While I wait....

Sometimes it is hard filling the waiting time up.  So, I thought I would share some things that I have been doing recently during the wait.

These are the Valentine's that I made for some family, friends and co-workers.  I got the idea from Martha Stewart.  I was able to catch one of her episodes during the blizzard the other week.  I think they came out pretty cute :)

This is the 3-4 year old purple stripped sweater I have been working on.  I still need to find buttons for it and need to cover the inside seams with ribbon to ensure none of the ends come loose.  I am happy with how it turned out and discovered that it only took half the yarn I bought for it.  So, I have enough to knit another one!

Can anyone relate?

I am so tired of winter.  Usually it doesn't bother me...but after the lovely blizzard last week that gave us over 10 inches of snow and the several mornings of negative degree temps....I'm ready for some warmer weather.  So, I decided to look at pics from my trip to Hawaii a few years ago.  I was so lucky to spend 2 weeks with friends on the Big Island and get the locals' tour of the island.  It is amazing.  Hope you enjoy the pics!

East coast of the Big Island going towards south point

Can you see the turtles on the black sand beach?

The green turtles live here year round on the black sand beach a little over a mile from Pahala where I stayed. 
Snorkeling was amazing!  I saw several turtles, but don't touch it is illegal.

Akaka Falls on the north side of the Big Island.

 Akaka Falls....breath taking....wish I was there right now!  How about you?

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.