Yahoo! We got our TA

We are leaving September 9.

Random Pics and Thoughts

I'm taking lessons from Lisa, B's Mom about blogging. Every big event, just capture it and blog it. This FedEx guy thought I was totally nuts, but it's the last document we needed (authenticated Powers of Attorney from Houston) for our trip. And here is Frannie's Godfather holding our Milo in a loving embrace.

Grace's Room is Really Ready

Okay, the room is ready, now where is the toddler? If we receive our Travel Approval from China this week, we hope to leave on September 9.

So Long Teddy

I hope I am Christian enough to wish heaven for everyone -- Bin Laden, Hilter, Kennedy, et al.



I can forgive, but not forget the debauchery, the lying and cheating. But when I lived in Boston and Kennedy shot down a fantastically well-constructed welfare reform act that would have given mothers a chance to have government-funded job training with child care provided, a chance to attain some self-respect and independence from tax payers' money, and Kennedy found it too demanding, too imposing on these mothers, he said no chance to have it reformed, but shot it down completely, I was FURIOUS at this idiot. Bottoms up Ted!

Gotcha Day Two Years Ago!

We met our beautiful daughter two years ago today. She cried for Daddy, but surely not for Mamma. What a joy.

Hi, my name is Ellen

My name is Ellen and I am addicted to.....

computer games. I've tried to quit, Man, but ever since my friend Laura got me addicted to PacMan at the St. Augustine mall back in 1982, my brain craves Spider Solitaire or Freecell or Bejeweled. I was so annoyed, frustrated and sad last night, waiting for news from China that I fantasized about calling in sick to work today and just playing Taipei all day long. To heck with the consequences!!! I'm tired and I want some selfish time alone!

Okay, here are some pictures of Frannie helping me make Grace's birthday cake and making panels for her shelving unit in her room. Frannie was so incredibly excited to work on this art project. You can't see it, but the butterfly's wings are lined in sparkly glitter, you'd have thought Frannie died and went to heaven. She was squealing!

PS, Yes, that is Frannie's very own Home Depot apron. Maybe one day I will get to wear one too

*sigh*

We ordered a cake to be delivered to Grace on her birthday so I have been anxiously waiting to receive the pictures, which count as proof of delivery. So this morning I got a message from the woman who was responsible for delivering the cake for me, informing me that the orphanage Director had no digital camera so they just went out and bought disposable cameras, to be given to us on Gotcha Day. So, no pictures of Grace today, ugh.

One more Baby Step

I completely understand when people continually ask me "when are you going?" and it does drive me a little nuts because I keep telling those who don't understand the world of adoption that we just don't know. Today, we are one BABY step closer which is the approval of our Article 5 and the delivery of our package to Beijing. This only means that we have to wait for Travel Approval -- statistics are showing that it could take anywhere from 6 days (one woman's speedy time on Rumor Queen) or up to 46 days (another lady's unfortunate wait), but the average is 23 days, according to the infamous Rumor Queen. My friend Katy had to wait 27 days for the Travel Approval.

Because Kevin is not able to travel with me, it worked out that my friend Nancy COULD go with me. I am fortunate enough to have her, along with Frannie on this journey. I have been so anxious about going without Kevin, about getting on a small little building on wheels, in such confined quarters, with so little oxygen and so many other people breathing MY OXYGEN, OMG, wait a minute, I have to go find a paper bag to breathe into for a second....

Okay, I'm back. Nancy is very calm and relaxing which is just what the doctor ordered. Anyone out there have any spare valium for me? I'm kidding. I need prayers, as you have probably surmised.

Did you Know About this?

Northwest Airlines Special DeliverySM
Significant fare discounts for international adoptions.

Now they can fly right into your arms.
Northwest Airlines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines want to help you and your new family member off to a flying start. Special DeliverySM fares are available to families adopting children from any of our over 100 international destinations throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, India and the Middle East.

Special Delivery fares make it easier to bring your son or daughter home.

We've designed Special Delivery to meet an adopting family's unique needs:

Low fares with great flexibility, No advanced purchase required........ etc., etc.,

One-Way Adoptee Fare: For adopted children two years of age or older OR infants under two years of age occupying a seat: 65% off full adult Y fare or 50% off full adult J fare, provided the parents are traveling on a Special Delivery ticket. For infants not occupying a seat: Special adoption discount is not available. Passenger is advised to pay 10% of lowest applicable published fare per the published fare rule.

I called yesterday about this and it doesn't look very hopeful with the new NW and Delta merger. Delta has been nixing these specials on Delta/NW combo flights. Ugh

There's Always a Reason -- I'm serious

I do get uptight when things don't go my way, quickly enough or quietly enough or nicely enough, but I always look back and say "Okay, God was looking out for me, I admit it." So I admit I have complained a little bit about being the FIRST to start the adoption process (for the 2nd adoption, that is) out of all my friends, but the LAST to go back. I checked the weather in Grace's province this week and found out the heat will feel like 124 degrees this week -- a typhoon just hit the Guangzhou area and an earthquake hit the Tokyo area. My buddy Darcy just got back from Guangzhou by way of Tokyo (yikes) and Katy is getting ready to go. I could NEVER handle that much heat or humidity and of course, typhoons and earthquakes are not my favorite either. I'll travel in September, thanks. One woman on Rumor Queen got her TA a mere 7 days after her Article 5 was issued -- who does SHE KNOW? That sure would be exciting if we could somehow make that happen :)

Chongqing Population

I just looked this up on Bing.com. It's hard for me to conceive! When we were in Beijing, I thought THAT PLACE was mobbed. We are about to travel to the MOST populous city in China (and I'm willing to bet most of you have never heard of it)!

These are the stats from a few years ago:

1 Chongqing 15,300,000
2 Shanghai 13,100,000
3 Beijing 12,200,000
4 Chengdu 9,900,000
5 Harbin 9,200,000
6 Tianjin 9,000,000
7 Shijiazhuang 8,600,000
8 Wuhan 7,200,000
9 Qingdao 7,000,000
10 Changchun 6,800,000
11 Guangzhou 6,700,000
12 Hong Kong 6,700,000

Remember little Frannie?

This one cracks me up

This is a True Story

About 7 years ago I went to Jamaica to work at the Mustard Seed Communities for my summer break from school. Let's just say I am spoiled, I hate the heat and I'm not quite as humble and giving as I thought. But that is not the point. I wanted to pray the rosary and read scripture every night before I went to bed and one night I was wiped out and thought to myself "I want to skip reading the Bible night." A wise Bible instructor taught me once that "The Bad Guy" likes to tempt you most away from church or scripture on days when he knows you will benefit the most. So instead of skipping my Bible reading that night I thought to myself "Get behind me Satan. Lord, show me something I need to hear" and I opened the book to John 21. This is the passage when Jesus has been resurrected and he returns to Peter and asks him 3 times "Peter, do you love me?" and each time Peter says "You know I do Lord" and Jesus responds to him, 3 times "Feed my lambs," "Tend my sheep" and "Feed my sheep." The very next night I asked God to reveal something else important to me, something I needed to hear and I opened the Bible randomly to John 21. Okay, so maybe I had folded the book open firmly the night before and it wanted to fall there, but I had other bookmarks in the book and it fell right on John 21 again. This was a Friday night. I smiled and laughed a nervous giggle and thought "Alrighty then. Guess I'm supposed to read this." Two days later, we took the kids in wheelchairs down the hill and up the stairs to attend Mass, as was the custom. We sat there swatting flies from the kids' faces, sung all the great uplifting songs and watched all the locals praise God in such a beautiful way (the Catholics in Jamaica have no problem dancing and singing real loud for the Lord). When the gospel was announced -- I am serious as a heart attack -- it was John 21. You have to know one thing: I am a special ed teacher working with kids who have severe and profound disabilities. I am not the most creative or the best teacher at school, but I KNOW God wanted to me work with these kids. No question in my mind. So as I sat, surrounded by these familiar kids in wheelchairs and the priest steps up to start his homily, I am crying almost audibly, most definitely visibly and he says "Who does Jesus mean by sheep or lambs? These kids here that sit in the back of my church! The most innocent ones in Jesus' flock!" He also goes on to state Jesus means (to the disciples), ALL his children, but it blew me away.

I had a hard time this week with lots of distractions and burdens to carry, but God reminded me TWICE of this event. I called my dear Sister Peg to pray with me yesterday and her words are always so wise and perfect. She got me crying and crying, reminding me again that when I am down, God is reminding me to lean on him and not to get distracted by daily woes. Well, Frannie and I went to Mass this morning (Kevin is in San Fran for a game) and the seminarian who was with our parish for the summer spoke for a few minutes and told us that while praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament a few years ago, God revealed John 21 to him which is what helped make his decision to become a priest. He also went on to talk about all he learned at St. John Neumann this summer and he was especially grateful to spend 5 days in Jamaica with fellow missionaries from our parish, working with the poor.

God is so good. Thanks for reminding me of that summer and how much I need to hand it over to you.

Summer Fun with the Godparents