The New Place

Here are some photos of my new townhouse. It still doesn't really feel like home yet. I guess since I didn't get moved in until New Year's, and then headed straight back to work...I'm still not totally unpacked. Luna has accepted it as home and that's important. She loves being able to go out in the (small) fenced backyard. I'm getting used to the commute as each week passes by...I think it will become "home" to me once I have the chance to spend some more time here...

Rest in Peace...

My grandpa passed away on Friday evening. I am sad, but it is also a blessing in that he didn't suffer and he died in his sleep at a wonderful, caring hospice center.


This is a photo of him with my father, my sister and I at my dad's 60th birthday party last August. It is the last photo I have of him. He will be missed, but never forgotten. Someday I will tell Lia about her great grandpa Irwin and what a wonderful man he was.

Moving Forward

Another week has passed - and things continue to move along. I finished up my homestudies yesterday and Pam is putting the reports together now. I also received my fingerprint invitation from Immigration - so as soon as my homestudy report is in to CCAI, I can go get fingerprinted and move that paperwork along. I rec'd my certified documents back from the WA Secretary of State, so now those have been forwarded on to the Embassy in San Francisco for authentication...I have all my paperwork compiled so I can move forward with certifying all the CO documents with our Secretary of State. I am lucky that I literally work four blocks from the CO State Capitol, and I am over there all the time during the legislative session, so it shouldn't be a big deal to walk in and get that all done and get all those documents off to Chicago for authentication. Then I just need to wait for the famous 171H (immigration approval) - I'm inching forward with all this paperwork. It's tedious and stressful, but I know it will all be worth it!

Grandpa update - he is still hanging on in hospice. Things are kind of day-today right now. I'm awaiting the phone call of his passing. My prayers are for him to rest in peace. Thanks to everyone for your words of support and sympathy. I really appreciate it! It's hard being the sole family member living out-of-state and being so far away from everyone during times like these.

I'm hoping to get some pictures taken at my new place this weekend, so hopefully will be able to post for folks next week! (also, some of the cute gifts and items being collected for Lia's future nursery!) Coming soon!

Keeping on...

Hey everybody, I know it's been awhile. My life has been so chaotic lately. I've had little computer time (other than at work!)

The good news is - I had my first homestudy meeting with my SW, Pam yesterday. We had great conversation and I felt really good about her and everything moving forward. I didn't go overboard cleaning since I just moved into my place over the New Year...and quite honestly still have a lot of boxes and pictures and things still waiting to be unpacked and hung. But she was very cool about all that. I sent WA state documents off to the Sec of State there for certification this week. Still waiting on my fingerprint invitation from USCIS...checking the mail every day - they said it could be six weeks - and it's only been about a month since I mailed it off, so I am trying to be patient. All my other CO paperwork is coming together...

The bad news is, my grandpa has been very ill since last week. He suffered a series of strokes and has been in the hospital since last Friday. Granted, he is a man in his 80's who has led a wonderful long life - but it is still sad - especially for my grandma, who has been his life partner for 62 years! He is on a feeding tube now. We all know he would not want to be kept alive by tubes and machines, so the family has asked the doctors to go to any heroic measures, but instead to just keep him as comfortable as possible. This is a very tough time for my dad and really all my family out in Seattle and I feel pretty disconnected here in Colorado - but ultimately there is little I can do but say prayers and know that whatever happens is ultimately God's plan. Ugh - tough times!

A Wild Ride!

Lots going on...and more snow to come! (aaargh....)

I attended singles orientation at CCAI on Friday (yes, I had to drive through our THIRD snowstorm to get there!) But it was great meeting the other single women from Colorado and getting some verification "straight from the horses mouth" about China's rules changes and current timelines and such. I really felt a lot more confident after that meeting. Although we are currently looking at Spring of 2009 for Lia's arrival - I still feel good about my decision and in my heart I know everything is going to work out. Plus now I have two years to prepare and save money! I know how fast the past two years have gone by, and while I wish I didn't have to wait so long, I know that Lia will be revealed to me when the time is right.

We were assigned our social workers for our home studies. I spoke to my SW, Pam today and set up my appointments with her in the coming weeks. The paper chase moves forward...

And another big snowstorm is now predicted for Thurs./Fri. - whoopee! (not.)

Back to the Grind...

Can I just say I am SICK of snow??? Ugh! Denver is one messy, sloppy, dirty looking city right now. The snow has been melting a bit during the day, then freezing up at night...making it a major ordeal just to walk across a parking lot without falling on your butt!

Got back from Seattle on Saturday, finally got moved on Sunday/Monday (will post photos of my new pad soon!) I'm without cable or a computer hook-up at home until Friday when Comcast comes and works their magic...so if I seem disconnected...I AM! I also caught a lovely headcold just in time for New Year's. Nothing major, just annoying for the most part. Went to bed at 9 pm on New Year's Eve!

Looking forward to orientation at CCAI on Friday. The dossier team held a conference call today, but because I'm at work, I wasn't able to participate. They said they would record it for the rest of us. My paperwork is starting to come together. I was excited when I moved into my new place on Sunday and went into the extra room, realizing that it will be Lia's room one day!

In Seattle...

I'm currently in Seattle visiting my family for the holidays. Sadly, because of the big snowstorm in Denver, I was unable to get moved into my new place before I left for Seattle - so guess what I will be doing New Year's Eve??? Oh well, at least my place is all packed up and ready to move when I get back. I just hate the whole concept of going back to clean my old apartment on New Year's Day. New Year's should mark new beginnings, not cleaning up old messes...aaaahhh the symbolism and analogies THAT represents!

Got my dossier guide from CCAI yesterday. Looks like I am well on my way with the required documents and paperwork I'm needing to gather. I'm sure I'll learn more at orientation on the 5th. When you look at the guide, it can be overwhelming, but I'm trying to focus on one thing at a time and remember "slow and steady wins the race"...well, okay - maybe not "slow" in this case - but maybe "focused and steady - if a little bit rushed" :)

Christmas was great with the fam. Lots of support from my parents, grandparents and other relatives. We watched the CCAI DVD together. We all cried (happy tears). It's been a blast hanging out with my sister and catching up with old friends - at least those I could fit into the schedule. I wish it wasn't so rushed when I visit. It's hard to schedule everyone in. But nice to know that people WANT to see me and spend time with me when I am here.

I've been here four days now and I'm starting to miss Denver. It's home to me now. It's so dark and gloomy this time of year in Seattle. I miss the sunshine (and the glare of all that snow!) and I'm anxious to get my new place set up and start out 2007 with a refreshed sense of hope and optimism.