Friday, February 26, 2010

We're Approved!

Our I-797 arrived in the mail yesterday. US Customs and Immigration has approved us to adopt "a boy age 0 - 9 with correctable special needs." One more piece of paper on the way to bringing Joseph home.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Fingerprinting, Shopping, Blogging


Thursday was the big day of our fingerprint appointments. We showed up at US Customs and Immigration right in time for our 8 am appointment only to find the line stretching way-y-y-y outside the door. It seems that many of the Haitian refugees who are making a new home in Central Florida after the earthquake had appointments at the same time. I told Mike that we are just weird -- it was actually fun waiting with them, listening to them laugh and speak Creole -- kind of like being overseas! I love living in a multi-cultural community.

Afterwards, we had a mini-date. We drove about an hour outside of town to a fun antique barn and spent the morning browsing, finishing up with lunch in their quaint little restaurant.

Lastly, I've been so greatful lately for my "blog world." Not only can I share about our adoption journey with friends, I'm also becoming a regular reader of several other adoption blogs. I'm so thankful to be able to learn firsthand from families who are walking the journey we're about to walk.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Is this a marathon or a very long sprint?

Today I was thinking about how I need to pace myself. You see, no matter what I accomplish there's always a million more things screaming to get done. Friday, we mailed some adoption papers off to be authenticated. Yesterday, the tile in the bathroom was finished (finally - I think?).

Today, I started working on adoption grant papers, Ugh. But the whole time I was working, I kept thinking about how I needed to run up to Lowes to make a lot of returns of house stuff, and how the kitchen floor hadn't been mopped in two weeks and how if we didn't get a start on tomorrow's homeschool today, it might drag on forever tomorrow and how those clothes better get moved to the dryer before they start to stink. And so on, and so on, and so on. Oh, and did I mention, it's Sunday - a day of rest.

The thought crossed my mind that this is a marathon. I need to pace myself - not wear myself out. The adoption process cannot be finished in a day and neither can the home improvements we hope to make before Joseph comes home.

But then I remembered that because we've chosen a "waiting child," the whole process speeds up. When China gave us pre-approval to adopt Joseph, they gave us 3 months to complete all our paperwork. That deadline passed 3 weeks ago. Our agency, knowing that we couldn't do it in 3 months requested an extension for us. But we still have to work hard and not drag our feet.

So maybe this is just a very long sprint.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Just Because


This has nothing to do with the adoption, but it's just so cute I had to post it, just because! This is from Christmas at Grandma's.

Decluttering



In order to welcome Joseph into our lives, we have to make room in our home for him. Like all Americans, we have so much STUFF! Every Christmas and every birthday just piles on more. Yesterday, I tackled Big Brother's room which was a real challenge. He's emotionally attached to everything he's ever owned. I was so proud of him as he let me bag up lots of stuff to take to Goodwill.

Today I sold Little Miss's Dora stuff pictured above to the mom of a 2 1/2 year old. It felt good. Little Miss, by the way, loves to declutter and told me bluntly to please sell all the Dora stuff!

By getting rid of stuff we don't use, need or even really want, we make room in our home to welcome a priceless little boy. I pray that God will continue to teach us to simplify and declutter our lives so that we can give them to things that last forever.

And the new American name is. . .


Joseph Michael.

At least I think we're in agreement on this. I guess it will be final when we have to write it on some official document.