I can’t quite believe that it was a year ago we went to court to finalise Lutaaya’s adoption here in the UK and for her to become a British Citizen!
It feels like it has flown by but on another breath it feels like she has been a part of my life forever.
We have two celebration days as part of Lutaaya’s adoption. The adoption day was just to finalise things and part of the legalities. It didn’t really ‘make’ her my daughter – she already was that. Whereas our ‘Gotcha day’ is the day she officially left her former home and moved in with me. Even though we were in Uganda, it felt like I was bringing her home. I felt like this was the day she officially became my daughter. Having said that we acknowledge and celebrate both.
Last year, if you follow our blog, you’ll remember we ended the day by meeting up with family for a meal and then went to see Grease the Musical. This year we were asked if we would like tickets to go and see Sister Act the Musical. Without even knowing the information, we said we’d love tickets, and as if planned just for us, the date was our first year anniversary of adoption day.
It was also pretty cool to meet up with two special ladies, Auntie Nancy and Auntie Sara, who have a special place in their hearts for the children in Uganda. They have some exciting plans that I hope I can share soon about a new ministry they hope to start in Uganda for some of the older children who all too often get forgotten about and are too old for adoption. They made the ticket booking so we all sat together to watch the musical. I must admit I think it was one of the best musical’s I’ve seen in a long time. A little disappointed there were no songs from the original film in the show, but the songs that were there were absolutely amazing, and the singers were quite literally ‘fabulous!’ A must see if you like musicals.
Not to miss out on a little fun – we just couldn’t resist this photo opportunity!
So another happy and fun filled adoption day for us.
I miss Uganda. I haven't been there for two summers now and truly miss my time there.
I miss the smiles of the people, I miss the language I miss the smells, I miss everything about it.
Some times its nice to have a little piece of Africa right on our doorstep and this week we had just that!
A local community group had arranged an evening of entertainment with a Zulu group. They may not have been Ugandan but they were definitely African!
Lutaaya took part in a workshop with them throughout the day too and you could see her glowing as she had her taste of Africa too.
Lutaaya bought the CD and played it full blast when we got home. She had remembered some of the moves to certain songs and one song was simpy precious. Lutaaya sang the lyrics at the top of her voice, "I'm proud I'm an African." And I'm proud to be her Mam, and a Ugandan at heart x
There's been a theme of red, white and blue in the UK with all the events happening this year. You walk into a supermarket and they are the main colours you see. Since the Queen's Jubilee, the shelves have been stocked with everything red, white and blue.
And now the Olympics are here and the theme has stretched even further. The Olympics have brought our country together as one and there is a united feeling in the air.
We stayed at home to watch the opening ceremony on TV. It was a very late night but worth staying up late for. Just to see the fireworks was amazing. Lutaaya snuggled on the floor and watched until the teams started coming out and then fell asleep. I had promised I would wake her to see the Ugandan team come into the stadium and Team GB. We decided as a family we would support more than just Team GB. There are more colours in this house than just the red, white and blue. Lutaaya asked if we could support Cuba too as she feels like we have family there too, after our holiday there last year. Sounded like a plan to me.
We had the opportunity to go and see the GB women's football play New Zealand. Some of the matches were taking place in our Millennium Stadium instead of in London. So we headed to the city and joined in the contagious support for Team GB and got into the swing of the Olympics.
The security checks were a little over rated to say the least, but a fun filled day was had by all and the best thing was......
Team GB won!
There was a wonderful atmosphere in Cardiff. Us Welsh really do extend a warm welcome to everyone who visits our beautiful country.
It's been amazing to say we've been a part of the Olypics 2012. So come on Team GB, Uganda....Cuba and all those other colours that are going to shine this Olympics!
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Well the summer so far has been a bit of a disappointment weather-wise! I mean – there cannot be much more rain left to come from the heavens, I think we’ve had our fair share.
But the weather won’t and can’t dampen our spirits. We have been non stop lately. Lutaaya has had so much going on with her transition to secondary school activities all happening to prepare her for September. The activities have led me to sitting back and admiring my girly, and all she has to offer the world.
Not only is she a very beautiful girl, but she has so many gifts to give others. She is a talented girl in so many ways and lately they have been on show to make this Mama a very proud one!
Take sports day for example. She loves sport and this was her opportunity to shine within school. She loves being competitive and sports gives her the level ground with peers, that currently academic work can’t offer. She sprinted to the finish for her race and came in second, just behind one of her best friends.
We’ve also had the honour of taking part in a very special event in our local area. 10 years ago the steel works closed and the land is now being re-developed into a new learning community. It was a privilege for us to take part in the anniversary celebration called the ‘Ghost Parade’. Community members, groups and ex-steel workers all stood together and created a silent protest. It was cleverly put together with our plain white placards becoming the screens on which commemorative films were projected onto during the parade.
Lutaaya and I were able to walk as part of the procession, which also included an aeroplane being pulled through the streets. Yes that’s right – an aeroplane!
The ardain avion event is a mobile arts centre that takes place inside an old aeroplane. Quite something! The event will incorporate all the branches of the arts and bring the community together in music, dance, drama and song.
And as singing is what us Welsh are renowned for, it was beautiful to hear Lutaaya’s voice, join a hundred other children’s, for a summer musical celebration. The children were asked to help form a junior choir, who then went on to sing at St. David’s Hall, Cardiff.
What an opportunity for these children to all come together and create such wonderful song! Not only did they perform in front of a large audience, but they also sang accompanied by a full orchestra. It was a fantastic evening, although we were all left very tired after such a late night.
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