Garden Variety Family

the great seal

Over and over I have had to trust the USPS and various government agencies with vital paperwork for my adoption.  So far, everyone has come through, amazingly. 

As I started to worry about my Missouri birth certificate, out there alone in the world travelling back and forth to the show-me-state.  I thought, "It'll get lost", "the Secretary of the States office will loose it in piles of other papers."  "No one cares about me, will I ever see this vital piece of paperwork with the great seal stamped upon it that certifies it to go on to the next level? "

Well it arrived today, come sleet or snow...yes we have had lots of snow, (it looks like we've stepped through the wardrobe into Narnia)  For $10 and the worry, I was pretty impressed it showed up in a timely fashion and it is a beautiful seal, not just an ink stamp.  It is a Great Seal!  Now hopefully New York State will do an equally good job. 

are you lurking?

Over the past several weeks I have spoken to several family members and friends and during our conversations it comes up that they have been reading my blog.  I am thrilled that people are reading it, yay!!!  Bummed that no one lets me know, boooo!  I need your comments and feedback!  I am new to blogging as I am sure many of you are also.  I have been known to read blogs without commenting as well.  I've done a little research and what what we are all doing is something called "lurking".   It is kinda like hiding behind a rack of clothes in a department store listening to someone's conversation without them even knowing you are there. Check out this post from Blogging 101, about lurking. 

You don't have to say anything earth shaking...just let me know you are there.

Thanks, for reading.  More news coming soon.

hope turns to rejoicing!

".......I should go I want to go look at her some more."  These are the most beautiful words, the parting words of my friend on the phone with me last night.  Our hope has turned to rejoicing.  Everything went smoothly and they have their baby girl.  I am so appreciative they called to let us know.  What a beautiful, wonderful day!  I can't wait to meet her, to meet the new family she has created. 

hope, hope, hope

It is a beautiful snowy, sunny day.  Postcard perfect.  I am working on work.  But as time ticks away, here is is 3:40pm I am anxious, overcome with wondering and fear.  I flip-flop from excitement to nervousness.  My eyes well with tears one second, I take a deep sigh and smile the next.  In 20 minutes my dear friend will hopefully be meeting her baby.  I am dying not knowing what is going on, restraining my urge to call, leave a message, because at these moments they are probably feeling some of the things I am --and more --times a thousand. 

Hope runs high as they have been through 3 devastating adoption "miscarriages" .  I am so hopeful this time.  I pray, pray, pray that this is meant to be this time.  I feel like it is and am focusing all energy positively.  This little girl has to meant for them.  They traveled so far with only a few hours notice, many states away through Lake Ontario/Lake Erie Effect snow. 

Baby girl know that you will be loved and adored.  I send this message out, in hope.

the big let down, excitement

Well, we just had our home visit.  It was a bit anticlimactic.  I cleaned for a week and a half, purged closets, drawers, rooms.  We have piles of stuff for Goodwill, recycling, garbage.  My house is reorganized and rearranged --revitalized!  I like my house more than I ever have.  I knew they were just coming to the house to confirm it exists and that we have room for a little one.  But... I used it as the impetus to get things done.  So, yes, I am glad I did it but social worker was here for only a half an hour.  She collected paperwork from us and took the 5 minute tour.  That's it.  She did comment how she liked my decorating style.  Good enough for me!  So it was a let down, but now things are really in motion and the excitement about the journey we are embarking on is starting to set in.

full steam ahead

I am supposed to be working on my biography.  The biography is intended to give the social workers who will recommend us as adoptive parents a a more complete picture of who we are.  It gives us a chance to give them a glimpse into what they won't learn through standardized forms.  Hubby wrote about 7 pages, mine hopefully will be shorter.  We also need pictures of ourselves and our lives, I have yet to get those all together.  We have to write an application letter to the CCAA.  I am still waiting for my passport renewal to arrive.  It has been 6 weeks, 1 day since I sent it in, it is supposed to take 4-6 weeks.........

Our home visit is next week, finally.  A good friend loaned me her steam carpet cleaner.  I originally thought that I would do the high-traffic areas and not worry about clearing the room completely before I clean.  Well, that machine worked so well that I went crazy . My house is the cleanest it has ever been.  I have moved all the furniture even the piano, dusted EVERYTHING and rearranged all the rooms after the floors dried and I am still going.  Now, we have been reassured that the home visit is not a white-glove test but now I kinda wish it was 'cause they aren't going to find a spec!