Garden Variety Family

New Year, New Hope

On this eve of a new year, I look to my future, as we all do.  I imagine all you prospective adoptive parents out there are looking to 2007 as the year you add another breath and beat to your family life. It brings a tear to my eye as I know that 2007 will not be the year we get our child.  My eye is on 2008 and 2007 is simply the year that will get me to that. Still, we are a little closer with each passing day. 

I found this picture thanks to Reuters on the China Daily website.   

As those of us who are adopting from China most likely all know, the CCAA has released its new criteria for adoptive families, details here.  It once again drives the thought home that having a child is a privilege, not a right and as parents we must keep that in mind every day.  Children do not belong to us --they are our trusts that we must bring to adulthood to be productive responsible members of our planet. 

Happy 2007!  I look forward to hearing stories of families united through adoption.   

legibility, notaries and attachment

I have almost been afraid to post these days.  Am I crazy!  I am trying to start my own business, work part time while trying to complete my dossier for a China adoption--all right now during the holiday season!!!   What am I thinking!  No wonder I feel like I am not doing enough to get my dossier done quickly.  My calendar
    •Wednesday--doctor's appointment and parenting class for our home study --yes I have homework I need to get done
    •Thursday--go to public safety building to get police letters that says we aren't criminals --meeting with a financial planner to get life insurance, investments squared away
    •Friday--meeting with an accountant to get my business records in order --try to get some holiday shopping done......

This is just a glimpse.  Between the emails from my dossier consultant and business clients it is a miracle I know what I am doing!! And on top of all that my palm pilot silently fell out of my purse during a downpour the other day, I found it hours later, need I say more!

Today I called my dossier consultant worried about my doctor's handwriting--why is it all doctors' writing look like the marks birdie feet make in the snow?!?-- as we are discussing how to handle that I find he had our documents notarized in another county so I find out when it comes to certifying our documents we will have to go to that county to get it certified. 

As if I wasn't busy enough I didn't get much sleep after our first parenting class because my mind started racing about issues of attachment.  In the middle of the night I am tossing and turning wondering if there is a website for a recommended piece of equipment--OF COURSE THERE IS A WEBSITE--YOUR DAUGHTER IS AT LEAST 18 MONTHS AWAY GO TO SLEEP AND THINK ABOUT IT IN THE MORNING--GO TO SLEEP!

Join me for more mania coming soon....