Happy Birthday Dave

Happy Birthday to YOU, Happy Birthday to YOU, Happy Birthday dear husband, Happy Birthday to you.

Happy Chinese New Year!!

It is the year of the Ox, known by its formal name: Ji-Chou. It is the year 4706 on the Chinese Calendar.

Natural beauty

Living in the country is pretty cool. Nature almost always provides a visual feast. It could be the snow on the trees and bushes or the sudden blizzards of snow gusting around the front yard as the wind rushes up the hill from Elk Lake accross the street. It could be the abundance and variety of birds constantly darting to and from the several feeders we have about the property or it could be the deer munching on a pine tree in safty at the far side of our 4-1/2 acres. But last evening I witnessed 8 deer in procession across my front yard, no more than 60 feet or so from my front windows. Seven of them kept on going, but one of them decided the bushes had something tasty on them and stopped to eat. I have my camera set up on a tripod for just such an occasion and was able to take this ones portrait while he (or she) patiently stood there and appeared to stare directly at me. With 3 dogs in the house and often outside I felt this one deer was indeed very brave.

A gift

Today, I went to Grand Rapids to get documents apostilled. The plan was for document stamps, then lunch with friend (more like a sister) Vicki and my mom and sister. Well, my beautiful daughter Kaitlin was able at the last minute to come along (her fiance offered to work for her- what a sweet guy). The secretary of state super center is at one of the malls. Davids Bridal also happens to be there. We arrived at the mall and she said she wanted to go to Davids Bridal to look at a dress she saw on the internet. When I was done getting documents stamped I headed down to the bridal store, converged on my friend heading to meet me. When we arrived at the store my mom and sister were already there, Kaitlin in the dressing room with the gown. She looked so beautiful in all the gowns she tried but it wasn't until I saw the whole ensemble including the veil that I had to get the tissue box. What is it about seeing your daughter in wedding attire that make a mother cry?

We spent a glorious hour or so there and then went for a late lunch. Kaitlin did not get the dress she initially went in for but found an even better one at a better price. Thanks for the good eye mom. As busy as everyone is and given the distances we live from one another it was truly a gift that we were able to come together for such a special event especially when it happened so unexpectedly. God works in such unusual ways and when we recognize the blessings that He gives, we can see that miracles happen all the time.

Road Trip

Well, I have all the updated documents- notarized, copied, and ready for apostille. I Will be heading to Grand Rapids for the all important "great seal of Michigan" impressive gold seal on each document. Hoping for an uneventful drive and hoping I don't have to go all the way to Lansing. We just recently found out (from the seal lady) in Lansing (the last time we did this) that we can get the same service in Grand Rapids (much closer to home). so, hopefully I can get there early afternoon, get the seals, have lunch with my best friend and my mom, shop a little, then head back home in the knowledge that we may finally be making progress.
Keeping my fingers crossed and my hands folded in prayer.

New Hope

Hope springs eternal!
Today, we have a new president! I prayerfully hope for a very successful and safe administration. I know nothing will happen quickly and maybe things will get worse before they get better, but isn't that the nature of so many things.
I was able to watch the entire swearing in ceremony and was moved by the power of president Obama's words.
I have hope for so many things, including our adoption. I have all the documents updated and ready for apostille, then send to AA. Perhaps with prayers and hope and a bit of luck we will expand our family this year (maybe before winter next).

Waiting and Freezing

Just waiting for the FBI clearance to come back and praying that the Sherrif guy has the right year on it (thank-you to Lanetta for bringing that little potential problem to my attention)- I ran right over to the medicals and checked for the correct date- so far so good) So keeping my fingers crossed. I think as soon as we get our documents completed we will be submitted to the embassy.... Keep the prayers a comin!
Now here in northern Michigan the very very cold temps have been making the news. As I left the house at 6:30 am and was driving down our little county road through the 6 or 8 unplowed inches of snow I was thinking how much I am already tired of this snow and now the freezing cold and how we still have so much winter left when I got a little reality check. I saw what earlier in the season I would have assumed was a leaf blowing accross the street. When I focused in I realized it was a tiny little mouse running accross the road over these mountains of snow left by the early morning commuters. I watched him running and found myself cheering him on with something like "go little guy go! You can do it" and I realized that if he could brave the conditions of this week with his tiny little feet and itsy bitsy body running his heart out to who knows where (probably my basement) then I can most certainly not only manage this awful cold weather and the constantly dumping lake effect snow but I can brave the remainder of this often frustrating process of international adoption.
Heres hoping my FBI clearance comes back good- if not- I will just do it again and keep on running until I get to my destination.

another day

Another frustrating and emotionally exausting day. FBI fingerprints came back. Daves were fine. Mine were, and I quote; "rejected and are returned to you as illegible". This is the second time in the course of this waiting process (having to repeat the fingerprint check and clearance because they are only good for 6 months) that mine have been rejected. This means that I have to go back to the sherriff office between 5-7 pm on a Wednesday and in vain explain to them to please do a careful and very good job so they won't be rejected. Honestly, they just don't seem to care. The last time we were there we were the only ones in the office so I don't get it. Secondly, our medicals needed to be updated again ( they are only good for 3 months). My doctor quit her practice and moved to AZ in September- so obviously I asked her to give me an update just before she left- which she did. I then contacted the dr. who purchased the practice, did a meet and greet with her, explained the requirements for the dossier to her. She assured me it would be fine and to just bring the form when I needed it and she would fill it out, sign it and include a copy of her license. (I did make sure she knew that the licence had to be current for a least 1 year.) I requested the new medical form on Dec. 30th. and got a phone call today that the dr. med license would expire within 1 year but that she would get it renewed. So here I sit in tears, frustrated, no dr. with an acceptable license. No FBI clearance for at least 2-3 weeks and our dossier supposed to be sent soon. Maybe I am just overreacting but this is all just to much. All signs (there are more than mentioned here but I just can't get into that right now) seem to be pointed away from Kazakhstan.

Blog-Stalker

I have officially become a blog stalker. Until recently, I really havn't kept up on my blogging or done a lot of reading on other blogs but I am feeling new hope for the new year and have checked back in on several blogs I have (somewhat) followed over the last 6 months or so. Several families are somewhere in the same timeframe we are or slightly ahead of us. This is good news. It means dossiers are moving, referrals are being made, and I have hope for 2009. I pray we will all get to Kaz soon and meet, then bring our children home. I have listed several blogs I follow. If you see yours and don't want it there, PLEASE let me know. I don't want anyone upset. I think the private ones will stay private.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009!!!

Happy New Year to all.
Well, can I say it- do I dare? Oh what the heck,
THIS is the year we will bring a child home! Its been 3 years since we started our adoption journey and saying there have been twists and turns is putting it mildly! As I am sure there will be more, but I am hopeful.