Not to burst any bubbles

We heard from our family coordinator about this latest round of renewal paperwork. The news is a double-edged sword, folks. We were pretty much told not to expect a referral anytime in 2009. Remember my last post? About looking at the positive side? Well, I'm trying to do that with this bit of news also. There's something comforting in knowing that it won't be this year. I know that sounds crazy but the worst part of all of this is the disappointment and let down when we realize that yet again there's no referral for us. It alleviates the constant worry and waiting anxiety. This way we know. It's not this year. We won't be watching each month tick away and wonder could it be this month? In fact, this news really will allow us to reclaim our lives. We've sort of lived only half our lives. I know this doesn't make much sense but we've been living for an eventuality. Waiting for the next holiday because it will be better with Emma and we've not been taking the time to enjoy the here and now. I don't know how this happened to us, but it did. We're still 1Million % committed to growing our family but we're now also committed to enjoying our family as it is today. That's the news you can use from this end of the keyboard.

In an effort to capitalize on the positive...

I don't generally make new year's resolutions, and this is not what this is... not really, but I've decided to take note of the positive things about our endless wait for word from China. So, to that end here are a few of the things i have enjoyed this year that i won't be able to enjoy once we have our daughter... 1) last night I sat my butt in my favorite chair and read Tori Spellings' trashy memoir cover to cover, uninterrupted no less. And it was Goooooood! 2) This past Saturday while Paul lay in a Nyquil induced coma I watched Bravo's marathon of The Real Housewives of New York, ALLLLL day! And it was gooooood! 3) Tonight, because I'm tired and he's tired and simply because we can, I'm going to our favorite Sushi restaurant for dinner. Spicy tuna roll here I come! 4) and sometime in February we're getting away for a few days just by ourselves. You've got to accentuate the positive.... you know the rest of the song! :)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas friends and family! I am doing much better than last year in at least one area...Christmas cards are done and in the mail. Woohoo. I feel like that's a huge accomplishment since last year I couldn't even get motivated to do that. Still no tree and trimmings at our house. It just seems pointless. It's just Paul and I and we won't even be home very much over the holiday.

I was thinking about Mary and Joseph recently, go figure, and what those 9 months must have been like for them. Knowing that they were going to parent God's child surely tripled the anticipation of the arrival of their baby. I can only imagine. In a way, aren't all children God's children? Isn't it our greatest privilege to raise our children as though they are his? I dunno, sometimes I think I am thinking too much.

Just to update you as to where we stand in this marathon known as our adoption...
Our I-600A, immigration paper work for our hypothetical child, expires in February so that's another 850ish to Homeland Security. We've been informed by our agency that China has increased the orphanage donation fee from 3,500 to 5,500 due to the weak American dollar. And the rumor mill is rife with talk of the wait increasing to 5 years. 5 FREAKIN' YEARS! I suppose the good news is we're at the 28 month mark and how much longer could it be? Well it could be another FREAKIN' 28months that's how long! We know it's a marathon, not a sprint. It's about stamina and endurance and not instant gratification. Knowing all of that doesn't make it any easier just so you know. In fact, I cannot think of one pithy, cliche that could adequately express what this feels like at this point.

Nevertheless...Merry Christmas to you all and all our best wishes for a happy and healthy new year...love ya, mean it.
Lisa

26 Months and holding...

Yesterday was our 26 month anniversary with the CCAA and they didn't even send a card! The nerve! :) There's nothing new to report. I suppose the old adage that no news is good news is only partially true in this case. We appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers as we continue to trust in Him. This is all in His hands.

Peace out!
Lisa and Paul

Hmmm

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do,and he will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:5-6 New Living Translation

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Folks, this one has nothing to do with our baby girl, but it has everything to do with her future and the future of this country. I don't think I've ever been more proud of being an American than I am tonight. Tonight race, color, and creed don't matter. Integrity, hope, and courage do and aren't those the best qualities in each of us? When Barack Obama lays out his vision for the nation tonight we'll catch a glimpse of the best in each of us. I'm optimistic that we can turn this misguided ship around, that we can correct the mistakes of the last 8 years and show the world that conservatives don't have a corner on the market for family values and patriotism. We can take this country back, all of us, Americans. It's ours. So, as Pollyanna as it sounds.. I believe him when he says: Yes, WE Can!

Rain, Rain...

You know the rest!

Day two of Tropical Storm Fay and still it's more an inconvenience than anything else. A little rain, a little wind and two vacation days. I hope that this posting finds all of you well.

So, as you already know we've had our home study rewritten to include twins or siblings and now it's all I can think about. Obsessive much? Two babies, one trip. Mind you I'm not getting my hopes up too much but c'mon... TWO BABIES!!! How cool would that be? Paul and I were having an what-if conversation on Sunday and we started talking baby names again. Of course our Emma Grace is not changing, but we were thinking about hypothetical Baby Two... Paul asked so innocently, "gosh, what would we name a second baby?" as if I hadn't already thought of that! ;-) So we chatted a bit and the name of HBT, is...drum roll... Baylor Holland! He or She can be their own law firm.. .Baylor Holland and Nehrig! Now before you go jumping to conclusions about how far gone I am about this second baby idea, please know that I know how unlikely this scenario is... but it's good to be optimistic. So, that's all the news on this front for now. We're back on the roller coaster and right now we're loving the ride. It's getting exciting again as we get closer and closer to meeting our daughter (or daughters).