the month of JUNE

Ahhhh, June. Not just a month on the calendar...but my beloved beast. We just passed her two year anniversary - actually, in MAY, not June. She has brought a lot of joy into our lives, a lot of humor and she has definitely tested our patience. Tonight, she ate my dinner. **sigh** Hope she liked that grilled chicken. I had raisin bran.

Actually, if you look at this picture, carefully look at it...you will see all there is to know about June. Look at those eyes...she thinks she is smarter than you, doesn't she? That smarmy look on her face. And she is licking her chops...undoubtedly she probably had just scarfed something else down when this was taken. She is such a pain. But she is also a comfort. When I am not feeling well, she is the one who snuggles me. She has also been a good distraction as we wait for Olivia since she has taken so much discipline -- true, consistent discipline, which takes time! She has changed so much since we got her and is so much more calm and well behaved. But I still had raisin bran for dinner. Ahhhhh, June.

15 Months Down - One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

China opened it's doors to international adoption in 1991. Up until just a few months ago, the longest that CCAA had ever taken from LID to referral was 15 months, and that was during the SARS pandemic. And so we wait.

wait –verb (used without object)
1. to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens (often fol. by for, till, or until)
2. (of things) to be available or in readiness

3. to remain neglected for a time

4. to postpone or delay something or to be postponed or delayed
5. to look forward to eagerly

6. to continue as one is in expectation of; await
7. to postpone or delay in expectation
8. Archaic. (of things) to be in readiness for; be reserved for; await

9. Archaic. to attend upon or escort, esp. as a sign of respect. –noun
10. an act or instance of waiting or awaiting; delay; halt

11. a period or interval of waiting

source, Dictionary.com

Never Good News!!!!! Whatevah!!

The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before March 31, 2006.

The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before November 7, 2005.

We had to write out a check today for $545.00 for the US Government since more things are expiring. We have spent more than $1,100 in the last six months for fees of items that "expire" or need to be updated. All for OUR government.

On April 10 I posted a depressing update from our agency that the wait had increased to 18-19 months. In that short time it has now increased to 22 months. This now means that the earliest we will get a referral is January 2008. I wonder if it will get to the point where it is so completely ridiculous that we start to laugh!? Hmmm...nope, not there yet!

I Have Sew Much to Say...

I didn’t realize when I started Olivia’s Bai Jia Bei, or 100 Wishes Quilt, all the things I would learn along the way. It is surprising to me the similarities between waiting for Olivia to come home and making her quilt.

1) It has been a journey. I just received my last piece of fabric and I am partially excited that I can finish the quilt now and partially sad that the anticipated walks to the mail box are done.

2) It has tested my patience to wait on people to send me fabric just as the wait for Olivia is testing my patience! And now the wait for the rest of the cards begins…
3) It has been a learning experience. I have a quilting teacher from CraftyPlanet.com who has helped me all along the way. It reminds me of the “teach a man to fish” proverb. I didn’t hire someone to make the quilt for me, but I am learning HOW to make a quilt, something I have wanted to learn for years.

4) I have had to give up control. When you have 100 very different pieces of fabric and are piecing them together like a puzzle, you can drive yourself crazy trying to get them in the “right order”. I finally had to just let go and let it be a piece of art. I also had to go easy on myself that it will undoubtedly NOT be perfect, but it will definitely be made with love.

Funny how those things also describe parenting! A journey where your patience is tested, a learning experience where you have to give up control…hmmm…

The quilt has been a WONDERFUL project to keep me busy during the wait and I am so grateful for it. It has given me something tangible to work on, something to look forward to, and something that our daughter will have forever. Thanks so much to everyone who contributed. I picture Olivia looking through her book of wishes years from now and talking about the different people who contributed to her quilt. It is that image in my mind that brings me peace during this agonizing wait for her arrival.