Referral Update

Last week the CCAA referred children for those with log in dates of February 18th through February 23th. That's 6 more days closer to Marissa Renee's (MR) referral. I've changed the counter on the right to reflect that their are now 27 LID's left till we see our daughter's face.
We are under 30 days!! There are now less than a months worth of LID's before us. I can't believe it. According to China Adoption Forecast.com if China continues at the pace they have been, we should receive MR's referral in May. That's 5 months from now. That's finally under 6 months!!!!!!! March 06 is a large month of referrals, but after waiting 32+ months I've got to hang on the thought that we are so close!!
Someone asked me recently how John and I can handle such as long wait. Our faith is what has gotten us this far, and is what will see us through. I totally trust in our Lords perfect timing.
What also came to mind was a scene from one of my most favorite movies, The Princess Bride, when Miracle Max is asked to hurry up is miracle. His reply was that you can't hurry a miracle, cause if you do you get a "rotten miracle" :-). Well, we are not rushing our miracle, and we believe she will be perfect!!

So This Is Christmas!

John and I finally finished decorating the Christmas tree yesterday. We started last Sunday, putting on the lights and garland, but didn't get to put on all the ornaments till yesterday. We did the garland a bit different this year. We got the idea from a tree we saw decorated at Sears and decided to try it. We used sheer gold ribbon going in one direction, then a more sparkly gold garland going in the opposite direction. Let me know if you like it.
I think I'm finally getting into the Christmas spirit. I've been listening to as much Christmas music as I can to get into the "mood". Josh Groban's "Noel" has to be my most favorite Christmas CD.
Still Christmas shopping, and haven't even started to wrap yet :-(, but most important, to remember that "Jesus is the reason for the season!!"

May your Christmas be joyful, peaceful and bright, And filled with the love of that first holy night. John 3:16

Happy Thanksgiving!

John and I would like to wish everyone a blessed, happy and healthy Thanksgiving. We are truly thankful for all our blessings.
Dad, for your first Thanksgiving in Heaven, we love you and miss you today and always.

Only Two Days

Well it appears that the CCAA only referred two days worth of referrals this month.
No one really understands why. This actually pushes my estimate of when we'll receive MR's referral back a month. Although I'm disappointed, I still must trust in my Lord and Saviour's perfect timing. So again, we wait.

Weekend Catch Up

I wish that I had the time to blog everyday. My job is extremely tiring both physically and emotionally. I get home from work with an ambitious list of "to do's", but I'm usually lucky if I can accomplish even one thing on the list. (Let's see how I do once MR is home!!!)
With that being said, I love my weekends! They go quick, but I try to catch up on all the things I can't do during the week. I'm going to try to blog at least once every weekend, and if I get a chance to blog during the week, well, then that's serendipity!!

I still have lots of pictures to post, from Bermuda, our anniversary, autumn flowers, etc.
I'll catch up eventually ;-)

Well, the 31 above signifies that on October 22 we reached our 31 month LID anniversary. We have been "logged in" in China now for 31 months. We await with "baited breath" to see how many LID's the CCAA will be able to match next. We should begin to hear about the next "batch" of referrals within the next week or so. No real rumors yet on Rumor Queen.
If things proceed as they have, with China averaging to match approximately 6 days worth of LID's per month, we are on track to receive our referral in about 5-6 months. We would then travel to China in the next 7-8 months. Oh my gosh!! To be able to actually type this with an end in site is an awesome feeling.
More to come....

Let Me Post About The Cruise Before Winter Sets In!

During the last week of August John and I took a 5 night Royal Caribbean cruise to Bermuda. We were blessed with calm seas and beautiful weather. The name of the ship is the "Explorer of the Seas". We left from Port Liberty in Bayonnne, New Jersey, which is only about an hours drive from home.

The Verrazano bridge.
Me during the Muster Drill! The Statue of Liberty!

On the way out of the Bayonne harbor, we sailed right under the Verrazano bridge (the bridge that connects Brooklyn with Staten Island). The Captain informed us that from the very top of the ship to the bottom of the bridge is a total clearance of only 7 feet. Yes, I said 7 feet! I'm actually glad he provided this information after the fact! (But it was still really cool!)

Wow that's close!!
The Captain's Champagne Welcome reception

My favorite picture of us Captain's Night, on the deck .

Our first glimpse of Bermuda.

The cruise left port on a Saturday afternoon and we arrived in Bermuda early Monday morning. We went to the very front of the ship to watch as the ship arrived. It was amazing how the crew so easily brought the ship in to port. More to come.....

What A Ride!!!!!!!

The last three years have been a constant rollercoaster ride. Every month waiting to see how many LID's the CCAA would be able to complete. Some months I felt as if I was soaring high when it seemed that things were moving more quickly, where as many times I felt as if I was heading straight down that first steep slope of the rollercoast when things kept slowing down further and further with no end in sight.
I've included a count down in the right sidebar, which shows how many LID's (Log In Dates) left till we receive our referral. The CCAA had, as of last week, referred up to 2/15/06 which leaves 35 LID's till our referral. Well....I checked the Rumor Queen last night (as I do frequently), only to see that it appears that families with the LID of 2/16/06 have been notified that there referral is on the way. Wow !!! That caught me by complete surprise. I don't believe in the 3 years I've been following referrals since starting the adoption journey that I've seen something like this happen, with referrals arriving again, just a week later. I also don't want to speculate as to a reason why. I'm just going to change the LID count down to 34, send my congratulation out to all those who are receiving their referral today, and just make sure that my safety belt is securely fastened as this rollercoaster ride continues.

Autumn Moon Picnic and Walk-a-thon

Yesterday was the annual FCC-LI Autumn Moon Family Picnic at Belmont Lake State Park. In addition to the picnic, we walked in the First Annual FCCLI Walk-a-Thon around Belmont Lake. The monies raised will be sent to charities that assist China's orphans as well as all those effected by the earthquake that hit Sichuan province.
Originally, the festivities were due to be held on Saturday, but the weather did not oblige us, as it rained all day. Although the weather continued to look threatening on Sunday, the rain held off till later in the evening. And aside from the ground being a bit "moist and muddy", we had a great time.
I've noticed that I'm more of a "scenery" photo taker, as the majority of the pictures above are the views around Belmont Lake. But I did take one of "Maya and Maya", as I walked with their Mom's "Barbara and Tina". I took the pictures with my new IPhone 3G. Boy I love my new "toy". I can take pretty good pictures if I do say so myself, as well as listen to music, etc. But, I digress. The walk around the lake was beautiful, and Autumn arrived when I wasn't looking, hence the beginning falling leaves as well as the beautiful fall colors just beginning to show in the trees.
Oh and Lori , I'll blog about the cruise next!!:-)

Happy First Day of Autumn!

At exactly 11:44am, Summer officially ended and Autumn officially arrived.
Although I had to work today, yesterday John and I visited a favorite Nursery and bought Mums and some ornamental grass plants. I replanted the backyard planters with Mums and ornamental peppers. The peppers are all different colors: purple, orange, yellow and green. I'll take some pictures and post soon, they look awesome. Our impatients still look good, so we'll wait to plant cabbages in their place in a couple of weeks. Our Montalk Daisies are almost ready to bloom.
Only mishap of the day yesterday was that while at the nursery, I was stung by a yellow jacket. Ouch, did that sting, just about all day. Today I feel as if I have a mosquitoe bit.

Happy 30 Month LID Anniversary!

Today is 30 months (or two and a half years) that we have been logged in with the CCAA. We started our "paper chase" just after Labor Day 2005. Our dossier was mailed to China on March 6, 2005, and was officially logged in to the CCAA on March 22, 2006. Wow, how can time seem to go so slowly, but at the same time just slip away. We are hopeful that we are finally in the home stretch.

One Step At A Time

I thought this might be a good time to give an update as to where we are in our wait to adopt Marissa Renee. We are "waiting in line" for China to get to our LID (Log In Date), the date our adoption application was officially logged in by the Chinese Center For Adoption Affairs (CCAA).

As noted above, our LID is 3/22/06. As of the beginning of this month, the CCAA had completed assigning children up to and including the LID 2/09/06. This means there are 41 LID's left till the CCAA gets to our date. How long will that take?? Well I'm hoping that I can finally say that we are in the home stretch and we expect to receive our referral in about 6 months. How do I know? Well I don't know for sure, but I base it upon information I can gather from the websites of others who keep close track of what China has done in the past.

One website I frequent monthly is China Adoption Forecast. This site attempts to forecast when we may receive MR's referral based upon their statistical analysis of what China has done in the past.

The website that really keeps me going is that of the Rumor Queen. I visit her site daily, multiple times a day, to keep abreast of what's going on in the Chinese adoption world. News can travel slowly from our agencies, so this is a place of support and sharing. I probably would have gone crazy a while ago if I hadn't found this site.

Our immigration approval will expire at the end of March 09. That means we will probably have to renew it again, not to mention we will have to be refingerprinted, and have our home study updated as well.

Last but not least, I named this post "One Step At A Time", the new release by Jordin Sparks. The minute I heard it, I fell in love with it. It is my self proclaimed "theme song". I am taking this wait one step and one day at a time. I continue to trust in my Lord's perfect timing. And as the song says ...." It'll happen when it's supposed to happen". Listen and enjoy!!

Our Blog Make Over Is Complete!!

I'm am just so excited! Our new blog design is complete and I just love it. Hope you like it. Thank you Diana of Custom Blog Designs for creating our beautiful blog design. If you look to the right below the side bar is the name of the kit Diana used. When I saw the color scheme and lady bugs, I new that's what I wanted. The picture of John and I comes from our recent Bermuda trip.
So now that our blog has a brand new look, it's time for me to kick it into high gear and start blogging seriously.
So.....here goes.

Complete Blog Overhaul in Progress!

I am having my blog professionally redesigned. So far the template looks great.
Can't wait!!

We're Still Here!

Haven't "blogged" in a long time. I feel as if I'm driving through a long
underground tunnel, and am starting to see the light ahead.
I still miss my Dad so much sometimes that I can't breath.
I don't know about other people, but I find writing my thoughts down to be
very difficult. That's another reason I haven't blogged in a while.
Well.... John and I will be leaving in about 2 hours for our first away, away vacation in almost 6 years (does are honeymoon count??).
We will be taking a cruise to Bermuda!!
Not taking the computer with us, but will take lots of pictures and blog about it when we return.
I'm also planning a major blog overhaul. I'm determined to master blogging.
See you when we get back!!
Sue

I Love You Dad!!!!!!

I haven't blogged in a while for several reasons.
The most important reason, is that my dear and beloved father, Martin,
passed away about two and a half weeks ago.
The last 9 months since my dad became ill, have been filled with pain, anxiety and worry. They have also been filled with many blessings.
I miss my dear dad more than words could ever say, and I am so proud not only of the
life he lived and the legacy he has left behind , but that I was blessed to be his daughter.
Although I am at peace knowing he is with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, I am full of grief over losing him. That grief is eased somewhat by the many wonderful memories that comfort me and my family.

Dad I love you now and forever!!!

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.- Psalm 91.1

Happy Chinese New Year! The Year Of The Rat!!

It's Ground Hog's Day!

Can't believe it's February already. On one side of the fence, I'm glad, because that means that winter is almost over (depending upon which ground hog you listen to :-) ), on the other side, it just feels as time is speeding by.

Rumors are abound that another batch of referrals are imminent. Also that the this batch will include December 27th and may even finish off 2005!! That would be so great!! If the CCAA makes it to the 27th, that leaves 85 log in dates to March 22, which is our LID.

More to come...

Happy New Year!!

Last Wednesday, (the day after Christmas), John and I took the LIRR into Manhattan to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. I usually see the tree on TV every morning as I watch the Today Show while I get ready for work. The view of tree on TV is awesome, it's from above and that makes the tree look huge. Funny thing is that when I was standing in front of the tree, my thoughts were that although it was beautiful, that it wasn't as large as it looks on TV. It was still beautiful, and as soon as I download the pictures from my phone, I'll post them here.

We walked to Rockefeller Center from Penn Station, which is a nice walk! We exited Penn Station at 34th St. and 7th Avenue, right near Macy's Herald Square (where you see the parade on TV!). We actually stood right in front of Macy's where all the Broadway show dance numbers happen. Wish I would have thought to get a picture of that :-(.

We walked along 7th Avenue right through Times Square. If you enlarge the picture above you should be able to make out where the New Years Ball is placed, and which made it's historic yearly trek last night!!

Last night my family came over to celebrate the New Year. We had a great time! I was a bit under the weather as I came down with a cold on Sunday, but it was a night to remember!! About 9PM, LIPA (Long Island Power Authority, our electric company), turned off the power for about 45 minutes to cut down a tree in our neighbors backyard, as it was cracked and precariously ready to take down power lines. Only problem was, that we had no advance notice and suddenly found ourselves in the dark!!
Good thing was, that I keep rechargeable flashlights all over the house, so we sat around talking in the semidarkness.

My Dad is still in rehabilitation, but making strides everyday. I call him "Our Christmas Miracle" as he as surpassed all we had thought he'd be able to do. I'll post new pictures of him and give a further update really soon.

Lastly, it looks as if the CCAA has referred another batch for January, but not sure of the cut off date. We are March 22, 2006 (LID) and we are hoping that this will be our year to bring Renee home!!!!

We thank our Lord for the many blessings He has bestowed on our family this year, and continue to trust in His perfect timing.

We wish you all a very Happy and Healthy and Blessed 2008!!

Love,
Sue and John