Last Day

Well, this is it, our last day here in our house without sweet Flora. Things are quiet! Things are calm! That is all about to change. Seriously folks, if you think that my house is quiet and clam with a 13 year old, GIRL, and an 11 year old, GIRL, you are very wrong. As wonderful as my daughters are, they do yell and scream at each other. My life is far from quiet and calm. So seriously what is one more daughter in the mix.
I am preparing my speech now. I have a 13 year old, an 11 year old, and a 9 month old. Yes, she was adopted. Yes, she was born in China. Yes, they are sisters. Why would I adopt at this stage in my life? Because E and C have brought me so much joy, why wouldn't I want to adopt? Did you look at Flora's face?
Alrighty then! Speech prepared. Check! Packed! Check! Boarding passes in hand! Give me a few more hours to make that 24 hour mark! We are all ready to go (except for my seriously delirious husband who has yet to pack and who is sadly mistaken if he thinks I am going to do it)! He CAN be left behind!
Next post most likely from the airport!
Stay tuned the best is yet to come!

Woo Hoo!!

First, let me give a shout out to those end of February families who, rumor has it, will be getting the call before January 1. I am so excited for you all! And that folks concludes the February LID's! Savor the place where you are! It is utterly amazing!

Second, a welcome home to Shannon, who beamed in every single photo with her new daughter Ellie!

Third, okay I am going to give it to you all awaiting referral to travel people. This wait, for me has been far easier than waiting for our referral. I have a date, which is nearing quickly. It makes the wait so much easier and less emotional. The mounds of paperwork people tell you about, really not so overwhelming. It may have been my agency that "doled out" the paperwork throughout the last two months that made it so manageable. What I have experienced is the reoccurring thoughts of what so we need? What can we leave home? What can I buy there? What can't I buy there? Is my bag too big? too heavy? Argh! I have had packing lists for years and still I am stressing!!!

Three days and counting......ready or not here we come!

The reality of it all...

is most definitely sinking in. I have created shopping lists, and purchased many necessities. I have then created packing lists and sorted all of said necessities. And now has come the time to actually pack all of the those necessities!! The reality has most definitely hit me. Boy, for a family of minimalists (not including clothing) we sure do have a lot of necessities.
We leave in 5 days!!!

Two Weeks and counting!

Two weeks from to today we are China bound!!! I am officially on Winter break as of today! I have packed all of Flora's stuff. Unfortunately for my family and my travel mates there is no room for any clothes etc for me! I will be sporting the same outfit for two weeks,,,,,not really. Luckily I have four suitcases to distribute all of her things among. We are getting closer. Almost there.

I was tagged....Crazy Eights!

Favorite TV Shows (8):
Survivor
The Amazing Race
Seinfeld
Friends
The Biggest Loser
The People’s Court
Judge Judy
My Name is Earl

Favorite Restaurants (8):
Bistro
Stove
The Vintage Kitchen
Crackers
AW Shucks
Koi
Kytobuki
Doumars’s

8 Things I Look Forward To:
Gotcha Day!!
Our sailing trip to the BVI
Working out at the gym
Knitting
Playing Backgammon
Cooking dinner
Hanging out with friends
Basketball games, especially when my daughter plays

8 Things on my Wish List:
Annually visiting the BVI
M-B GL 500, loaded
Remodeling our kitchen
Remodeling our bedroom
Free college education for all my daughters
Live-in housekeeper
Own personal trainer (3x’s a week)
Owning a brand new 34 foot sailboat
What? It did say WISH LIST.......

8 Things I did yesterday:
I worked
I ate one of my favorite meals, bread and cheese
I watched a school play, Anansi and the Moss Covered Rock
I took my daughters to the dentist
I worked out at 5 am
I went to bed at 8:30 pm
I watched Jaws 3-D (don’t ask....)
I did some laundry (I am always behind on laundry)

6 Friends who are tagged!
FinsUp
Meilin
June
Ruby
Syri
Elena

Ready?

I am grateful that my agency has a precise process for handling travel. I think we are almost done with our checklist, but because they dipense the paperwork slowly, I am not so sure that we are done.

I do know this; I know I am ready to go:
Visas (in hand)- check
Paperwork notarized and organized- check
Tickets booked- check
Peditician appointment- check
Insurance called- Husband's job
Money collected- check
Flora's script- ordered
Travel plans- almost finalized
Packed- almost

Change and Plans

Yes, I have been a bit grumbly about our delayed travel. But there has been a change! Yesterday we received via email, our definite plans/itinerary. Here they are.

Depart for China: January 1st
Arrive in Beijing: January 2nd
Tour Beijing: January 3rd
Fly to Nanning: January 4th
Gotcha Day: January 5th!!!
Finalize Adoption in Province: January 6th
Fly to Guangzhou: January 10th or January 11th
Consulate Appointment: January 13th at 9:30am
Take oath and receive visa: the afternoon of January 14th
Fly back to the US: January 15th

Yes, I knew all that before, but this time I read it, it was a bit different. Did you notice the fifth line? It says gotcha day......January 5th!!! Holy cow! We have our referral and now we have gotcha day!! So my bad attitude has changed (it took 2 days R, instead of 1 day)!!!
One month and counting.
Here's hoping that the next batch of referrals arrives soon, like Monday!

Tentative Travel Dates

It is one of those good news/ bad news scenarios. Good news...we are going to China to get Flora!! Bad news.....we don't leave until January 1, 2009. I am not happy about that date. I begged, pleaded but no one cared! [Imagine that...it wasn't all about me (dripping with sarcasm)]. I, as a teacher/administrator, have 3 weeks off for the holidays, and I leave the absolute last day of the break. Same goes for the girls. They are off from school and now they must miss 2.5 weeks plus their exams. Oh, and Joe who is one class away from graduation will not get to do that onetime either. Okay. okay enough complaining.....we are going to China. Watch out Flora here we come!
And another photo!

Waiting on our TA..

Well, it has been nearly one month since we received our referral. We have sent off our visas. We are awaiting our TA, which should arrive any day now. We have told our older girls that they are joining us in China. They are so excited!! We have some more photos of Flora to share. I just can't wait to get there.
I have two special thanks you's to post. First Ann at Red Thread China. She is a dream. She offers a service where we sent Flora a care package. In return we received new photos and updated information on Flora. Second Brian Stuy at research-China.org. He also provides a service of putting his hands on her finding ad. That is a piece of Flora's history we will always have to share with her. These two amazing people provide various other services that are crucial to adoptive (waiting) parents. All I can say is call them.....you never know what may come from those contacts.
UPDATE:Our TA came today....and we have tentative travel dates. However, I am not willing to post them yet, as I don't much care for them, and I am looking for a new travel date! I will keep you posted!
Now, for your viewing pleasure.....my girl.....Flora