Fours years gone - and I forgot to mark the date!

August 10, 2006 - August 10, 2010!

In my defense - I was gearing up for a minor surgery two days later. Two weeks passed and I'm all better and I can reflect on the anniversary.

It's hard to keep from playing the forecasting game - "if they keep referring X many days, it could be as soon as . . . " which gets me excited.

Every time I do they change things up and slow it down again. Last month they referred 10 days worth, this month, only 3 days. Argh.

On the upside, my nephew Adam has added a beautiful baby daughter to the family - so I have another little girl to shop for!

Congrats to Adam, Krystal, and their little girl Jayden!

m

CCAA progress

Referrals for families with dossiers registered May 10, 2006 or earlier.

65 possible LIDs in front of me.

Faster, please!

m

A few stats and a little bit of blues

August will mark the 4th anniversary of my LID.

There are 3+ months, or 75 days, of possible LIDs before mine still waiting for referral. The most recent referrals were for dossiers on or before: April 26, 2006.

I've completed my 3rd Homestudy: my 3rd I-171H will expire this fall.

I turn another year older in 2 days.

I went into the nursery today and for the first time, found cobwebs on the baby clothes in the closet.

Could everyone put in a good word with their personal higher power and get this thing moving!?

Get out there are light some candles.

Thanks,

m

I said I needed a hobby - not torture

Still haven't come up with a new hobby/ activity/ take-my-mind off-the-wait thing.

I did, however, come up with something to engage my mind.

Meditation? No. Training for a marathon? No way.

Torture myself by giving up my only real vice? Ding-ding-ding-ding!

I gave up soft drinks. Goodbye Coca Cola, my best-est friend.

Along with the soft drinks went fast food; I just can't roll through a McD's and order a burger, fries, and a water. It would ruin a perfectly good bad meal.

Withdrawal was sooooooo ugly.


m

The ladybug myth

Some people are really into this idea, me not so much.

Oddly enough, I bought a spring garden flag this year and picked one with ladybugs. It was the least cutesie, bunny-ie, cheesy one I could find.

Today it's in the 70s here so I'm cleaning the porch, picking up new pillows, etc. Generally enjoying spring.

What appears? Eight ladybugs clinging comfortably on the inside screens.

I do hope good luck is coming this way.


m

Got my diploma - now what?

I finally received my diploma last week. It's official - I have a Master's degree.

Now what? I honestly don't know what to do with myself; going back to school was supposed to occupy all of the wait time.

Since classes finished I've cleaned the house, organized closets, caught up on TV (thank you Hulu.com!), read a few non-textbook books, and alphabetized my CDs. Okay the CDs were already alphabetized but they needed tidying.

I need a hobby. One other than waiting for BeachBaby.

Knitting? Glass blowing? Anyone? I am taking my bike in for a tune up this week.

Even the dog is bored!

Send your cards and ideas to www.mollyisboredandneedsahobby.com

m

Orphans in Haiti

I've received calls from friends and family asking if I'm going to pursue adoption from Haiti, given the children orphaned because of the earthquake. There is information on the 'net that the U.S. has lightened the red tape on Haitian adoptions.

That, sadly, is incorrect.

Earlier this week, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State announced what they term a "humanitarian parole policy". To quote the announcement: ". . . allowing orphaned children from Haiti to enter the U.S. temporarily on an individual basis to ensure that they receive the care they need - as part of the U.S. government's ongoing support of international recovery efforts after the earthquake."

Unfortunately, the earthquake has created more orphaned children and created an even greater barrier to adopting from Haiti. With national and local governments in disarray and the physical damage to the towns and cities it is almost impossible to determine the status of the children. They may have been temporarily separated from parents, or there is extended family to contact who may take on care of the child.

The net result for potential parents is that adoption from Haiti just became that much more difficult. It is heartbreaking to see and heartbreaking to acknowledge.

m