Hurray, Hurray, it's on it's way (to shangri la dee da)

OK, if anyone can tell me which cartoon that title is from, you get major bonus points (no monetary value in my bonus points, but you can at least feel a little superior to everyone else.....or embarrassed that you actually know where that comes from). And Tina, YOU CAN NOT PLAY! I already know you know.

I met with Radu today and got everything packaged up and shipped off to D.C. It should take about two weeks to get through the State Department (that only takes a day) and then the Ethiopian Embassy. Then it will be on it's way to Ethiopia!!!!!!!! It was kind of hard parting with this packet as it will be the last time I will see it. I gave a big hug, and lots of sweet talk, and thanked it for being such a huge part of bringing my daughter home. Yep, I'm a nerd! ;)

The picture quality is terrible....it was taken on my cell phone.....but I think you can still see the excitement on my face. I'm done! My part is over and all I can do now is wait. and wait. and wait. :)

Ready for D.C.

This is my completed Dossier. Thanks to my wonderful boss, I was able to take the morning off and head down to Salem today to get all 20 of my documents authenticated by the Secretary of State (basically those little gold seals say that the person who notarized the document is indeed an Oregon Notary). Well, I actually only got 19 authenticated because that one there on the left hand bottom......that's my birth certificate. I had to send that one to the Washington Secretary of State. Yep.....I"m actually a Washatonian......GASP! But, since I was raised in Oregon since I was a babe, I still consider myself an Oregonian through and through (no offense to Washatonians.....great state....in fact, second only to Oregon). :)
Anyway, I am meeting with Radu, my adoption agency director, tomorrow at noon to take a final look over everything and then he will send everything on to DC to get yet another round of authentications from the State Department. From there it will head to the Ethiopian Embassy in D.C. for one final round of Stamps. Then, back to Radu, who will then 3 day air it to Ethiopia. At that point I will be officially waiting for my referral. I'm still crossing my fingers that I will be able to travel by December, and of course am praying that any changes with Ethiopia adoptions won't effect me too severely.
So, after tomorrow, my work will be done! And I just wait.

It's HERE It's HERE It's HERE

So, after stalking my mailman until 4:45pm today (I HATE that my mail comes so late), he finally delivered the single most coveted piece of paper that I own. Yes, my golden ticket has arrived. I'm so relieved, because there is a nasty rumor going around that some big changes are taking place with Ethiopia Adoptions and it is speculated that one of the changes is that singles will no longer be able to adopt. I've been so frustrated and anxiety stricken waiting for this piece of paper. Now that I have it I can get my dossier to EThiopia and hopefully, if the rumor is true, my paperwork being in country may help me get "grandfathered" and allow me to adopt. Please, say a prayer, cross your fingers, think good thoughts, or do whatever it is you do, that my adoption will be completed (in ETHIOPIA).


Here is a picture of my precious precious precious piece of paper (who knew I would ever get THIS excited about a simple piece of paper?)

I know it is hard to read, so allow me:

US Department of Homeland Security

Tania _______

Notice of Favorable Determination Concerning Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition:

It has been determined that you are able to furnish proper care to an orphan or orphans as defined by section blah blah blah blah blah

your application has been approved for one child

blah blah blah

I'm going to celebrate with my new e-mail friend Rebecca and her family at Burqitu soon....they should be receiving their approval today as well (we fingerprinted the same day).

My 5 year old nephew has a website

I just got back from Houston and had a terrific time with my sister and her family. I adore my nephews and it was so hard to leave.

My nephew, Eli, had a surprise for me when I got there. It seems that my little bear (that is what I call him) decided he wanted to help raise the travel funds to bring Sprout home. After talking with his mom, he (they) decided that he would make bracelets and cell phone charms and sell them and donate 100% of the funds toward bringing Sprout home.

He even has a website to sell them. If anyone one is interested, please check it out. http://freewebs.com/helpbringsprouthome/

I can't tell you how proud I am of this little guy. He is so thoughtful, so smart, so talented, and oh so darn cute. I'm proud of him for all the work he has done on making these bracelets and no matter how much he raises, his kind and loving gesture means more to me than all the money in the world.

No Favorite Photo Friday

No photo today. Sorry, but I'm running out the door to catch a plane to Houston to visit my sister. It was a last minute trip.....VERY last minute (thank you work for letting me take the time off), but I'm excited to go and play with my nephews. My nephews are really excited to have Auntie visit...in fact, Eli (the 5-year old) had this conversation with his mom yesterday:
Eli: Mom, can I take a nap (he doesn't usually take naps) and then go to bed early tonight
Tina: Sure. Why do you want to take a nap and go to bed early
Eli: Because, that will take up time and make Auntie come quicker.

ahhhhhhhhh! How cute. THEN, this morning, he told Tina that he thinks they should all clean the house so it will be ready when I get there. He even assigned everyone their own specific areas to work on. While they were out running errands, he kept asking if they could go home and start cleaning. Tina told him she wished he wanted to clean EVERY day...in which he replied "no way, that's REALLY hard work". Uh, yeah!

So, I'm off. We're going to just hang out for a couple of days and go to the lake and have a picnic, and laugh and play and laugh and play some more. Then it's back home for me late Monday night. Quick trip, but it will be so worth it to see them again.

Baby Doll

My mom got the cutest little baby doll for Sprout. I can't wait to see it in person, but here are a couple of pictures of it. I know this will be one of Sprouts favorites (well, it will be one of MY favorites for sure).










My sister also bought Sprout a little black baby doll, but when she took it home, apparently both her boys took such a liking to it that she said she wasn't going to be able to pry it out of their hands. They both carry her (the baby doll) around with them, and feed her, and put her to sleep. How cute is that?

FAv Photo Friday

I can't believe it's Friday already. That week went quick.

Here are two photos from a family trip to Cancun. My sister, her two boys, me, my mom and dad, and a family friend, rented a house for a week last October. We spent a day at an eco park, and sometime in the afternoon I found my dad and my youngest nephew snoozin in the hammock park. The breeze was blowin through the trees making for a very relaxing afternoon.

My dad will probably be mad at me for posting this picture. The memory I love of this is that after I snapped the picture, he slowly opened his eyes, saw the camera, and very seriously said "are you doin some whale watching". It was so funny. My dad has had several back surgeries and has other medical problems that has caused him to put on a lot of weight. And, although he hates it, he still manages to keep a sense of humor about it.