN, to me while I'm talking to you!"
(bet that just that is going to happen from now on;-)
But Awareness is the first step of changing ones Attitude.
So,
When we next buy a present maybe look less at the price tag and think more about the person we buy it for!
And while talking & listening give the other person the time & attention he or she deserves!
To illustrate and underwrite this post somehow, 2 more short video's from
Sarah-Kay (a wonderful wordpoet) and an amazing speech of the 19yr old Zach.
Whoever you are and Wherever you maybe right now and at Christmas, we wish you:
Prettige Kerstdagen en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!
Joyeux Noel et une bonne annee!
Frohe Weihnachten und ein glukliches Neues Jahr!
Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus un laimīgu Jauno gadu!
Merry Christmas dan Happy New Year
С Рождеством и Новым Годом
Feliz Navidad y un Feliz Ano Nuevo
Merry Christmas na Heri na Mwaka Mpya
Merry Christmas va Happy New Year
God Jul och ett Gott Nytt Ar
PS: with thanks to the following people in my life for inspiration for this post.
My wonderful family, both in IJsselstein & Montfoort as well as in Lichfield.
My friends, as well outside as inside the yellow & blue box.
Last but not least my lovely wife and beautiful son!
Week 50 update (dutch & english)
Hej All, vrijdag 16 december 2011
Een korte update over "onze week".
Maandag ochtend hadden we een afspraak bij de notaris om de papieren die "extra"* gevraagd waren uit Kenia te laten legaliseren.
Gelukkig ging dit erg snel en op maandag al weer klaar!
Dinsdag werd ik, (Peter) gebeld door Wereldkinderen of het mogelijk was de papieren woensdag klaar te hebben in Den Haag voor "het rondje Den Haag".
(ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken,min. v. Justitie en Ambassade Kenya)
Dan zouden de papieren vervolgens naar Brussel gaan om het Ethiopische gedeelte daar door het consulaat te laten ondertekenen...
Dus zsm naar de rechtbank in Haarlem, waar tot onze verbazing (!) alles dinsdagavond meteen werd gelegaliseerd terwijl ik wachtte.
Woensdag op en neer naar Den Haag om alles persoonlijk te overhandigen.
En nu de hoop dat alles voor de Kerst in Nairobi ligt, zodat het gehele proces van goedkeuring door the National Adoption Committee kan plaatsvinden en we door kunnen gaan naar de volgende stap!
Gisteren, donderdag een grappige verassing, in een nieuwsbrief stond Matthew al geregistreerd bij de Nederlandse School in Kenia voor Januari!
Prettig Weekend!
___ ____ ____ ____
A short update about "our week".
Monday morning we had an appointment with the notary clerk to legalise all "extra"* papers that were asked for.
That went very well and they were ready that evening!
Tuesday I,(Peter) got a call from Wereldkinderen if we could have the papers in The Hague Wednesday ready for "the Hague loop" the ministeries of Foreign Affairs, Justice and Kenyan Embassy.
Then the papers will go to Brussels to the Ethiopian Consulate.
And from there to Nairobi.
So as quick as I could to the court in Haarlem for legalization there,
And to our big surprise (!) I could wait and all was ready that evening.
Wednesday to the Hague and back to deliver the papers in person.
Hopefully everything will be in Nairobi before Christmas.
After a positive answer from the National Adoption Committee,we can go through to next step in the process !
Yesterday, Thursday a funny surprise we received a newsletter from Kenya and in it Matthew was already listed as a student at the Dutch School in Kenya in January!
Have a good weekend!
* zie/ see the Waiting game.
Een korte update over "onze week".
Maandag ochtend hadden we een afspraak bij de notaris om de papieren die "extra"* gevraagd waren uit Kenia te laten legaliseren.
Gelukkig ging dit erg snel en op maandag al weer klaar!
Dinsdag werd ik, (Peter) gebeld door Wereldkinderen of het mogelijk was de papieren woensdag klaar te hebben in Den Haag voor "het rondje Den Haag".
(ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken,min. v. Justitie en Ambassade Kenya)
Dan zouden de papieren vervolgens naar Brussel gaan om het Ethiopische gedeelte daar door het consulaat te laten ondertekenen...
Dus zsm naar de rechtbank in Haarlem, waar tot onze verbazing (!) alles dinsdagavond meteen werd gelegaliseerd terwijl ik wachtte.
Woensdag op en neer naar Den Haag om alles persoonlijk te overhandigen.
En nu de hoop dat alles voor de Kerst in Nairobi ligt, zodat het gehele proces van goedkeuring door the National Adoption Committee kan plaatsvinden en we door kunnen gaan naar de volgende stap!
Gisteren, donderdag een grappige verassing, in een nieuwsbrief stond Matthew al geregistreerd bij de Nederlandse School in Kenia voor Januari!
Prettig Weekend!
___ ____ ____ ____
A short update about "our week".
Monday morning we had an appointment with the notary clerk to legalise all "extra"* papers that were asked for.
That went very well and they were ready that evening!
Tuesday I,(Peter) got a call from Wereldkinderen if we could have the papers in The Hague Wednesday ready for "the Hague loop" the ministeries of Foreign Affairs, Justice and Kenyan Embassy.
Then the papers will go to Brussels to the Ethiopian Consulate.
And from there to Nairobi.
So as quick as I could to the court in Haarlem for legalization there,
And to our big surprise (!) I could wait and all was ready that evening.
Wednesday to the Hague and back to deliver the papers in person.
Hopefully everything will be in Nairobi before Christmas.
After a positive answer from the National Adoption Committee,we can go through to next step in the process !
Yesterday, Thursday a funny surprise we received a newsletter from Kenya and in it Matthew was already listed as a student at the Dutch School in Kenya in January!
Have a good weekend!
* zie/ see the Waiting game.
Saturday, 26 November 2011
Reacties doen het weer ! Comments is switched on again!
Hello you all, 26/11 saturday
If you want to, you can comment again,
Underneath every blog post there is an open Comment field.
Comment, if you wish ; With a name, anonymous, or a question, or request...
It is up to you!
Anyway thanks all, for reading our blog all your interest helps to keep us going!
It is not always easy, but we will stay on this journey till we have reached a positive ending.
Thank You.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Hallo Allemaal,
As je dat wilt, kun je weer reacties achterlaten.
Onder elk stukje is er een open veld voor reacties.
Met naam, anoniem, een vraag of een verzoek...
Het is aan jou!
Hoe dan ook, bedankt voor het lezen van onze blog jullie interesse helpt ons door te gaan.
Het is niet altijd gemakkelijk, maar we blijven op reis tot we een positief einde bereikt hebben.
Bedankt.
If you want to, you can comment again,
Underneath every blog post there is an open Comment field.
Comment, if you wish ; With a name, anonymous, or a question, or request...
It is up to you!
Anyway thanks all, for reading our blog all your interest helps to keep us going!
It is not always easy, but we will stay on this journey till we have reached a positive ending.
Thank You.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Hallo Allemaal,
As je dat wilt, kun je weer reacties achterlaten.
Onder elk stukje is er een open veld voor reacties.
Met naam, anoniem, een vraag of een verzoek...
Het is aan jou!
Hoe dan ook, bedankt voor het lezen van onze blog jullie interesse helpt ons door te gaan.
Het is niet altijd gemakkelijk, maar we blijven op reis tot we een positief einde bereikt hebben.
Bedankt.
The Waiting Game --- Of wel nog steeds wachten
So, back with some news about our ongoing adoption story.
We got a call from Wereldkinderen, our agency but not with the news we were waiting for.
I already said to Jane," I think we will hear from them soon", well I was right about that.
Our dossier is at the National Adoption Committee and they have reviewed it and the Director of Children’s Services talked to the CWSK (our representative agency in Kenya that they want more information).
They are talking about another 3 forms:
- 6th schedule / social enquiry
- 2nd referral
- information about our adoption from Ethiopia
The 1st is strange since it is full of information that we do not know yet about the 'to be adopted child'.
The 2nd is even stranger since we already sent 2 great referrals (recommendations. So maybe they have to count again.
The 3rd is a bit puzzling, we can not see why it is needed and it is not possible to legalise any documents since they are all from Ethiopia.
So we have regular contact with Wereldkinderen and CWSK about what is expected of us.
The 2 slightly positive pieces of information are that:
Immediately after we have a proposal from Wereldkinderen we can travel to Kenya, there is no waiting time anymore.(Was 1 to 2 months). Though we will need a few weeks to sort things out here, travelling 'immediately' would be quite difficult.
Because the procedure takes so long now and is very thorough(at the beginning) it is maybe possible to shorten our stay in Kenya from the 9 months to less than that ...
Of course we will keep everybody informed here!
But no Christmas gift, in the shape of a proposal, for us in 2011.
*** *** *** ***
Eindelijk nieuws over de adoptie, maar niet het nieuws waar we op hoopten...
Tegen Jane zei ik :'ik denk dat ze vandaag gaan bellen',
Nou dat klopte ook wel met een verzoek om meer informatie.
Het Nationaal Adoptie Comité heeft ons dossier bekeken en laat via het CWSK,
de lokale vertegenwoordiger in Kenia, dat ze nog meer informatie willen.
Het gaat om 3 documenten:
- Ten 1ste, 6th schedule sociale achtergronden
- 2de een tweede getuigenis mvan mensen die ons goede ouders vinden
- 3de informatie over de adoptie van Matthew uit Ethiopie
Het 1ste is heel vreemd want gaat grotendeels over het te adopteren kind en dus vol vragen waarop wij het antwoord (nog) niet weten...
Het 2de is nog vreemder, want we hebben 2 uitstekende getuigenissen (waarvoor dank!) DUS misschien moeten ze nog eens tellen.
Het derde daarvan zien we niet in waarom ze dit willen en alle documenten zijn Ethiopisch en daarom hier niet te legaliseren.
Via Wereldkinderen is er nu regelmatig contact met CWSK in Kenia om de procedure op het goede spoor te houden.
Twee mogelijke goede punten zijn dat we nu gehoord hebben dat;
Direct na het aanvaarden van een voorstel (Naam, leeftijd en geslacht kind) kunnen we afreizen naar Kenia. (was eerst 1-2 maanden wachttijd)
Misschien is het mogelijk, omdat de procedure nu zo zorgvuldig is, om de periode van verblijf in Kenia iets te verkorten, naar minder dan 9 maanden..
Maar goed we houden eenieder via deze weg op de hoogte.
In December geen kadootje in de vorm van een voorstel, dat zal pas in 2012 gebeuren.
We got a call from Wereldkinderen, our agency but not with the news we were waiting for.
I already said to Jane," I think we will hear from them soon", well I was right about that.
Our dossier is at the National Adoption Committee and they have reviewed it and the Director of Children’s Services talked to the CWSK (our representative agency in Kenya that they want more information).
They are talking about another 3 forms:
- 6th schedule / social enquiry
- 2nd referral
- information about our adoption from Ethiopia
The 1st is strange since it is full of information that we do not know yet about the 'to be adopted child'.
The 2nd is even stranger since we already sent 2 great referrals (recommendations. So maybe they have to count again.
The 3rd is a bit puzzling, we can not see why it is needed and it is not possible to legalise any documents since they are all from Ethiopia.
So we have regular contact with Wereldkinderen and CWSK about what is expected of us.
The 2 slightly positive pieces of information are that:
Immediately after we have a proposal from Wereldkinderen we can travel to Kenya, there is no waiting time anymore.(Was 1 to 2 months). Though we will need a few weeks to sort things out here, travelling 'immediately' would be quite difficult.
Because the procedure takes so long now and is very thorough(at the beginning) it is maybe possible to shorten our stay in Kenya from the 9 months to less than that ...
Of course we will keep everybody informed here!
But no Christmas gift, in the shape of a proposal, for us in 2011.
*** *** *** ***
Eindelijk nieuws over de adoptie, maar niet het nieuws waar we op hoopten...
Tegen Jane zei ik :'ik denk dat ze vandaag gaan bellen',
Nou dat klopte ook wel met een verzoek om meer informatie.
Het Nationaal Adoptie Comité heeft ons dossier bekeken en laat via het CWSK,
de lokale vertegenwoordiger in Kenia, dat ze nog meer informatie willen.
Het gaat om 3 documenten:
- Ten 1ste, 6th schedule sociale achtergronden
- 2de een tweede getuigenis mvan mensen die ons goede ouders vinden
- 3de informatie over de adoptie van Matthew uit Ethiopie
Het 1ste is heel vreemd want gaat grotendeels over het te adopteren kind en dus vol vragen waarop wij het antwoord (nog) niet weten...
Het 2de is nog vreemder, want we hebben 2 uitstekende getuigenissen (waarvoor dank!) DUS misschien moeten ze nog eens tellen.
Het derde daarvan zien we niet in waarom ze dit willen en alle documenten zijn Ethiopisch en daarom hier niet te legaliseren.
Via Wereldkinderen is er nu regelmatig contact met CWSK in Kenia om de procedure op het goede spoor te houden.
Twee mogelijke goede punten zijn dat we nu gehoord hebben dat;
Direct na het aanvaarden van een voorstel (Naam, leeftijd en geslacht kind) kunnen we afreizen naar Kenia. (was eerst 1-2 maanden wachttijd)
Misschien is het mogelijk, omdat de procedure nu zo zorgvuldig is, om de periode van verblijf in Kenia iets te verkorten, naar minder dan 9 maanden..
Maar goed we houden eenieder via deze weg op de hoogte.
In December geen kadootje in de vorm van een voorstel, dat zal pas in 2012 gebeuren.
Saturday, 15 October 2011
Music and lyrics... ( about kids and parents)
Hello to all,
I do sometimes wonder 'Is it me you were looking for ?', from the statistics tool one can see from where people originate.. (only countries or the referral sites)
And we have readers from far afield! And through several channels.
Anyway, don't be shy and let me know If you have any questions, or leave a reaction!
(Since we seem to be in a 'holding pattern' here as far as adoption goes,
subjects you would like to hear about are welcome as well, I do not NEED to blog every week, but do have enough opinions ... ;-)
Anyway this time a different subject again, underneath some great songs about parents and children.
For the Dutch there is our local hero Marco;Dochters, Marco Borsato
Which starts of with 'Quarter past seven on Sunday morning..' a line we are (at least) very familiar with! It is a sweet song about growing up, but it might have been inspired by another, which we will mention later.
One of the best known songs is Papa, from Stef Bos with the line 'but dad I am more like you all the time' a sentiment I at least can very much acknowledge!
There is also lot of sentiment in it if you are a father of an adopted son.
All the physical likeness can be skipped immediately (lucky for Matthew in my case!) but in my opinion there is enough space still in the nature versus nurture discussion to recognize a lot of myself in Matthew's behaviour.
{ "can not sit still, talks too much"; could be my report card, as both my sisters will agree }
Of course there is also the rap trio; Yes-R, Ali B, Lange Frans with 'Me Boy '
A nice try, if you like (dutch) rap music.
For American rap there is 2Pac, with Dear Mama.
And last but not least our very local (from Haarlem) Alain Clark, Father and friend, which he sings with his own father. This song (and Alain) I have always liked a lot, there are some really nice lines in it, with nice sentiments about growing up and the differences between generations.
Other possible contenders in our Parents & Kids list could be;
Mama, by the Spice Girls cheesy girlgroup but still a classic ;-)
Father to son, Phil Collins who has made quite some stuff with decent lyrics and not only Sky Radio background muzak!
And I also like The Day, by Babyface who is a big producer and singer/songwriter himself but not so well known.
Of course Whitney Houston, with The greatest love of all With the lyrics no one can argue about 'I believe the children are our future'; good lyrics too much Houston ?!
Other possibilities:
Isn't she lovely, Stevie Wonder definitely a classic, bit too sweet?
Ready,Set,Don't go- Billy Ray Cyrus sung sometimes with his daughter 'Hannah Montana'.
For people who like the real 'oldies' it could be argued that the Frank Sinatra songs; Young at heart & You make me feel so young are also about kids or at least about youth(s).
There are also some more obscure titles like:
Baby Girl Window, Robbie Williams (sad, and a bit unlike him)
Guns and Roses, Sweet Child of mine (bit unclear from the lyrics)
Lullabye, Billy Joel (Not very well known song, great artist though!)
Flowers for Zoe, Lenny Kravitz (for his daughter with Lisa Bonnet)
A child's prayer, the Hot Chocolate version (old, but nice)
Children, EMF An indie dance band from the Midlands, UK (Unbelievable was their biggest hit)
The real Top Hit for both of us though must be;
Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle
(by which Marco Borsato's song seems to have been inspired at least a bit)
It is a full story about a father and his daughter up to her wedding day.
He has written it for his daughter on the occasion of her 16th birthday.
Before he brought out this song,(and won a country music award) he was a relatively unknown christian country musician.
But look & listen for yourselves with the link underneath.
(and let us know what YOU think ?!)
I do sometimes wonder 'Is it me you were looking for ?', from the statistics tool one can see from where people originate.. (only countries or the referral sites)
And we have readers from far afield! And through several channels.
Anyway, don't be shy and let me know If you have any questions, or leave a reaction!
(Since we seem to be in a 'holding pattern' here as far as adoption goes,
subjects you would like to hear about are welcome as well, I do not NEED to blog every week, but do have enough opinions ... ;-)
Anyway this time a different subject again, underneath some great songs about parents and children.
For the Dutch there is our local hero Marco;Dochters, Marco Borsato
Which starts of with 'Quarter past seven on Sunday morning..' a line we are (at least) very familiar with! It is a sweet song about growing up, but it might have been inspired by another, which we will mention later.
One of the best known songs is Papa, from Stef Bos with the line 'but dad I am more like you all the time' a sentiment I at least can very much acknowledge!
There is also lot of sentiment in it if you are a father of an adopted son.
All the physical likeness can be skipped immediately (lucky for Matthew in my case!) but in my opinion there is enough space still in the nature versus nurture discussion to recognize a lot of myself in Matthew's behaviour.
{ "can not sit still, talks too much"; could be my report card, as both my sisters will agree }
Of course there is also the rap trio; Yes-R, Ali B, Lange Frans with 'Me Boy '
A nice try, if you like (dutch) rap music.
For American rap there is 2Pac, with Dear Mama.
And last but not least our very local (from Haarlem) Alain Clark, Father and friend, which he sings with his own father. This song (and Alain) I have always liked a lot, there are some really nice lines in it, with nice sentiments about growing up and the differences between generations.
Other possible contenders in our Parents & Kids list could be;
Mama, by the Spice Girls cheesy girlgroup but still a classic ;-)
Father to son, Phil Collins who has made quite some stuff with decent lyrics and not only Sky Radio background muzak!
And I also like The Day, by Babyface who is a big producer and singer/songwriter himself but not so well known.
Of course Whitney Houston, with The greatest love of all With the lyrics no one can argue about 'I believe the children are our future'; good lyrics too much Houston ?!
Other possibilities:
Isn't she lovely, Stevie Wonder definitely a classic, bit too sweet?
Ready,Set,Don't go- Billy Ray Cyrus sung sometimes with his daughter 'Hannah Montana'.
For people who like the real 'oldies' it could be argued that the Frank Sinatra songs; Young at heart & You make me feel so young are also about kids or at least about youth(s).
There are also some more obscure titles like:
Baby Girl Window, Robbie Williams (sad, and a bit unlike him)
Guns and Roses, Sweet Child of mine (bit unclear from the lyrics)
Lullabye, Billy Joel (Not very well known song, great artist though!)
Flowers for Zoe, Lenny Kravitz (for his daughter with Lisa Bonnet)
A child's prayer, the Hot Chocolate version (old, but nice)
Children, EMF An indie dance band from the Midlands, UK (Unbelievable was their biggest hit)
The real Top Hit for both of us though must be;
Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle
(by which Marco Borsato's song seems to have been inspired at least a bit)
It is a full story about a father and his daughter up to her wedding day.
He has written it for his daughter on the occasion of her 16th birthday.
Before he brought out this song,(and won a country music award) he was a relatively unknown christian country musician.
But look & listen for yourselves with the link underneath.
(and let us know what YOU think ?!)
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Not much news ... 12/10/2011
Hello All,
Unfortunately there is not so much to report about the adoption at the moment.
We have heard from WereldKinderen that the CWSK (Child Welfare Society of Kenya) has received all our documents (dossier) and is now checking them before all goes to the NAC (National Adoption Committee).
We expect to know more in November at the earliest..
So settling down at work and school for some rainy (& windy) autumn days!
School holidays, birthdays in the family,Sint Maarten, Halloween, Kenya "reunion", and than we will see.
Thanks all for reading our posts and we will think about a next (related) subject!
Peter and Jane
Unfortunately there is not so much to report about the adoption at the moment.
We have heard from WereldKinderen that the CWSK (Child Welfare Society of Kenya) has received all our documents (dossier) and is now checking them before all goes to the NAC (National Adoption Committee).
We expect to know more in November at the earliest..
So settling down at work and school for some rainy (& windy) autumn days!
School holidays, birthdays in the family,Sint Maarten, Halloween, Kenya "reunion", and than we will see.
Thanks all for reading our posts and we will think about a next (related) subject!
Peter and Jane
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