Catching Up

Ok. I am coming back to reality. I think it's been about a week that I've removed myself from the "real" world due to the abyss I have been in (yes...24 episodes). I am now on Season 2, but have realized that I need to get back to my life. So, I will use this post to catch up on what has happened "in between" episodes.

Last Saturday, I went to the quarterly Magnificat meal. It is always so uplifting to gather with over 50 other Catholic women and just praise, worship and be renewed in our Heavenly Father, but most of all, it reminds us of the blessings we have in having our own Blessed Mother, Mary, as such a powerful intercessor.

Saturday evening, Amanda and I took a Mother and daughter night off. We headed to the WinterJam concert sponsored by our local Christian radio station. It was a great concert, but I am so very thankful that I could spend this time with her. Watching her praise and worship to Steven Curtis Chapman, and Newsong and then at other times, just be a plain 12 year old screaming at the top of her lungs as she be-bopped to Hawk Nelson was really awesome. I am so very blessed that she knows our Lord, and realizes that everything we have comes from Him.

Let's see....aaahh, yes. The Patriots played their heart out on Sunday night, but were just not able to pull it off. So, we'll be rooting for the Colts at the Super Bowl in Miami on the 4th. Adam's (our 22 yr. old) favorite team.

Moving on to the adoption front. I received an email Sunday night from our dossier consultant stating that she had all of our certified papers and they were being taken to the Consulate in Houston on Monday (the 22nd) and I should have the completed dossier back in my hands by this Friday.

Good news....bad news. Good news is that I received a phone call from our agency yesterday requesting a copy of the dossier so that they could review it and begin translations. Bad news is that our dossier is almost complete but will not head to China until the last day or two of Chinese New Year. CCAA's offices will be closed from February 18 - February 23. Our director suggested it be sent towards the end of CNY because that way it would be on the TOP of the heap when they returned to work, instead of the bottom of the heap. CCAA is known for not taking files in a first-come, first-served order. :)

Otherwise, life is good! Amanda is taking her SATs this week. AJ is only a few weeks from walking (he cruises furniture now at record speeds) and Kai is....well, Kai. :) A bundle of energetic, non-stop, lovable party.

I'm a bit bummed that the family that had offered to take pics of Anna Grace didn't.....not sure why. But, I'm really trying to keep my mind off of the process as much as possible. When we send our dossier to China, the countdown REALLY begins. Only difference between then and now is that everything has been done on my end, and all I can do is wait.