Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Tears

I got word this morning that once again, our file has been kicked out of PGN. The reasons are completely absurd, and are easily fixed, according to my agency. But they will take some time, and it will be a miracle if we can get the new requests from PGN taken care of before the new year. I am so sad. Beyond words. Now, I just am praying that Izzie will be home before her first birthday.

I will post more later, but for now, my heart is too heavy.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Good News...

We are back in PGN, which means that once again our file will move along in the process. Hopefully this time instead of another kick-out the next bit of news will be approval!!!
Also, there's been rumblings of movement among the Guatemalan Congress, which seems to be searching for a better solution than to enact a law that in effect may very well stop adoptions on Jan. 1, 2008... including in-process cases such as mine. We are cautiously optimistic.

peace,
Beth

Friday, November 02, 2007

The Spook With No Face!


Look what was scarying everyone and everything on Halloween in Wilmington! Chills... spooky... eek... ahhhhhh... RUN!

Griffin was quite the scary ghoul. He proudly went around knocking on doors trying to scare everyone. Of course, his sweet heart wouldn't allow for endless scares. After their initial fright, he'd quickly peel off his mask to show them that really, he wasn't a ghoul but a Griffin!

I love my boy.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

She's All That!

The Amazing Izzie. She really is. My mom and I fell in love with her precious heart. She really is the sweetest, gentlest, loving-est, cutest, beautiful-est, cuddliest, darling-est baby girl ever! Our visit in Guatemala with Mary Isabela was perfect (except of course we had to say goodbye.) She did really well considering she had to stay in a hotel room for three days with two complete strangers... who of course are her mommy and her abuela who love her so so so so much. At first she wasn't sure she wanted us to give her a bottle, and the foster mother (who is great!) was worried Izzie might not drink her bottle. She wouldn't look at me when I gave her the bottle, and would slowly drink it down. By the middle of the second day though she started to trust us, and by the third day all was well. She slept with me in the big bed, after my three unsuccesful attempts the first night to get her to sleep in the crib. Trouble is, I'm so short that I could not lay her down in the crib very easily (this was a very simple hotel crib and the sides did not come down). Three times poor Izzie would be sound asleep in my arms and then I'd go try and lay her in the crib, and it was pretty much gentle, gentle, gentle... then almost a free-fall! the last six inches as I tried desperately to lay her down as softly as I could manage. She'd of course wake up, eyes frantically looking around to find out who rudely awakened her from her slumber, then pucker up her sweet bow of a mouth into a big cry. I told my mom, enough is enough. I'm a veteran co-sleeper (Griffie slept with me for his first few years) and so we pushed the bed up against the wall, took all the big blankets off and she laid next to me and slept so sweetly. I actually loved the opportunity as I think it was a great way for us to bond.
I told my mom that for Izzie, it was probably a bit like a baby spa... three days of two ladies attending to her every want and need, holding her all the time, playing with her, fully focused on her, talking to her. For us it was heaven.

BUT

Leaving her in Guatemala was very, very hard, and it makes the wait now seem even harder. Especially since today I got bad news: we got a previo this week from PGN, which means that our file was kicked out. In our case, it was for a minor technicality. Apparently PGN didn't think the photocopy of the birthmother's birth certificate was dark enough so they kicked the file out. UGH!!! Now our attorneys have to go back to the province where the birthmother is from to get a new (darker) photocopy of the birthmother's birth certificate because it has to be stamped from the powers-that-be in that province. This is on the West coast of Guatemala, so they have to drive several hours to take care of this. Hopefully we will get resubmitted to PGN early next week. Needless to say, this delays our case because typically your case is going to take at least 8 weeks to get through PGN, and every time you get a previo, that 8-week countdown starts over. With the Christmas holidays coming up, it is now very likely that we won't get approval from PGN before the new year. That is not good news.

Please keep us in your prayers.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Two Days! Too Excited!

I can hardly work. I can't believe in two days I will finally get to meet in person her sweetness. I have a ton of things to do between now and the flight early Friday morning, but the only stuff I want to do is that which is related to our trip to see Izzie. Writing stories about RFID is very challenging at the moment.

Of course I have the typical angst of leaving my precious Griffin, and every time I think about leaving him tears well up in my eyes. I am such a wuss. But I love him to the moon and back and around the world a million, million, million, million times, and more than that even! I wish he could come with me and my mom, but he (and my dad and mom) will make the trip to bring Izzie home, hopefully in December.

Please keep us in your prayers that we have a safe journey, and that the ongoing adoption crisis in Guatemala resolves, and that Izzie and the thousands of other babies can join their forever families.

Adios. I'll post new pics when we return.

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

The Final Review

I've gotten word that our file is now in the hands of PGN, the Procuraduria General de la Nacion. PGN is the Guatemalan agency that will review all the paperwork on me, Izzie, and her birth mother (we've already been reviewed by the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala, and the Guatemalan Family Court). Word is that PGN is averaging about two months, if you have no kickouts (the so-called previos). Those are given when the PGN reviwer doesn't like something he or she sees in the file. If there's a kickout, the attorneys have to fix the issue, the resubmit the file, where it starts again at the beginning of the queue. And the average two-month clock starts ticking again.

So, our file was submitted on Oct. 5. Two months from now will be Dec. 5 -- my birthday. What a grand birthday present it would be to receive PGN approval. Of course, I'd love to get an early birthday present!

In the near-term, my mother and I are headed to meet Izzie in less than two weeks!

Peace,
Beth

Monday, October 01, 2007

Time

Really, where does the time go? Griffin started kindergarten the last week of August, and it has been unbelievably non-stop busy since.

He has homework every night. He is learning so quickly. He walks around the house all the time talking about letters and letter sounds and words and numbers and shapes. He loves it.


Izzie's adoption continues to move along, and we continue to receive new pics, new videos, and doctor reports. She is amazing and beautiful and precious. She is five months old now. On Sept. 24, we got pre-approval (PA) from the U.S. government, which basically is their approval that we can adopt this specific bundle of love... Mary Isabela. Now, we will wait for the Guatemalan government to give us approval.

But back to time. Apparently now, time is running out. Guatemalan President Berger is threatening to make changes to the adoption process, to take effect Jan. 1, 2008, that could very will put a stop to all adoptions between Guatemala and the U.S., including ours. It is unbelievably scary. Forces are at work to try and change this. There are many fighting the cause. Because if Berger has his way, thousands of children, including Izzie, would end up in limbo because they have already been relinquished by their birth parents and are waiting to join their forever families. And the Guatemalan government has no money or resources to care for these children. And thousands more will never have the opportunity to find forever families if adoptions shut down. It is indeed very tragic, both for us personally and for humanity. Please pray, or chant, or yell, or meditate, or dance, or whatever method you choose to help prevent this from happening. And if you can, go to these two links and do some more:

Petition

Guatemala 5000 Initiative

Finally, I'll leave you with a sweet Izzie smile.


Peace,
Beth

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Izzie Visit


We are planning to visit her sweetness in October, and I can't wait! She is growing and changing so fast, reflected in a new batch of photos we received just the other day. My mom is planning to go with me, and while I'd love to go for a week, we'll probably only go for a few days. I want to save up as much time off to spend with Izzie when we're able to bring her home forever! Anyway, isn't she too adorable?!?

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Major Hurdle Cleared!

We got the results back from the DNA test Izzie had with her birthmom, and all is good. It feels really good to have that hurdle cleared. Now, our adoption file will be submitted to the U.S. Embassy for review, and hopefully in 50-60 days the powers that be will grant us pre-approval. We're looking at early October. And that's the month my mother and I are thinking about going to visit her sweetness. Once pre-approval, or PA, is granted, then our adoption file gets submitted to the Guatemalan government agency (aka PGN) that will review our case. That'll take a few more months.

I have to say it really broke my heart looking at the DNA results paper. There's a polaroid photo of Izzie and her birthmom, who despite being only 19 looks much older. I'm sure... life in Guatemala is not easy, and being so young, and single, and having to relinquish your child, must surely steal away the bliss and beauty of youth. But I hope in Izzie's birthmom's heart, there is a sliver of peace. Because Izzie is so very loved, by so very many. Already and always.

In addition to the photo, there are two thumbprints: A big one, Izzie's birthmom's, and a tiny, tiny one, Izzie.

And finally, in the photo, Izzie is wearing the little dress I sent her. Her foster mommy put the dress on I'm sure specifically for the very important day. So there Izzie was, in the lap of her birthmom and wearing a dress from her mommy.

Godspeed to bring her home.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

DNA Test Done!

We got word that Izzie had her DNA test done on July 13, as expected. Her bio mom came to the appointment, and she also had her first Family Court interview. It was great to hear that those two events happened. I am so thankful that Izzie's bio mom has so far been strong enough to continue through with all the necessary appointments. I can only know how I would feel, and I am not sure I would have her strength and conviction to see it all through. I believe that it is love and faith that is shoring her up, and that is what I will share with Izzie about her bio mother. Izzie may not be able to understand it until she becomes a mother herself, but the story of her bio mother's bravery, love, conviction, and faith will be the story I tell her.

I do not really know what Izzie's bio mother feels or thinks. I cannot speak truths of fact, but only truths of faith...

Now we are waiting for the DNA results to come back, which is probably the quickest sub-process in this larger, lengthy adoption process. I expect will get the results in the next few weeks. By the way, once we do, we can go and visit sweet Izzie!

As for my other sweet baby -- Griffin -- he has only 8 more days 'til he turns FIVE! Amazing. We are having a joing b-day party with his buddy Riley, who turns five just four days after Griffin. I've got to go and get my little man's b-day presents. I know my parents bought him an ant farm, something he has been wanting for a long time. So, I guess we will soon have pet ants in the house. That is not necessarily something I relish, so let's just hope this little ant home on the range is super secure, and that no little six-legged creatures escape the joint. I am going to get Griffie some stuff for his PlayMobil castle, and also a new lunch bag for school. I also got him a book and a pencil case for school.

Well, time to get crackin' on work.

Cheers,
B

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Smiles


We got some new pictures of Izzie yesterday and she is all smiles. Griffin took one look at the picture and said "I love you!" Of course then he asked, "Mommy, why are you so curious about her?" He loves using the word curious. He also loves using other big words--and made-up words--whenever he can. One of his long-time favorite made-up words is smugg, which in Griffin Dictionary means to smoosh or squeeze, as in "I smugged up the paper." Or "Don't smugg up the cookie." This morning, he made up a new one, telling me I shouldn't kaze, which in Griffin Dictionary means to think someone isn't hurrying up, when actually they are hurrying up.

So isn't Mary Isabela so beautiful, and lovely, and sweet, and smiley, and amazing? I am sorry I'm not posting full big pics of her, but I'm reluctant to do so until we have gone through the full legal process of her adoption. As for the process, I received word about a week-and-a-half ago that the U.S. Embassy authorized DNA tests for Izzie, and her birth mom. The agency told me they expected the tests to have been done last week, but I have not heard if they were done or not. Izzie's birth mom was also supposed to have met with the Guatemalan Family Court last week. I am praying for her birth mom, as I can only imagine the sadness she feels. I pray that she has faith that her child will be well-loved and well-cared for. For she is, and will be.

Griffin turns 5 in just a few weeks, and I really can't believe my baby boy is getting so big! This is a big one. Up next, kindergarten. Where does the time go?

Speaking of time, time for me to get back to work.

Cheers,
B

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Fighting Sleep and the Bug, Yet the Proceso Oficial Begins


I don't need no stinkin' sleep! And she don't need no stinkin' bug!

The G man and I went to the pool today after work, and he swam and swam and swam. I thought surely that'd wipe him out and he'd fall asleep right away at bedtime. Nope. He could not get settled and so called me into his room to lay down with him for a bit. I did, and we had some good snuggle time. Then, after a few minutes I got up to go, and he started to cry. "Mommy, later on in the night can I come sleep in your bed?" I told him if he wakes up in the middle of the night and wants to, he can come sleep with me. Then I said good night. Within a minute, he was crying and calling out to me. I went in to check, and amidst his very sincere tears, he told me, "Mommy, I don't think I can do that. I can't wake up in the middle of the night. I'm afraid I won't. Can't you just come get me and carefully lift me up into your bed?" How can one say no to that? Well, I never answered yes or no. Now, he is sound asleep and I know both he and I will sleep better in our own beds. But I also know that if he is still in his bed come morning, he's gonna be some-mad at me. What to do...

We got an e-mail June 15 from our adoption agency, and the good news is that the documents have been translated and the power of attorney has been registered, which really officially starts the paperwork in Guatemala to bring home Izzie. This week the attorney will file with Family Court. We got another e-mail today, and our adoption agency let us know that poor Izzie has been sick. She went to the doctor, and luckily doesn't have strep! It is a viral infection. She apparently is on the mend. Poor thing. Griffin and I said a little prayer asking God to take care of Izzie. It is soooo hard on infants when they have stuffed-up noses and ears. I remember when Griffin was about six months old and got his first really bad cold. He was so miserable, and the only way he could get any sleep was to prop him up slightly. I put some hard pillows under his crib mattress, to give it a bit of a recline. That seemed to help, but not much. I also used a humidifier, took him into the closed bathroom, cranked the shower on HOT and held him while the warm mist filled the air. Oh, and there was the dreaded snot sucker. He would scream when I tried to unclog his nostrils. I surely didn't blame him. I'd never want anyone to stick some rubber bulbous thing up my nose to try and suction out crusty, thick, icky snot.

Well... here's to fighting sleep and fighting bugs. May Griffin get a good night's rest and may Mary Isabela get well.

Peace,
B

Monday, June 11, 2007

Precious Heart



She couldn't be cuter. And so tiny. We finally received new photos and a new video of little Izzie and she is pure love. Of course, while seeing her sweetness makes me so happy, my heart also hurts. I want to scoop her up and can't. I am starting to get this thing called an emotional roller coaster when it comes to international adoption. When I received her referral, and first pictures and video, I was smitten. For days I couldn't stop thinking about her. Then, slowly... for sanity's sake and for the facts of life... I had to disconnect a bit. Her presence, while never forgotten, was less intense.
Then BAM! We get new pictures and a new video and I'm back on an Izzie High. I'm thinking we may just have to make a visit trip. I'm dreaming about her, talking to Griffin about his little sister, sharing her picture with anyone who will look.
Well, only about seven more months of this ride (if we're lucky! say your prayers that our journey to bring Mary Isabela home will be trouble-free).
Good night Izzie. We love you.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

She's a Night Owl for Now

At just a few days old, Izzie apparently had her nights and days mixed up. It's a common conundrum for babes, after all, it's night all the time for nine months, and they sleep and eat, kick and flip, and wave their arms and suck their thumbs and who knows what else in the calm and quiet of darkness. So Izzie sleeps all day, then wakes up when the sun goes down. She's up until 2, sleeps till 4, then is ready for a bottle! That may have changed as she is now 3 weeks old! What a gal...

Her big brother, the G man, never had his days and nights confused, really. He had a real predictable schedule. Between about 11 p.m. and 8 a.m., he'd sleep for two hours, nurse and fuss and nurse and scream and nurse and cry for an hour, sleep for two hours, nurse and fuss and nurse and cry for an hour, sleep for two hours, and on and on. During the day, he took naps, but sure enough, he nursed every two hours until he was 11 months old. I was a very tired momma.

Now, Griffin is a night owl, and sleeps in like a teenager. That boy has been known to sleep to 11 a.m.! It is good for me, who has never been a morning person.

We'll see how little Miss Mary Isabela develops her sleep patterns!

On another note, I sent a package to my agency, and they'll take it down to her next week. A few items for her, and a few thank-you items for the foster family. Everything has to fit in a gallon bag, so you see, it can't be much.

Adios for now. I've got to go clean the house.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

The Name

Mary Isabela

And her big brother has decided she will be called Izzie.

God bless Mary Isabela.

Friday, May 18, 2007

Baby Sister Needs A Name!

Help! I feel like I'm trapped in a Berenstain Bears episode, because I refer to our sweet baby girl as baby sister. I'm trying so hard to think of the right name for her, and I'm doing it in the confines of just a few choices. I want to include my mom's name and I'd like to use something from our little girl's given name, and/or part of her birth mom's name.

So that leaves me with but a few options:

Mary Isabela
Isabela Mary
Haydee Marianne

Which way to go? The little G guy wants to call her Izzie, so his vote is for Isabela Mary or Mary Isabela. Perhaps if we went with Mary Isabela, we could instead use the nickname of Maisey, which I also like. At least two very dear friends have voted for Haydee Marianne, because Haydee is unusual, but cute.

Stay tuned...

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Our Beautiful Baby Girl


I cannot believe it. We have received our referral. And she is so sweet, and amazing. I can't stop looking at her beautiful face. We're still deciding on her name, so stay tuned.
Now begins the second wait, probably the toughest and longest, to bring her home. Please pray with us that it will be speedy and without problems. And please pray that our baby girl will be safe and well-cared for while she waits to come home. And finally, pray for her birth mother that she is comforted in knowing that her baby girl is already loved by so many, and that she will be a cherished daughter and sister in our family.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

My Handsome Guy


The G man has had to get glasses, and boy is he too handsome in them. He is doing great wearing them, although he did manage to step on them just about a week after getting them. Luckily, they didn't break. Kids' glasses ain't cheap! Anyway, let's hope that wearing the glasses will correct (or improve) the vision in his right eye. Otherwise he may have to start wearing a patch too. While he would look like his cool friend Q in his patch and glasses, I'm hoping we don't have to patch. Q wears his patch very well, but it is still a struggle (according to his mom). Okay, here's a pic of Griff with his new glasses, standing next to R2D2 and CP30 (or is it C3PO) at our post office. Griffin made me bring the camera so we could get a pic of his favorite little robot R2D2, who lives (according to Griffin) in robot land, which is a big, big desert. Does anyone remember the beginning of the first Star Wars (in order of how the movies came out) when Luke bought R2D2 and CP30, and then R2D2 ran away. That is as far as we got when watching the movie about six months ago, because Griffin got very upset and worried about R2D2 getting lost. But those 15 minutes of the movie left a big impression... and Griffin still recalls what robot land looks like.

Monday, May 07, 2007

It's true, I really was born!

Finally, my birth certificate arrived, notarized, certified and authenticated. Today I put it in the hands of the US Post Office, and am keeping my fingers crossed that it'll arrive safe and sound in the Chicago Guatemalan Consulate tomorrow by noon. The USPS has tried my nerves... I talked with the Illinois authentication office last Friday, and was told that my certificate left their office on April 18. Well, instead of putting in my mail box, the USPS decided to forward it to my parents' house. In fact, much of my mail is now being forwarded to my parents' house. The USPS has even sent notices to various businesses that mail me regularly to inform them of my *new* address, so now my parents are receiving bank statements, bills, etc. -- all meant for me! AAARRRGGHHH! My parents lived here briefly while their house was being built, and then filled out forwarding address forms (each individually) so that they'd get their mail that was coming here forwarded to their new house. So now, more than four months later, the USPS has decided they should also forward all my mail to my parents. I'm highly annoyed.

Well, at least my parents live only a half-hour away, and they kindy brought my birth certificate here last night so I could get it out asap. My agency did tell me that they received my Virginia divorce papers from the D.C. Guatemalan consulate so hooray! I'm so nearly done with the dotting of i's and crossing of t's, and wrapping up the dossier.

And hopefully soon I'll get a referral. That will be amazing. It really is all amazing.

As for other news, Disney World was too much fun. I'm so glad I was able to take the G man to Disney, and that my parents were able to share it with us. G really had a blast, as did we all. At breakfast on the first day we went to Magic Kingdom, G colored a picture of Mickey M. and announced that he wanted to give it to Mickey when he saw him. It was too cute. G walked up to Mickey, handed him the pic, and gave him a big hug.


Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Will The Loose Ends End?

I'm still awaiting the blasted birth certificate, but I was able to get a hold of the Illinois folk as they were processing my request, so now I'll not only get the certificate, it'll be authenticated too! Then it goes to the Guatamalan consulate in Chicago. The divorce certificate is in, and authenticated. But did I tell you it doesn't mention anything about me taking back my maiden name... a document that must be part of my dossier? Well, now I have to get the divorce decree from the court authenticated too. Luckily, the Virginia authentication office called today and I should have it tomorrow. Despite the confusion I had with them, they really stepped up. The woman I spoke with this evening was personally dropping it of at the Fedex drop off box. Thank you Virginia!
The most exciting news is that my agency thinks I might see a referral in the next month or so. No guarantees, but still... wow! I know that's when the big wait sets in, but it really is exciting.
Speaking of exciting, in just two days the G man and I will be on a plane to DisneyWorld. Grams and Papa are meeting us there, and we are going to have fun fun fun! Especially Griffin. He so deserves this; he really is my wonderful sweet boy. He had kindergarten assessment today. It is so hard to believe my little guy will be starting kindergarten in the fall. I'm very proud of him!
Well, I must get to work on some freelance projects I have.
Ciao for now.

Monday, April 16, 2007

The Blasted Birth Certificate

So obviously the divorce decree has put a kink in my process. But how tough is it to get a birth certificate? I sent for it the first week of March, and here it is the third week of April and nada! I do hope it comes in the mail this week... or at least by early next week! Regardless, we're going to DISNEYWORLD! Yep, gotta go for a conference and thought it'd be a great opportunity to take the little monkeydoodle down there. I can't say he's overly excited about it, but I'm sure it's because he really has no concept of what Disneyworld is to kids. I'm so excited to see how much fun he is going to have. My dear parents are coming with us, and they'll watch my guy while I work at the conference during the week. It is going to be fun.

Ciao for now. I've got some serious deadlines this week!

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

I'm approved to be approved!

Yep, I cleared the first hurdle (albeit the easiest) in our journey to bring home little sister. I got CIS approval, which came about a month before I expected. Of course I was over the moon. Now if I could get all those niggling little pieces of paper to finish their journeys for notaries, stamps, authentications, reviews, etc., etc.

I've hit one snag along the way... not realizing my divorce decree had to come from Virginia's vital records department, I got a notarized copy from the court where the divorce was granted. Then I sent it off to the Virginia state department to get authenticated, where they told me it wasn't dated so they couldn't authenticate. So I called the court, and they said, oh... you need it certified and authenticated so you can get it authenticated? Okay, we'll do that. Send us a letter... so the court in speedy order sent me a new dated, certified divorce decree. Then I was reading the form letter that the Virginia state department had sent me, and saw a spot (not checked, mind you) that said vital records that need to be authenticated must come from the vital records department. Sorry, didn't know that a divorce decree was a vital record. Apparently in the commonwealth, it is! So now I'm back to square one on the divorce document. I've sent a letter and money to the vital records department requesting a certified copy of my divorce, and asking them to send it on to the Virgina state department to authenticate. This has set me back about two weeks in getting the dossier done. I always hated that divorce.

And, I'm still waiting for my birth certificate from the middle state of Illinois. Hurry up!

Griffin is so sweet, by the way. He built me a house in the living room (using his favorite building materials, every pillow and cushion within the living room confines, plus a few step stools). This house has an upstairs and a downstairs, and a super-soft floor. He is amazing. He told me he built it just for me, using all his skills.

Adios for now. I must work.

Monday, April 02, 2007

NC off to GC, two more to go

On Friday I sent off a stack of notarized and authenticated docs (all done in NC) to the Guatemalan consulate in Georgia, where they'll legalize them. I hit my first little snag with my docs (done in VA). My divorce decree from the courthouse needed to be authenticated, not certified, in order to get authenticated again by the VA state department. Go figure. So back to square one with that. Luckily the courthouse is very quick, and then I'll send the two docs to VA state department for authentication, then send those off to get authenticated again by the GC in DC. Still waiting for my birth certificate from IL, then that has to go to the GC in Chicago. Are you with me? Well, once all that is done I'll have my paperwork finished. And hopefully that'll all come together by Mayish, the same time I hope to get my CIS approval. Then sometime after that, hopefully a referral!
Now that I'm this far along in the process, I cannot stop thinking about her. I'm finding it hard to work. But work I must.
Griffin is on Spring break this week and spending lots of time with his grams and papa. He is very happy to be at their house having lots of sleepovers. Of course, it is very quiet here... and it is only 1 p.m. and they all just left a few hours ago. It is going to be a quiet lonely week. Luckily I have more than enough work and projects to keep me busy.
I'll also be anxiously checking the mail every day. Dernit, I wish my birth certificate would arrive!
Adios for now.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Decision Made... For Now

I've done it. I've shushed my mind and am pursuing full-force to adopt a little girl from Guatemala. Griffin can't wait to meet his sister, and I can't wait to meet my daughter. I've been actually in the process of this adoption since late Fall, and in the past two weeks, as I was plugging away on my dossier, things seem to blow up with regards to Guatemalan adoptions. But despite all the rumors and stories and fears and on and on, my agency (whom I trust) along with other agencies, are continuing their programs. In recent days I was teetering on switching to Vietnam, but for now, I'm sticking with Guatemala. And I'm at peace with this decision. For now.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Life, a job, and other heavy stuff.

I applied for a different job this week. I'm sure what I've asked for in salary is too high, but mama's gotta raise the hog, slaughter it, and cook it too. And at my age, it is really hard to go too far backwards in the pay scale. Not that I could anyway. There's the house, and the car, and the food, and the health insurance, and the heat, and the AC, and the cable, and the phone, and the cell phone in case of emergency, and the electricity, and well someone has to pick up the trash, and the newspaper, and clothes, and geez... how the h-e-double-toothpicks do people do it?

Well anyway, I applied for the job. And it could be cool. But I doubt I could work from home. Which I do now. Which I love because I'm here a lot for my little guy. But I hate because it can be lonely. Especially since there's no pig farmer coming home in the eves to keep me company.

So we'll see. And if not, perhaps I'll audit a creative writing class this summer. Perhaps I need to break out a bit. Life can't be so consumed by my current job, which while putting the bacon on the table, tends to suck the life out of me at times. Not that I'm complaining. Or am I?

Maybe there's a novel in me. Or a good non-fiction thriller. Or a kid's book. Or a how-to? Or another business, to accompany the baby boutique I currently own.

Time for bed.