One month gone, but a Happy Easter nonetheless

We have been waiting for just over a month now and while I know that is nothing compared to some, its still a significant milestone for us.  It seems like only yesterday we sent all the paperwork in, but yet its kinda amazing its been a whole month!  Even though the dossier is more than likely still in the process of being translated, I still count this as waiting since, well, we are!  lol  As a result, I figure I will update the blog when we get news (of course) and at least once a month just to check in and let everyone know what we have been up to.

Obviously the most recent event has been the celebration of Easter and the end of the Lenten season.  Actually I am rather proud of my little family.  We made it all the way through without any mistaken meat consumption or relapses regarding what we "gave up".  I always take the challenge of Lent pretty seriously and really try to honor our Lord by keeping my promises, but it seems like for the last couple of years I have forgotten what day it is and had (gasp) some sort of meat on Fridays.  This year though, I felt much more in tune to the process and had absolutely no problem abiding and forgoing certain items.  Could it be because of the monumental step we took regarding the adoption and all the associated prayers for guidance that accompanied?  Probably.  Could it be that each year, although I slide closer to middle age, I am that much more removed from "baby brain" and all the forgetfulness that came with it?  Let's hope, lol! 

Regardless the reason, I am just happy we all took the Lenten journey together and it went well.  Case decided to give up Mario Cart and let me tell you, that was rough for the little guy!  Definitely a win-win as a mom though :D.  Add to that the fact he truly understands the sacrifice our Father and Jesus made for us and it made for a great season.  He prays and feels confident that the Lord will ALWAYS be with him in good times and bad and he has told me us how lucky we are to have Jesus on our side.  So very true, young man.

Easter was absolutely beautiful in the Carolinas and we had a wonderful day as a family.  The Easter Bunny was good and a morning egg hunt was very fun.  We planted flowers (is there really a better way to show rejoicing in the risen Lord and the rebirth and renewal of spring?), had a lovely dinner, and then a sunset cruise on our lake.  Bliss.  It was quiet and low key though because we had just returned from our annual pilgrimage.  No, not any place religiously impressive.  We went on our annual spring break trip to Disneyworld!  Yes, it was busy, but we absolutely love going there.  We stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and it was fabulous.  

Interestingly, although we had immense fun, it was both exciting and bittersweet in a way.  I realized as we walked around, went on rides, etc that next year we probably might be 4, instead of 3.  I often caught myself wondering what our new son will marvel at in this magical place:  Will he enjoy most?  What will he look like when we arrive on Main Street or watch the fireworks?  Will he want to pose with any characters-Buzz? Stitch? Woody?   What will he think of Toy Story Mania and Soarin' (my own personal votes as best rides ever)?  So many wonderful things to look forward to.  I can't wait!

At the same time, I found it to be a little bittersweet since this might be the last time my husband and I will go there with Case alone.  Don't get me wrong- we are so anxious to meet our new son and Case is totally into having a little brother.  Still, its always been just us and as a result, I think I noticed alot more about Case than ever before and I really tried to treasure him for the precious gift from God he is.  He is so funny, so observant and smart, and I love him with my whole heart.  I really treasured the rides we took together (when Daddy went to the roller coaster) and those nighttime snuggles and hugs.  Its silly, I know, but it also made me realize I have probably taken my mothering time with Case for granted and I need make sure I always carve out special time for us, just as I'll need to with our new son.  I can't wait to spend time with them both and see them interact as brothers :)

So that's about it for us.  And although we continue to wait, I have to shout a loud "Hallelujah" and "Congratulations" to another Polish adoptive mommy, Brooke, who met her precious daughter for the first time recently!  Her pictures were so beautiful and touching that I could feel the love and have no doubt this was God at work.  So happy for them!  It gives me such hope that all of us will be brought together with the children God has chosen for us in His perfect time.  He is indeed our great and loving Lord! 

Until next time, take care everybody and Happy Spring! :)

Well, we're waiting!

The title of this post is for all you Caddyshack fans out there, lol.   And in case you didn't guess, we have submitted our dossier and are now officially waiting!!  Yay!  What a HUGE relief to send Package-zilla off to the agency.  Although we went over the documents we had and what we needed many times (once me, then my husband, then us both...you get the picture), we finally were able to get 'er crated up and in the mail. Woohoo!

      

Here she is!

I realize that the folders don't look that impressive, but the bulk of materials is inside and I took this from overhead to fit everything in.   One thing we were super happy with was our pictures.   After getting advice from many people who have walked this path before, we decided to pick about 16-18 pics of our house and us as a family.  A bit more than usual, but what the heck right?  We had alot to show and it turned out great.  I must give props to one particularly brilliant idea that came from a friend who included a baby picture of her husband, so the Polish authorities could use that as reference.  We loved it, so we decided to tweak that a little and instead included a pic of Case around the age we are requesting for adoption.  We figured he's the best living proof of how Brian and I look combined, so hopefully it'll be a good guide.  So now the dossier continues on its magical, mystery tour to Poland to be translated and then we'll hopefully soon matched with our new son.  Still, its the potentially lengthy wait that seems the most daunting.  

Funny story: when I was in marching band on college, we always seemed to be in long lines waiting for something- whether it was for food, buses, waiting in the tunnel before a game, waiting in the kitchen area of a hotel before performing an alumni concert on a bowl trip (that was a crazy one), or waiting for rides in Disneyland, or on the sideline at Rose Bowls.  You name it, we waited and waited, but happily and peacefully.  "Hurry up and wait" was our mantra then, and it taught me such patience that I often have no issue with waiting in lines.  Who would have thought it would turn out to be a life-changing lesson?

And thus it has been with a good deal of this process so far.  I have still played the "hurry up and wait" game often and have done fine so far.  Yet, I know that this wait is so different and could be a hard one because of the uncertainty.  When I was pregnant with Case, I was cognizant of him growing everyday and he was ever present for me.  There was no doubt that the waiting period was finite.  And even when he was a week late and I was felt like a beached whale, I knew the end was near and I would be able to hold him.  Very unlike this process.  In international adoption, you know your child is in another place and waiting for you, but you don't know exactly where or when you will meet.  Nothing is harder for a mother than to be separated from her child(ren) and the yearning to hold them is immensely powerful.  That makes this waiting so much more challenging and although the pull is different, it is equally strong for me.

So we wait.  And to keep my humor, I think about the look on Judge Smail's/Ted Knight's face when he says those infamous lines "Well, we're waiting!"  

 

Until then, we will continue our Polish lessons, enjoy Case and our family, prepare for our new son, and mostly, pray for all my other adoptive mommy friends to receive referrals very soon!  

Fat Tuesday!

I have to admit, I look forward to this day.  In fact, I lick my lips just thinking about it.  Now, I know its the day before Lent and we should be readying ourselves etc, but I just can't help it.  Why, you ask?
In one word, pączki. 

Ahhh, pączki.....  Those glorious Polish fried dough, jelly-filled pieces of heaven.  And although I miss Michigan and my friends often, this is one day I really miss not living near Detroit.  Why?  Because there is simply nothing like the taste, smell, and decadence of pączki.   These little beauties contributed to many a happy memory during my college years in Ann Arbor as we would venture down to the Hamtramck area on Fat Tuesday or find them somewhere closer and, ohhh...bliss! 

In the South however, people just don't know what they are and look at me with a face of utter confusion when I mention them.  (insert southern accent here) "Pooch-key?  What's that?"  Sigh.  So to help educate the masses, today I took some Fat Tuesday treats into my husband's office.  Because I couldn't find true pączki (ahhh...pączki), I settled on jelly and creme filled doughnuts- not exact but about as close as I could get.  Even though I cleaned the bakery out, I still wasn't sure I had bought enough, so I also got some apple fritters.  Everyone from the billing and telephone staff to the med assistants, nurses, and other docs loved them but....sacrilege!  They almost all chose the fritters!!  What?? I tried to push the pączki (try saying that ten times fast, lol) but alas, these southerners just weren't interested.  Now to be fair, some chose the jelly-filled doughnuts and I told them about the yummy Polish treats, but I think they secretly would have chosen a fritter if I had bought more.  Oh well, what can you do?  lol 

So tomorrow we begin our annual Lenten journey and fast, but today for me, its time to enjoy a treat and celebrate Mardi Gras- literally.  Happy Fat Tuesday and here's wishing I could bring you all some pączki! 

Tak!

This week has been pretty eventful but the most welcome surprise was right in our mailbox today.  Let me set up the scenario-

I may not have mentioned but last week, exactly 3 weeks after we completed our biometric fingerprints, we still had not heard anything.  Now I know the federal government can move slowly and I understand they have alot of fingerprints to process, but I admit I kinda kept that 3 week time frame in the back of my mind and expected it to be done.  I know, I know; but I was trying to be optimistic.

Well, last Thursday's mail came and still no letter.  My husband offered to call the Hague Adoption Unit- the number on the USCIS site for any questions etc. and find out what was up.  The guy was dry, blunt, but ultimately helpful since we found out they had (pause for effect) not...even...assigned...our...case...to...an...agent...yet!  Argh!! 

In fact, they didn't even have record we had completed our fingerprints. (Um, huh??)

And then he said it could take up to 90 days.  (Double huh??)

Brian told him that we had originally applied in early January and it had been 3 weeks since the biometric appointment in early February.  As I listened, I must admit I was peeved, annoyed, and sad at the same time.  I mean how can these federal departments not talk to each other and not know something that was required was done etc etc etc.??  And then to have to wait even longer?  Ugh, I felt so helpless. 

But then a glimmer of hope...

Dry guy told Brian that he would flag our account (in a good way) and make sure it was given to an agent ASAP.  (Really??)  I was a bit surprised, but let's face it, ultimately skeptical.  I figured another 3 weeks, maybe more. 

And then I went to the mailbox today.....

Hallelujah!!!  And the amazing part?  It came exactly one week after Brian spoke to that guy!  I mean, seriously?!  Way to go dry guy!!

And we were thrilled, but Case could not have been happier!  He ran in to tell my husband and insisted I take his picture with it.  Ok, the smile is his standard forced one, but trust me he was giddy!

And you know, I can be such an incredible cynic sometimes regarding our government and is efficiencies (or perceived lack thereof), but I have to truly pick feathers out of my teeth from all the times so far during this journey I have had to eat crow.  But its not my fault.  The US government has this reputation as being sooo big and sooo slow that you practically expect it to fail and have ridiculous delays.  And even more so, we expect the people that work for it to be uncaring automatons that would just as soon blow you off as a whiner, instead of really trying to help make things happen.  In reality, there are some really great government people out there and most are in the trenches, doing jobs that really impact us as Americans in our daily life and our goals and aspirations.  From the passport office to the post office, from the FBI to the Dept of Homeland Security, from the State to the Federal, we have had numerous and often unnamed people give us invaluable help along the way.  Unexpected, yet pleasant surprises?  Obviously.  Providence?  Definitely.  Of that I have no doubt.

So TAK, TAK, TAK! (which as you guessed or know is "yes, yes, yes" in Polish)  We have finally been approved and after one last apostille, we'll send this off to the agency and then on to Poland.  A huge, gigantic step towards our child that is waiting for us to come and bring him home.  We're coming sweetheart!

Spring Yard Cleaning- a metaphor and reality of a blessed life.

This was a beautiful weekend and absolutely perfect weather for doing yard work.  I know, mid-February, right?  Well, it was in the upper 70's, clear and sunny and we just had to get outside.  It seems like an apt metaphor also as we clean and prepare for the new addition to our family, hopefully sometimes this year.  After a little playtime with our son Case (he is working on soccer moves and came up with a pretty sweet one actually), we tackled power washing the house and cutting back some shrubs.   For some reason, as I watched the clean house shine through, I somehow felt rejuvenated and hopeful.  Maybe its springtime, maybe its finishing a task that needed to be done; but I couldn't help feeling it was connected to our adoption journey.  

Now, Case was a great help and really reveled in stacking up the pruned branches and driving the wheelbarrow (with Daddy's assistance).  I'm often amazed at how big he has gotten and how mature he seems at times.  As I helped him stack the small branches, he also seemed to exude a hopeful enthusiasm and I thought he probably was sensing or feeling something similar.  It made me smile to think we were so connected in our tasks, in their completion, and our rejuvenation....until.   As we were finishing up, he turned to me and said, "You know, there will be more of us in the family next year".  I smiled and said, "I know.  Won't that be great?" and he said "Yea.  Then you guys can keep working and my brother and me can play soccer".  Well, so much for that!  lol   So maybe we aren't feeling the exact same thing, but he still makes me smile and I know he is looking forward to this journey as much as we are- even if it is for different reasons. 

Never underestimate the value of a good courier service!

As you can tell by the headline, we successfully received our apostilled FBI background forms today in the mail!  I must admit having never used a courier service from out of state, I was a little nervous.  Even though we spoke with Ted (their expert that handles these types of documents) and he seemed totally professional and on top of it- he even knew what the problem was before we told him, lol- sending them the only physical forms we had was cause for nerves.  Now that they are back in my hot little hands, I will sing their praises and if I need something done again in DC, I won't hesitate.  For those that wonder, we used Washington Express.  They were courteous, responsive, available 24/7, and the documents arrived quickly and in pristine condition.  In other words- THEY ROCK!   Even though it cost a bit more, we probably saved soooo much in time that it was worth every penny.  Plus, they sent back our documents Fed Ex via their corporate rate- bonus!  Anyway, if anyone ever needs to use a service like this, don't hesitate to use Washington Express.  I know we will!

So, on last week's episode...

We were in the midst of figuring out what we would do about getting that FBI background clearance apostilled in a timely matter.  Well, as I posted before, we figured out where it had to go (USDOS, not South Carolina); but we didn't know how we would get it there and back in a timely manner.  Well, enter a Washington DC courier service.  Yep, we decided to send the documents through a service and they will go to the actual Authentications Office, walk-up, and wait for it to be done.  We talked to Ted, who was super knowledgeable and he knew exactly what we were talking about because basically this is all he does for their office- that's how many documents like this they handle in DC!  It does cost a bit more, but we decided it was well worth it to get it back in 2 days rather 15+ business days (maybe, and not counting mail time).  So we giving Ted a go and hopefully, problem solved.

As for today- we went and had our federal biometric fingerprints done in Atlanta and finished yet another step of the journey to dossier completion.  The people there were totally nice and professional, we were in and out in under 30 min, and the biometric process itself was UBER-COOL!!  I don't know why but I just thought it was awesome.  Of course, that's probably because no red flags came up for me- lol lol!  I was so fascinated watching that the guy told me I was one of the most relaxed people he did all week, lol.  My husband, on the other hand, was getting constantly scolded (in a nice way) about trying to help the lady with it and not holding his hand right etc.  She and I just laughed because since he is over 6'3" and she was kinda short, he couldn't get low enough to make it easy.  Still, we got it done and overall, the whole process was pain-free.  The other cool thing was talking to a few of the different foreign people there getting their prints done while we were in line.   Countries represented in our small time frame were Germany, Thailand, Pakistan, another Middle Eastern nation (a very elderly couple who didn't speak English, but were sooo cute!), Mexico, and Korea.  Pretty cool, right?  Anyway, kudos to the Dept of Homeland Security for their efficiency, professionalism, and friendliness.

Lastly, today was also great because we received our homestudy (2 copies) apostilled from the State of NC!   I was happily surprised that NC did it so quickly- we had it in about a 4 day turnaround, which includes sending and receiving.  Not too shabby, eh?  Outside of the I-171H (and the aforementioned FBI clearance), we're pretty well done with the paper chase- can I get a "Woohoo!"? 

Until next time........