2009 - The Year in Photos...

Holiday '09 Re-Cap

Steve and I traveled to Seattle on Wednesday to spend the holidays with my family. Lucky for us, this year the weather cooperated! (unlike last year's 3 ft of snow). Nope, this year OTHER parts of the country got to experience the holiday "joy" of a white Christmas...and I am happy to report, we enjoyed sunshine and temps in the 50s in Seattle - whoo hoo!


On Christmas Eve we joined my parents in taking the ferry over to Vashon Island for a mini day trip and lunch. The views from the ferry were outstanding. You could see the Olympic Mountains to the west, and Mt. Rainier to the south. Later in the evening, we met up with my sister for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory (one of my favorite restaurants) before church. My parents' church choir was singing at the 11 p.m. service, so we were able to have a leisurely dinner beforehand.


Christmas morning the sun was shining again (unheard of weather for Seattle at this time of year!) In an effort to reduce stress and save money for adoption expenses, the family had agreed to celebrate a low-key Christmas this year and just exchange stockings, which was fun. Of course Luna and Killer rec'd some new toys from Santa as well...


In the afternoon we went over to my Aunt & Uncle's place in Issaquah, where we had the chance to catch up with them, my grandma, and my cousins. Lots of food and sweets were had by all. Good times.

There were definitely some "Lia-inspired" gifts this year (which I graciously accepted on her behalf). My sister got me an adorable leather Ladybug wallet. My stocking contained a Panda beanie baby, my cousin K.C. gave us a collection of ladybug toys and magnets, and a cool magnet that is a map of China...and my grandma gave me the MOST adorable ladybug musicbox you have ever seen. The ladybug's body opens to reveal the inscription "Granddaughter, you are cute as a bug" - and the musicbox plays "You Are My Sunshine". So sweet...

Saturday we stopped at California Pizza Kitchen on our way out of Seattle, then drove back over Snoqualmie Pass in gorgeous sunny weather and blue skies as far as the eye could see. We stopped at Safeway in Cle Elum for a quick potty break, and Luna decided that those five minutes we were gone would be a good time to raid the leftover pizza box and eat one entire piece of BBQ Chicken pizza, and smear the second piece around the passenger seat. KIDS! Did I mention Luna doesn't typically eat wheat because it gives her gas? NICE. Thank goodness for leather seats, napkins and hand sanitizer...the mess was easily cleaned up, but I kept waiting for Luna's gut bomb to explode. Lucky for us, that never happened. I suppose this was good practice for traveling with a toddler. Every mom I know keeps a box of wipes in her purse for such occasions... I may as well get used to it. :)

A Holiday Message...

THANKS GEORGE!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU TOO... :)

32 months...and Fingerprinting...again!

Today marks 32 months that my dossier has been logged in with the government in China. How many more to go? It's hard to say. My agency says to expect up to 12-18 additional months... But God willing, 2010 is going to be the year...finally. So SEE YA 2009! This will be the fourth Christmas that has passed since I applied to adopt. Four years! Who knew? Hopefully by next Christmas, I'll at least have a photo of Lia. Fingers crossed. This time of year is difficult for many of us in the adoption community. We watch others as they go from Halloween, to Thanksgiving, to Christmas celebrating with their little ones and experiencing each holiday thru the eyes of their children. For those of us who continue to wait - we are happy for our friends and family - but it is also bittersweet.

The good news, is that I received my fingerprinting appointment notice from Homeland Security yesterday - whoo hoo! I know, not many folks would celebrate being invited to get fingerprinted by the federal government as a holiday "wish". But for me, it means that paperwork continues to move forward (at least on the U.S. side) and my immigration paperwork will be ready and up-to-date whenever my match finally arrives! So next week I will head down to the federal building at the appointed hour and have them scan all my fingers into their fancy computer...

...AGAIN.