Happy Birthday!

I turned 42 on the 24th...Good thing I usually feel about 32!

Given tthe recent chain of events, I think I need a little bit more energy...

WHERE is my coffee??????

Frustrated...

I could just SCREAM, but I sat down and cried instead…

You know, I have TOTALLY taken my time with the Dossier stuff. I got in my mind to really start the ball rolling on 1/1/08…so I have been fine with most of the progress so far. BUT, I should have known…obviously things were going too smoothly. All I knew was my Dossier was in Russia and the ball was rolling...HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To make a long story short I came home to ½ of my Dossier documents in a Fed Ex envelope. No notice, no email, no call from my agency warning me they were coming back, nada. Apparently the Secretary if State office decided to ‘bundle’ John and my health documents together for Apostilling, along with several others, and therefore they were rejected. (My fault in part because I did not clearly communicate this to my friend who took care of it for me in Fresno that there had to be one Apostille for each individual notary). And, since she put them in the mail from there, I never saw them. HOWEVER, why in the HECK didn’t my agency catch this BEFORE they sent them to the team in Russia??? I am shaking my head because V has a proven track record with me and stuff like this just hasn’t happened before. So a big warning for those Apostilling….NO BUNDLING OF DOCUMENTS!

So, I now have to separate all these documents, take them the county clerks office for notary cert for each #@$&*(! one, then drive to Fresno to have them Apostilled. Oh yeah, and they now want three separate power of attorneys done along with a financial statement and the stupidest thing I have EVER heard of…a document filled out by a licensed real estate agent stating the size of my home, # of rooms, etc. along with a copy of his license. Isn’t this why I ran like a mad woman during my lunch hour to get a copy of my Deed of Trust to my home??? Good thing I have a co-worker with a real estate license…and he is so nice to help me out with it. And OF COURSE, it all has to be authenticated and apostilled….God help me these people are NUTS! What in the world did I pay all that money for a home study for if they were going to want the same stupid information outside of it…I just cannot figure this all out…And of course don’t forget the $$$ I will spend again on Fed Ex, gas and the paperwork.

I also just figured out I am missing my copy of my home study…I sure hope my agency got it because I think my friend sent it along with all the other paper work (They sent the certified copies straight to her and not me).

I asked V the other night in the phone, are you SURE we can’t consider the Ukraine for a healthy baby girl? I am so comfortable with the Ukraine! She stated again ‘No”…Sigh, sigh, SIGH! I am already sick of Russia and I haven’t even received a referral and traveled yet.

Happy New Year!

Aidan with Santa

It will be a GREAT 2008!

I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW QUICKLY TIME HAS FLOWN! Christmas was wonderful, our third with Carrington! What a difference time makes. He was disappointed to not receive a X-BOX, however he was for-warned it would not happen. I refuse to buy anything that puts him in front of the TV anymore than he already is! But, he enjoyed his day just the same. Aidan was a hoot – loving everything. He is so easy to please! Just give him anything Power Rangers and he is charmed to the core.

Chris slept over as usual to greet Christmas morning with us, and we had a yummy breakfast at the Ihop, then we slept. Dinner at Uncle Russell’s and then we slept…a lot! All in a wonderful, wonderful day!

As you recall my gift was my pantry, which turned out fabulous. John really did a wonderful job and I couldn’t be happier. I was able to move all the food off the big shelves in the garage, and out of the kitchen into it…making for plenty of room! Life is now so sweeeeeeet! I have my dishes all organized and I am still moving things around to my satisfaction. The draw back is that the men in my house are creatures of habit, and now they can’t find anything! Hee hee hee. They will figure it out soon enough, as I have faith in ‘em!

Our dossier is in Russia! We are waiting on the fate of re-accreditation of the agency our team works with. I was not aware this was happening as I was informed that we would be going independent. However, it would appear the agency our team works with is so close to being re-accredited, that we may have to wait until that is done. They are supposedly in the last batch that will happen at the end of this month. Anyone involved in this current situation would say "I'll believe it when I see it!" Any way, as Trey reminded me with Carrington, God’s timing is always perfect. I am calm at the moment and secure in the fact that it will happen when it is suppose to happen.

I leave you with this great writing my co-worker sent today. Very touching…Happy New Year to ALL!


One Flaw In Women

Women have strengths that amaze men.

They bear hardships and they carry burdens,

but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy

and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in.

They stand up to injustice.

They don't take "no" for an answer

when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without, so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel

and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about

a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member,

yet they are strong when they

think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss

can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you

to show how much they care about you

The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love.

They have the compassion and ideas.

They give moral support to their

family and friends.

Women have vital things to say

and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,

IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.