MULTICULTURAL CELEBRATION

Multicultural confusing. or will it be a good story! 

Swedish Christmas  last night and American Christmas  this morning. 

Yesterday, Santa knocked on our door, then he came back during the night via our chimney, and left us more presents! 

Multicultural Family Rocks

Alaska a Beautiful Place

It was a long flight but we finally made it to Alaska. What an amazing place, we definitely want to go back and do some more hiking. The air was light to breath, the daylight was amazing until midnight, the nature was fantastic. We were invited to a wedding that I wouldn't miss for the world. A very special woman that I met for the first time in North Carolina 2004 together with her family.

I was so amazed that my children got to met her, this sparkling warm hearted woman.

Of course I got Happy Tears during the ceremony. I couldn't help thinking how fast time really goes and that we don't know anything about life--future. Only to dream big and have Faith.

Thank you beautiful Ashley for having me watching your big day, together with your lovely husband Mr. Castro (did I mention I went to Sarajevo?)

Broken Souls has Strong Healing Ability to other Broken Souls

One family wanted to adopt a dog from my organization. The family was immediately very open about what their family situation looked like.

I was extremely grateful for their openness, it meant that I could quickly find a dog that matched their energies. A few months earlier, their daughter had tried to commit suicide. Now the family felt that a dog could help their daughter to "heal", of course, along with their doctors and therapists. But, they reasoned, to have a four-legged friend who slept with her, agreed on walks, someone to confide in, and was there full of love, would be beneficial for her. Also, the demand for routines upon their daughter if she was responsible for a dog would additionally help to ground her and help her to heal.

Of course the whole family wanted a new family member, the time was right for all. There were many cute big dogs with a high-energy factor, but I had an overweight little brown female dog who had spent two years in a cage down in south Italy.

A dog with high energy to a home that are working so hard to heal, would not be good --- its high energies could activate and add more stress for the the family and situation. The family needed a cool dog who knew what she wanted, loved life (and food) and to only wanted belong to a family.

When Iris arrived to the family, she chose right away the daughter's bedroom to become her bedroom as well.  Is it that a "broken" soul recognizes another's "broken" soul?

The dog Iris also had a claim to the daughter, “I'm there for you, but you also need to stay alive and be there for me."

When the daughter woke up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, Iris sat up in her basket and waited calmly until she came back.

Every day I received updates from the family about how much they all loved Iris.

"Mia, we never dreamed that our daughter would feel as good as she does after only four months after our beloved dog's arrival. "Iris therapy" really worked 100%. Best dog Ever!”

This business of "Rescue Dogs" really has a double meaning and paradox: is it we who save them, or is it they who will save us? Who really saves whom?

They ended their email: “We just got the dog we wanted, quiet, contact seeking, loving and ‘personal and wacky’ in a wonderful way. Greetings, family Iris "

When we see each other's inside strength and beauty, discounting the outside of temporary weakness, then we can help and be helped. This is what is called unconditional perfection in the circle of life. About everyone's right to live, love and seek happiness!

That's Amore!

The Iris family gave me permission to publish their story

Trasiga själar hjälper varandra till läkning

En familj ville gärna adoptera en hund av mig. Familjen var med en gång väldigt öppna med hur deras familjeförhållande såg ut. Jag var oerhört tacksam över deras öppenhet, det gör att jag snabbare kunde finna en hund som matchade deras energier. 

Ett par månader tidigare hade deras dotter försökt begå självmord. Nu kände familjen att en hund skulle kunna hjälpa deras dotter till att ”läkas”, naturligtvis tillsammans med andra läkare och samtalsterapeuter.

Att ha en vän som sov tillsammans med henne, gick med på skogspromenader, någon att kunna anförtro sig till och som fanns där full av kärlek. Dessutom ställdes det krav på dottern, att hon också skulle finnas där med rutiner som infaller när man skaffar en hund.

Naturligtvis var hela familjen med på att ha en ny familjemedlem, tiden var mogen för alla. Där fanns många gulliga stora hundar med hög energifaktor, men jag hade en överviktig liten brun hundflicka som suttit två år i en bur nere i Italien.

En hund med hög energi till ett hem som arbetar med att läkas, ska inte ha höga energier som kan aktivera och tillföra mera stress. Familjen behövde en cool tik som visste vad hon ville, älskade livet (och mat) och att få tillhöra en familj.

När Iris anlände till familjen valde hon med en gång dotterns sovrum till sitt sovrum. Är det så att en ”trasig” själ känner igen en annans ”trasig” själ?

Men hunden Iris hade också ett krav till dottern: Jag finns där för dig, men du måste också stanna kvar i livet och finnas där för mig.

När dottern vaknade mitt i natten för att gå upp till badrummet satte sig Iris upp i sin korg och väntade lugnt tills hon kom tillbaka.  Varje dag fick jag uppdateringar med hur mycket de alla älskade Iris.

”Mia, vi kunde aldrig drömma om att vår dotter skulle må så bra som hon nu gör redan efter fyra månader efter vår älskade hunds ankomst. ”Iris-terapin” funkade verkligen till 100 %. Bästa hunden!
Det här med ”Rescuedogs”, får verkligen en dubbel innebörd: Är det vi som räddar dem, eller är det de som räddar oss? Vem räddar vem egentligen?Vi fick precis den hunden vi ville ha, lugn, kontaktsökande, kärleksfull samt ´personlig och knäpp´ på ett underbart sätt. Hälsningar Familjen Iris”

När vi ser varandras innersta styrka utanpå den temporära svagheten, kan vi hjälpa dem och de hjälper oss. Detta är vad som kallas villkorslös fullkomlighet, i livets cirkel. För allas rätt att leva!

That’s Amore!
Mia Mattsson-Mercer

Mia har fått godkännande av familjen att publicera deras historia. 

FAMILY LOYALTY AND LOVE

I remember when my first book was going to come out. The Publisher needed some answers to question to make a pr.
"What's your families names?"
"Eh, I don't have a family!"
"Your parents are dead?"
I felt so embarrassed that I didn't think, or feel that I had a family. For me I thought they were asking about if I had children and a husband. That day, I started to think why I had answered the way I did.

Do you feel you have a family from blood or loyalty?

A New Service Area

We have long said, Animals Without Limits is NOT an adoption agency. Rather, we prefer to assist and support those agencies that are already doing this difficult work.

Well, the problem is so acute in the Naples, Italy area that we are jumping in to help publicize some great dogs that are in desperate need of a family. We hope we work ourselves out of this particular mission, and quickly. In most cases, they are spayed or neutered, de-wormed and shots up to date (if not they will asap).

They are available NOW to make your family complete. So, however, you found your way to this blog, please take a few moments to look around at who might just be the companion you've been missing to make your life complete.

My tail wags for you is full of Amore waiting for you!

A Birthday to the Max

Todd's birthday is 6 December. I'd planned it for a long time to celebrate it as much as possible, given my "condition". We'd had a surprise gathering of some friends and co-workers on Friday, November 30th, since Todd would be involved in an exercise on "his" day, and then the exercise would run until the due date for Maximillian.

Well, you know the parable: "If you don't think God has a sense of humor, tell Him your plans." Apparently, God had different plans than ours for Maximillian's birth. Instead of waiting until the 13th, he decided he wanted to celebrate his dad's birthday his own way.

At 4:02 pm Central European time, Maximillian came into the world, weighing 6 lbs, 10.2 oz and "standing" 20 1/2 inches (3010 grams/52 cm).

He's a perfect little man, and we adore him.

And, as everyone who we talk to says, "So, he shares his birthday with his dad? How cool is that?!"

In Sweden!

Just as I didn't really remember it... windy, rainy, cold. Both myself and Olivia have the sniffles!

Here we leave 28 degrees celsius in southern Italy, and 13 hours later, we require winter clothes to walk down the street! Short walks, indeed!

Held a lecture last night for a dog organization in southern Sweden that went very well, a great audience that seemed very interested in what I had to say through the 2-hours of talking (then they carried me out!)

I laced various elements of my experiences into the lecture... from Animal Communication to homeless dogs to animal rescue in Italy to Bosnia and Bahrain. Even a little bit about my family, when the only picture they could display from the disc was of my husband holding little Shiloh when I brought her home in 2004 (just 3 weeks old! She fit in the palm of his hand!)

Olivia is enjoying playing with mormor (grandma) and it is mutual!

Going to meet with my publisher today for coffee and cake. We'll see what else they might have on the table!

Hej da!

Our little flower...

... is growing up so fast! (Not to mention the weed next to her! ;-)

Family Time

Still no Internet in our house, I am posting a picture so you don't forget us ;-)

By the way, a message to my Swedish readers: Monday, I will be in the newspaper "Metro" in the paper back (book) reviews. http://www.metro.se/

Summer in Italy

Relaxing time! It is Sunday......

Time to Say Good Bye

Wow, so stressed and still so sick, no voice. All the phone calls I wanted to make to family and friends....sorry I will have to call you when I am in Italy instead. I didn't get to meet everyone and say good bye, please know that my thoughts and love are with you. I will make it up when you come and visit us.

My Swedish friend Annika, held a surprise party (and baby shower) for me. It was so awesome, and I thank you for doing that. You are a great friend and I will sure miss you--I know Olivia will miss you terrible too. (Great picture Annika, I love your ceiling)

Got to go, and I don't know when I can use Internet again....but "I will be back!"

Crazy House

Still no voice, and my throat hurts like hell. The house has never been so quiet.
Five different appointments today, packing our suitecases, getting the dogs ready, mailing boxrs and cleaning the house. Anyone have a magic wand?
Gosh we are leaving tomorrow!

Morning Joy

What a great start this morning-- after a short painful night..my throat hurts and to my families joy, I have lost my voice.
But I am curled up with a wonderful cup of coffee and (giggling) listening to Mark Levengood, summer talking on the Swedish radio.
The whole house is still sleeping. It is my time!

Nostalgia

Sitting in an empty house listening to the Swedish Radio P1 Summer talker. It is kind of amazing to be able to sit here on the other side of the world 07.41 am and Ulf Lundell is talking live over the Internet to me at 13.41. I am so happy I can follow my summer tradition!
Every day for 2 1/2 month at the same time a different "famous" person will talk and play their favorite records. I like the idea for "them" to be able to talk to us without the clutter from the media.

Our move is upon us-- to a new country-- a new chapter starts with good cheese and wine.

Glad Midsommar/ Happy Midsummer

Happy Midsummer!
One of Sweden's biggest holidays is today Friday, with good food, songs and dance. Flowers in the hair is a must. This is Olivia last year, my midsummer girl.

Time to Say Good-Bye to Friends

The countdown has started, time to say good bye to friends. Olivia's best friend Quincy; with whom she's been dinning with, played in the pool with, been giving a ride on the "bike".

All Olivia's toys got shipped over a month ago, Quincy stepped in and loaned her some of his.

We will all miss you Quincy, big brother Hudson, mom and dad... and Boxer Guppy.

Olivia 22 months

Olivia is a helpful girl.

With four dogs we have to have our morning routines; we go out, take the pooper scooper and pick “it” up.

Happily she runs on her little feet and shows me where the poop scooper is, she takes my hand and walks around in the garden. With great Hawk eyes, she can spot a pile meters away, “No no no” she yells pointing. And I rush there and pick it up.

Once I thought we were done and started to do something else. I heard Olivia yell, “No no no” I looked up and she just stood there doing nothing so I didn’t think much of it. Seconds later she stood next to me and handed over the poop to me that she had picked up with her bare hands!

The water bucket for the dogs has to be cleaned and filled up every morning. Olivia loves to do that, of course, a lot of water to play around in. Now I have learned that we should clean it when she still wears her pajamas.

I never complain or at least I try not to —I am not a super mom—but I don’t want to get frustrated when it takes time for her to help me with things, or when it becomes a bigger mess because of her helpfulness.
It is such a wonderful frustration to watch her struggle with the broom to help me sweep the floor. Or when she wants to walk the dog, holds the leash and 60 pound dog Tjojs- walks fast and she is hanging on like a mitten after her.

“Tjschhosh, stop” she giggles.

Returning Home from War

Another situation that has expanded a lot since the War on Terror started is stress from deployed soldiers and spouses.

Or is it the same? Do we have more insight and information today than during earlier deployments thanks to Internet and high technology?

The fears and worries among families can create a major problem, or concerns. Some of these families feel like they have no control over their lives and doesn’t know what the future will look like. Just like the soldiers going out to war, they have to prepare themselves for what might happen by doing so, they prepares themselves and their closest family members for the unknown in life.
But returning home after a long deployment adds a large amount of stress on both the returning soldier and his family, a family who might not understand the emotions and fears that have pierced their soldier’s mind and heart.
And the soldier may not understand that his family’s life has continued while he has been gone, and is not frozen in time from the moment he departed.
He maybe doesn’t dare to speak about emotions to other soldiers about wanting to go home, that he misses his family. Afraid of being judged as weak, and on the other side, no one of the others wants to stay out in war anyway, either.

Many wives feel stressed out by staying home with their children alone, and the emails from their deployed husbands are many times short and shallow. Some soldiers don’t want to speak about what they see and do, for fear of worrying their wives. The protection can make many wives feel shut out. When a solider comes home, the mixture of nervousness and fear, excitement and dread, all are mixed with happiness and sorrow. The soldier feels that after a long time apart, the couple (family) will simply continue from were they left off several months or years earlier. But the spouse has her or his routines, and has been handling everything. In many cases both will have a hard time accepting the new realities, and perhaps relinquishing responsibilities they have grown used to.
The soldier returns home tired and possibly exhausted and burned out, and simply want to have some peace and quiet. The whole family, maybe even some relatives rushes to be with him and follows him everywhere, sometimes even when he goes to the bathroom. This particular soldier went up during the night when the family slept just to be by himself.

Soldier’s who perhaps have a wife who wants sympathy for being alone for such a long time starts telling him how miserable she has been. He views it as the one he most of all wanted to get home to blames him and gets defensive, angry and sad. Their emotions feed off of each other like gasoline on a fire.
He is tired, he has seen much, and every night away the thought of surviving another day to come home to her, adds to his internal stress.

When I worked in Sarajevo for a year and a half, and then returned to Sweden, it was difficult to come home! No one understood my pain and the sense of helplessness inside, so I stopped trying to tell people about my experiences. I became frustrated over how the media covered the rebuilding of a recently war-torn country.

And, people from my country had a different opinion about helping the “cave” people. Some would say, “Let them kill each other. Who cares? It was not “our” problem.”

Dog House

I have not forgotten nor have I healed but I am trying to take my power back. Suddenly my old solutions are not working, even less since I have children. It was kind of easier before, or so I thought.
Some wrote to me asked if I felt better since I am still writing on my blog—but you see—I try not to let anyone cut me down so it effects my writing (just spelling). And I have Olivia, for her I have to do my very best, she didn’t ask to be born into this world, so I owe everything to her to try to be a good role model. The mother is the biggest influence to her daughter but also her father, how he is will affect on her choice of boyfriend(s)
He is out painting the doghouse—camouflage.

I got an e mail from a woman that made me smile, “I hope things have worked theirselves out and you have not hung your fallen hero from the nearest tree.” And “We have been married 4 years now and my husband will swear he is a permanent resident of the "dog house." I loved this comment, thank you friend.

Mixed & Eating & Culture

Eating Swedish pancakes with strawberry preserve-- that your mother or grandmother made-- are great childhood memories. Yesterday I wanted to be one of those moms for my daughter Olivia.
I made the pancakes with a lot of love, tasted....yes like being home!
Olivia took one bite, then the pancake came flying like a UFO in the room.
Nooo, she wanted Peanut Butter on her pancake!!
That made me realize, she is a mixed child....half Swedish, half American!

• I am a true Swede, I tried with peanut butter....I had morning sickness before, now I know what color we have on the bottom of our toilet.
• When I moved over here 2004, I had never had a peanut butter/jelly sandwich. ohhh, I am getting goose bumps now.
• When I was saying mixed baby, many people came up to me, "she is not mixed, she is white!" (Most silly comments I have ever heard!)

But watching my daughter eating with joy and love is what is most important, and I guess she created a new recipe yesterday. Maybe she's the next face on the Food network channel.