Feelings

Well we had another round of referrals in April - we're up to June 15, 2006. Another set is due in a few weeks.

This is the first time in a long, long while that I feel like I'm really close. (Wait, have I written that before?) The tension is beginning to rise a bit. I want to tell people - to share my excitement. But. I also feel like it's such old news to my close friends and family that they are tired of it already!

So much of the situation has changed. Friends waiting with me became parents a few years ago - they have toddlers now. Everyone is older; two of my nephews have children themselves and another is getting married. Even the plans I'd tentatively made, for house sitters and daycare, have changed! I have a different job, so does my traveling companion. What if I have to travel by myself? What if I can't get the daycare I want?

Everything has to be rethought. Excitement tinged with confusion. Ah, pending parenthood!

M

Wow

A very pleasant surprise-another batch of referrals just came through. Weeks ahead of schedule!

Don't know why - don't care! It's a good thing!

Latest referral date appears to be June 9, 2006.

That leaves 43 possible LIDs before me, or 7 possible Great Wall LID dates.

Who wants to start a betting pool on my referral date?

Wahoo! Progress!

m

June 2, 2006

That's the latest referral date. That leaves 48 possible referral dates in front of me.

It sounds so much better to say there are only 9 more Great Wall referrals dates in front of me.

Why the disparity? Great Wall sends dossiers weekly, not every week day. And oddly enough, there are only three days of LIDs in July 2006; nothing for the last half of the month. Wishful thinking that all the agencies did the same . . . (hey, let a girl dream once in a while!).

While this month only had four days of LIDs in the batch it was still a good thing. Some were predicting no referrals until after Chinese New Year. I take that four days, thankyouverymuch.

m

Why you should never listen to rumor

Because that last rumor was wrong!

The CCAA did send out referrals for December, just last Friday. The current referral date is May 29, 2006. Only 4 days worth, but I'll take any amount.

That means I'm down to 52 days of possible LIDS before me.

m

Sorry I forgot to blog

Didn't realize it had been two months since I last posted. Hey, what can I say - I've been busy!

There isn't much to share at the moment. It appears China has reached their ceiling for international adoptions for this year; there won't be any referrals coming this month (supposedly).

Currently the last LID to receive referrals was May 23, 2006. That leaves 56 possible LIDs before mine. So near and yet so far.

So Happy Holidays everyone! Maybe next year . . .

m

Church lady

I went to church this morning. I haven't been for quite a while and I was a little nervous (maybe they changed the secret handshake or something) but it was a good experience.

I went to the cathedral downtown - my they do love their incense!

And wouldn't you know it, they had a baptism as part of Mass today. Very elaborate, with two annointings and the inclusion of the family and godparents in the the processional.

I liked it but it looked like it was a bit unnerving for the parents. Klutz that I am I'm afraid I'd fall or trip.

Nice start to a beautiful day.

m

4th time's a charm

I just sent my fourth I-600A form off to the U.S. department of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This gets me a renewed I-171H - required for the finalization of an international adoption.

The I-171H is only good for 18 months, fine for other countries' adoption processes. For China - eh, not so much!

Every once in a while someone opinions to me that international adoption is a financial windfall for the foreign country. I enjoy telling that person that 75% of the money (excluding the travel cost) stays in the U.S.

If the Federal government goes broke, don't blame me - I'm giving them money all the time!


m