The boy from Ipanema...

.. Is a song sung by my dear friend Maci Miller and I am listening to it right now, early in the morning while the sun is shining here in South Africa and my friend is hopefully sleeping in her bed in Philly and thought... let's write a blog post about this wonderful and amazingly talented friend of mine!!

We met through the blogging world since both have a daughter(s) adopted from Thailand, we started connecting with each other about 3 years ago and immediately hit it off. Since then have met her a few times and spent even a vacation together in Bethany Beach last summer. Maci and her daughter Ruby are close to my heart and I am proud to say that this talented singer is my friend!!



You have to listen to this smooth and beautiful voice singing the boy from Ipanema (just click on the link), I really do like to share this talented lady with you!!

So go and click, sit back and just relax and listen and even better, go out and buy her CD's. She has a few jazzy/blues CD's but also a children's CD with the most sweetest lullabies for your tiny baby!! When I listen to the song Butterfly Moon I get chills running down my spine, so angelic is her voice!!

On this link, you will find a selection of her songs, click on each one and listen to it, it is just so stunning!!

And don't just believe me... here are some press releases of Maci, the words don't lie!

“Miller's silky voice, great stage personality, and impressive interpretations of jazz standards make her one of the top young female artists in the jazz world.” — Sanibel Captiva Islander

“Beautiful songstress Maci Miller offers up 10 original diamond gems. Lush orchestrations and sultry vocals. This albums spells hot romance and enchantment. A Very Good Night indeed!” — Bo Lewis, Host, Big Band Dance Party

“Her versatile voice ranges from whispery, a la Marilyn, to poignant and yearning, a la Lady Day, to clear and elegant as fine crystal, a la Ella.” — Carol Allen, The Whoot, Atlantic City, NJ

My day started off so well, while listening to her voice, it really lifted my morning! A good start of the day!
Go out and buy her CD's and your day will be starting or ending just as fabulous as mine!! Her songs go well with a smooth glass of vino by the fire place... and Xmas is coming up, so if you don't know what to get... here is my golden tip for you!!

PS: If you buy her children's CD Butterfly Moon you will even support the Mercy center for children. A gift that gives back.
The project was inspired by the adoption of her first child and is aimed at helping to improve life for children in orphanages and children living with HIV/AIDS.

And since November is the National Adoption Month, isn't this a wonderful gift for friends or family who are connected with the adoption world?? Or are thinking of adopting...




Carpe Diem!
Mireille xx

November - National Adoption Awareness month

Adoption is not "second best", as every adoptive parent knows that their child is absolutely "the best".

Adoption is not "second choice" - it is a different choice - a valid, loving and wonderful way to grow or have a family that meets the needs of a child who is without one.



Have a great day!
Mireille

November: National Adoption Awareness Month

A topic close to my heart, below you can see how to raise awareness, in the hope that more families open their hearts and homes to adopt a wonderful child, who is looking for a family forever, out of Foster Care.

Below a list that I found HERE of things you can do for each day of November, just some ideas, and for sure I will do a few of these, I already have a few in mind! What about you?? Tell me about it!

NOVEMBER:

1 ~ Read an adoption-specific book at home or at school.

2 ~ Celebrate your child's heritage through a new recipe, a cultural dance, or traditional fairytales.

3 ~ Ask your local libraries or bookstores to feature adoption-related books this month.

4 ~ Commit to sponsor a less fortunate child for an entire year.

5 ~ Encourage local schools to speak and teach about adoption.

6 ~ Blog about adoption awareness.

7 ~ Bake cookies for all the adoption professionals who helped you through the adoption process.

8 ~ Ask your employer to look into adding adoption benefits to your existing benefits.

9 ~ Have a get-together with members from all sides of the adoption triad.

10 ~ With your family, brainstorm and create a new family tradition.

11 ~ Make a family tree that includes both adoptive and birth children.

12 ~ Send thank-you cards to your local foster care office.

13 ~ Look into becoming a foster parent.

14 ~ Celebrate your family by beginning or catching up on your scrapbooking.

15 ~ Organize your own adoption event to have later in the month.

16 ~ Watch an adoption-related movie with your family.

17 ~ Email or call friends and family about upcoming adoption events.

18 ~ Mentor foster children close to "aging out" of the system.

19 ~ Volunteer at a local maternity home.

20 ~ National Adoption Day!
Support your local adoption community by attending a ceremony.

21 ~ Encourage your children to share their thoughts and feelings about adoption.

22 ~ Invite your local media to cover adoption events.

23 ~ Attend a local adoption support group.

24 ~ Begin a lifebook for yourself or your child.

25 ~ Thanks-giving! Spend this day enjoying your family.

26 ~ Keep positive thoughts for those currently with pending adoptions.

27 ~ Donate clothing, toys, and books to Family and Children's Services.

28 ~ Light a candle for your or your child's birth parents.

29 ~ Collect donations for waiting children and their families for the upcoming holiday season.

30 ~ Learn or teach about positive adoption language.

Isn't this a great list to follow? I hope that there will be more and more people opening their homes for a waiting child. As I said the years before when I did a posting about adoption, it changed my life/our lives for the better!! I can't think about my life without these 2 precious faces!!



GO FOR IT!!

I will blog more about what I have done or will do this month!
Mireille

November; National Adoption Month

November is National Adoption Month in the USA, a month set aside to raise awareness about the adoption of children and youth from foster care.

This years theme is "Answering the Call - You don't have to be perfect to be a perfect parent. There are thousands of teens in foster care who would love to put up with you."

The main focus of National Adoption Month has been and continues to be foster care adoptions. There are approximately 129,000 children in foster care in the United States waiting for adoptive homes.

There is a strong need for adoptive families for older children, teens, children of color and sibling groups. The 2009 focus is more toward the African American community.

So if you are thinking about adopting and just need a bit of a push, I just tell you GO FOR IT!! It is one of the greatest decisions in my life. It is so rewarding to love a child, to hold and promise her a forever bond, love and dedication to make sure her life will be fine... and even if things don't go always the way you have planned it, it will be fine because you have each other forever!

It is such a win-win situation, my life got so much richer with my 2 little angels in it. They are the true love of my life! My life would be so much different if on that day... July 27, 2002 I would have said no. My life would have been so much emptier, I can't even think about living my life without these 2 beautiful, sweet and precious girls. But also, how would their life turned out? Think about it, and give another child a chance of a loving family life! It's worth it for both sides. You will receive so much love and you will have so much love to give!



So open your heart to another child who is waiting out there for you!
Go for it, it will enrich your life... I'LL PROMISE YOU!! You will find there is enough space in your heart for another child that desperately wants to belong to a family like yours!

And if you still are contemplating, check out this link and maybe that is the push you need to make that call!

Email me if you like to talk privately about adoption, it's a great thing!

Have a Marvellous Monday!
Mireille