Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Moving Along!
The adoption paperwork process presents an interesting dichotomy between waiting and action.
You start with a flurry of action, as you prepare your dossier. Time is of the essence. You dot your i's and cross your t's. Everything must be perfect. Once it is, you mail that baby off, immersed in relief, happy to be one step closer to your child.
Then comes the waiting. Months of it in most cases, sometimes years, with nothing productive to do but pray (which in reality is probably the most productive thing you can do at any stage of the process).
A referral finds its way to you. You know who your child is. She becomes more than a theory and an idea. She is real and suddenly the wait becomes ten times harder, along with more things to do!
Another flurry of activity, followed by... more waiting.
All this to say, we've made it through another period of waiting. We received our Letter of Acceptance from China this week!
It has once more moved us from waiting to action. This time I believe the waiting periods will become much shorter. Our end is in sight. Lord willing, we will be traveling to China in June, hopefully early June.
We have entered an exciting stage as we apply for visas and get ready to TRAVEL! It feels overwhelming as I look over all the things we need to do in two short months. Stress comes when I forget to trust, wondering if our paperwork was completed correctly. Will it cause delays or hurry us to Suhn?
I can hardly believe we are at this stage in the process. I've got China on the brain and butterflies have taken up permanent residence in my stomach. If I don't seem completely "there" when we talk, this is why: I've got a little girl in China and we are going to get her soon!
WHOO HOO!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!!
You start with a flurry of action, as you prepare your dossier. Time is of the essence. You dot your i's and cross your t's. Everything must be perfect. Once it is, you mail that baby off, immersed in relief, happy to be one step closer to your child.
Then comes the waiting. Months of it in most cases, sometimes years, with nothing productive to do but pray (which in reality is probably the most productive thing you can do at any stage of the process).
A referral finds its way to you. You know who your child is. She becomes more than a theory and an idea. She is real and suddenly the wait becomes ten times harder, along with more things to do!
Another flurry of activity, followed by... more waiting.
All this to say, we've made it through another period of waiting. We received our Letter of Acceptance from China this week!
It has once more moved us from waiting to action. This time I believe the waiting periods will become much shorter. Our end is in sight. Lord willing, we will be traveling to China in June, hopefully early June.
We have entered an exciting stage as we apply for visas and get ready to TRAVEL! It feels overwhelming as I look over all the things we need to do in two short months. Stress comes when I forget to trust, wondering if our paperwork was completed correctly. Will it cause delays or hurry us to Suhn?
I can hardly believe we are at this stage in the process. I've got China on the brain and butterflies have taken up permanent residence in my stomach. If I don't seem completely "there" when we talk, this is why: I've got a little girl in China and we are going to get her soon!
WHOO HOO!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Change is Coming
I've been feeling a little melancholy today.
We are in the process of moving Sean out of Suhn's room. Sunday night was his first night in a "big boy bed" which he shares with his sister. Today I will be moving his clothes and toys into the boys room. The kid will have one room by day and another by night.
It is exciting. It signifies the coming of change. I have never been great with change.
I think every pregnancy this melancholy feeling visits me as I realize our family dynamic will transition to somethingn else. No matter how much I look forward to the change itself a part of me mourns the idea that things will never be the same. This "pregnancy" is no different.
I know the feelings will pass. I know we will adjust to our new family dynamic. I can't wait for Suhn to come home. But for me, transitions are hard. They mark the end of something.
When I remember they also mark a new beginning, the melancholy feeling dissipates some.
Never completely, but I am okay with that.
Its just one more part of the journey.
We are in the process of moving Sean out of Suhn's room. Sunday night was his first night in a "big boy bed" which he shares with his sister. Today I will be moving his clothes and toys into the boys room. The kid will have one room by day and another by night.
It is exciting. It signifies the coming of change. I have never been great with change.
I think every pregnancy this melancholy feeling visits me as I realize our family dynamic will transition to somethingn else. No matter how much I look forward to the change itself a part of me mourns the idea that things will never be the same. This "pregnancy" is no different.
I know the feelings will pass. I know we will adjust to our new family dynamic. I can't wait for Suhn to come home. But for me, transitions are hard. They mark the end of something.
When I remember they also mark a new beginning, the melancholy feeling dissipates some.
Never completely, but I am okay with that.
Its just one more part of the journey.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
A Few of My Favorite Things - The Photo Version
#1 March Madness. I stress while filling out my brackets, but there is nothing quite like the NCAA Men's basketball tournament. The downer this year is the absence of my team, the number one seed in the NIT, the most depressing #1 rank given out in sports.
#2 Dusting. If I had to pick a "favorite chore", this is it. Always has been because listening to music is easy to do while you dust. Is my house dusted. No. It is a chore. And that is all I'm going to say about that.
#3 Getting the mail (this also applies to e-mail). You never know what surprises will be out there waiting for you...
#4 You know I'm a lover of books. Here are a few of my favorites, past and present. If you are looking for a good book to read, may I recommend:
#5 My favorite spot in the house. A chair in the living room with a glorious backyard view that I never get tired of. I work on the computer here. I read here. I pray here. I rest here.
To Discover more "photo favorites" head over to My Cup To Yours!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Hearts at Home is Coming... Will you be there?
Mom, do you know how valuable you are?
Do you want to be inspired and encouraged?
Are you in need of refreshment or rejuvenation?
Do you want to laugh?
A Hearts at Home conference gives moms the unique opportunity to pause along their mothering journey to refresh, refocus, and renew themselves. The 2010 National Conference, Mom’s the Word, is being held at the Bone Student Center of Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois on March 12-13.
See what others are saying about a Hearts at Home conference:
“I attended the conference this year for the first time. I enjoyed it immensely. I was lifted up, instructed, convicted, encouraged, and brought to tears, sometimes all at the same time.”
“I loved it. I feel so full of information. I need to sit and read my notes and just process it. It was really encouraging to hear all the speakers and be with all of those moms. Thanks so much! “
“This past weekend was awesome and life changing. This was my first Hearts at Home Conference and I am telling everyone about it. “
“I want to thank you all for keeping these conferences going each year and for making them so refreshing for women at various stages in their parenting.”
Hearts at Home wants all mothers to know how valuable they are! Check out this video for a small dose of encouragement from Nicole Johnson and be sure to join us March 12th-13th for more!
Featured guests include Nicole Johnson, author & motivational speaker, a favorite at Women of Faith, Jill Savage, author, international speaker, CEO & founder of Hearts at Home, and Christy Nockles, Dove Award nominee & formerly of Watermark.
Visit www.hearts-at-home.org for more information.
Do you want to be inspired and encouraged?
Are you in need of refreshment or rejuvenation?
Do you want to laugh?
A Hearts at Home conference gives moms the unique opportunity to pause along their mothering journey to refresh, refocus, and renew themselves. The 2010 National Conference, Mom’s the Word, is being held at the Bone Student Center of Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois on March 12-13.
See what others are saying about a Hearts at Home conference:
“I attended the conference this year for the first time. I enjoyed it immensely. I was lifted up, instructed, convicted, encouraged, and brought to tears, sometimes all at the same time.”
“I loved it. I feel so full of information. I need to sit and read my notes and just process it. It was really encouraging to hear all the speakers and be with all of those moms. Thanks so much! “
“This past weekend was awesome and life changing. This was my first Hearts at Home Conference and I am telling everyone about it. “
“I want to thank you all for keeping these conferences going each year and for making them so refreshing for women at various stages in their parenting.”
Hearts at Home wants all mothers to know how valuable they are! Check out this video for a small dose of encouragement from Nicole Johnson and be sure to join us March 12th-13th for more!
Featured guests include Nicole Johnson, author & motivational speaker, a favorite at Women of Faith, Jill Savage, author, international speaker, CEO & founder of Hearts at Home, and Christy Nockles, Dove Award nominee & formerly of Watermark.
Visit www.hearts-at-home.org for more information.
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