Well, it's been a while since I've written. It's definitely not because there hasn't been anything to write about, but moreso because I've been really busy with the actual work that I do. But now, after returning almost three weeks ago from a one week vacation where my husband and I chose Boston as our destination, I am taking the time to write. It was our first time there and we got home just before the terrible events of last Monday.  Our hearts sank on hearing about this tragedy especially since we had just spent time in this amazing city.  So before I get down to the nitty gritty on today's subject, let me just offer my deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones or those who were injured by this ugly and stupid violent act.  I am deeply saddened by the pain and suffering so needlessly caused and hope that the people of Boston, and all those struggling to recover do so as fully and as quickly as possible.  My husband and I will return to Boston and encourage everyone who can, to visit and experience the many wonderful things that the people and this city in Massachusetts has to offer.

OK, on to today's subject, and on a positive note and still connected to Boston, my husband and I had the opportunity to visit three significant institutions of higher learning.  Harvard, MIT and Brown's University (Providence, Rhode Island). There is something to be said about the positive and extraordinary energy of a university campus.  It is infectious and inspirational to be around. Whether it is the statuesque buildings, the sprawling grounds, or just the awareness that new knowledge is being created, I find it invigorating. When I took a leave from my adoption practice and worked on university campuses, I felt instantly at home, regardless of city or institution. Despite not loving the subjects I was teaching, I was loving the environment.

So, imagine my excitement over the past couple of weeks when three students approached us. Two for a placement and one to promote her research. They all were interested in adoption and wanted to learn from the ground up. There's very few if any courses in school, so where else are these students supposed to learn? "No" wasn't in my vocabulary for these students. But, unfortunately, realism was. Ok, we couldn't offer the two placements, but we could offer to help the grad student with her research. She presented her project at our monthly adoptive parents support group in April and we put her research request on our homepage of our website: http://www.adoptionottawa.ca/adoption-source.php.

I am so encouraged that these students want to learn about the fabulous field of adoption and that because of them, there will be new and valuable research available. I love their motivation to learn and am inspired and encouraged by it. It is the exact opposite feeling of the heaviness I felt by the recent terrorist act. 

Even though there are horrors in the world, we should never ignore the goodness. It has always been that way and always will.