The Adoption Cycle...

It’s already been 9 months…

Our 9 month LID anniversary was 6/5. It came and went unnoticed as went about living our lives. We should be about 7 months away from our referral. However, reality is that we may be 15 months or more away from our referral due to current wait times. I know, as you read this your wondering why? What has happened to cause this dramatic increase in the wait time? Can it be fixed? Honestly, we just don’t know all the reasons why or if it will be fixed. I do know in the blink of an eye it is already half way through June, where have the last 5 months gone? For us the time has flown by because we were looking for a new house, selling our old house or moving into our new house. We have dealt with death, sickness and thankfully healing of family and friends. We just spent our first weekend hosting out of town friends in our new house!

Yet, even as we keep busy our adoption is not far from our thoughts. Yes, the wait it difficult. Yes, it can be depressing. No, I cannot let it consume my life. Many of my “adoption friends” are asked the same questions. How do we cope? We cope by talking to each other, family, and friends. Occasionally, we have a good pity party. For most of us “moms to be” we are emotionally connected to a child we do not know and have yet to see. But in our hearts this connection, thread if you will, binds us to this child regardless of time and space. We are emotionally connected to this distant child. Odd as it may sound to some, that connection cannot be broken. We wonder, worry and love this unknown child. We ache to hold it and smell that fresh baby smell, see her laugh, and protect her from the world. Then there is the dreaded wait. It crashes upon us at the oddest times. It can sap our energy, our ability to function. It can, if we let it, consume every waking moment. The “wait” has become our faceless enemy – time slipping away, feeling like it has been lost.

I think our husbands, at least most of them, have this waiting thing down. They know what we want, they know the wait is long and yet they have the ability to carry on. They go about their business as if nothing has changed. I know for my husband it so far away it’s not on his “radar” right now. This does not mean he doesn’t have his “moments” or is not connected to this process but for the most part he carries on with the business of living life. For him, the wait is different. I need to learn from him. I need to live in the now. Yes, the bad days will come and go. Yes, this child will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. No, I cannot allow myself to let the next months pass me by without taking advantage of all this time has to offer. Every day is a reason to celebrate the good things, mourn the losses, and build relationships. In short to live the life that is unfolding before my eyes! In the future, regardless of how near or far, the quality and amount of time we spend with others will change. So let’s live it, let’s cherish the time with each other, our families, our friends. In short, let’s get about the business of living!

Happy 9 months LID anniversary! We are on our way, I’m not sure exactly to where, but we’re definitely on our way ;o)

Move Update

We are slowly but surely making progress in getting settled in and things unpacked. We are having granite counter tops installed in two weeks and once that is done I can completely finish organizing my new kitchen. I have to say it is my favorite room. In my condo the kitchen was tiny. I now have two islands a whole lot of storage space, yeah! We have a whole lot painting to do because the walls are all white. We need to get some color in here! Once the counter tops are in we will begin selecting colors. I will post before and after pictures once some of our "projects" are done.

The good thing about getting the house now is that it will keep me busy for the next few months. The second big plus is that we won't have to do it after we bring the baby home this avoiding yet another big change for her. We had outgrown our condo quite some time ago and it would have been really tight for space once she was home. Thanks for asking about our progress, I will keep you posted...

May Ladybug Cybershower

I received my secret pal gift today. This months theme was "Mealtime." Angie was my secret pal and she really spoiled me. Here is what she sent for the kiddo -

4 pc. dish set with spoon
Sassy High Chair Toy
No Spill Cup
Set of 3 Snack Cups w/ Lids
Snackin Cheerios Cellphone (my favorite!!)
Catch-a-Mess Mat
Ladybugs and Heart Coverall Bib
Sectioned Feeding Dish w/ Knife and Fork
A really sweet card and a CD -

all in a really cute pink baby bag. It was really nice to unpack a "fun" box ;o)
Thanks Angie, I love all of my goodies and can't wait to listen to the CD on my way to work tomorrow.

Today has me thinking...

about all of the men and women who are fighting for our country. Politics aside, I think that we, as a nation and individuals, should support our troops. They are fighting for us, to keep our country safe from the tyranny of those who would oppress us. It is a thankless job, one that requires much sacrifice not only their part but of those they love.

For my part I want to say that I'm grateful. Grateful for the fact that there are men and women who have sacrificed their lives for mine and those of my family. Grateful that there are those who felt the call to protect and serve others who either cannot or will not do so. Grateful for your patriotism. I am also grateful to the families of the soldiers who serve this country. They too make sacrifices simply by having a loved one serving and away from home.

THANK YOU... to those who serve and their families. A heart felt thank you is being sent your way today and every day. May God bless and keep you always.

Honor Them...

As we enjoy our holiday today, let's remember to be thankful for those who gave their lives in service to our country and for their families who live their lives without a loved one so that we might be with ours.

Thank you for your sacrifice.

Moving on up...

to a bigger house. We have sold our two bedroom condo and bought a 3 bedroom house. The truth is we had out grown the condo a long time ago. With the wait time from LID to referral increasing it seemed like the right time to move. That way when we are finally able to bring the baby home we won't have to uproot her again anytime soon. The great move (as I like to call it) is happening this weekend.

Off to pack some more... Have a great weekend!

8 Months and Counting...

May 5th marked our 8th month on this long journey. I wish that I had some kind of meaningful update about the estimated wait times but I don't. The truth is the length of time from LID to referral has steadily been increasing. Rumor has it if the CCAA can get through November '05 referrals things will start to speed up. The truth is whatever the wait time turns out to be it will definitely be a lesson in patience and faith.

Referrals are in...

To the all those who have received their referrals this week. Wishing you safe travels and a wonderful "gotcha" day.

Friends...

To all my friends, cracked or not, thanks for all you are and all you do. Your the best...

Love ya!

April Aug/Sept DTC Secret Pal

I just wanted to take a minute to say thanks to my Aug/Sept group secret pal. I received my gift a couple of weeks ago but was having a hard time posting pictures until now. My pal sent me the cute little duck bath set shown above. Thanks again!!

Faith...

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

7 Months and counting...

Our 7 month LID anniversary was on 4/5/07. These days time is zipping by and dragging at the same time. It's hard to believe that it is already April. It's true every month that passes brings us closer to our baby. Conversely it's also true that every month that passes seems to be a month that we are further from her. At times I find myself wondering what there is to "celebrate" as this monthly date arrives. It seems to me to simply be a method of counting down to an unknown date. Not knowing that date makes it difficult to view my "anniversary" date as a reason to celebrate. Then today I read the following quote on APC and it really hit home -

Patience is a hard discipline. It is not just waiting until something happens over which we have no control: the arrival of the bus, the end of the rain, the return of a friend, the resolution of a conflict. Patience is not waiting passively until someone else does something. Patience asks us to live the moment to the fullest, to be completely present to the moment, to taste the here and now, to be where we are. When we are impatient, we try to get away from where we are. We behave as if the real thing will happen tomorrow, later, and somewhere else. Let's be patient and trust that the treasure we look for is hidden in the ground on which we stand."

Henri J.M.Nouwen

So, this really is a date to celebrate because we are one step closer to our "treasure."

Happy Easter...

Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Easter weekend!

About me...

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

I saw this on another blog, thanks Christie, and thought it was interesting. Check it out...

It's been six months...

As of today we have been officially logged into China for six months. On one hand it seems like quite a milestone, on the other it's tough to think that we may only be a a quarter of the way through the wait. Either way we are six months further into the wait than we were before.

So far 2007 has been a combination of both the bad and good. People I know and love have experienced the loss of loved ones and/or are battling life threatening illnesses. Referral time lines have continued to grow and others are struggling for a variety of different reasons. Fortunately, for me at least, I have also experienced good things. I have finally been a first hand witness to meeting a family that received their referral and was able to meet the daughter they brought home, it gives me hope. I've met and connected with a group of fellow adoptive parents-to-be who have become a wonderful source of support and inspiration during this roller coaster ride. Ladies, you know who you are ;o) Through it all I have had a shoulder to cry on, an arm to lean on, and love enough from family and friends to carry me through and for that I am thankful.

Happy anniversary, we are six months closer...

A Night with Family...

My nephew Joshua and his family got a new puppy Tuesday. Stanley is a four month old English Bulldog. I went over for dinner tonight to meet Stanley and catch up with everyone. We had a great time and Stanley is such a sweetie! Thought I would share a couple of pictures of our night together. Hope you enjoy them as much as we did taking them ;o)

Me and Josh reading a story

Josh, Stanley, and I playing

Check out that little face !

CCAI February Secret Pals...

My CCAI August/September Secret Pal gift arrived today. It was such a nice surprise after such a long week. It is the cutest, softest little Bunny blanket and two books from Bunnies by the Bay. Check it out...


Thank you for the cute gifts!!!

Gifts for the baby...

As some of you already know, I have been hesitant to begin shopping for the baby. I hesitate for a couple reasons - we are in the process of looking for a bigger house (we have absolutely no space), the referral seems soooo far away, and there is the tiniest, tiniest chance we could get a boy. Let me explain that last one, our social worker put "either girl or boy" in our home study and to avoid further delays we sent our dossier in that way. Anyway, back to the gifts...

While I have been able to resist the urge to shop, some of my friends and family have not. Christmas and my recent birthday were the perfect excuses for them to pick up things for the baby ;o) Check out the baby gifts I have received from Jeni, Lynn, Fior, and Matt's mom...

Book from Grandma Joanie

Cute dress from Jeni & Lynn

Ladybug Bear and Pillow from Fior - the cat was already mine ;o)

January Cybershower...

One of my adoption groups, The Ladybugs and Red Thread Believers, are doing monthly cyber-showers. The host of the month picks a theme and anyone who would like to participate signs up for it. Everyone participating is then assigned a person to shop for and a mailing deadline is set. We all open our gifts and reveal who our cyber-buddy was on a prearranged date. The January shower was my first and the theme was "bath time." Erin was my buddy and got me wonderful gifts, thanks Erin!

The following items were included in the box I received from Erin -

Flipflop Tub Mat
Duck Toy Net
Alphabet Letters & Numbers Appliques
Towel with ladybug & flower, really cute!
Soft pink booties
And last but not least, an adorable pair of ladybug slippers for me...

Check it out wrapped and unwrapped ~