December 29, 2002

     Mark's 49th birthday!  We celebrated with RaeAnne and Nicholas singing Happy Birthday to Daddy.  We took him out to eat lunch at the Outback Steakhouse and then Mommy took him to the Mall to pick out his present.  I have learned that sometimes letting Daddy pick his own present is better.

     We are really hopeful that the current rumors that have been on the November DTC list are true.  We hope to have our referral before New Year's Eve!  It would be perfect if we did.  Nicholas will be here until Wednesday and he was here when RaeAnne's referral came.  Nicholas was the first family member to see RaeAnne's picture.  This time we will set up the camcorder and open it as a family.  Unfortunately, if we get the pictures after Nicholas has gone home we will have to open it anyway, because Mommy will not be able to wait two weeks for him to come back!

December 9, 2002

     The Nov2001DTC list started out early today with several referrals coming in.  I started to get excited thinking that maybe today was the day we have been waiting for.  Some how though, I knew we still needed to wait a while longer.

     I did break down and email New Hope with some questions I had been meaning to ask.  I also asked the big questions to which I received the "Not Yet" answer.  I called our travel mate Shari tonight.  She said the same thing happened to her last time.  She called and then got "The Call" a few days later.  She is very positive that we will have our referral very soon.

     I am getting over a very nasty cold and really didn't feel up to par today.  Our weather is turning colder again.  Nicholas wants to go with us so bad that he told his Mom he would give up all electronics for 5 months.  He is going to talk with his teachers to see if they feel he would miss too much being gone for 2 weeks.

     Our travel mate also suggested that we travel at least one day early to get some rest.  We think that might be a very good idea.

     This is day 327 of waiting.

December 3, 2002

     Sent out Christmas cards today.  We received one from,  Shari who will be in our travel group cute yesterday.  It is very cold and windy today and tonight it started snowing.  RaeAnne was very excited to see it.

     I have been trying to get many things done before our referral is here.  I have a lot of things in the basement that I need to go through again.  It is always something.

     I received the neatest gift from my Secret Pal in Colorado today.  It had a beautiful silver necklace with a small charm that says "Forever."  This is to recognize that our adoptions are forever.  Also there was a cute piggy bank and a wonderful board book for the girls.  It was such a wonderful gesture from one mother to another.  I don't know for sure who she is, but I do have a good guess.

December 1, 2002

     Here it is the first of December already.  I put up the Christmas tree and strung on the lights Friday.  RaeAnne was so excited to see it.  This morning Daddy, Nicholas, RaeAnne and I put the decorations on and tool our traditional picture in front of the tree.  Janea opted to sleep in this morning.

     The girls went shopping this afternoon.  We had fun at a craft show and then at the Mall.  RaeAnne would not sit on Santa's lap for a picture.  She is very convinced that Santa might bite!

     I have all our stockings hanging by the fireplace.  I have KaeLynn's there too.  I am still positive that we will have our referral by Christmas.  I am starting to get antzy!

November 26, 2002

     New Hope group 11 of 2001's referrals came in yesterday.  That means we are NEXT!  I am getting excited, nervous, scared and worried all at the same time.  I am excited that after this long, long wait we will finally see our child's beautiful face.  Nervous about how she will react to us.  Scared that RaeAnne will not like her new sister.  And worried how long we will have to wait before we travel to China.  It is such a time of turmoil!

     PopPop came today to be here for Thanksgiving.  I told him about his becoming a PopPop again.  He didn't act too mad!  I hope he understands how important this is to me.  He did turn down the chance to go to China with us.  No getting him out of the country!  I still don't know how it is going to work out...if we can afford for all of us to make the trip.  I really want the family to go, but we will have to see what our financial situation is at the time to travel.

 
     I was busy today getting ready for Thanksgiving.  It was very cold and windy today.  Real winter weather.

November 19, 2002

     My birthday!  A very busy day.  Mark surprised me with a 5 drawer wicker dresser and a dozen red roses.  I was busy cleaning this morning as Teresa W. our social worker came this afternoon to write our addendum for our home study to take to China with us.  Then Janea took us all out for Italian for my birthday.  I just wish we would get our referral.  Our dossier has been in China one year tomorrow!

November 11, 2002

     Referrals came in last week for the end of September.  Only a handful of October people received theirs.  New Hope received group 10's referrals.  Looks like things are slowing down again.

     Wendy Schoof emailed us that she hopes to adopt a special needs child soon.  She is filling out all her paperwork with New Hope.

     We had family pictures yesterday.  Next time our family will be complete as our child will be home from China.

     RaeAnne has been turning into a terrible three year old!  She is getting very bossy!