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Happy Birthday, Mom. We wish you a wonderful year filled with new memories, love, health & happiness. Kiss Kiss xx |
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Happy Birthday, ooh Omi
Friday, April 23, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Bella's Visit
Melanie and Isabella came for a visit a few weeks ago. The last time the girls were together was Nola's 1st bday in May, 2008. Shortly after the big b-day bash, they moved to Maryland.
Nola 1, Bella 2.5
I first met Melanie shortly after I learned about adoption in Kyrgyzstan. I became very interested in this country and the beautiful people. At the time we met, I was in the process of choosing an agency. It turned out that Melanie lived in my town ... in the development across the street. WOW, huh?
I first saw a picture of Isabella on an adoption forum, and was told she was from Russia. My first thought - 'are you sure she's from Russia?' I quickly learned she was from Kyrgyzstan. Double WOW!
Bella's first pumpkin patch - Oct. 06
Bella came home in September of 2006. I had the pleasure of meeting her soon after, in late October. She was a little peanut at barely 11 mos of age, but boy, did she have spunk. I remember lots of smiles -- she was one happy baby. And still is.
So, like I said, Mel and Belle moved to Maryland a few days after Nola's first birthday. Last month, we were lucky to spend time with them during their visit to FL. Ok, enough with the words ... onto the pics of our girls.
Aren't they cute?
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Kyrgyzstan Unrest
I am extremely saddened by the latest events that have transpired in Kyrgyzstan over the past 2-3 days. As you may know, this is Nola's birth country. There are many news resources out there where you can google and learn more. In the meantime, here are reports from today.
Q&A: Kyrgyzstan unrest--
BBC News Online looks at the causes and possible consequences of unrest in Kyrgyzstan which has removed President Kurmanbek Bakiyev from power.
I have seen many images over the last couple of days along with some horrifying video clips. So many of the images show the very places mom and I passed on our many walks through downtown Bishkek during both trips to Kyrgyzstan.
This report indicates that there are close to 65 dead--
The opposition in Kyrgyzstan says it is setting up an interim government after taking control of the capital in a bloody uprising.
This next report, copied below, shares some of the Kyrgyz voices --
People in Kyrgyzstan describe the dramatic events of the last two days and share their fears for the future of the country.
Kyrgyz voices: 'Uncertain situation'
People in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek describe the dramatic events of the last two days and share their fears for the future of the country.
ROMAN KIM, 22, NGO WORKER
I didn't take part in protests - I was busy packing my father's shop.
It's located in the downtown area close to the White House [government headquarters]. He sells household appliances.
The big protests five years ago ended up with chaos and lots of looting. We knew that we could expect something similar this time as well.
By 6pm everything was packed and loaded on the car. We couldn't rely on any trucks - truck drivers were afraid that they would be attacked by looters.
There weren't any store rooms available either. We had to move everything to our home. We are very much afraid that there's more to come.
There are rumours that lots of people are coming on trucks to Bishkek from neighbouring regions. People around me are afraid that these people want to take advantage of the current situation and everyone is vigilant.
I don't think anybody is in charge at the moment and we are very afraid - we expect more trouble
All the major stores have already been broken into and there's not much left to take. So there are fears that people looking to loot will move on to attacking people's homes.
The people of Bishkek are now creating volunteer groups to protect their businesses, coordinating their activities via SMS, Twitter and popular forums, like diesel.elcat.kg.
The city has been divided into five zones and people from different neighbourhoods are writing about what's happening where they are and what they can see from their windows.
I had a walk in my neighbourhood this morning and I noticed volunteers wearing white bands around their arms, holding hunting rifles. I don't have a rifle myself, but it's good to know that my neighbour does.
I don't see any police or army presence. We are being assured on TV and radio by opposition leaders that they've got everything under control, but I don't think anybody is in charge at the moment and we are very afraid. We expect more trouble.
BAKYT MUKAMBETOV, 21, STUDENT
Our family has a chain of small shops - one of them was looted last night. The situation from five years ago got repeated. Only this time it wasn't as bad as we expected it. People knew what to expect and were better prepared.
Still, most of the government stores are empty. Our shop was completely destroyed and everything we sell - general food items, like milk and bread - is gone.
I stayed at home last night, following the events on the internet. I didn't want to protest. Yesterday's protesters didn't really know what they want.
Many people are happy with what happened to the president. They say he got what he deserved. And I agree with them.
Bakiyev is not the right person to run the country. There are rumours that he is in Osh now. He should be here, to face the nation, not run away like that. He is not a real man.
Things will get worse - now we are stuck with this division of power and there's lots of uncertainty
What happened yesterday was very bad and there are tough questions to be answered. I have relatives working in hospitals and they said that people were shot in the head or in the heart.
They were aiming to kill. This is wrong. If they wanted to disperse the crowds, they should shoot in the legs, not in the heads.
Five years ago we were expecting a big change, we thought that everything will be much better from then on and the future will be bright.
Five years on, nothing has changed. The people who come now, they are the same as the people who were here yesterday. Only, the situation was stable with this bad government of ours.
The government we are going to get now isn't going to be better than the previous one. Things will get worse. Now we are stuck with this division of power and there's lots of uncertainty.
ISKANDER ASANALIEV, DESIGNER, 26
I took part in protests last night. I was near the White House together with thousands of other people. I saw how protesters got hold of a tank, which they used to shoot at the White House.
Then soldiers shot at the tank with their bazookas three or four times. There were explosions. There were injured people and then an ambulance came to take them.
I also saw protesters setting one of the government buildings on fire.
I went out today. Everything was closed, stores, supermarkets, everything. Nobody is going to work. I heard that our office building is damaged.
There is some looting going on, but it's not widespread.
The opposition claim to be in control, but you can tell that there's no law and order. Our opposition is so weak, nobody believes them.
The government ruled like a family mafia. There was lots of nepotism and corruption. That's why the people got angry.
People are very very angry that so many people were killed yesterday. We want an election right away, we want transparency.
BAHYTKUL BULEKBAYEVA, PROTESTER
I am now in the same place where I was yesterday - in front of the White House. There are many people here now. The building is badly damaged. I can see five cars on fire.
The situation yesterday was very tense. I stayed here all day yesterday. People from the military were firing at young people. Many young people died and hundreds were taken to hospital. I saw it myself.
The snipers shooting from government buildings' rooftops were not from my country. They were foreigners. I don't know where they come from.
People are angry today. Everybody is asking where the president is and why he fired at people.
My brother, Erkin Bulekbayev - leader of the Green Party, was freed after midnight together with three other leaders. They were jailed by this current president more than a year ago. They are finally free!
Please send prayers and good thoughts to the people in this country.
Q&A: Kyrgyzstan unrest--
BBC News Online looks at the causes and possible consequences of unrest in Kyrgyzstan which has removed President Kurmanbek Bakiyev from power.
I have seen many images over the last couple of days along with some horrifying video clips. So many of the images show the very places mom and I passed on our many walks through downtown Bishkek during both trips to Kyrgyzstan.
This report indicates that there are close to 65 dead--
The opposition in Kyrgyzstan says it is setting up an interim government after taking control of the capital in a bloody uprising.
This next report, copied below, shares some of the Kyrgyz voices --
People in Kyrgyzstan describe the dramatic events of the last two days and share their fears for the future of the country.
Kyrgyz voices: 'Uncertain situation'
People in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek describe the dramatic events of the last two days and share their fears for the future of the country.
ROMAN KIM, 22, NGO WORKER
I didn't take part in protests - I was busy packing my father's shop.
It's located in the downtown area close to the White House [government headquarters]. He sells household appliances.
The big protests five years ago ended up with chaos and lots of looting. We knew that we could expect something similar this time as well.
By 6pm everything was packed and loaded on the car. We couldn't rely on any trucks - truck drivers were afraid that they would be attacked by looters.
There weren't any store rooms available either. We had to move everything to our home. We are very much afraid that there's more to come.
There are rumours that lots of people are coming on trucks to Bishkek from neighbouring regions. People around me are afraid that these people want to take advantage of the current situation and everyone is vigilant.
I don't think anybody is in charge at the moment and we are very afraid - we expect more trouble
All the major stores have already been broken into and there's not much left to take. So there are fears that people looking to loot will move on to attacking people's homes.
The people of Bishkek are now creating volunteer groups to protect their businesses, coordinating their activities via SMS, Twitter and popular forums, like diesel.elcat.kg.
The city has been divided into five zones and people from different neighbourhoods are writing about what's happening where they are and what they can see from their windows.
I had a walk in my neighbourhood this morning and I noticed volunteers wearing white bands around their arms, holding hunting rifles. I don't have a rifle myself, but it's good to know that my neighbour does.
I don't see any police or army presence. We are being assured on TV and radio by opposition leaders that they've got everything under control, but I don't think anybody is in charge at the moment and we are very afraid. We expect more trouble.
BAKYT MUKAMBETOV, 21, STUDENT
Our family has a chain of small shops - one of them was looted last night. The situation from five years ago got repeated. Only this time it wasn't as bad as we expected it. People knew what to expect and were better prepared.
Still, most of the government stores are empty. Our shop was completely destroyed and everything we sell - general food items, like milk and bread - is gone.
I stayed at home last night, following the events on the internet. I didn't want to protest. Yesterday's protesters didn't really know what they want.
Many people are happy with what happened to the president. They say he got what he deserved. And I agree with them.
Bakiyev is not the right person to run the country. There are rumours that he is in Osh now. He should be here, to face the nation, not run away like that. He is not a real man.
Things will get worse - now we are stuck with this division of power and there's lots of uncertainty
What happened yesterday was very bad and there are tough questions to be answered. I have relatives working in hospitals and they said that people were shot in the head or in the heart.
They were aiming to kill. This is wrong. If they wanted to disperse the crowds, they should shoot in the legs, not in the heads.
Five years ago we were expecting a big change, we thought that everything will be much better from then on and the future will be bright.
Five years on, nothing has changed. The people who come now, they are the same as the people who were here yesterday. Only, the situation was stable with this bad government of ours.
The government we are going to get now isn't going to be better than the previous one. Things will get worse. Now we are stuck with this division of power and there's lots of uncertainty.
ISKANDER ASANALIEV, DESIGNER, 26
I took part in protests last night. I was near the White House together with thousands of other people. I saw how protesters got hold of a tank, which they used to shoot at the White House.
Then soldiers shot at the tank with their bazookas three or four times. There were explosions. There were injured people and then an ambulance came to take them.
I also saw protesters setting one of the government buildings on fire.
I went out today. Everything was closed, stores, supermarkets, everything. Nobody is going to work. I heard that our office building is damaged.
There is some looting going on, but it's not widespread.
The opposition claim to be in control, but you can tell that there's no law and order. Our opposition is so weak, nobody believes them.
The government ruled like a family mafia. There was lots of nepotism and corruption. That's why the people got angry.
People are very very angry that so many people were killed yesterday. We want an election right away, we want transparency.
BAHYTKUL BULEKBAYEVA, PROTESTER
I am now in the same place where I was yesterday - in front of the White House. There are many people here now. The building is badly damaged. I can see five cars on fire.
The situation yesterday was very tense. I stayed here all day yesterday. People from the military were firing at young people. Many young people died and hundreds were taken to hospital. I saw it myself.
The snipers shooting from government buildings' rooftops were not from my country. They were foreigners. I don't know where they come from.
People are angry today. Everybody is asking where the president is and why he fired at people.
My brother, Erkin Bulekbayev - leader of the Green Party, was freed after midnight together with three other leaders. They were jailed by this current president more than a year ago. They are finally free!
Please send prayers and good thoughts to the people in this country.
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