Talking Pants!

No matter how old your children are, they will always need protecting.  

Sending out positive, stay safe messages from an early age is essential but don't forget teens need protecting too.

From tots to teens - ALL children can be vulnerable to abuse. As parents (teachers, youth workers, social workers, neighbours, family friends.....add any other title here) it is our job, role, responsibility to protect them.

Safeguarding children is EVERYONES responsibility!

Did you know most children who are abused, are abused by someone they know?

This puts the whole stranger danger talk out the window. 

Children need stay safe advice that is relevant and that works. 

I know most parents would feel happy in explaining to their child that hitting is wrong and that they should tell an adult they trust straight away if someone harms them in this way.  But how would you fair in talking about sexual abuse with your kids?

Scary subject hey?  I mean how on earth would you ever bring this topic up in conversation with your kids?

Well the NSPCC are encouraging us to do just that. They have introduced a new campaign all about 'Talking Pants'.  

By using the NSPCCs underwear rule, children will learn how to stay safe from sexual abuse.  You can watch the campaign video on their website. www.nspcc.org.uk. The kind people at NSPCC have put together tips and advice for parents/professionals too. Take a look at the website for more information. 

So get talking pants people and let's keep our children safe!  

A year in the making

I've been pretty rubbish at keeping the blog updated lately. I apologise for that but I had some photos that jogged my memory that I needed to update the blog so here goes. 

A year ago we were holding our February Flush Fundraiser. Remember it?  Doesn't time fly hey?  So as the year progressed I kept getting updates from Uganda on the progress of our very own pit latrine that our money was helping to build. It was a pit latrine like no other, best in the district I'm told!  

So we had our trials as the first pit was dug when we visited last Easter. Then the rains came and the mud and rain filled the pit and the location had to be moved. A new pit had to be dug which added cost to our overall budget. We had to start from scratch. 

So a new site was found right next to the school and building work began once again. I sent over some additional money to cover the added cost and building continued. Then this week I received a wonderful email that included photos of how things are looking at the moment. I was really impressed at how good it looks. Take a look for yourselves. 

Isn't it looking good?  It's almost finished. (I am ever so envious of that bright Ugandan sunshine in the background of the photos too. It's been rain, rain and more rain here recently.) 

So you can see that there are a few little details needing to be added. There needs to be a gate on each entrance, that will remain locked to keep out intruders and animals, and there also needs to be doors attached to the actual toilet areas. Once these things are fitted then our work here is done and the school children have a toilet that is not only safe to use but a wonderful piece of construction. 

So if anyone has any bright ideas of how we can raise the final amount of money to cover the costs of the doors and gates, please get in touch as every little thing helps. We're almost there and he children will have a toilet to be proud of. 

And anyone heading to Uganda, make sure you head on over to use this toilet during your visit.

Blessing bags

A few weeks ago we headed to London for the day. The night before leaving we had a family project to do. 

It all started with a zip lock bag........

And a whole lot of items. 

We put some little essentials together and created blessing bags for the homeless people of London. We knew we'd see one or two homeless people while there as the bright lights attract so many people but we weren't prepared for the amount of homeless people we actually saw. 

Our blessing bags blessed a few of the many. We know for next time to make a few more. 

It was a little project we could do together that we could see the instant results of. It put love into action and helped us see how fortunate we are to have the home comforts we enjoy each day. 

Sometimes we can overlook the small things we can all do in life to bless someone less fortunate than ourselves. We can all make a difference to someone else's day. We just have to make the decision to try. 

Christmas Blessings from our house to yours

Proud Mammy Moment

I can't quite believe I've been a Mam for 3 years now. Doesn't time fly?

My girly makes me proud every day and sometimes I take for granted what she does each day. I forget it's only been 3 years. I forget how much she's learned and how far she's come. She takes everything in her stride and brings so much joy to all those lives she touches. You can't help but smile when she's in your presence. 

A few weeks ago it wasn't only me singing her praises. She won an award for 100% attendance for the whole academic year of 2012-2013. Our local education department celebrated every child who gained this achievement with a wonderful evening of celebration. 

School attendance is so important and we always strive to do our best, after all if you're not there, you're missing out on your education. My girly takes it to an even higher level though. She is so conscientious in attending each and every day. I am so fortunate that she has this attitude. There are never any grizzles or groans in the mornings. She aims to be there every single day. Even on those days when she feels a little under the weather, she always motivates herself to get in to school. 

School isn't always easy for her but still she goes, aiming to try her best every day. She never wants to let her friends down and has come on leaps and bounds in the last 3 years. Her confidence is flowing and there are glimmers of dreams and aspirations brewing. 

Gotcha Day Anniversary

Yes it really has been 3 years since we got that ‘YES’ from the Judge in Uganda.  In one sense it feels like it was only days ago and yet in other’s it feels as though Lutaaya has been part of my family forever. 

 

To me Gotcha Day is more special that our adoption day.  Adoption day was simply legalising everything.  Gotcha day was the day Lutaaya’s life changed and she moved in to a guest house with me, not quite on home turf yet but part of a family nevertheless. 

 

Happy Gotcha Day Lutaaya.  Love you more each day xxx

Did I Tell You.......

Did I tell you we went to Florida this summer????

 

Did I tell you we got to meet up with that very same family we were with three years ago?

 

Did I tell you these are our a.m.a.z.i.n.g. family across the pond?

 

Did I tell you we got to meet the whole family.....including new additon Lyrick and Gigi!

 

 

Did I tell you how we met just in front of the Magical Castle?  How wonderful!

 

Did I tell you we got to spend some precious time with this little girl ?  Oh. My.  How shes grown and changed.   

 

Did I tell you we had an amazing few days our forever friends, forever family?

 

 

 

 

 Did I tell you we also got to meet another of Lutaaya's old friends? 

 

 

 Did I tell you that us two Mama's had never met but we each knew each other's daughters?

 

 

 Did I tell you the last time these three little ladies were together, my little lady handed a tiny bundle of joy over to join her forever family?  Did I tell you, neither thought they would see each other again?

 

 

Did I tell you that Disney really does make all your dreams come true?