New Year's Resolutions

Here are my New Years Resolutions. Although some may seem a bit selfish and superficial, they are much needed.


1. Read more
2. Exercise (3 times week, 20 minutes)
3. Drink more water and eat healthier ( no diets!!)
4. Think Positive (this past year I let lots of negativity in. This year I will speak up more and speak positive.)
5. More me time

The New Yuck!!

I'm back at work. The rumors are incredibly horrible, yet a real possibility as things continue to go in a downward spiral. Possible cutoff for next batch...DRUM ROLL PLEASE........DEC. 19th!
Now, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say my prediction is the 20th. Which is still horrible, let me show you my new predictions based on the new LID POLL taken a couple of weeks before Christmas.

BATCH_______ CUTOFF

Jan 08'________ Dec 20th
Feb___________Dec 26th
March_________ Jan 3rd
April __________Jan 9th
May __________Jan 12th
June _________ Jan 17th
July __________Jan 24th
Aug_________ Feb 4th

Aug. being our month, if the other rumors are not true. The other rumor is that the CCAA will stop referring in April or May and then resume after the Olympics. If that is the case, let's say the last batch is in May and they start back up in Sept. That would put us at referral in Nov., possibly traveling at the end of Dec 08'. And that's if they start back in Sept. I know the Olympics start in Aug, but I'm not sure when they end.

Season's Greetings!

Today is my last day at work until after Christmas. It's gonna feel good to be home for a while and not feel rushed. Maybe I can catch up on some house cleaning. Ya know, the kind where you feel like you've actually done something other than the everyday stuff. I know it's Christmas and suppose to be chilly outside, but their calling for 68 Sunday. Ye ha!!!! I'm gonna enjoy that too!!!(Christmas Day's Forecast 47) Anywho, Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

New Olympics Rumor

The deal is now we are hearing all sorts of things about how CCAA will handle Referrals around the Olympics. Most agencies state that only countries whose Consulate's are located in Beijing will be affected. ( The US Consulate is in Guangzhou.) Some however are reporting that the last referrals will be in March or April and will not resume until after the Olympics. Other's are saying that TA's won't be given after May.
Now, how will that affect us. I was guessing a June Referral at the rate of the last few batches. With that said if referrals stop, then resume after the Olympics, we might have her home by next Christmas. I can't Believe I'm saying next Christmas already but who would have thought we would have waited this long! Oh well kinda gettin' numb to all this anyway.

Christmas Gathering

T'was the Night Before Christmas

I'm not even a mom yet and this made me cry.


'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thru the abode,Only one creature was stirring and she was cleaning the commode.The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,While visions of Hot Wheels & Barbie, flipped through their heads.
The dad was snoring in front of the TV,With a half-constructed bicycle propped on his knee.So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,Which made her sigh, "Now what is the matter?!"
With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand,She descended the stairs and saw the old man.He was covered with ashes and soot, which fell with a shrug,"Oh great," muttered the mom, "Now I have to clean the rug."
"Ho Ho Ho!" cried Santa, "I'm glad you're awake.""Your gift was especially difficult to make.""Thanks, Santa, but all I want is time alone.""Exactly!" he chucked, "So, I've made you a clone."
"A clone?" she muttered, "What good is that?""Run along, Santa, I've no time for chit chat."Then out walked the clone - the mother's twin,Same hair, same eyes, same double chin.
"She'll cook, she'll dust, she'll mop every mess.You'll relax, take it easy, watch The Young & The Restless.""Fantastic!" the mom cheered. "My dream has come true!""I'll shop, I'll read, I'll sleep a night through!"
From the room above, the youngest did fret,"Mommy?! Come quickly, I'm scared and I'm wet."The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart.""Hey," the mom smiled, "She sure knows her part."
The clone changed the small one and hummed her tune,As she bundled the child in a blanket cocoon."You're the best mommy ever. I really love you."The clone smiled and sighed, "And I love you, too."
The mom frowned and said, "Sorry, Santa, no deal."That's my child's LOVE she is trying to steal."Smiling wisely Santa said, "To me it is clear,Only one loving mother is needed here."
The mom kissed her child and tucked her in bed."Thank You, Santa, for clearing my head.I sometimes forget, it won't be very long,When they'll be too old for my cradle and song."
The clock on the mantle began to chime.Santa whispered to the clone, "It works every time."With the clone by his side Santa said, "Goodnight.Merry Christmas, dear Mom, You will be all right."

Christmas In Our Hearts

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing. If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.
Merry Christmas and lots of love to you and yours!

RQ's Latest Numbers

To get an idea of how previous months have fared on the “Horrid/Bad/Mid/Good” scenarios, we have this little graphic. It doesn’t go back farther because before June, RQ was moving numbers around. The horrid case has happened once before this month, that’s why the column was there to start with. Now it has happened twice.



The horrid and bad cases do seem to be the new norm.
Here are RQ’s projections:





So, looking like a June Referral for us. (right now) With travel normally being 5 to 8 weeks, maybe we can make it over there an back before the Olympics. (08/08/08)

Silver Bells

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It's Here

My Sofa has arrived! Now, I want to go get it today, but I don't want it in my living room until Christmas. (or at least the weekend before) If I bring it home now it just won't feel like Christmas. So I think I will unload it at my dad's for now. Yeah, that's what I'll do. And then maybe on the 22nd William can bring it home. Then we can enjoy it through the Holidays! I won't really get a chance to snuggle up on it until then anyway. William's cooking a pig tomorrow, then next Saturday is our Christmas Party, and we maybe doing Christmas with my mom on the 22nd. Busy, Busy, Busy. That reminds me, Frosty's coming on tonight at 8:00!

Dec.5, 2007 Referrals

Kinda expected it. Six whole days.

Com'on and surprise us for a change!




Oh well, maybe we'll make it before
the Olympics, but it's not looking good.





Still 6 months away unless there's
some kind of miraculous speed up.

Merry Christmas!!!

OK, so I've not been myself lately. I apologize. I will try very hard to remove the "scroogey-tude" and have a "Hap-Hap, Happy, Fa-la-la, Merry, Jolly"(you get the picture) Holiday! We started putting up the tree last night. The lights are done anyway. The garlands up, we're still not going put all that stuff up outside. Sorry, it's too much and not enough time. But we will party as usual. Go ahead and start breaking in those vocal chords! And I'll do my best to create a warm, inviting place for us to celebrate family, friends, and most importantly our Lord, Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:9-10 "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully, administering God’s grace in its various forms."

Sophie Shopping!

Aren't they adorable! I want one. They are both by Berenguer,
but carry very different price tags. I just love those pouty lips!

Nothing Yet

Can you believe it is December the 4th and nothing! We're not sure if referrals are in the air yet. Come on, let's get this batch over with so I can Stop hitting the refresh button and get on with the Holidays. This is the time when I always seem to have a hard time thinking about anything else. It's like you have this tiny glimmer of hope for some kind of speed up. Hope is a good thing, it keeps us going. Lately I've felt like this whole adoption thing is a dream. Are we really adopting or is it all in my head. Maybe I should pull out some of the paperwork and pinch myself to see if I wake up. Or better yet, let's see a full two weeks of referrals, I guarantee you that'll wake me up!