Bye Bye Tae Kwon Do

OK... I know this page is supposed to be about my adoption process but, I'm bummed out. My Tae Kwon Do instructor is moving to Charleston. Which is happy news for him, he likes it there, but sad news for me. I'm not sure of the status of our class now, like will someone else take over, or will we all just fall apart or what. *sigh* I'm pretty sad...I've enjoyed kicking butt for over 4 years, so it is hard to think this might be the end. ugh. Even though I won't really miss having bruises all over my legs and arms, I'm still going to miss class. Maybe there is a plan in place already that I don't know about. Send happy thoughts that we will find another instructor, or I will find a new class to join.
In adoption news, I have absolutely nothing to report. I'm waiting on the blue book and the contract from the agency which could be here any day now. Other than that, I'm still running around trying to fix up my house, make it presentable to strangers. LOL
All right, back to work for me.

Welcome to the Family

Well I got an email today from my adoption agency. This is what they say:

We're excited to welcome you to the Adoptions Together "family"!

So I guess my application was up to scratch. Now comes the hard bit, eight million pieces of paper to fill out and the home study. Luckily I still have a few weeks before that starts. It makes me a little anxious to think about, that I'm REALLY doing this, but I bet that is pretty normal. Don't all new parents feel that way? :-)
Other happy things, Emily got her very first welcome to the world gift, the cutest beaded ladybug purse from my good friend Karen. (also an adoptive mom to be!) Ladybugs are considered lucky in Chinese culture, so it's cute AND symbolic!! LOL
Anyway, I'm in a very good mood this afternoon, and this weekend I get to see mi familia for Easter. All happy stuff. Happy Easter Y'all. Be safe if you're traveling.

Busy little Bee!

Well I've been a busy little bee the last week or so. I finished and mailed in my application, which was the big thing. Now I'm waiting to hear back from the agency and to get what they call the "blue book" or big book of instructions. From there I will make an appointment with a home study worker. So I'm aiming to start that the first week of April.
Meanwhile, I've been doing stuff around the house, fixing things that are broken, hanging pictures, replacing light bulbs, (even the pesky one in the fridge!) I've also been cleaning out some stuff. I don't know how I have managed to accumulate so much junk, but that is what goodwill is for!
I also got my very own Fedex account, so I can send stuff all over the place, which apparently I will be doing a lot of, as the agency asked me for my account number on the very first batch of paperwork!
So that is about it from me. I hopefully will be hearing back from the agency soon.

Busy little Bee!

Well I've been a busy little bee the last week or so. I finished and mailed in my application, which was the big thing. Now I'm waiting to hear back from the agency and to get what they call the "blue book" or big book of instructions. From there I will make an appointment with a home study worker. So I'm aiming to start that the first week of April.
Meanwhile, I've been doing stuff around the house, fixing things that are broken, hanging pictures, replacing light bulbs, (even the pesky one in the fridge!) I've also been cleaning out some stuff. I don't know how I have managed to accumulate so much junk, but that is what goodwill is for!
I also got my very own Fedex account, so I can send stuff all over the place, which apparently I will be doing a lot of, as the agency asked me for my account number on the very first batch of paperwork!
So that is about it from me. I hopefully will be hearing back from the agency soon.

quick update

I heard from a few folks today that tried to leave a comment but couldn't, because they weren't users. I think that I changed the settings I had so that you can post comments anonymously (you don't have to have a user name). Anyway, thanks to all for taking a peek.

I mailed my application in this evening. OOOH AHH. Also I got a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit, things I need to make me look grown up and prepared. :-) You would think working for the Red Cross for 4 years I would have already owned both of those things, but I didn't. Oh well, bring on the fires and paper-cuts, I'm good to go! Ha ha.

Anyway, off to paint my stair railings. oh the joys of home ownership!

It's Official

Hiya Folks!
Well it's Official! I'm adopting from China! WOOO HOOO!!
I'm going through Adoptions Together, and hopefully if all goes well I will be DTC (Dossier to China) by November 2005. I've been getting a lot of questions about the adoption process and what happens next, so I thought I would use this blog as a way to share my journey with all of you. Here is a rough outline of the process:

I fill out the initial application and submit $500.00 (I should be mailing this tomorrow, 03 16 2005)
The agency sends me the “blue book” which lists all the documents and things I need to do in a time line.
I find someone (a social worker) to do my home study (check, I've found someone!)
Meet with the social worker 3 -4 times. Simultaneously, get a physical, apply with INS, get fingerprinted. Collect required documents.
And write an autobiography. (YIKES)
Get completed home study back from social worker.
Send off documents for authentication (to the state department)
Put everything together in a DOSSIER.
Send to agency for review
Agency reviews, sends to China. (Dossier To China)
WAIT, wait again, wait some more. SIX MONTHS of waiting...meanwhile,
China matches me up with my Emily!
FINALLY China sends “referral”- a picture of a child with a brief medical report
I accept the referral (or not, but I doubt that)
Wait for China to set an appointment date at their consulate so I can go there and finish the paperwork
Get a date, make travel arrangements
Fly to China, Get Emily, Do some cultural tours, fill out yet MORE paperwork.
Fly home
Crash into an exhausted sleep. HA HA HA HA
Live happily ever after as a Mom! YAY!

OK..that was a really rough outline, but I thought I would share. Wish me luck!