Chess

It was 5 years ago tomorrow that Dave & I were married. The last 5 years have been truly been amazing and more adventuresome then I ever dreamed they could be. I surely love that man of mine.

Tomorrow we are going to see a musical (now you know how much he loves me, to take me to a musical.) But this is not just any musical. We are going to see. . . .Chess! The University that I teach at is putting it on. Chess is a political musical of sorts that came out during the end of the cold war (mid-1980s.)

I was first introduced to the musical in high school. (Think Miss Saigon, Les Mis., Phantom of the Opera. . ) I wanted the CD so badly, and it was nowhere to be found in our small town. My dad was on a business trip in Houston and found it. I got the CD for my birthday and instantly loved it.

For the last 20ish years I have wanted to see it. Dave and I both love the music. So, when I found out my University was putting it on, I plunked down my $20 and got us tickets on our anniversary.

Here is one of my favorite songs from the musical, “Anthem” the end of the first act. I will be sure to give you an update after the performance.

Oh Canada!

For our 5th Anniversary Dave and I took a 4 day get-away. Although our actually anniversary is this weekend we went last weekend to accommodate the use of frequently flyer miles and Grandma’s schedule.

We went to Niagara Falls, Canada. The first night we stayed at the most charming village about 30 min. north of the falls (Niagara-on-the-lake.) Our accommodations were so perfect, we stayed at a boutique hotel. It was so quiet and peaceful. It over looked the harbor and the town was filled with quaint shops and restaurants. The surrounding area was filled with vineyards and historic buildings. We stayed the next two nights at a lovely hotel in Niagara Falls overlooking the falls. It was amazing! The view was incredible from the 19th floor.(Check it out below:)


Breakfasts were included each day of our stay and we also found some great local places to eat too. I think my three favorite meal items (in no practical order) were: Lobster Bisque, surf and turf pizza, and key lime pie. I cannot remember better meals. . . We also went to Morton’s Steak house (in Toronto), it is Dave’s favorite restaurant. That meal was truly memorable.


The Day before we left Dave surprised me with his plan to drive the 90 min to Toronto and spend the day there. I had no idea it was so close. Dave knows I have a goal to visit 100 temples. So he planned out the day for us so we could go to the temple and visit the downtown area. I was so excited! (So, for those of you keeping track the Toronto temple brings the total to 36 temples in 6 countries.)


It was a wonderful weekend. I feel relaxed and rejuvenated.

One year ago today. . .

Spencer legally became our son. What a wonderful year it has been!

That was then:


This is now:

Online community

One thing that I think most people do not realize is that the online adoption community is so inclusive. I have met some amazing people with warmth, understanding and an eagerness to share. There is something special about being able to connect in this way.

I wanted to thank those of you who offered words of support and consolation on my last post. I think it is because we all have days like that, when it looks like the clouds are gathering. I just needed to vent and feel unhappy for a moment. Thanks for your kind words, it really did touch me.

Now, on to better days. . .

My online classes are great. I have 97 students this term. I have already gotten some great emails and met some super students. I have even had two students submit projects (not due until next month). It was 4 years ago that I designed my first online class, and the deal was. . . if I hated it I wouldn’t have to do it again. . . Here I am 4 years and 12 classes later, loving it. I truly adore my students and can’t imagine a better job.

So it looks like my life is surrounded by online friends, online colleagues and online work. The internet is an incredible thing. I remember the first time I heard about it (it was in a speech, in high school. . .think late 1980s.) I laughed and thought the whole premise was science fiction. How ridiculous that people from all around the world would meet and chat instantaneously over cable lines on a computer!

And here I sit. . . Thank you Al Gore!

The End

I am feeling discouraged with adoption at this point. Our China adoption is surreal. We started the process a year and 10 months ago. Now, almost 2 years after we start the process we have moved from having 789 days ahead of us to 737 days. If it wasn’t so criminal it would be funny.

Nepal is another story, with the limit of dossiers an agency can submit (according the State Department website, our agency can submit 10 for the year 2009.) So if we are somewhere between 50-60 on the list. . .is that going to be another 5 or 6 years? No thank you! We already have a long shot adoption in China. It seems all I can do is sigh deeply. I want to be positive and feel like things will work out for the best, but it seems all the doors are softly closing. All we can do is wait and see, and hope Nepal changes its policy on limiting adoptive parents’ applications.

But looking at the numbers, when Nepal was previously open the most visas ever issued for adoptions from the US was 73 (in 2004). So if the maximum number of annual adoptions was 73, it makes sense that it would be about the same now, right? But wait! If there are 32 US agencies and they all will most likely process 10 adoptions in 2009. . . that is 320 adoptions.

Seventy-three vs. 320; is it logical to expect adoptions to quadruple to the US? And that is with only 10 per agency. There are a few things to consider; First, the process is now centralized by the Nepal government and I do believe it will make for a better system (more ethical and transparent) but I do not know if it will make processing applications faster. Second, how many PAPs will be in (and qualify for) the program? I know our agency has 50+ on the list. Do you suppose all US agencies have similar numbers?

I guess only time will tell, but it is discouraging to think about. I know so many others out there are aching for a child and face the same concerns we do. It seems like having a child would be one of the simple things in life and taken for granted. This is one simple blessing I do not take for granted. I just feel so blessed to have Spencer, what a light he is. I just hope we have the opportunity to parent another child.

My sister once told me, “It will all be all right in the end, if it’s not all right. . . it’s not the end.” So, here’s to making it to the end.

Well, Phooey. .

It looks like our Nepal adoption agency has at least 50 families in front of us who have completed their dossier. Normally I wouldn’t feel too badly, but Nepal has set a limitation of how many dossier each agency can submit. All agencies (including the 32 U.S. agencies) are allowed to submit 10 dossier. Hmmm. . . ten. . . . fifty. . .

So where does that put us? Well, it’s not looking pretty. However, we are still early in the process and things can (and will) change, it is the nature of the beast. But with this new information it is time I manage my expectations and adjust my personal projection. I now am hoping that we will get a Spring/Summer 2010 referral. I hope we can bring home little sister by the time Spencer turns three.

Speaking of Spencer. . . he has a new trick. He pushes the kitchen chairs around and positions them so he can climb them and reach all those exciting no-nos. . . Heaven help us :)

Can I hear an Amen?

Well, the day started out at 5:23 AM. . . yuck. Spence and I drove downtown and pick up the almost finalized copy of the homestudy. We picked it up at 7:55 AM, drove an hour to get the final documents for from the agency, drove another hour to meet with immigration (with the homestudy in hand) to submit for visa approval for Nepal.

We have done all we can. . . our entire dossier (save the I-171-H for Nepal) is in the hands of our agency and now we wait : ) Amen!

Edmond: The New Edward

I started reading the Count of Monte Cristo last week. . . and I am LOVING it! What a fantastic story. I was afraid it might be a bit of a slog, but no!!!!! This is great stuff. I am about 200 pages into the 1400 page novel.

It was just about a year ago I read "Twilight." I really loved that book, it was fun and I liked the characters, but Edmond. . . this guy is amazing! Ta-Ta Edward : )

2009 is starting with a BANG!

Wonderful news to start out the new year!!!!!!

From the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Government of Nepal website, posted today:

This Ministry would like to inform that inter-country adoption process of Nepali children for alien pursuant to “Terms and Conditions and Process for Granting Approval for Adoption of Nepali Child by an Alien - 2065 (2008)” is open from January 2009.

Nepal is officially OPEN! (Lisa posted this on her blog and I couldn’t help but share the good news too!)

Here is another picture from our daughter’s birth country.