Pour Your Heart Out

There is a blog hop by "Things I can't say" called Pour Your Heart Out.

Here are the rules:

Here are the Rules:

Pour Your Heart Out

Wednesdays

Write a post from the heart.

Something that has been weighing on you.

Something you feel passionately about.

Something you've been wanting to talk about.

A cause, a memory, a belief, a world view.

Anything.

Ok so on to my post..
For those that don't "know" me...I am over 40, have never had kids, am in a same sex relationship, live in Florida where it is not legal for same sex couples to adopt children, and am totally crazy in love with my four furchildren.
 
With that being said...Oprah did it again! Several years ago I was watching her do a show about the foster care system. It was my aha moment that she speaks of. I just knew that I could provide a good home to all of these children that need homes. I talked my then  husband into doing foster care and for a few years that was a big part of my life. 24 children later and many life changing decisions I no longer do foster care and no longer have that husband or life.
 
Fast forward about 5 years..I'm watching Oprah again and the subject is four boys that were nearly starved to death in their foster home. Vic and I hit pause on the TV about a dozen times as we discussed the topic of becoming foster parents. Would it work now with all the dogs? We both agree that we are better suited for babies and  toddlers, we talk about how we can make the second bedroom which is now used as Vic's closet, into a baby room..it would change our lives. This time around I know that falling in love and adopting isn't an option..it's a law here. Can my heart take this again? We leave the conversation with the agreement we will think about it more.
 
I know we will have to keep the house cleaner, train the dogs better, cook more than we do now, seriously get another car because the ones we have won't give us much room for car seats. Part of me wants to say but can't quite really feel the words..."are you crazy for wanting this again?"  I know I'm not crazy. I know it is what I SHOULD be doing. I know it is what my "plan" is.
 
People talk about a "calling" and if ever there was one I feel this is mine. I want to make those children feel loved and to know that there is a better life out there than what they come from. Not that I think I am better than anyone but because they are my focus. I want them to go to bed happy and safe and not scared and hungry. Yes it's my weakness of wanting to change the world.
 
So anyway, I have not made the call yet but it is on my mind.
 
 
 

Hands Across The Sand

I spent my day yesterday on Siesta Key Beach. It was about 95 degrees and one of those hot hot hot days where you think that you are surely going to melt. For some reason I didn't wear a swimsuit. I was there for  Hands Across The Sand protesting the oil drilling and was not thinking of swimming or cooling off in the water when I got dressed yesterday.

Here are some of the pictures I took.

The Littles and the Bigs

We have four dogs. Two yellow labs that we call the "Bigs" and two miniature long haired dachshunds that we call the "littles". Real names are Scout, Dakota, DJ, and Dexter. They all get along very well and LOVE to have me follow them around with the camera...they do. No really..they DO! I asked them. Ok, well Scout actually said he didn't care one way or another. Dakota said she liked it when she was in every shot, DJ didn't stop running around long enough to answer my question and Dexter said it was fine as long as I didn't take his toys away...seeeeeee They love it!

What an amazing day at the beach today! We got there around 11 a.m. The weather was perfect and the water was even better! It was so clear we could see the fish swimming. The snorkeling was so relaxing I could have stayed uner all afternoon! We even had the treat of seeing a family of manatees swim right in front of us. Casey Key Beach in Nokomis Florida is one of my favorite beaches.

No Oil In Sarasota County

If you've watched the news at all lately I am sure you've seen the oil covered birds and tarballs on the beaches and even news of the oil reaching the beaches here in Florida. Let me start by saying we have NO OIL on our white sandy beaches here in Sarasota County Florida. Had to get that out there incase you don't finish reading.

We just had friends visit from Oregon and were surprised to hear that when they told their friends that they were coming to Florida to visit most of their friends questioned why they would want to come to a place where tarballs were washing ashore. It is much like hurricane season, if you watch the news it would appear all of Florida will be blown away when generally one single storm only affects a few counties.

From someone that makes a living on tourism in our area I am constantly watching the news and visiting the beaches. I spent last weekend on the beaches here and paid close attention to every rock washed up on the beach, I even smelled the sand and swam in the water. We have no oil here. As I watched the pretty white egrets land around me I couldn't help but feel a little sad for the areas that are dealing with this nasty oil spill right now.

If you are planning to vacation here, and I hope you are! Check into trip insurance. I know the oil spill is a man made problem and not a covered reason to cancel your plans but check into "Cancel for any reason" coverage. I googled trip insurance and found several companies.

I will continue to post updates on my facebook page, company website and blogs. I hope that you will continue coming to the beach!

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