TA DA!

reminiscing about the past - looking into the future

The Past...
Ed's 10 year high school reunion was this weekend. We feel old, but had a great time! Boys will be boys...

The Future...
We got an email on Friday from our agency saying they still hadn't located our dossier but they were working on it! While we haven't completely given up hope it will be found, we've started the process to recollect the new documents. Here is where we stand with our new dossier checklist (I can't believe we're doing all of this again):

NOTARIZED HOME STUDY - done!

CERTIFIED MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE - update (9/24)...done!

LETTERS OF EMPLOYMENT - done!

MEDICAL FORMS - requested, just waiting for call to pick up

LOCAL POLICE CLEARANCES - requested, waiting for call to pick up.

I-171H (PRE-APPROVAL FROM IMMIGRATION) - got it, just need it notarized

COPIES OF PASSPORT - got it, just need it notarized

PASSPORT PHOTOS (Mother & Father) - done!

2 PICTURES (Front of home, and family picture) - done!

So, in actuality, we're not doing too bad! My biggest concern is the time to get it to the Sec. of State and the Vietnamese Consulate. I think we'll have to go for the expedited service this time around. I'm also praying that it can get through translation quickly so we can get relogged and get Ella's referral!

THANK YOU all again so much for the encouragement. I know I say it a lot, but really, it means more than words can say! If you're willing, we'll still take your prayers that we get through the rest of this chasing and our documents get in the right hands this time around. ;-)

Coming soon...

still no word

Lots of back and forth with the two agencies, but we still haven't located our dossier. I'm hoping for some sort of an update tomorrow. The (new) agency staff, both here and in Vietnam, is amazing and doing all they can to get to the bottom of this. In the meantime, we're continuing to be proactive and redo all of our dossier documents...just in case. Thanks for the words of encouragement! We'll get through this, but darn it, I'm ready to be home with Ella. We've waited long enough!

I'm sorry, what???

We got a call on Friday from the new agency, "B", that they couldn't locate our dossier! Apparently "the" transfer letter, that we waited over 2 weeks for from Agency A, didn't include our DIA file number. Without the file number, Agency B cannot access our dossier! Right now we are "waiting" to see if they can find it and in the meantime, scrambling to redo our medical letters, employment letters, and police clearances because even if they find our dossier, these three documents have expired (if our dossier is lost, we'd need them redone for a new dossier). They will all have to be re certified and authenticated too!

For some strange reason I'm surprisingly calm...hmmm, I think it's denial!

What's in a name?...I mean transfer...

Well, it's a bit more paperwork, most of which we already in our hot little hands, like the dossier and homestudy. Kinkos and to the post office with those. Then we had to type a very brief letter stating that we wished for our dossier to be changed from agency A to agency B. Then agency B sent it to the DIA on our behalf. The biggest pain was of course, what was out of our hands. We had to wait for agency A to compose a letter stating they were releasing our dossier to agency B (confused yet?). After two weeks of waiting on that letter, and we received confirmation last night that it had been received by our new coordinator in Vietnam!! Aside from tying up a few loose ends (and cleaning of my dining room table), our transfer is complete! Back to the waiting game.

We met Ben!

and oh my goodness, he's as beautiful in person as he is on his blog! We had a great time at his "Welcome Home" shower/party! We're looking forward to sitting down with Joe and Katie again so we can get some travel tips, and most importantly, play with Ben more!
Not so into having me hold him....
enter "baby whisperer"! Honestly, Ed has a very strange ability to make babies stop crying...it's amazing!
So fun, we can't wait for Ben and Ella to become boyfriend and girlfriend :)

When we got home from the party and checked the mail, I was happy to see the bracelet I just ordered on Etsy was here...all the way from a jewelry artist in Germany! I love it and she was fast! It's the last line of this well known adoption poem:

"Not flesh of my flesh nor bone of my bone, but still miraculously my own. Never forget for a single minute, that you grew not under my heart, but in it."

Overall, a really good weekend! (oh yeah, our agency had another 8 or so referrals so we're moving on up already). Now I have to settle in for another week of work. I still haven't totally wrapped by brain around the fact that "school's not out for summer" any more!

thoughts and threads

First of all, thanks for the comments on the previous post. I realize that gender selection is a touchy topic and I didn't feel right reading and getting frustrated about it without saying something. There is so much more than can be said, but I think it's important to remember that the issue of girls vs. boys is an issue across countries, not just Vietnam. I feel that many of the VN adoption agencies are already taking a stand by not allowing childless couples to choose-perhaps it's a sign that things will be heading in a new direction. I do agree that it's important to talk about topics and current issues, but in doing so, it's important to not make assumptions or judgements. But now I'm done with that topic =)

I've been busy sewing a few things for Ella. The latest is this dress. I am still working on the bloomers for under the dress.

This is the dress next to the bloomer fabric!

I made a purse for me with the remaining fabric but I totally messed up and the top opening is too small for my hand! I guess I need to break out the seam ripper! Darn.

Happy almost-Friday.

hot topic...gender selection

I've purposely been avoiding some of the very well known recent posts about gender selection. Not that I am naive to the dialog or intimidated by the posts, but because I didn't want to be caught up in controversy. I have always tried to be an optimist and I try not to get stuck in negativity and the spiral of emotions people cause others to feel. But, since recently reading these posts, I've really been thinking about my take on the situation so perhaps it's time for me to offer my opinion for what it's worth.

I am not going to defend myself and our choice to adopt a female, because quite honestly, there's no reason to. Like the rest of our decisions to start a family and adopt, it was a choice that didn't come lightly or easily. The notion that people are adopting baby girls for the, what do you call it?..."China Doll Image" is absolutely sickening to me. I personally find it offensive to be lumped into a mindless category of "insincere people who overlook the boys". Honestly, do you really think that's what his adoption is about...for us or the thousands of families going through this amazing journey?

I have met some truly wonderful people through this adoption journey; people who are from other parts of the world, people who have children, people who are single, people looking to start a family, people who feel this was God's plan for them, people who have had and lost children, people who started this adoption over a year ago (before there was such a discrepancy in waiting lists), etc. Point being...every person's reason for adoption is different and until you are in those shoes, it is not fair to judge. True, it's your blog and you may post what you will, just as I am, but in my opinion it's not only inconsiderate, but ignorant to attack personal choices families have had to face.

I do not wish to belabor the point or continue on with this topic, I think enough has been said out their in blog land, but I really want to caution those who feel so moved to post about this topic to really consider the feelings and emotions of others. Consider the fact that we were all given a choice...just like you.

I've been tagged...

I’ve actually been tagged a few times now, but because of the agency chaos, I've totally slacked on the blog. I've most recently been tagged by Jenn over at Long Adventures.

Here are the rules of this tag...

• You have to post these rules before you give the facts.
• Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name.
• If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.
• When you are tagged, you need to write your own blog post containing your own middle name game facts.
• At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag.
• Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged & to read your blog!

So, here goes...I have along middle name (Marjean).

M-My middle name is the same as my mom's, and coincidentally, it's my two grandmas name's put together (Marge, Jeanne)!

A-Adopting a baby girl named Ella! In case you weren't aware ;-)

R-Really really love HGTV (it's on right now as a matter of fact). I can't get enough of house flipping, painting, decorating, building etc! Love it!

J-My two big bros also have names starting with J: Jonathan, Justyn, and Jenna. When growing up, our friends affectionately called us Big JP, Middle JP, and Little JP (maden name started with P).

E-Ed, Ella, Emma Lou...lots of important E's in my life.

A-Always moving. I have a hard time sitting still...even when I'm "relaxing", I'm folding laundry! It's a trait I'm working on...I'm learning I need to chill out a little more.

N-Now it's time for me to tag SEVEN people! Some of these may be duplicates so if you've already been tagged, lucky you...you're done!

1. Julie - Love From Vietnam
2. Heather - Journey to Samantha Grace
3. Heather - Journey to our Vietnamese Princess
4. Lee - Life with Zoe
5. Kerry - 3 continent family
6. Teresa - Waiting for our son
7. Jess - Our Golden Child

Have fun!