6 Months

6 months registered!  For some reason that seems like a milestone to me and I must say it has gone by rather quickly.  I know that the wait will be much longer, but 6 months is a nice chunk of time (chuck was the word of the day at our behavior team meeting at work today).  It seems like the topic of adoption has been coming up more often recently too.  It helps to remind me that God is in the driver's seat on this journey.  I prefer to be in control of things, but this is one area that I am enjoying the ride.  Yes, even the ups and downs.  Well, at least for right now :)  I continue to prepare myself for motherhood by reading books, learning more about Bulgaria, talking with friends who are parents and of course knitting little items and sweaters for my little girl.  Right now I am working on a purple stripped sweater (will post pics when it is done).

Great News

I found out this week that one of my friends has travel dates at the end of THIS month!  I am so excited for the family.  I know this family has been waiting for around 2 years.  They too have switched agencies and have had many ups and downs along the way.  I can't wait to celebrate with them when they meet their little girl.  I also have a good feeling that two other friends will be getting referrals soon.  Only time will tell......

In the mean time I continue to wait.  Over the holiday season I was reminded several times of all the things I want to do with my daughter.  The old traditions I want to share and the new traditions I want to start.  It made me a little sad, but nothing that I can't handle.  I am still trying to find someone who speaks Bulgarian so that I can learn the language better....so far no luck.

Reflections

I have been thinking a lot about the Christmas season this year.  I can remember being a young child and the excitement that came at this time of year.  The anticipation for the family traditions, the lights, Christmas trees, snow, the carols, movies and of course gifts.  As a child there was excitement in the air.  It was in many ways a magical time of year.  My brother and I were nicer to each other.  We were more compliant (in our eyes) to our parents.  This year I am feeling some of that child like excitement and anticipation.  But this year it is about a child.  A child I do not yet know.  A child that will some day be my daughter.  I wait for the day when I will meet her with the same eagerness I had for Christmas when I was a child.  I know that I will have to wait to meet her and bring her to her new home.  So, I wait.  I wait with joy in my heart and the knowledge that someday we will be mother and daughter.  I do not know when I will meet my daughter, but I know that we will have many Christmas days and family traditions together. 

Matthew West One Less

This is a song written by Matthew West about a family who adopted their little girl from Guatemala. Amazing song!

December is here

We have had our first snow....well flurries at least with a few staying on the ground to remind of us what is to come.  Not that we could forget with the colder temps that are here right now.  But the snow makes me think about Christmas and that is one of my favorite times of year.  I have both my trees up and decorated, have been listening to Christmas music and watching Christmas movies.  I am getting into the Christmas spirit :)  Plus my 2 cats are enjoying having new hiding places.....I just hope they don't knock over either tree! 

This is my more formal tree

And this is my snowman/snow flake tree

As for news on the adoption....the word is wait.  I did get some positive news from my agency saying that the Bulgarian agency is starting to get referrals on young healthy kids.  These children are getting to families that were registered a while ago, but they sound really positive about how things are moving.  Also waiting to hear about this list of PAPs that is supposedly coming out from the Bulgarian government (not sure if it is the MOJ or another ministry).  I hope that the list does come out....it would be nice to know how many people are registered in the country and waiting for a referral. 

Giving Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving!  This year my family decided that we wanted to bless friends who have been a blessing to us throughout the year.  So, we (my mom takes charge in the kitchen) made home made dinner rolls and cinnamon rolls for our friends.  I helped by making cards for our friends.  We delivered the bread last night and today.  Our friends were very thankful for a special treat.  Did I mention my mom makes bread the "old fashion" way.....she is the breadmaker, the only machine she uses is the oven.  It was really a wonderful feeling to give to others this year.

Things I am thankful for this year are.....I am so thankful for my family and friends.  I am thankful for a wonderful job and co-workers.  I am thankful for my adoption agency and the new friends I have made who are in the process of adoption.  I am thankful for my country and the many men and women who are serving in our armed forces, I pray that they can all be home soon with their families.  I am thankful for the MOJ and many people who work in Bulgaria to ensure that the orphans are taken care of and are able to be united with forever families.  I am most thankful for my Heavenly Father who is forever there for me to lean on and the answer to prayers.  I pray that this holiday season is one that we can focus on the true meaning of Christmas and blessing those around us. 

Wow, this has been a busy month.  I have been super busy with work over the past month!  Plenty of writing behavior plans, putting out fires, doing screening for our Teenscreen program and more professional development specifically on autism.  I sometimes wonder what I will do when I am a single mom, having to do it all on my own.  I'm sure that my family and friends will be there to support me during some of those difficult and busy times.  But right now I am waiting.

While I wait I am working on learning the Bulgarian language.  I must admit, I am not making as much progress as I would like to in this area.  I am also keeping up my reading about Bulgaria.  Right now I am reading Beyond Hitler's Grasp.  It is the story behind the Bulgarians who prevented the deportation of Bulgarian Jews to concentration camps during WWII.  It is amazing that these brave people were able to keep ALL of their Jewish citizens safe through the war.  I also am knitting away.  I thought I would try to post some of my knitting projects that I have put away for the little girl that I am waiting for.