Mumblings

Or rather, grumblings of nothing going on.  Hmmm - maybe I shouldn't complain 'eh?

Absolutely LOVING our new math curriculum - Right Start.  Although we are still in review mode - both the girls and myself are enjoying the depth that it covers and the fun games we are playing within it.  It is an abacus based method, so we are hoping that once JiJi gets going in school that she will be able to use the same program.

Yes, even the bigs still enjoy the pumpkin carving.  Of course, they wouldn't get their share of the goodies if they didn't fully participate, hee hee!

New Pictures

Woo hoo!  We were blessed recently with some new photos of our sweetie waiting for us!

Hmm.  Looks like a few table manners are in order.  I am happy to see that she has a good appetite, though!

I could be wrong, but I am thinking that this girl has S.P.U.N.K.!!!!!  It appears that perhaps someone's foot is on the other end of this teeter totter, and in my mind, I hear my daughter squealing with glee and daring to go faster/higher!  Oh, yes - she is my kind'a girlie!  Even that boy cut hair is growin' on me!

Our Article 5 should be picked up next Tuesday, 11/2.  From there it is delivered to the CCAA, from whence the much awaited Travel Approval is issued.  I hate to set my hopes too high, but recently there have been a number of those approvals come through in under two weeks.  Actual departure depends on when the Consulate Appointment (the process of being sworn in as an American citizen) can be scheduled.  Departure ranges from less than a week to several weeks after the TA.  I have already told our agency that we are willing to leave ASAP.

We, you say?  Just who is "we"?  Well, as finances are tight, we realized that only one of the family could afford to travel this time.  Dad decided that the representative to get'er done was Mom.  I didn't have any hesitation about heading off solo, but Dad was NOT happy about that.  I would like to introduce you to my journey sharing partner, but I guess to be polite, I should ask for their permission first.  So, I will save that for my next news flash!

Or NOT

What I really (did NOT) mean to say is that our paperwork will be dropped off to be processed NEXT week.  I know it is only a week delay, but it feels like forever.

On the bright side of life, I turned in my last assignment in my Grade 2 - Contracted Braille class.  In braille, there are two levels to learn - the basic and then the second one is similar to braille shorthand.  I even managed to pass with an A- !!!!

I now have one assignment left to turn in on my abacus course and I'll be done with that class as well!

Today we went to the fire station open house and had some fun.

And then we went to the annual Fall Fest at one of the local churches.  Too much fun!

NVC Cable is OFF!!!!!

Dear Petitioner,

 The State Department's National Visa Center has recently received your approval Form I-800, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative. This letter is to inform you that your petition has been forwarded to the appropriate visa-issuing post where the adoption interview will take place.

These are the words that we were waiting to see!  Our agency will FedEx this note to the the Embassy in China, a representative will personally carry it to be processed and we wait 20 days for it's official approval, in the form of "Article 5".  Once this is issued, the final big wait is on for the travel approval, which lately has been being issued two weeks later!

Do you realize what this means??????  We could be leaving as soon as November 16!!!!!!

2008, we traveled home just one week before Easter.

2009, we traveled home on Christmas Day.

2011, maybe we'll be in China for Thanksgiving, but home well before 12/25!

Wowzers!  FOR REAL!!!!!

Of course a girl doesn't want to get her hopes up too high, cuz high is a long way to fall if the could doesn't work out.  The flip side of this, of course, is we could be leaving much later.  Right now, please don't burst my bubble of excitement, k?

A Winner!!!!

The drum roll, please!

Miss Zabi-Chu up to bat - the pressure is on to draw the winner of the iPod -

I don't think it was really that painful, but who knows?

And the winner is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

BRIDGET!!!!!

Thanks to EVERYONE who has contributed not only monetarily, but just as importantly helping to pray our daughter home.

Dad is working extra hours, we had a successful garage sale, I am still making and selling blankets, and working hours when they are available to me to s-l-o-w-l-y bring in those final figures needed to bring our daughter home.  I have every confidence that God will show us the way where we cannot see it yet!