GOD IS GOOD!!!!

After much stress and worry, I took some great advice and e-mailed our agency again. This time I received a response immediately. It was the response I was praying for.

WE ARE LOGGED IN!!!!!!!

We can now breathe a sigh of relief, I do not know WHEN we will get our referral, but at least we are one step closer to it.

The DEADLINE Looms...........

Today is June 24th. In 7 days, The Department on International Adoptions in Vietnam will stop receiving dossiers from perspective adoptive parents. Our dossier went to Vietnam on May 23rd, but we still have not received word that it was logged in at the DIA. When a dossier is sent over, the first thing that happens is translating, which could take days. Then it is sent over the the DIA. I am not sure how long it can take to get logged in.

I have been able to remain strong till now. As the deadline quickly approaches, I find myself getting more and more apprehensive. I can't bear the thought of some snafu keeping us from our future daughter. I need to pray harder for peace about this. I know that it is in GOD'S hands, and I accept that.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!!!!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Before clicking on Smilebox, you will have to scroll down to the bottom of this page and turn off the music so that you can fully enjoy the slideshow. Just click on the first button to stop the background music.

Still Waiting............

Hopefully we will hear something soon. It seems like we are running out of time. If our dossier is not logged in at the DIA (Department of International Adoptions) in Vietnam by July 1st, we will be S.O.L. I am waiting for word from our agency, but so far - no news. Is that good or bad? Well, since there is less than 2 weeks left to be logged in by, I guess we will know then. I am keeping the faith and believing that our adoption will work out as it is supposed to. But a little encouragement now and then would be nice.

Riding with the 'Big Boys'

The past week-end, Jon took part in a National 24 Hour Challenge Bike Race. There were riders there from all over the world. Jon rode for 24 hrs. straight!!!! And went 228.4 miles! I am in awe and could not be prouder of him.

He did have a couple of mishaps...... on the hilliest part of the course, his gears got stuck in a middle gear and he had to pedal harder than ever to climb the hills. This course had 5,000 ft. of incline, whatever that means. LOL Then, during the night time part of the course, he lost visibility on the road, it was after a rainfall and the road was mud covered, he went over the edge of the blacktop and his bike went out from under him. Thank God for his great helmet (it is toast - but his head is fine!).

Jana, Natalie and I stayed most of the day on Saturday and we came back Sunday morning just before he went out for his last lap. We were all in tears as we watched him cross the finish line. Even Natalie was super-excited for her daddy. This will be a Father's Day that none of us will ever forget.

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Before The Race

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The START

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24 Hours later - Nearing the Finish

(He's the one on the far left)

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Crossing the Finish line!

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Jon and his Coach

UPDATE

Jon checked the Final Results of this race. Of approx. 375 racers starting the race, only about 100 finished. Jon finished 61st in the total number riders and 13th in his age category. WOO-HOO!!! DADDY!!!!!!!

A Moment of Cuteness!

Fun Times

Grandma bought Natalie a climbing toy for the backyard. So if course, Natalie had to supervise Daddy. And lend a hand when necessary!

Looking for Baby Nora

Natalie didn't want anything to do with the playset after Daddy spread the mulch. She said that she didn't want to get 'Dirty!' This is a kid that was swimming in a dirtpile 2 weeks ago! KIDS!!

EWWWWWW!

Led by HIS hand (or a boot in the butt)

Last week, Natalie and I went with Jon's mom for her post-surgery follow-up visit (she had her gallbladder removed). As we approached the Dr's office, I noticed that in the office across the hall was one of our state senators offices. Hmmmmmm.... I wonder if I should go in and talk to them about the current situation in Vietnam regarding the adoption shutdown. Of course I when in! I had a great talk with one of her assistants (you never get to see the big kahuna), she was very interested and said that she would relay all the info to Ms. Senator. AND Miss Natalie was there being her sweet, charming self. She is my International Adoption Goodwill Ambassador. One smile from her, and I have everyones attention. LOL

Anyway, I digress. After we left the office, I received an urgent e-mail from our agency asking that we contact our state senators and representatives to discuss contacting the US Department of State. It seems that Dr. Long, from the Vietnam Department of International Adoptions, is willing to consider grandfathering in ALL the dossiers registered in Vietnam before July 1st - the cut off! That means that if you make the July 1st deadline, you would still receive a referral, even after the September 1st shutdown. I know a lot of families that have been told that even though they have been registered for quite sometime, they will not be receiving a referral. If we had not switched agencies, we would be looking at no referral, too!

I got on my hot little computer and composed a letter to my senators and representatives, and the members of the committee that are working to try and get things on track again with VN adoptions. While I was at it, I sent a fax to my governor, Mr. Vice President AND the Big Guy himself....Mr. President. I figure what could it hurt - they ARE supposed to be working for US! Right?!?!?!

Yesterday, we went back to the surgeons office to pick up some papers, so I stopped in at my friendly, neighborhood senators office. I just wanted to check to see if they had received my e-mail (or make sure that they read it - lol)and while I was there I was ushered in to talk with their constituency liaison. We talked for about a half an hour. Turns out that she is also in process of adopting (domestically) and is very informed on adoption issues. She took all my info and said that she would see what she could do. "Hey - it's something."

Last evening, I received an e-mail from one of VP Cheney's assistants requesting more info and names of the people that he should contact! I sent a very detailed e-mail back this morning. The squeaky wheel gets the grease!

Now, I do believe in 'signs' but I firmly believe that I was shoved into action. Normally I would not go with Jana for one of her Dr's appointments just because of trying to keep Natalie quite for who knows how long. But this time when she asked I said yes without thinking. Then yesterday, I thought that she was going to her work office, not the Dr's office. If I had chosen not to go on either of these two occasions, I would never have had the opportunity to talk to one of my senators staff. And they would not have seen how beautiful and well-adjusted (ha-ha) adopted children are.