37 Month LID-iversary

I'm not sure why I bother. Maybe just to feel like I'm making progress.

T-Shirt Fundraiser for a Family I know

Here are some nice t-shirts a family I know is selling as a fundraiser. They are hoping to travel by summer to bring home their 12 year old daughter.
http://www.adoptionbug.com/bringingErinhome/
http://www.thewildbarrettfamily.blogspot.com

March, 2006 is Done!

The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were LID before March 31, 2006.

Finally done with March, 2006. It only took all of 2009. But at least now we can move on.

Oh, and it's my birthday today. Age is only a number, right?

3 Years LID-iversary.

Okay, it's now been 3 years, 36 months, since my dossier was logged in at CCAA. Instead of talking about how hard it is to wait so long and have no end in sight, I'm going to go with a Thankfulness Challenge like many are doing on Facebook.

I'm thankful for:

1. the many friends I've met and keep me going who have also waited 3 years give or take. I couldn't still be sane without you.

2. the many friends I have because I decided to adopt from China and/or decided to become a single mom. Most of my best friends I didn't know at all 10 or so years ago.

3. the opportunities for my children like the Chinese Dance Theater.

4. the flexibility and closeness of my work so that I can attend school functions if I want and so that my kids can finally go without daycare after school.

5. CCAA for matching me with the most wonderful daughters I could ever have dreamed for, and for giving me the chance to adopt another some day.

6. GWCA for giving me a single's slot when I was ready and for helping me get Jessica and Anna as well.

7. God for making miracles come true and for guiding my life even when I wonder why I have to put up with certain things.

8. my family: mom, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, for being supportive.

9. the internet and yahoo groups and blogs for helping during the waits for my children.

10. my children, who are the biggest blessing of all. I don't know where my life would be without them.

Christmas Music Already!

They're playing all Christmas music on the radio station I normally listen to at work. Don't know if I can handle that so soon. It's actually nice here for November 16th. 49 degrees and sunny.

It's been a rough couple of months. I feel a little better today after deciding to clear the air and find out where I stand here at work.

I'm totally addicted to my Facebook games. At least it's calming. Knitting is too. Anyone have any ideas for something really easy to make to give as gifts?

Other than that, not much new to report.

Fingerprinted - Again!

I got my fingerprints done for the 3rd time. They said mine had worn away probably from working with computers and paper! At least they got them.

35 Months

and still waiting... with no light at the end of the tunnel to guide my way or know when it will end... but I wait...

Better Late Than Never

I mailed my application to grandfather my I-171H to U.S. Citizenship & Immigration today. I think it expires on Sunday. I hope I'm not too late...

This gives me another 3 years before I have to pay again.

34 Months!

Paperwork Update

So after thinking about it for the last 2 months, I decided I'd better renew my BCIS approval under the I600a application rather than let it expire and go under the I800. I hope I'm not too late as my I171H expires next month. So I went and got fingerprints taken by my local police department for the Adam Walsh Clearance. Then I hand delived them to my homestudy agency. I also gave them the letters/forms from my and my girls' doctors saying we are healthy and free of communicable diseases. I still need to get another employment verification letter and financial statement before having an updated homestudy done. I guess I now have a motivation to clean the house! I also need to send the I600a application with the check. I sure hope I don't have to do this again. I figure I'll have to take advantage of the free renewal again, but I don't want to have to wait another 3 years, which is when all of that would expire. I know I'm not the only one doing this, but it sure would be nice to have a definitive answer as to whether it's absolutely best to renew.