Happy Easter! He's Alive!

My favorite Easter song is called, "He's Alive." I was SO excited this morning when it was sung during a drama presentation at church. And what better phrase to capture the essence of the day that celebrates the resurrection (coming back to life) of Jesus Christ? Church was lovely as both sets of parents were with us and the choir/drama group finished their production that ended Friday night with Jesus on the cross.

I'd like to say it was a perfect day but as I sit here updating the blog I have a SPLITTING headache that has plagued me now for three or four days. It is sinus, of that I am sure, but I've been too busy to be bogged down by sinus medicines so I've just endured knowing that if I could just make it to tonight I could "dope up" and take some decongestant and a Tylenol PM and sleep. As luck would have it, it's 10:00 and I still need to make a schedule for work tomorrow. Ha! to me.

It was a nice day in that my parents and Kevin's mom came over to eat Easter lunch. Now, I really LOVE holidays where I get to cook. I'm meticulous about planning ahead and having everything looking just right and having just the right things for the table -- blah, blah, blah. This year -- I was glad they had a chair to sit in and food to eat -- that's how tired I was and how bad I felt. Cloth napkins? Ha, be glad we have paper. Matching glasses? Ha! Be glad they are clean. Clean house? Double ha!! No time in the midst of remodeling a room, storing things for a garage sale and bringing home the "leftovers" from the lunch fundraiser yesterday. In reality -- everyone ate too much, seemed to have a good time and didn't care for squat if it was paper or cloth, matching or not matching or if the house was spotless (except me, just a little).

Josh informed me last night as he saw the small baskets I had with little bags of candy in them for the parents, Kevin and I (as table ornaments -- yeah, there was a little OCD still happening), that I didn't get him anything. I explained that the Easter Bunny would bring him a basket. (There's a post -- how to have "EB" co-exist successfully in a Christ-centered holiday -- it CAN be done, folks, without compromising the spirit of the holiday). He said he knew THAT (duh!) but that I always got him something too. *sigh* Another late-night Wal-mart guilt trip where I bought him some shampoo, bubble bath and some plastic eggs to fill for a "one-man-show" Easter egg hunt today. Who would have thought that a ten-year-old would still want to hunt eggs? If you could have seen the wistful longing of him watching the neighbor's have an egg hunt for their grandchildren yesterday, you would have done the same thing. My dad got the thrill of helping me hide eggs. As I watched him I thought of all the years he hid those eggs for me. I was so happy he could now hide them for his grandson. However, I DO think we are still missing two eggs. I'm sure they'll turn up at the first mowing of the yard!

As we sat at lunch today we discussed how our lives will be different this time next year with the addition of a high chair at the lunch table and a little one to hunt eggs (assuming she'll be walking by then). Poor Joshua's world is going to be rocked! I found it fun to read LANDLIFE today where this is the first Easter that Reed has been home with them. Reed's dad reflected back to his post from last Easter when they were waiting for Reed to come home. After looking back, it was amazing to see the difference a year can make. I also read about Anara's first Easter home over at A Leap of Faith and it gave me the perspective of a Kryg princess' Easter along with AP over at Holding on For the Ride. HOW BEAUTIFUL these girls were today!!

Here are some highlight photos I compiled into a montage of the day (sorry Mom, I just used this for the first time tonight and couldn't figure how to fix the pix of you and Josh -- I'll email them to you!). Josh was in RARE form today and every photo I managed to take of him, he was acting silly. Ahh... for the love of my boy. Double click the Green Triangle in the middle to play!

Happy Easter!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Burgers and Dogs - Bringing Home Ellie

We've dubbed most of our fundraisers, "Bringing Home Ellie". Today we ran a concession stand at our church and community Easter egg hunt. We exceeded our goal and raised a over $500. After expenses, we will clear a little over $300. For two hours of sales, we thought that was excellent. We have a couple more concession sports tournaments to work in the next month and hope we will do as well on those as we did today. We had quite a few sodas and waters left so we should make more profit on those since we won't have to purchase as much.

Here are some photos from the day:

Initial set up

One of the signs we made telling people why we were selling.

Iris and Ben prepare hot dogs.

Sara and Makayla -- my girls from church
Dianne, Josh, Lisa and Mary working hard


Lisa making sure it all "adds up"

Dianne prepares burgers
Our youngest helper, my friend Emily, who has just lost a tooth!

Thank you to all who helped with this event. We are all really tired. As Kevin said, "I think this is going to be an Advil night." Now it's on to make Easter lunch.

Why is it called "Good" Friday?

We throw around phrases in our Christian life like, "Good Friday" and just assume that non-Christians, or even new Christians will understand what it means.

Last night as I was helping Joshua wash his hair (he still has this horrible ear infection), I asked if he knew what tomorrow was. He said, "Friday". I answered, "Yes, but there is more." He said, "Easter?" I said, again, "No." I told him it was Good Friday. He said, "What's that?" I told him it was the day Jesus was crucified. He looked at me with such innocence and said, "Then why is is called GOOD?" How that statement moved my heart -- and I'm sure Jesus' heart as well.

I explained to him that it was good in that because he died for our sins, we would one day be able to be with God for eternity and that had he not died, we would have been separated from God forever because of our sin. A simple explanation that sufficed for him and meant that now, he will always know what Good Friday is and not just look at it as a day off from school or work.

Because of my connections to people adopting from all over the world, I thought it would be interesting to look at what this day is called in other countries. Wikipedia states the following:

Good Friday is also referred to as Holy Friday. In the Holy Land it is also known as Great Friday. In German it is "Karfreitag", an Old German word meaning "Friday of lamentation", although this meaning is not obvious to speakers of modern German. In Armenia it is called "High Friday (Ավագ Ուրբաթ)". In Russia it is called "Passion Friday" (Страстной Пяток / Страстная Пятница). In Ethiopia it is called Friday of the Crucifixion (arib siqilat).

Great Friday: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece (Μεγάλη Παρασκευή / Megáli Paraskeví), Hungary, Macedonia, Malta (Il-Ġimgħa l-Kbira), Poland (Wielki Piątek), Lithuania, Romania, Serbia, [[Slovakia]Velky Piatok], Slovenia, and in the Eastern Orthodox Church generally; Sri Lanka (Maha Sikurada); Indonesia (Jumat Agung)

Holy Friday: Latin America, Spain (Viernes Santo), France (Vendredi Saint), Italy (venerdì santo), Portugal, Brazil (Sexta-Feira Santa), Philippines (Mahal na Araw or Biyernes Santo), Vietnam (Thứ sáu Tuần Thánh), Japan (聖金曜日)

Long Friday: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Faroe Islands, Iceland

Day of Christ's Suffering: Chinese-speaking areas (基督受難日)

Sad Friday: Arabic-speaking locals

Good Friday (English language) but Aoine Chéasta Passion Friday (Irish Language): Ireland

Some interesting customs from other countries that are associated with Good Friday are:

• Day observed as a federal holiday in countries with a strong Christian influence such as Brazil, Canada, Germany and the UK -- EXCEPT in the U.S. where it a state holiday in some locations. (Isn't it ironic that a country founded on Christian principles is a country that doesn't recognize it as a federal holiday? Separation of church and state?)


• Ireland prohibits the sale of alcohol


• In Germany, comedic performances that include dancing are illegal on this day


• In Muslim-majority India, Good Friday is a national holiday. Newspapers are not published on this day.


• Eastern Orthodox Christians are not supposed to eat on this day and the next


• In Bermuda, kites are flown. The shape of the cross for the kite symbolizes the cross on which Jesus died.


• There is no horse racing in the UK on Good Friday.


• In Louisiana Cajuns have a tradition to not dig in the dirt on Good Friday.


• In many English speaking countries, hot cross buns are eaten on Good Friday with the cross on the top of the bun as a reminder of Jesus' cross.

However, you choose to remember Good Friday, I hope that it reminds you of the sacrifice made by Jesus on the cross for you. Remember, even if you were the only person on the earth, He would have come to die for you.

Blessings!

Not Enough Photos

There have just NOT been enough photos on my blog lately so this is a photo post with NO common theme! For those of you who are "constant readers" (or Stephen King fans and understand that phrase), it's time for some of those "Happy Photos" I talk about. I get to see some of the cutest, funniest and most unusual stuff during my work days. Some of these might have been on the blog before, but they continue to make ME smile. Hopefully, they will you as well. Enjoy!

Check out the claw length on this guy. He looks like an old soul to me.

Good advice, eh?
Another political bumper sticker. They are ALL funny to me!

Beauty and the beast -- my dog and cat, Bear and Punch - you can figure which one is which!

Dog swimming in pool. FUNNY!

Take out.
Something struck this dog as humorous -- probably me!

No words needed -- obviously they were having a, um, problem.

How beautiful -- there was an entire field of these!

Stuart lived at one of the houses I inspected. Why was his name Stuart? Because he was Little!

Stuart posing.

Soooo me!!
Nothing better than puppy tongues!
I inspect for Geico. This was at someone's house that I was inspecting. The irony was too much to pass up -- the Geico Gecko!

Cat sitting in window of a house I inspected

A bumper sticker that I found amusing. Keep in mind I find ALL political bumper stickers amusing and will give equal laugh time to all parties!

Silly Joshua

An Adoptees Right to Open Records

One of the things I've not explored very much here in "Bloggville" is my role as an adoptee. I have come to a very comfortable place with this aspect of my life. There were times when I was not so comfortable. I know this is a difficult topic for my parents to read about, but I know it's not something that they are not acutely aware of. It is my hope that my story can be shared for other adoptive parents, adoptees, birth families and other members of the adoption circle to enlighten them about some of the feelings that those of us who are adopted experience and why, when they come to you, asking to search and find those with whom they are genetically connected, you can in some way understand.

The thing I remember most from the years before reuniting with my birth family is my birthday. For years I spent the day wondering if somewhere someone was thinking about me and wondering how I turned out. I spent the day wondering "why". The "why" of it all is what was the driving force for me. Don't let your adoptee fool you into thinking, "It's for the medical history." I can't tell you how many times I've heard that as an "acceptable" reason for wanting to find an adoptee's birth family. I'm willing to bet I used it a million times. It's safe and socially acceptable and no one is going to want an intense conversation about that reason. They will, however, want to spend a lot of time talking you out of your feelings if you say you need to know why. Apparently, our desires to know the circumstances surrounding our birth and subsequent adoption into another family are not legitimate reasons for opening what others consider Pandora's Box. Everyone seems to have a really good reason why having open access to your birth records and birth family is a bad idea. Ironically, the most common reason is to protect the birth mom. Paradoxically, it seems that the adoptees' rights are not an issue -- ever. So, much like abortion, the child's rights seem to have no consideration in the equation. When did age become the determining factor in equality of rights?

I had great adoptive parents who spent time doing all the right things for me to help me become emotionally stable and, as the current terminology would indicate, attached and bonded. There was never any question about their love, commitment or parenting (except maybe in my mind when I was a teenager, but that's really another story that neither side probably wants to re-hash! :-0). But, no matter what they did, there was always something missing. Even when I didn't realize it was missing, it was. There was always the questions rolling around in my mind, "Is that person I just passed on the street my birth mom?", "What if I marry my brother?", "Why did she not want me?", "Who do I look like?", "What time was I born? What did I look like as a baby?"

Visits to the doctor's office were always uncomfortable when the doctor would ask about family history and I had to answer, "I'm adopted. I don't know." WHAT??? So who's to say I'm not entitled to know my medical history? Everyone else is entitled to that basic information, aren't they? Since I was a toddler when I was adopted, I had no photos of me before I was about 20 months old. Stop and think about how you take for granted the photos you have of you when you were a baby -- how you pulled them out at the birth of your child to compare. I had none. The moment that rocked me the most when I was in the midst of my search and when I got my records was when I found someone who had baby pictures of me. I cried because I finally knew that my son looked like me when I was a baby. I remember staring intently at him in the hospital, wondering, desperate to know if we looked alike and thinking how completely unfair it was to not have that piece of who I am available to me -- to be robbed of that.

On the flip side, though, I do not believe in the concept of open adoption. I know I will be argued into the ground by professionals and by families who are currently existing in successful open adoption arrangements. I suspect the person who would not argue with me might be the adoptee who is in the midst of this arrangement. Our family attempted to participate in a fully open adoption of a toddler girl several years ago. It failed miserably for all involved. Our hearts were broken, the child was split between two families and cried constantly and the birth family was unable to let go and transition. I know that birth moms who feel that their lives are not such that they are able to keep their children do so, most of the time, with much angst and heartbreak. I know that were their situations better or different they would be able to parent that child. So then, why do we think that exposure of a child to a lifestyle where it would not be appropriate for their birth family to parent is a positive experience and won't cause some level of confusion in a child? I'm told it "cures" those "why" questions and fills that "hole" I spoke of early, but ... I have to wonder what other "holes" it causes and what other "whys" it causes. Is there not guilt of the adopted child for leaving the birth parent when they are in a situation that is not as optimal as theirs might be? Do the children feel responsible to help them? Do they not feel a bit of anger that the birth family is going ahead and leading their lives without them? I don't know and I'm definitely speculating at this point, having not experienced it. However, I do know that it would not have been a good answer for me. I think it would have definitely caused confusion, additional anger and even disrupted the family life that I had as an adopted child. As an adult, I would not be willing to trade off what I had for the opportunity to be in an open adoption situation. As a now parent, I would not be willing to trade my adopted child's emotional well-being for the promise of a "more emotionally secure child" which is what is promised through open adoption. I really am happy for those who can make open adoptions work, but I think those situations are very few and far between.

My fight for my records, the search by the state for my birth family and the subsequent reunion were not without pain, heartbreak and many tears. I'd be lying to say that it was the Cinderella story every adoptee thinks it will be. However, I wouldn't trade all I went through during that really difficult time for the truth, the information and the closure I have in my life now that I know MY story. I am reconciled to where I came from, where I went and who I am because of it all. And because of that, I can be the person God created me to be without spending time worrying about who I was and what was wrong with me and why I was given away. I can release the anger I felt and be at peace and offer forgiveness.

I do not believe in having closed records. I believe that the choice to obtain this information should be up to the adoptee. In juxtaposition, though, I do not believe in a fully open adoption. I think there is a happy medium. I think probably that happy medium should be determined by the adoptive parents until such time as the adoptee is able to voice their desires to have such information. It's a fine line, I know. I've walked it all my life and now am about to come around, full circle as I adopt my own daughter and begin to navigate the adoption waters from the other side of the fence.

In our adoption, however, I fear access to her birth family might end up being very difficult since she will be from another country. I want her to have the option - when she is ready -- to find her birth family and to know her story. It is not my story when she comes to us, it is hers. It is not my decision to make when the time comes, it is hers. I know I will understand that it has nothing at all to do with me or her father or brother and that it doesn't mean she is unhappy with us. I hope she can find her story and fill her hole. Don't let them fool you, they all have it -- the hole, the part that is missing. It may take years to surface, but, it will. I think it's just an innate part of being human, the need to connect ourselves with our past and our future. The Bible does it -- you know, all the begats. We all need to have the right to know our "begats" in our time and in our own way. It's our story.

Atlanta - A Whirlwind Trip

So we are now driving home from Atlanta where we did the whirlwind "do nothing exciting to report but got out of the house and got to eat at Cracker Barrel" tour.

Josh's ear is now draining. It's gross, really gross. I called the doctor today to make sure I should be concerned. I would have been concerned no matter what he said, but I guess he deals with crazy parents like me every day. I told him I was ok when it was creamy yellow, but now that it was turning pinkish-red, I was concerned. He called us in some antibiotic drops which my daddy picked up at the pharmacy this afternoon and dropped off at the house. When we get home, he's getting "dropped up" (ha! that's a ridiculous phrase). Hopefully, by tomorrow, this will stop. Not meaning to be gross, but I have NEVER seen any one's ears just ... well, drip. We solved it by getting some cotton balls at Walmart which he routinely sticks in his ears.

I'd like to report that we did something terribly exciting, but we drove there (stopping to eat dinner at Cracker Barrel -- does anyone recognize the fact that I LOVE this place? -- and then stopping at the outlet mall outside of Dalton, GA. I managed to get through the outlet with only a clearance outfit and "ellie"phant toy for Ellie. For those who fear that Josh has been slighted (that would be the grandparents :-0), he got a shirt today and another webkinz dog (which he slept with last night).

We checked into the hotel and went to bed. Josh wanted me to sleep with him and he was flippy-floppy all night and woke up several times because his ear was hurting. He ran a fever some and we had to give him some meds. It was a long night. I HAVE determined though that NO MATTER what the weight, there WILL be a white noise machine travelling with us to Kyrygyzstan. Due to the snoring factor of one of us, and knowing that we likely will not have an air conditioner to make noise, I fear I will get NO sleep. I am also taking some kind of knock-me-out-asleep pills as I get a wee bit cranky if I don't get a little sleep. (Hope Ellie is a good sleeper!!!) So, this trip was productive to that end.

While Kevin was in his mold class Josh got in the pool (head above water), we went to Walmart, ate lunch and packed up to leave.

That's it. Isn't it sad? :-) I was glad to get away from home for a bit though.

Speaking of the mold class, I was asking Kevin, "What in the world can you talk about mold for four hours?" I told him I could pretty much sum it all up in a few sentences: There is brown, black and green. It's all nasty and will cause your sinuses to act up. Spray it with bleach and it dies. What else could you need to know? I haven't asked him what else he learned, but he did say he enjoyed it. Ahh... opposites definitely attract. I'd rather watch mold grow than sit through a four hour seminar about it. I'm sure he feels the same way about scrapbooking so it all evens out.

So, now, back to reality. Many jobs to complete in the field and to get entered, a pizza fundraiser to wrap up on Thursday, food to buy for another fundraiser on Friday, a fundraiser/community Easter egg hunt on Saturday, waiting anxiously to hear from our grant applications, Easter musical for church on Friday night, Kevin's mom coming Friday, Easter on Sunday, cooking Easter dinner and having the parents over on Sunday, squeezing in a visit to the nurisng home to see Grandmother sometime during the holiday and I'm sure some house cleaning and laundry to keep it spicy.

I need a vacation. :-)

The Craziest Things Take Me Back

I am adopted. Several years ago I made contact with the members of my birth family on my birth mother's side. I also made contact with members on my birth father's side, but somehow I didn't manage to keep up the contact with them. But, that's not really what I'm writing about.


Kevin has a class in Atlanta tomorrow and since it is spring break, Josh and I decided to tag along. Hey, it's a free night in a hotel, away from home and it will involve a stop at the Cracker Barrel. Who would pass that up? As for Josh, there will be pool time and so he's all for it. Sadly, he woke up last night with what has turned out to be a RAGING ear infection and we had to make a stop at the doctor's office and at Walgreens for antibiotics. The doctor also gave him an antihistimine and decongestant to help dry him up. He just never got all the "funk" out from when he had strep back-to-back with the flu. I'm hoping spring is coming and these germs will all die soon. Oh, look, I'm off topic again!


Anyway, as we are driving there I thought about the hotel that Kevin booked, a Fairfield Inn/Suites -- because it was the only one in the area that had an indoor pool, of course. And I immediately went back in time some five years to a summer in Orlando, Florida to a Fairfield Inn and Suites near Disney World in a lobby where I first met several of the members of my birth family. I met Derek, his girlfriend/fiance' Nicki and her son, Robert and his wife Tammy and her son and Ricky. I still remember what I wore, what I felt and how very scared I was to go down to that lobby to meet those people. My sister was living in North Carolina at that time and wasn't there and my birth mom, well, she didn't come, but nonetheless, it was a momentthat changed my life forever.


Sadly, since then, my brother Derek has passed away and really that's what took me back there. I really miss him. Most days I go along just fine and don't think about him, but some days it really hits hard. He was just so good and so young and so much like me. We spent hours and hours on the phone talking and talking when we found each other. I get teary just thinking about it now and he's been gone two and a half years now. Sometimes Josh will say something and sound like him and I'll just stop and stare. Sometimes I'll throw out some crazy piece of humor and think, "Derek would have really gotten that and thought it was a riot." I've noticed Josh drawing a lot lately and Derek was an artist. His last job was at EA Sports creating artwork for video games. He was SUCH a kid at heart. Josh asked the other day if he practiced enough could he go to art school. I told him he could do whatever made him happy. I don't know if he has talent, but I know genetically he could. I know that whatever he wants to do in life I'll be behind him, supporting him. I wish Derek were around to share the ups and downs of our adoption. I wish I could just call him up and hear his voice.


Strange, how just the thought of a hotel can bring back all that.

A Better Place Award

Now, imagine my surprise when I went to visit the site of my secret pal (sshhhhh!!! it's a secret, remember!! I'm not supposed to know who she is) and found that she had chose my blog for one of her five people in the "You make the world a better place award." I am humbled and appreciate her friendship.

Rules are to link to Ukok's Place http://catholicconvert.wordpress.com/then choose 5 other bloggers for this award.

Ah... and there is the problem. Choosing only five websites??? When there are so many blogs I follow regularly? How to choose.

So, with no offenses meant and hopefully none taken for those I choose and those I must save for another time, I nominate:

Hilary at A Leap of Faith (aka Bringing Home Anara)

Anita at He Leads Us

Allison at In a Land Far Far Away

Verna at The Bigs and The Littles

Andrea at Holding on for the Ride

Certifications, Authentications and Fingerprints, Oh My!

As part of our adoption process, all the documents required for our adoption have to be notarized. We then take these documents to the local county clerks' office for certification and then the documents go to the Secretary of State for authentication. Today was the day I went to do the certification and authentication. In addition, today was our appointment for fingerprinting. In order to get the piece of paper (an I171H) that allows us to bring an orphan into the country, we are required to be fingerprinted (again).

I started at the Robertson County Clerk's Office and let me say they are the MOST friendly and efficient folks!! And, additionally, since their Clerk has a heart for adoption, she has determined that certification for adoption is (get this) FREE!!! It's one of the only things in this process that has been free!

After that, I headed over to the Davidson County Clerk's office. I got a parking spot right up front and walked right in with no waiting and was done in less than 10 minutes.

I headed over to be fingerprinted after that. Apparently, I have perfect fingerprints. I'm SO HAPPY to have something perfect about me. *smile* Processing time in the Memphis CIS is 8 weeks so hopefully, we will get the I171H right about the time we get our referral or have to travel.

I then spent 20 minutes driving around downtown Nashville trying to find a parking spot near the building where I had to get our documents authenticated. Finally, on what I had decided was my last round before I parked three miles away, I found a spot -- right in front of the door again. The lady working there was the same one who did ours for China. She is SO nice!! They were also not busy and I managed to get them done quickly. Right at the end, I realized one of the documents I had combined really needed to be separate. Unfortunately, it was one that was from Robertson County so I had to drive back to that office to get a new certification. I will go Monday and get it authenticated and put the package in the mail. I just didn't have the energy (or gas money, for that matter!!! at $3.19 a gallon) to drive back to Nashville.

And, the best of all is that after reading about how much folks in other states have had to pay for their authentications, I was very pleased to have walked away with all my documents having only paid $40.

Our fundraiser for this weekend (concessions at a ball tournament) was cancelled due to the storms that are expected. While this is disappointing in that we needed to have the fundraiser, it will answer a prayer that our family has been praying for just a little time to get some things done at our house. I'm behind in my paperwork and Kevin's working very hard on building up the floor in the office.

I'm EXCITED to report my friend Jennifer has received her daughter -- a big surprise to me as I thought she was still waiting in the Vietnam program. Congratulations to her and her beautiful daughter. Jennifer was my Secret Santa this past Christmas. Visit her blog here.

Fasting

This comes from a website I read about fasting and it's history and implications for we as Christians. During our 40 days of prayer at church, we have been encouraged to fast. My friend's mother recently fasted while in a day of prayer for her and her husband. Because of my concerns about our adoption, I am feeling led to spend time fasting and praying for God's continued blessing on our adoption along with the prayer requests that we have been asked to pray about in relation to our church, it's growth, staff and impact on our community. We are at a point in our adoption where we must have His intervention to continue and I feel the need to seek His provision at a very sacrificial level. During this time when we are coming upon Easter and His Son's greatest sacrifice for us, it would seem now is a very appropriate time to do so. The link for this article can be found here.

Fasting is a time honored Christian ritual. It is the voluntary sacrifice of food and sometimes drink, too. What is its purpose? How do we make a decision to fast? How long should we fast?
Abstaining from food is the typical kind of fast. (Daniel 6:18) There are occasions when people abstain from both food and drink, though this is not common. (Ezra 10:6) Typically, fasts are one day in length. (Judges 20:26) Sometimes, they are three days (Esther 4:16), or even seven days; “And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days. (1 Samuel 31:13)

On three occasions in the Bible, people fasted for forty days. This is not a prescribed practice; these were very unusual circumstances. The first occasion was when Moses received the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 34:28) The next occasion was when Elijah encountered God before the anointing of Elisha. (1 Kings 19:8) The third occasion for such a fast was when Jesus was in the wilderness and tempted by Satan. (Matthew 4:2)

There are many reasons given in the Bible for fasting. The fasting itself is an act of sacrifice and when we fast and experience hunger, we are reminded of God and His sacrifice for us. While fasting denies the flesh comfort, it feeds the spirit strength. Fasts are voluntary, part of religious tradition or done in obedience to God. When you decide to fast, be clear with yourself and with God about why you are fasting, how long you will fast and use the time normally spent preparing and eating food to deepen your relationship with God. The fast should serve a purpose; there should be a significant reason for it.

Bereavement was once a common reason for fasting, though it is not so much anymore. The fasting may have been incidental in some cases but was often a way to feel closer to God during a particularly difficult time. “And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4)

Distressing or difficult times are reasons for fasting. Fasting is a way of communicating feelings of fear, anxiety, distress or grief to God. Self-denial is one way of expressing genuineness or sincerity. It’s also a way of making a spiritual contribution to relieving the situation, a way of showing God a willingness to do our part and asking Him to make up the difference. (See Esther 4:3) Fasting is sometimes used as a sacrifice when asking God to intervene in a situation. “But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.” (Psalms 35:13)

Fasting can also be a way of expressing sorrow or regret for sin. God doesn’t ask us for this sacrifice but He is pleased by it. “And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, we have sinned against the LORD…”(1 Samuel 7:6) When this kind of sacrifice is made as a sincere gesture of sorrow or penitence, it is accepted by God.

When Christians seek guidance from God fasting may be an action that is helpful. The idea is to use the time we spend on food to spend with God instead. It provides extra time to spend in prayer, worship and listening. It is also a way of preparing for a spiritual event or change. It’s an act of submission, a way to get our desire out of the way in order to allow the spirit to work. (Acts 13:1-3)

Fasting can be a form of worship. “And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” (Luke 2:37) Surrendering comfort as an act of worship is not necessary but it is pleasing to God if it is sincere. It is much like saying, “Thank you God for giving Your Son for me. Let me be a little uncomfortable for Your sake.” Here again fasting is an act of sacrifice.

Fasting is a way of communicating emotion to God; it’s a sacrifice that can be made for the sake of restoring a right relationship with God, or can be made coupled with a request for help. Fasting is a way to subdue our flesh for the sake of our spirit. Fasting must be done sincerely to be a pleasing sacrifice to God.

Fasting can be used for a variety of reasons but it must be done sincerely. Choosing to fast can be a way to communicate feelings like sorrow, grief, and regret but it can also be a way of worshipping God. Fasts can be a sacrifice when we ask God for help or guidance and they can be acts of obedience when God asks us to fast. Fasts are time limited and are done for a reason; be clear about how long you will fast and why you are fasting. Whatever your reason for fasting, use the extra time to grow closer to God. He will honor your sacrifice.

Here are some other great links for fasting if you are interested:

Prayer and Fasting - Focusing on God
Scriptures on Praying and Fasting
Fasting - The Key to Power

Artwork for Ellie's Room

So, I got my creative juices going and wanted to do something other than the traditional hanging letters to spell a name in Ellie's room. So, I've covered the letters I bought with scrapbook paper, put some embellishments on and considered mounting them on a canvas. It looks ok, but now I've got another idea. I will show you some "in progress" photos now and when it's finished I'll show you the final product.

When will our referral come?

For those of you who voted in the poll to the left and chose March 10, sorry!!! The highest date so far is April 15 (tax day!!) and that is a possibility. I'm still waiting word that the referrals I heard about back on March 3 have come through. Two of my adoption friends (#2 and #3) on the list are now referring to ourselves as Nancy Drew as we try to sleuth out when the referrals are coming and who is where on "the list". We are still #5 as best I can tell.

For those of you who might not understand how this works, I will go over it for clarification.

Once we signed a contract with the agency and sent in our first fees, we were put on "The List". After we were on the list, we started gathering the documents that will be part of our "dossier". This is a package of papers to include things like our homestudy, photos of our home, letters from our employers, police letters stating we are not criminals, etc. Once this document is complete (FRIDAY!!!! yay!) I will send it to our agency and they will send it for translation and legalization. This will be the document that will go to court. However, I am ahead of myself.

"Referrals" are made by matching a family to a child that is available for adoption. Children are not available for adoption in Kyrgyzstan (or to go to court for adoption) until they are three months old. We could receive a referral for a younger child, but her paperwork would not be able to go to court until she was three months old. Once we are matched with a child (our referral), we will get photos and medical information. After that, we are required to travel to Kyrgyzstan to visit with her for 14 days. We will travel to the orphanage each day and spend somewhere between 1-2 hours with her. After this time, we are allowed to accept the referral and the case can proceed to court (assuming she is three months -- if not, the court will not hear the case until she is three months). We will return home to wait. After going to court, there is a mandatory waiting period of 30 days. After that, 10 days are required to get a passport and visa for the child to come home. Typically, families with our agency return to pick up their child in about 8 weeks after the first trip.

We are just barely into our window. I'm still sticking with my original prediction of April 15. God is fully in control of when this will happen. Knowing that He has this taken care of, I'm ok with waiting. I know he has the perfect daughter/sister picked out for our family.

I got my weekly baby fix in at church tonight holding Caleb. I even managed to get him to sleep!! He's a finger sucker and just terribly cute when he does it. His parents, however, aren't AS excited about it as I am -- something about dentists and orthodontists, etc.!! *smile* Caleb is my "practice baby".

Please continue to pray for our journey and for Ellie and her birth mom. There are days I stop and think, "I know there are people praying for us and this adoption -- maybe right now." It helps me make it through whatever is going on and truly keeps us strong. We are continuing to have faith that God is going to provide the remaining portion of finances we need to make Trip 1 and then what's needed for Trip 2. We are so close now but it's sort of like the old saying that close only counts in hand grenades and horse shoes. It's pretty much all or nothing in this case. It's another thing that makes me stop some days and go, "You know, God is working on this. Just because I don't see progress in this area doesn't mean He isn't taking care of it." It's much like the nursery that you all haven't seen photos of yet *smile*. Just because I'm not mentioning it doesn't mean I'm not working on it. I am!!! It's just not quite ready to share yet. Here's a sneak peek of the stenciling I'm doing. Sadly, there's only one line (the last one) done.

Washing Dishes

When I was little (and I mean little) my job was to wash dishes. I remember have to have a step stool to reach the sink (my parents are laughing at this point!!). Washing dishes was my job until I left home (a LOT of years later).

So, in an effort to instill a little of the same "job ethic" and "responsibility" into Joshua -- and, let's be honest, a way to get out of doing dishes!!! -- I felt it time that he learn to become responsible for the dishes each day.

Tonight he started. I got all the expected reasons why he shouldn't have to do this: "I'll gag; that food on there is gross; I'll throw up." Imagine all this in a very whiny voice. I told him he could throw up and then he'd just have to clean that up too. THAT seemed to be the right answer as he stopped and said, "I don't want to have to do THAT!" to which I replied, "Then don't throw up." He found some rubber gloves (he couldn't TOUCH that stuff!) and started the process. A BOTTLE (I'm certain it was that much) of Dawn and multiple gallons of water later, he emerged with the dishes clean and the dishwasher running. He only had to re-wash one pan and, surprisingly, didn't gag.

We'll see if we manage to make a habit of it. Here's some proof of his work.

I'm such a "mean" mama!!! :-)

Emotions and Adoption

I'm never surprised when the emotions hit me during what has turned out to be a long adoption process. I think back to our naivete when we started this process some three years ago and I wind my mind back through all that we have gone through and the emotions that have ripped me apart and the tenderness with which God has reminded me that He is in control, not me. To say it has been a roller coaster would be like calling Hurricane Katrina a thunderstorm. It has provided the highest of highs and the lowest of lows and ever emotion in between.

So, the last few weeks were not surprising, I suppose to me, but they have proven to be an enigma. During a time I should probably be the happiest since we are so close to the "prize" or the "goal", I find myself feeling ambivalent. This seems to be the best word to describe my emotions right now. I'm tired from all the work that we are pouring out right now with trying to get our house in order so we can add another person and from fundraising to raise funds more quickly than we had anticipated we would need them.

Somewhere along the way I lost sight of why we were doing this. I got caught up in the thought and process of adoption and forgot to focus on the outcome of the adoption. Someone who is adopting using our same agency just travelled for their first trip. They shared their blog with me yesterday and I spent quite a while marveling over this tiny baby girl that they were blessed with being told was theirs. Somehow, in the painting, the hammering, the baby clothes, the pizza kits and the paperwork, I haven't been still enough to think about the child, the baby.

I got a sample diaper in the mail today. When I held it, the reality of the fact that a little wiggling baby girl would be in that diaper and in our home and our hearts came crashing in. I went into her room and thought of her sleeping there, crying in the middle of the night. I think, because I have been here and done that before, I can understand that even though she is not "real" to us yet, she is going to touch our hearts, our home and our family in such a way that none of us will ever be the same people as we were before she came. I hope I can change her life in a positive way as well.

A friend commented as we talked about the things I'm writing here that I'm in my last trimester of our adoption pregnancy -- the time when you are most miserable, most anxious and most afraid. You have no idea when the baby is coming, but know that everything is going to change. You are tired from all the work of just existing and carrying a baby. You are so anxious about "nesting" and getting it all ready for the baby and yet you are also so tired. That's exactly where I seem to find myself these days.

Our family is ready (pretty much, anyway) to receive our referral when it comes. We are ready to dive in headfirst to find what our "new normal" is going to be. We are ready to go back to life without the burden of adoption work. While adoption will always be a part of our lives, of Ellie's and my history, it doesn't have to be the focus of our lives all the time -- like this seems to be.

I can envision my little girl. I see her small with dark hair -- lots of it -- and dark eyes. She will be dark complexioned. I see her tiny fingers clutched around one of ours. I see her yawn and hear her coo. I see her sleeping in her brother's arms. I see her, just like her brother did, sleeping on her daddy's chest for a nap. I see her in church on Sundays, knowing "my girls" will all want to be holding her and playing with her (Sara, after all, has called dibs on babysitting). I see her at MeeMee's and DeeDee's for Christmas and at Nana's for Sunday afternoon dinner. I see her chasing the cats and laying on the dog like Josh used to do. And so while I am fearful, I am excited.

I found the following verses that gave me comfort this morning. I hope if there are other parents who are adopting and waiting that are reading, they will find some comfort in this as well,

Isaiah 30:18

The Lord longs to be gracious to you;

He rises to show you compassion

For the Lord is a God of justice

Blessed are all who wait for Him!

In "The Window"

We are now in the "window" that we were told our referral would come. Granted, we are just on the early side and don't expect to hear news yet, but it's exciting to know that it will be soon.

The dossier is ready sans one employment letter and one set of police clearance letters. I forgot to tell them I needed two. I have have those done and a couple of documents notarized and Friday I will go about getting it all authenticated and certified. We also get our fingerprints done on Friday and will begin the tedious wait of getting our I171H.

We are waiting to hear from two others who are in front of us on the Adoption Options waiting list. When their referrals come I will begin to get antsy.

Maria

Rambling

There's no good title for this post as I'm just catching up a few whirlwind days/weeks and exploring some of those "contents" of my heart that reflect the title of the blog. Be forewarned, this post will ramble. :-)

Today we had the remaining dossier documents notarized. I thought that would finish things up, but wouldn't you know it, there is always a piece or two missing. I realized I only have one employment letter for me and the lady who did my letter is out this week. I only have one police clearance letter for each of us, but that lady is coming back this week. I need to make my photo pages which I can do within a very short period of time. I need to take the passport copies to the bank and have them notarized since I forgot to take them today. THANK YOU to Lisa for notarizing our things (again!). Will this dossier ever be done????

So... laundry tip. I have a messy, messy boy who loves condiments of all varieties and never fails to wear them. He gets this from me. We have found that Easy Off BAM will take out pretty much any condiment/grease stain on colored clothes. It works OK on whites, but you might have to run it through twice. On colored clothes though, we have managed to take out grease stains on clothing that has already been washed and dried several times. This is a product made to clean the grease off your appliances and out of your stove, so it makes sense. We have seen no loss of color on the items either. So, there's your tip for the day.

On the fundraising front (will that ever end??) we will be selling concessions at a softball tournament this weekend at Joelton Park. We are doing the breakfast booth on Saturday and Sunday. There are supposed to be between 20-30 teams there, so we are hopeful that it will be a productive couple of days. Our Sunday school class informed us today that they want to help with this by purchasing the items we will sell. I was just floored by this offer and generosity. I'm always amazed at the ways God chooses to help. It is never a way I would think of on my own.

Along those same lines, our pastor has encouraged us to memorize (in however long it takes us) ten scriptures. We are to pick verses that apply to us at where ever we are in life. We are to write them on cards and take them with us and study them until we have them memorized. I'm going to list my ten verses here so I don't forget them (people who know me will find this both funny and sad -- but true!). I'm cheating a little because some of them I already know, but during the next few months of this adoption, they are truths that I need to continually remind myself of. It's been a hard few weeks emotionally on the adoption front and I know if I commit these to memory, they will serve as a reminder of the promises made and kept.

Delight yourself in the ways of the Lord

and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

I will not leave you as orphans.

I will come to you.

John 14:18

Lord, listen and be gracious to me.

Lord, be my helper.

You turned my lament into dancing.

You removed my sackcloth

and clothed me with gladness

so that I can sing to You

and not be silent

Lord my God.

I will praise you forever."

Psalm 30:10-12

I Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has seized you

except what is common to man.

And God is faithful;

he will not let you be tempted

beyond what you can bear.

But when you are tempted,

he will also provide a way out

so that you can stand up under it.

He will cover you with his feathers,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness will be your shield

and rampart.

Psalm 91:4

Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;

keep watch over the door of my lips.

Psalm 141:3

He who guards his mouth

and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.

Proverbs 21:23

I will sing of the LORD's great love forever;

with my mouth I will make

your faithfulness known

through all generations.

Psalm 89:10

No comments about the ones about my "mouth" from those who know me well.

This is our last week of school before spring break. I'm going to try to get caught up with work this week (hahahaha) so I can take a day or two off to do things with Kevin and Joshua. I'm hoping for pretty weather. We did have our snow Saturday -- somewhere around 5-6". It was pretty much gone by early afternoon.

All the keys are popping off my laptop. I'm without "K" and now "L" and "C" are pretty much done for. Does ANYONE know where I can take to to get it cleaned and have the keys repaired???

Pizza Pizza -- Again, Again

During our last Little Caesar's Pizza Kit sale, our order was short a couple of kits. Then, apparently, we lost one (how???) and so we needed to re-order. Because of that, we are going to allow anyone who wants anymore or who missed this last order to place an order. Our cut off for getting the orders is 3/16 (Sunday). The orders will be delivered on Thursday March 20.

We've had great comments from the last sale and we've already collected 30 orders for the next time.

If you need to see the brochure, you can find it HERE. Scroll down a few pages and it will be a color brochure with prices.

While I'm bragging about their products, let me say that we have been SO HAPPY with our salad fixings kit. Just add lettuce and you're done! It combines all your favorite gourmet toppings with premium dressings in 4 flavorful salad combinations. The Salad Fixin's Kit goes anywhere! Joshua loves the Caesar Salad Kit and I love the Southwestern kit. We throw some chicken in with it and have really quick meal.

We've also heard rave reviews over the wings that come with the Deep Dish Family Meal. The kit comes with a deep dish family size pepperoni pizza, 10 boneless wings and 18 pc Crazy Bread.

Thanks, again, for all the support!

Baseball Season Starts Again

Tonight was our first official practice for the 2008 Baseball season. This year Joshua is a Padre. He's very excited because all his friends are on this team and he really likes his coaches.

It was REALLY cold out there tonight. They are predicting a big snow here tomorrow -- possibly 4"-6" of accumulation.

Check out our team blog. We are excited about havnig a blog. There's not a lot there now, but we are excited about using it this year.

I like baseball -- when it's warm!

Progress Being Made

Despite the fact that I found no "takers" for my position of Replacement Me, I decided something HAD to be done with that "To Do" list when people began asking me, "Do you REALLY have that many things to do??" with some incredulity. I sort of whispered my reply in embarrassment, "Those were just the most important things." *smile*

So, today, I got on that proverbial ball and got the following items cleared off my list:

1. 1. Punch has gone to the vet. She has some really long named possibly allergy/immune system thingy that is causing her paw to become inflammed and the vet indicated she thought it was starting in another paw. I LOVE my vet, Dr. Lamb. She is awesome. She came back in with a book and showed me pictures, told me about what it was and everything. Sadly, all I was thinking in my mind the entire time she was talking was, "Is she going to DIE from this???" followed by, "I wonder if this is a high dollar fix?" Fortunately for both Punch and me, it was neither. Some steroids and antibiotics and she should be one the mend. It might take several weeks.
2. Deposits are made at the bank.
3. Weekly Bible study classwork is complete and class for this week is done.
4. Telephone repair man came and the phone is working again.
5. Joshua's tonsillectomy has been cancelled and I will call back closer to summer and after our referral to re-schedule.
6. Dossier is in order. We are missing only the photo pages and we have to have the police clearance letters re-done. Everything is ready for notarization. Thanks to my friend, A., who also lives in TN and has adopted from Kyrg, I will now only have to go to two county clerks offices instead of three AND I have a phone number where I can "call ahead" and they will have it ready to staple to the paper. You CANNOT beat that, can you??
7. I am headed to Bowling Green for a LONG day tomorrow to clean that work up there. I have entered some of the backlog of work I have. This might continue to be on the list for a few weeks. But hey, it's job security, right???

Thanks to Kevin today for picking up the missing Marriage Licenses, Joshua's medical forms and having our passport copies made. That took a LOT off me.

I'm feeling a bit better. Give me a weekend and I just might be able to cut that list down to just a few items!!! Yay.

And, Dana, if you are reading this, I have pulled out the items you have asked for and will be scanning tomorrow night and emailing them to you. They are "on the list".

And last, but certainly not least, I got my baby "fix" in tonight at church. My friend Michelle's baby, Caleb is just TOO CUTE and is usually a willing participant for my much needed fix!

Psalm 30:11-12

WOW! As I study for my Beth Moore class, I came across a verse that made me stop and just think how perfect it was for our adoption story. In all honesty, it might not be for Kevin's or Joshua's personal experience with this adoption, but it is as if it was written specifically for me. It is:

You turned my wailing into dancing;

you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy

that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.

Oh Lord, my God, I will give you thanks

forever.

I can think back on some of the darkest times during this two and half, almost three-year journey and remember the times when there was most definitely wailing and sackcloth. I can almost see the end now. I can "taste" the joy and feel the cloth of it that will clothe me. I feel my feet begin to vibrate in the beginnings of the "dance". My heart has begun to hum in anticipation of the song it will sing.

And, as always, I will continue to give credit, praise and thanks to the One who continues to make it all possible. Forever.

As I continue looking through the rest of my study, I feel as if He is sitting here saying, "This is to prepare you. You are close." Look, as I have at the quotes and the section titles and be amazed and His timing.

God never more closely surrounds us than when He lifts us to His breast and carries us HOME.

Our mouths were FILLED WITH LAUGHTER then, and our tongues with SHOUTS OF JOY. Then they said among the nations, 'The Lord has done GREAT THINGS for them.' Psalm 126:2

Those who sow in tears will reap with SHOUTS OF JOY. Psalm 126:5

VAIN LABOR (section title) - Godless labor + little sleep = the futile expenditure of energy

WOW again! I feel like we are so close to the filling of laughter and the shouts of joy and the great things to come. And, there is the reminder of not filling our lives with Godless labor, robbing ourselves of sleep and the futile expenditures of energy.

Pinky Bear

INTRODUCING: Pinky Bear

Saturday night Joshua wanted to go "do something". We thought and realized we had gift cards left over from Christmas for Macaroni Grill and that he had gift cards and a "stuff for stuff" certificate all from Build-A-Bear so the evening's activities were planned.

While on the way, I mentioned that we might ought to be considering the bear we were going to take to Kyrgyzstan for Ellie. We had talked about doing a BAB with a sound recording of our voices to take to her on trip one and leave it until we return for trip two.

So, in addition to building "RUFF" the Husky dog, we built "PINKY BEAR" the, well, Pink Bear (we had several moments of indecision on what to call the Bear, so we went with the non-creative obvious). Pinky Bear's shelf tag said she was "Full of Love". Her paws have magnets in them to make them stick to her nose, making her look as if she is ready to blow you a kiss.

We recorded a sound card to put in one paw with each of us saying a little something. Granted, it had to be quick, there was only 10 seconds on the recorder. I have threatened everyone in the house not to play the recording as I'm afraid the battery will die before we get there or before we get back to get her. I'm sure she won't be able to play it, but I'm hoping her caregivers will play it for her.

Wanted - A Replacement for me ...

Ok, so I'm looking for someone who wants to come in, clean up my life for the next few weeks and then I can, hopefully manage it for a while.

Here's what you will be responsible for doing over the next few weeks:

1. Finish my dossier. It needs to still be taken to Lisa's house for final notarization, taken to three different county offices for authentication and then to the State for Authentication. Copies need to be made of all the documents for my files and then it needs to be mailed to Adoption Options. This needs to occur immediately.
2. Research cause and find cure for my cat, Punch's, recent limp. Her front paw is a bit inflammed. Please research and let me know if it will kill her to continue to limp for a few days and if Neosporin is poisonous for cats. You could take her to the vet -- if you have time. This needs to occur immediately.
3. Clean and photograph the last two rooms (Ellie's and our bedrooms) for the dossier. This needs to be done immediately.
4. Stencil the remaining verse on Ellie's wall. This, of course, needs to be done immediately in order to finish #3.
5. Oh, and yes, find a curtain and lampshade for her room -- this does NOT have to be done immediately. Tomorrow will be fine.
6. Move everything out of the garage office with Kevin on Saturday so he can work on the floor. After he finishes on Saturday, move it all back.
7. One word: LAUNDRY -- Yes, immediately.
8. Go to bank and make deposits -- immediately.
9. Go to medical clinic and start Hepatitis shots. Be SURE to get that done before I take back over. *smile*
10. Gather documents for and complete 2007 taxes. Immediately, nah, it can wait a day or two.
11. Complete Bible study materials for tomorrow night's class.
12. Go to Bowling Green, KY and complete past due inspections (as a favor for company so you can stay on the good side and to earn some extra $). Yes, immediately.
13. Complete the 88 inspections that are currently coming due. This should only take a week, but really, you should get on it.
14. Go visit my grandmother in the nursing home. Plan to stay a while because that's what I promised I'd do next time I came.
15. Call and cancel Joshua's tonsillectomy. Be sure to spend the amount of time required to let them know that he has just gotten over strep and the flu and now seems to have a sinus infection. Remind them that his immune system is tired and can't quite do a surgery now. Re-schedule for summer. This should have been done yesterday.
16. Could you back-up my computer before it crashes losing everything? If you'll just take it to my mom's house, she has a system to back it up. While you are there, she has some computer work that she needs you to handle. Yes, immediately, please.
17. Meet the telephone repair man tomorrow who can hopefully tell you why you haven't been able to hear anyone on your home phone for months. He will be at the house between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. You'll need to be there. :-)
18. Mail gift to friend in Texas.
19. Mail off camera that is not taking clear photos. It needs to be packed well, shipped with insurance the form needs to be filled out.
20. Balance checkbook and pay bills -- should be done daily.
21. Cook and vacuum -- daily.
22. Catch up the blog entries and read all my past due email, delete non-relevant email and clean up deleted files.
23. Coordinate upcoming four fundraisers for adoption. Plan what to sell at upcoming concessions stands, coordinate volunteers, make signs and buy food. Gather items for yard sale (once you find a place to PUT it and set a date to have it). Determine date for donut sale.
24. Finalize and send off grant application. This should have been done last month so if you can do time travel, that would be great.
25. Diet for me too, if you will -- that seems to not be working so well with me doing it so maybe you'll have more luck.

I think, if you could just get that much done and back on track, I'd be able to handle the rest.

Fingerprinting appointment letter has arrived

We got our letter from USCIS today indicating we now have an appointment to get our fingerprints done (again). I jokingly tell people they are just checking to see if we robbed the Piggly Wiggly in the last 18 months since we had them done last.

Our appointment is March 14 at 1:00. After that, the USCIS in Memphis is running 8 weeks to get out I171H forms. We have to have a copy of this document to Adoption Options, have it notarized, authenticated, translated and legalized before our dossier will be able to go to court. So, if we got a referral tomorrow we could not proceed with the court proceedings until that is done.

I've checked with two of the people in line in front of me on "the list". They have not heard from te agency yet as to referrals this week. In all honesty, that is not upsetting me right now. We still need time to finalize these last fundraisers, time to get one more grant application in the mail, and time to get that I171H form. So, technically, we are still #5. I know (technically speaking I know of them from online) the two people situated at #2 and #3 on the list. I think I know who #4 is (friend of #3). I have not been able to figure out #1 yet. :-) It's nice being able to correspond with those folks. I'm as excited for them as I can be!!