Just a Little Test

This is just a test of the emergency email posting. I need to make sure
this works before we go to China as I would really hate to not be able
to post things to the blog! :) I'm helping someone from our agency out
to see what happens, so don't get excited...we're not close to traveling
YET!

Still hoping for October/November....would love Sept but it's highly
unlikely. Heck, I would LOVE August, but I really doubt that one occurs!

I had a surprise in the mail!

I got a package from our agency that had travel information in it! OMG it seems so real now. The package contained such wonderful tidbits of information as how much cash to bring, what documents we needed before we traveled, info on when different payments were due, sample itineraries, recommendations on what to pack, and other interesting things.

One item of note was "luggage weight limits" for our travel. On the international portion of the trip we're allowed 50-70 pounds PER bag checked. On the in-country flights in China we are allowed 2 bags per person checked with a combined weight of 44 pounds.

Did you REALLY catch that? We can only bring luggage with a TOTAL weight of 88 pounds for 3 of us (Katie won't have a seat on in-country flights). To give you an idea of how I pack, on our trip to Disney World for 4 people and 7-8 days, our luggage weighed around 150 pounds total.

88 pounds.

I do believe we'll be paying that extra fee for over-weight luggage. LOL

27 days of waiting

We've now been waiting for Katie's RA/LOA for 27 days. It seems like it is so much longer!!!

Because we are going SN now, we have a few things to "paperchase" now. First up is we need to be re-fingerprinted (you know because the first set of prints expired...hmmm...). Then we have to update medicals for a renewal of the 171h form (just in case we do not travel before Jan 31, 2008...at which point you will probably be visiting me in a special home). We also need to have a homestudy addendum covering us for a SN child before we travel. Our homestudy agency is waiting to do this until after we get RA/LOA because if it takes until December to get RA/LOA then we will just have to do a homestudy renewal for expiration. If it comes before then, we just have to do the addendum.

What's the difference? Not much, except in the eyes of the USCIS people and how much it will cost us in the end.

4 weeks down. I would guess around 60 more days to go (or 8 more weeks). I hope that the next 4 weeks go by as quickly as these have gone.

They did it!

JM came in 3rd place in forms (out of 5). He did really good, except he turned the wrong way when he started. But he kept on going, stayed focused, and finished it!

Samuel came in 2nd place in forms (out of 5). He did Kihon Kata Ich after all, and did GREAT! The only thing he missed was yelling at appropriate times. :) *sniff* He looked so cute.

In sparring, Samuel came in 2nd place (out of 2). LOL He didn't get any points, but he sure did have a GREAT time.

JM, in sparring, did not place. He *almost* beat the 1st place person, and if he'd kicked just a TAD lower, he would have. He kicked the chin/neck area, so it didn't count. Glad the other kid was NOT hurt. He did really awesome at not getting upset or frustrated. He knows what he needs to do for the next tournament.

Overall, it was quite a fun morning. Watching the older kids and Sensei do their forms and sparring was really neat (and I hope motivating for my boys). I told Dh, that I am excited that Katie will get a chance to learn Karate. I think it will really help her....like when she goes off to college as a black belt...LOL I won't worry so much about those boys bothering her! Seriously, I've loved seeing how confident the boys have gotten with it, how respectful (well sometimes), and how focused they are with it.

Then...any guesses as to WHERE I went next?!

Harry Potter book 7 is in the house!!!!! LOL I'm resisting reading it though, because the yard needed mowed and the flowerbed needed weeded...the house needs cleaned. I have work stuff I need to do. I have clothes to tag for the consignment sale. I do not have much time to sit...and read all of HP7 today. Tonight? Yes. I probably will be VERY sleepy for Early worship in the morning, but I"ll know if Harry lived or died...and what happens!

Tomorrow we do something new...

The boys are going to their first ever Karate tournament, where Samuel is sure to be the youngest one there...and sparring.

I may not survive.

However, both are also entered into the forms competition. This means that both must get up, in front of judges, announce themselves, the do their Kata...by themselves...in front of people. JM is ready (and eager), Samuel on the other hand, is well, a little more timid.

We've been practicing, and he's no longer whispering his introduction to us. I'm not so sure he will speak loud enough for someone to hear right next to him tomorrow morning though. JM should do great. He's excited.

JM is doing Kihon Kata Ich which he is learning to earn his Orange with black stripe belt. Samuel, who is also Orange belt did not know this form yesterday. He now knows it. However, we are not sure he should do this for tournament. Samuel, rather emphatically said, "But I'm ORANGE belt!" Well, yeah, but he's can do the Taiso Renshu form, which he does know WELL. *roll eyes*

But you know, that's only if he survives that sparring. JM? He's eager for sparring in tournament. Let's all just hope his partners survive.

Why did I think Karate was a good idea for the boys again?!

I wonder...

I wonder if I sent a digital camera, fees to pay for internet, oh I guess the computer, and yeah...the email service...could I get updated photos at least weekly?! I'm dying here, I need more photos. Video would be nice as well. I am very thankful that we did get updated photos, and that I can gaze longingly at my daughter's face. But, wow, the longing to hold her in my arms is so strong. I was doing really well until JM told me that he wished that we could just go and get Katie already. He told me that he really wants her to come home soon.

yes, I just about cried.

You should hear him with everyone we meet. "I've got a new sister. She's in China. Her name is Katie." Then if I'm around and I'm showing off her photo, he says, "That's MY sister Katie."

Yeah, that just about got me too.

19 days since LOI...and counting. Oh how I wish we could have the world's fastest LOA/RA in history!

Have you heard of the purple bracelets?

There was a church pastor who handed out purple jelly bracelets to everyone in his congregation, and encouraged them to be "complaint free." There were a few rules for wearing the purple bracelet:

1. Put it on either wrist.
2. When you catch yourself complaining, take it off and put it on the other wrist.
3. Keep doing this until you've gone 21 days without having to change which wrist the bracelet is on.

The online article, which I sadly didn't save the link to, mentioned how everyone who participated had a better outlook on life, said they were happier, etc. It's the POSITIVE thinking. Hmmmm...It's an idea to try. It can't hurt anything, right?!

New photos!

I can not believe how much new photos can make your day! Of course the 5 photos I know have are not nearly enough for me, but I can gaze at her beautiful face and then go look at her soon-to-be room and feel all giddy inside.

We hit a great clearance sale at a Gymboree outlet this past weekend, and man oh man I got some great deals. Then a good friend gave me a Target bag stuffed full of clothes her daughter had worn (when she was 12 months, and it's iffy if they will fit Katie or not, but hopefully they will).

I've also been looking at all the things we need to prepare for, pack, and all the things we must do before we travel, and WOAH there's not much time!!! One important thing is we need to get our USCIS fingerprints done again as ours have expired already. *sigh* At least we're probably not going to have to redo that 171h. 13 days since we were LOI....77 (or there abouts to go) until we get referral approval.

More than you wanted to know about ME!

What were you doing ten years ago?
Living in Arizona as a Newlywed and going on the "Grand Tour of Arizona" with my parents when they came to visit. We visited both the South and North rims of the Grand Canyon in 1 day! Doesn't that make you want to go on vacation with us so badly?!

What were you doing one year ago?
Stalking the mailbox/mailperson for my 171h form so I could FINALLY be DTC.

Five Snacks You Enjoy:
1. Dove dark chocolate
2. Veggie Bites - Broccoli and Cheddar
3. Dark Chocolate M&Ms
4. Oatmeal Raisin cookies
5. Trail mix

Five songs you know all the lyrics to:
1. Grace to You (hymn sung at our wedding)
2. Let's just say "Veggie Tales Song" and you can practically pick one. ;)
3. Kiss the Girl - Little Mermaid (ummm...yeah, left over from high school days)
4. Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride - Jump 5, Disney Mania 3 (have to have song on though)
5. I will be here - SCC (have to have the song on though)

Things you would do if you were a millionaire:
1. Pay off debt, and get that new house
2. Pay for rest of our adoption, and give adoption grants...lots of them
3. Give LOTS to Love Without Boundaries/Half the Sky/A Child's Right
4. Save in Money Market for future
5. Give to church and family

Five Bad Habits:
1. Procrastinating at just about everything
2. Reading fluffy romance novels late at night
3. Not doing laundry until it's a HUGE pile
4. Not doing kitchen stuff until it's a HUGE pile
5. Picking/scratching my face (and I wonder why I still have acne)

Five things you like to do:
1. Take photos and learn better ways to do so
2. Read fluffy romance novels
3. Play piano
4. Read fluffy romance novels
5. Take photos

Five things you will never wear again:
1. Some of the outfits I wore in high school
2. Some of the dresses I wore before I got married
3. High HIGH heels
4. Spandex in public when I'm not working out...
5. Crocs all day in Disney World

Five Favorite Toys:
1. Computer
2. My Camera
3. My "big" lens
4. My "little" lens
5. Cell Phone

Where will I be in ten years?
Knee deep in photography, homeschooling, kids, and teenage angst!