Half of a year

We've now been on The Amazing List for a half of a year, and have been in the adoption process for just a little over a full year. It's hard to believe that much time has passed, yet alas....

A very smart woman told me recently that her biggest piece of advice for us during The Wait is to indulge ourselves mightily, without apology. So we are:

Yup, we are finally learning to scuba dive, in anticipation of our upcoming trip to Maui. Let the indulging begin! We had the first class this weekend, which included classroom time and pool time. Next weekend we have two open water dives in the Puget Sound, which is very dark, cold and swirly. So I'm just keeping my eye on the prize, scuba-ing in Hawaii.

So, for now, yay for 6 months on The Wonderful, Amazing, List:

And, well, I just had to include it:

Somethin' Afoot?

If you know me IRL, you know that I am not the most patient when waiting (working on that) nor, at this point in our quest to hear the pitter-pat of little feet, the most trusting of souls (working on that, too). Through our agency, we receive a weekly update on news and happenings both at our agency (read: referrals or lack thereof) and in the Ethiopian community, such as holidays or events. I look forward to the Friday Email each week, as it is a good way to feel connected to the agency and not wonder if we have accidentally been deleted from The List, only to realize it two years down the road--have I mentioned that I'm not the most trusting of souls?

So in the next two weeks a lot will be happening in our corner of the world and in the larger picture of this adoption.

*Court will reopen--the prediction is next week. Court closures/openings happen according to the monsoon season starting/ending, so there are not set dates. However, our agency has reason to believe it's set for next week. They also feel like referrals will get off to a pretty slow start. This was not a surprise.

*The Vice President of M.OWA will come to the Seattle area for a visit. This is closely tied to the horrendous death of an Ethiopian adoptee earlier this year in the area. (It was not an adoption associated with our agency) It sounds like we will have a chance to take part in a meet and greet with him or her, which we are looking forward to. Fallout from a situation such as this one is to be expected--we are interested in seeing what impact it has on overall procedures and expectations.

*A Vice President from our agency is heading to Addis to take part in a meeting at the Embassy, and make face-to-face contact with orphanages and staff in-country.

So I feel like the next month or so will tell us a lot about the future of Ethiopian adoptions. I'm glad things are moving and shaking, and at the same time have the usual fears that something is afoot and that we are in the dark. Sigh. We went into the summer months with the attitude that nothing would have been happening anyway as we haven't been waiting very long (relatively), so we might as well enjoy the summer. Fall is upon us, and I'm working hard on not being anxious about the future. It's harder than it seems.

Happy first day of autumn!

"The idea that no one is perfect

is a view most commonly held by people with no grandchildren." -Doug Larson

This weekend our agency had a "Grandparentin With a Plus" course, which was an introduction to adoption for future grandparents of domestically or internationally adopted grandchildren. It was incredibly informative, including a talk given by a grandmother of an internationally adopted child, who told their story and gave some excellent advice. It was our first class of the year (our agency takes summer off) and got us excited again about our adoption.

Tomorrow is Cory's birthday, so off to make a cake!

You know how some people...

just make everything better? This is one of those people:

who came to Seattle for a long weekend. Old friends just, well, they just get it, you know? I don't think we stopped talking for three straight days. Loved every second of it.

Thanks again for coming, Kristen! Looking forward to seeing you again SOON!

A Labor Day Song

Set to Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves (in honor of blue skies and sun in the coldest summer on record in the Pacific Northwest)

Ahem. (clearing throat)

Meemeeemeeemeeemeeeee……

OK, here we go. One, two and a one- two- three-four!
___________
Cory loves to fish for salmon, yeah baby that’s tru-ue
While he catches our dinner, I enjoy the view-ew
Blue ocean, Olympic Mountains, warm su-un, I’m going to say yayyyy
Seattle, I was thinking about moving, but now I will stay-ay

We’re fishing on the Puget Sou-ound,whoa-oh!
No one else arou-ound, whoa-oh!
And don’t it feel good, yeah!
All right now
And don’t it feel good, yeah!
All right now

I used to want to climb to the to-op but now I’m not suuuure
That’s one ginormous mountain, still covered with snoo-oow
Now every time I think about tackling it, gotta say “pass”,
‘Cause I’m scared of falling, down a deep crevasse

I’m walking on Mt. Rainier, whoa oh!
Wait, there’s a deeeer, whoa oh!
And don’t it feel good, yeah!
All right now
And don’t it feel good, yeah!
All right now

I feel the sun, I feel the sun, I feel the sun
That’s really real
I feel the sun, I feel the sun, I feel the sun
That’s really real
On sunshine baby yeah!


Thank you. Thankyouverymuch.

(Bows)

_____

Hmmm. Maybe I won't quit my day job after all. And here are the obligatory pictures: