Opinion
- Details
- Written by: Gale Tompkins and Dave Bischel
On Christmas Eve our daughter gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Seth, at Sutter Lakeside Hospital. Seth's birth was made even more special because it was also attended by the parents who are adopting our grandson.
This wonderful couple, Todd and Betsy of Seattle, Wash., were chosen by our daughter from a large pool of adoptive parents who were registered with Open Adoption and Family Services (www.openadopt.org/).
Our daughter, too young to parent her child, picked this couple for several key reasons: they had no other children, the mother would be staying home with the baby, the baby would be breastfed (yes it is possible for any woman to lactate – even one who has never been pregnant), and he would be uncircumcised and unvaccinated.
Additionally, Todd and Betsy match our family values, politics, spirituality, interests and personality types almost to a T. We have all grown to love each other so much – the connection seems almost magical.
At the hospital, Dr. Jesse and the amazing staff of caring and professional nurses such as Suzin, Diana, Lorena, Denise and others, made the whole process unforgettable. The staff was supportive of Seth's adoptive breastfeeding, and gently and lovingly assisted in making sure Betsy was given the earliest opportunity to breastfeed her newborn son.
They accommodated both adoptive parents throughout the entire hospital stay, including cots, blankets, snacks and, of course, kind words of explanation, encouragement and celebration. Our deepest thanks to these beautiful people who day-in and day-out help to bring tiny life safely into our world and also protect the self-esteem and confidence of the laboring mothers.
Thank you also to Pastor Shannon Kimbell-Auth and her husband Michael of United Christian Parish, who lovingly donated their extra car for Todd and Betsy to use during their entire one-month stay in California. And thank you to the entire congregation of United Christian Parish for their kindness, support and prayers during our family's adventure with teen pregnancy.
Dr. Davies and his staff were also tremendously supportive and made every prenatal visit an uplifting experience. Our daughter was always treated with respect and kindness.
We are so grateful that our daughter chose to do the responsible thing after making the mistake of becoming pregnant as a teenager. Her choices have resulted in a baby receiving handpicked parents, as well as the additional heapings of love that come from the closeness of all involved families through open adoption.
We have not lost a grandson. On the contrary, we have gained an entire extended family that joins us in our love for Baby Seth. Our daughter is a true hero; a selfless girl turned woman who grew up fast over these last nine months and truly learned that every little mistake is actually part of God's bigger plan.
New Year Blessings to all; especially to precious Baby Seth, home now with his parents in Washington.
Gale Tompkins and Dave Bischel lives in Kelseyville. Tompkins is the Lake County La Leche League volunteer leader. Please call her at 277-0846 if you have questions or need help with breastfeeding.
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- Details
- Written by: Judy Thein
Numerous programs throughout the county have rekindled the spirit of Christmas through the eyes of children. Various agencies, organizations and individuals throughout the county worked inspirationally towards one common goal of giving children the opportunity to feel the joy of the season.
Children who never imagined their Christmas wishes could ever come true will feel the outpouring of kindness this holiday season thanks to the genorisity of many people throughout the county. The outpouring of how communities opened their hearts to our children is overwhelming given the stress and anxiety of a plunging economy.
Along with various programs throughout the county, the city of Clearlake sponsored a Christmas wish tree for less fortunate children. For many of these children, this was the only gift that would be received. Our wish tree began with 60 ornaments, each with a child identification number, gender, age and the child’s wish for Christmas. Before we knew it, our wish tree grew to 156 ornaments; all of this in just a manner of a few short weeks.
The wishes of children were in array from dolls, action figures, remote cars, musical toys and just about anything a toy department would carry. Skateboards appeared under the wish tree along with a scooter, rocking horse and the “kitchen sink,” so to speak, as the wish of one little girl was to have her own little make believe kitchen.
Not only were there wishes for toys, but there were wishes for necessities as well. Several children just wanted something warm to wear while one child wanted a pair of slippers and socks. A pair of pajamas was the wish for another child while one wanted toiletries. It was heartfelt that for some of these children, Christmas wishes encumbered necessities for daily needs.
The wishes of our children twinkled in our hearts, as members of the community came into City Hall, one by one, to make wishes come true. Monetary donations and donated merchandise were also received from various organizations, businesses and many individuals throughout the community.
Volunteers and city staff volunteered their time to make ornaments, shop and gift wrap along with choosing a child’s ornament to fulfill their wish. The success of our Christmas wish tree was truly a joint effort by many. It is clear that as the years go by, the Christmas wish tree for children will be a yearly tradition with the city of Clearlake.
One Dec. 15 our sponsored agencies arrived at City Hall to pick up the gifts and begin their joyful and sometimes emotional tasks of distributing the gifts to our children. Hundreds of gifts filled the lobby of City Hall. Not only did the eyes twinkle of many who saw and felt the spirit of the wish tree, but also there were tears reflecting the emotions of fulfilling a child’s wish. Not only did we touch the lives of these children; these children touched our lives as well. It was unspoken as we each rekindled the blessings we have in our own lives.
I commend and thank the various agencies, organizations and individuals throughout Lake County for helping to make a difference in a child’s life. For many of our children, they will feel the magic of Santa as the legend lives on.
It is heartfelt for me to humbly have the honor of saying on behalf of the city of Clearlake, city staff, police department and volunteers, a very sincere thank you to all those who helped fulfill the wishes of our children.
I believe the efforts of everyone who helped fulfill wishes throughout our county can best be expressed by the words of Forest Witcraft: “A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”
Judy Thein is a member of the Clearlake City Council and will serve as vice mayor in 2009.
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- Details
- Written by: PatriciaAn Schmidt
Ingredients:
30 minutes of gratitude
1 memory of your warmest Christmas
1 hug from each family member and friends
1 pinch of mistletoe
Your heart
1 hour of silence
3 days of sunrise
1 day of sunset
In a quiet room, filled with a scent of love … fold in 30 minutes of gratitude … a memory of your warmest Christmas … family and friends’ hugs … with a pinch of mistletoe.
Slowly … add your heart and 1 hour of silence. Let simmer ... checking periodically … to see if your heart has softened.
When your heart has softened ... slowly pour in simmered ingredients ... a moment at a time.
Allow to settle through three days of sunrise and one day of sunset.
Serve with Christmas wassail, coffee or any beverage to settle your soul.
Serves as many who will be served.
May your tears be a gift of healing in this Christmas holiday season and the New Year.
PatriciaAn Schmidt lives in Lakeport.
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- Details
- Written by: Bill and Joshua Conway
On Dec. 20 I found myself very depressed over the Christmas funds I had counted on not being available.
That same day I heard a knock at my door when to my surprise, like in the story of the three wise men, three representatives from the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 951 were standing with arms full of much-needed gifts and groceries.
My son Joshua and I wish to thank Vietnam Veterans of America President Dean Gotham, Vice President Daniel J. Davi and Veterans of Foreign Wars Adjutant Kirk Macdonald, for turning a depressing holiday into one that mere words cannot describe.
Thank you form the bottom of our hearts.
Merry Christmas and God bless.
Bill and Joshua Conway live in Glenhaven.
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