OUR FIRST PURCHASE...

So it's been a month and one week since all of our documents were in St. Vincent; some days it feels longer than others. It's difficult to remember that we have only just begun the process. We are trying to remain optomistic and positive but it's still hard.

All of the information we have read says that when you are missing your baby and feeling blue, that you should buy your little one a present. In the past there was really never any guarantee nor did we know for sure that we would ever get the opportunity to be parents...now being able to actually go out and purchase items for our baby makes it all seem that much more real.

Below you can see the very first thing we bought for our baby from their Momma and Dadda. We call him Vincy the monkey and he sleeps in the tree in our bedroom waiting for the arrival of his new best friend.

THE FUNDRAISER...

A fundraiser is being put on to help support Scott & Desiree Parisien, as they prepare to create a forever family through the process of international adoption, from a little known country in the Caribbean called St. Vincent & the Grenadines. The cost of international adoption can be difficult to bear, so we would like to help the Parisien’s raise the money needed to travel to pick up and bring home their beautiful little boy or girl.

To facilitate this we are planning an exciting, activity packed Steak Night on Thursday November 20th, 2008 at The Odeon. Doors open at 6pm, supper at 7pm with entertainment throughout the night. Tickets will be only $20.00 per person, which includes your choice of Steak, Chicken or Vegetarian, and there are child tickets available for only $8.00.

Not only does the night come with a great dinner, but we will also have loads of fun and entertainment, including but not limited to:

* Saskatoon Caribbean Steel Drum Band
* Saskatoon Caribbean Dancers
* Live Music Performances
* Live Auction big ticket items
* Silent Auction Items (great Christmas gifts)
* 50/50 draws, raffles, door prizes

Plus, you will get the chance to meet with Scott & Desiree and show your support, while learning all about the culture and birth country of their future child, which the travel business refers to as “The Hidden Jewels of the Caribbean.”

Our hope is to raise enough money so that Scott & Desiree can enjoy their trip to meet and bring home their baby, without any worries as to how they will pay for everything involved in completing their forever family... which will be approximately $10,000.00.

To get your tickets or for more information, please email openarms@sasktel.net, or call Paul or Tanya at 978-7359. Tickets are sure to go fast, so we hope to hear from you soon!

REALLY GREAT FRIENDS...

SO...we met Paul and Tanya a few months ago when we moved into our new home - they had moved into theirs a few months earlier. Paul and Desiree instantly bonded and would meet in the parking lot and have conversations for hours on end. It took Tanya and Scott a little while longer than Paul and Desiree to connect, but now the four of us have grown quite close. It's now to the point where we'll go to get the mail, we'll see Paul and Tanya, and two hours later we'll eventually make it home. We have got to know them and have learned a lot from them, but nothing could prepare us for how great these two people would be and how much we would be blessed by having them in our lives.

Just the other day they announced that they wanted to throw us a fundraiser to help us raise money for our big trip to go pick up our baby and bring him or her home. They had been discussing this for quite some time without us knowing. It's hard to explain the feeling you get when someone you've basically just met offers such a selfless, caring and unbelievable gesture of kindness - we are truly honoured to call them friends. We have already become an Uncle and Aunt to their little girl Tess and can't wait for them to be an Uncle and Aunt to our little one. Paul and Tanya probably have no idea how their thoughtfulness truly brightened our world at a time that we needed it most.

Further information on the fundraiser will be announced soon. Watch for more details!