Tick...tock...tick...tock... That is me "patiently" waiting.  We are just under two weeks in to our wait for the I-800A process, which is being estimated to take 70-90 days.  The good news is I did send all of our documents from MN (which is 11) to Chicago to get authenticated last Friday.  I received an email confirmation yesterday stating that our courier delivered the documents to the consulate and that they will be sent back to us by Monday signed, sealed, and authenticated.  Once I receive these back we will send everything minus the I800A to CCAI to make sure everything is ready for our dossier.  We need this time to save up, which will be tricky as we approach Christmas.  When our papers are ready for China we will need to pay a big chunk of change, some to China and the rest to our agency for all the work they are doing, which is a lot.  We had to get passport pictures taken, pictures of us as a couple, pictures of us with others, and a slew of other misc. documents. 

I looked closer over our total timeline and am getting excited.  If things go according to "plan" then we are actually looking at February/ March of next year being able to go to China and complete our family.  I know that seems like a long ways away, but to think that is just little over a year is so exciting!  I am glad things won't happen in the late summer or fall either.  This way I can dedicate this time to my job and helping my own kids adjust to a routine before all our excitement takes place. 

Tonight I spent a lot of time putting our Christmas cards together.  I had so much fun looking over our pictures from this past and reflecting on all the wonderful memories we made.  It did seem strange to me not to include our baby on our card - is that strange?  I know we don't have a match right yet, but I think about this kiddo as often as I do ours in their beds right now.  Next Christmas I already have a plan for how to include our newest addition on our card :) 

Have a blessed night!

Let the grant writing begin!

Last week, on 11/15/2013, we sent our 1-800A to Texas!  We are now entering another waiting period - and this will be our longest period so far.  We have been told we will need to wait 70-90 days before our paperwork will be returned and ready to be certified and then authenticated.  Since this is such a long timeline we need to submit this page separately from the rest of our paperwork because there is a 6-month period that documents can be used before approved by the embassy.  SO - tomorrow is off to the state capital to have 11 documents that have already been notarized in order to be certified by the MN secretary of state.  Then they go to Chicago.  In the meantime we will wait on our I-800A to be returned.  Yesterday in the mail we received my birth certificate which is the first document that is totally ready to go in the dossier.  Sorry - this is pretty dry information, but I am hoping documenting everything here will help me better remember all these details.

Now that our home study is finished and sealed we can begin writing grants and requesting some of the funds to be covered.  We have decided that we don't want to ask family or friends for money - we already have two beautiful children and this is our choice and God's direction to do this.  We are praying and hoping that a few grants are approved.  The more we are able to cover up front the more likely I will be able to take a full three month maternity leave.  Right now my district only offers 2 days that I can utilize my sick days.  Everything else will need to be unpaid.  Yuck!

I feel like I am being patient with this process, and fortunately life is SO busy that I barely have time to keep up with the day-to-day things and "me time" is not really even an option, but I feel my pulse rush a bit everytime I think about my child.  I feel in a way connected to our child, more so than I can really comprehend.  I feel a connection already like when I think and pray for our child that they can feel that.  I hope so.  I hope that when I get goosebumps of excitement our child feels the love we are pouring out.

This month I have been making a point to state one thing I am thankful for each day.  There are so many things I a thankful for, but above all is my faith and my family.  I am so blessed and appreciative of all that God has given me.