Another step closer November 16, 2007

We got a wonderful letter today all full of maple leaves letting us know that our documentation is almost ready to travel to Ethiopia! Really they just needed us to make a payment so that when the dossier clears Manitoba and Federal approval it can be sent on without delay. Even so, I’m glad they are so on top of everything!! I for one was so caught up in chasing the paperwork that I totally forgot that we were at a pay period. I would have been really upset with myself if I had slowed the process at this point by forgetting to pay!

On another note, I’m finding buying Christmas presents really strange. I keep wondering if our kids in Ethiopia are born yet and whether they will celebrate Christmas this year. Next year will surely be harder as we will have their pictures by then, but won’t have brought them home yet.

Paper trail November 15, 2007

We got notice this week that our paperwork is back in Manitoba and off to the government for approval! It’s a huge milestone and we hope it goes quickly. I’d love to think it will make it’s way to Ethiopia by January 1st. We’ll see if that’s a possiblity. So far I feel really calm. We have too much to do! No time to sit around waiting… life is just too busy.

We’re trying desperately to sort out our rec. room and back entrance area for the upcoming renovations. It seems I don’t even have time for that between work, regular household stuff (like the five loads of laundry I still need to get done tonight) and doing homework/hanging with the kids. I’m hoping we can fit in a couple of hours this weekend, but it’s beginning to look doubtful. We need to get some Christmas shopping done, are going to a movie night for Dave’s work, and are helping another adoptive family with a fundraiser to bring home their sweet girl. All good things to do!

I’m also noticing the calendar keeps ticking away and I haven’t started Christmas baking yet!! Since we are driving to B.C. to visit my sister and her kids over Christmas, the pressure to bake isn’t as great, but I really am craving my Noel Christmas cookies!

Off to tuck the kiddos into bed. We’re up late celebrating a 90.5% average in all classes – a great report card came home today for one lucky Lehman. The other report card is coming later on, but he did receive a 89% on his French test… way to go!

Seminar Update November 5, 2007

What a great weekend we had! We were both a bit hesitant about the weekend. (We don’t enjoy big groups of new people) We met some wonderful people this weekend despite our unease and confirmed a lot about our adoption. We were very impressed with the CAFAC staff and enjoyed meeting each of them and putting faces to the names we talk to and e-mail! They did a terrific job. I really appreciated the way the answered all our questions with such kindness and openess.

We were probably one of the furthest along the adoption journey in the group. It was great fun sharing information that we had gathered and our process with those just starting.

Now that the seminar is done we are waiting for our paperwork to be approved by the Manitoba government. We have heard that this can take anywhere from two weeks to two months. We’re hoping, like everyone else, that we are the two week variety! Our CAFAC rep. thinks it may get through their office in the next week or two.

So now we wait again. Although I’m not impatient. We have so much to do at home to get ready. 18 months isn’t a lot of time when we both work fulltime. Another major renovation to the house and a major re-do on the back yard will keep us very busy!

I’ve promised not to start working on the new bedroom until the referral comes… What was I thinking??? I might have to set a date. (like I’ll wait for 7 months or something)