Waiting...Waiting On My World To Change

So - I don't know about you but I'm ready to GO! I mean really, I want to make the last trip to Target, throw all things summer into a couple bags and get on a big jet plane!

Our family was to be presented for first approval aka travel approval to the Board last Wed 10.21 or next Wed 11.4. So literally, we could get the phone call at any moment that says, "You have first approval for 12.2!" or that phone call could be 2 weeks away.

So we wait - I mean, how can you NOT wait??? I try to make plans, but seriously, I mean, SERIOUSLY, I have one thing on my mind 99% of the time and it has nothing to do with Halloween, Thanksgiving, OR Christmas! I read the message board and get SO excited for the ones expecting or hoping for a December referral and realize, Wow! - that was me just a short time ago and now, here we are with a countdown on the frig and away we will go Thanksgiving week.

SO UPDATE - last night - I got an email from Holt that tells me the Visa Office will be closed on our Visa day 12.3 and will reopen on 12.14 - you'll have to plan to vacation in Thailand until 12.16. Well, after we had our initial stroke of staying in the country much longer than planned, we sent the email back that said, BRING IT! Send me that Travel Approval!!!

So - Friends - Send me those Beach Destinations! Koh this and Koh that! Hua Hin, Phuket, Phi Phi, where oh where should we go? We are taking our family of five to the beach right after we meet! LOL - brave, stupid, I don't know but I don't want to spend that much time in the city - We will never - I mean - I can't imagine - EVER - have or take the opportunity to enjoy a 3 week trip again so we plan to have a blast! And yes - Little Mia has plenty of sundresses for the trip! The rest of us will have to find laundry services every 5 days or so. LOL

10 Months Old

Hey there cute little 10 month old baby girl!!!

I bet you are babbling up a storm - having complete conversations that only you could understood. I look forward to having them with you.

I wonder if you are taking your first steps or crawling quickly all over the place. I remember how Matt would crawl to the coffee table and walk around it all day but never consider leaving the room. On the other hand Mark would crawl all over the house and if I looked away for one second, he'd be in a closet with a bunch of toys laughing and playing. I wonder if you'll stick close by or be looking for the next big adventure!

I bet you never tire of Peek a boo or the "drop a toy and mommy pick it up" game. I guess I should start practicing Thai - Jut Ay - pronounced "Shut A" in case you were wondering. I was never a big fan of drop it and pick it up so I thought I'd just warn you now - I'll be looking to distract you with any other game! LOL

4 months ago we found out who you were. Seems like we waited a lifetime for that moment. Now it seems like we've known your little face for a lifetime. We are still waiting for official confirmation but our tentative travel date is ONE month away. I still cannot believe it. I'm sure that month will both fly by and drag on. We will try to stay busy and from the looks of my lists, that shouldn't be hard to do! See you very soon Little M!

Get Ready

Well the room is not ready and the furniture may not be here until mid November so I'm not going to finish the room until the week before we leave. But I'm not fretting that. I wanted to buy from the locally owned store rather than go through the big chain and I knew this was a possibility. Just never thought it would be the reality.

I bought the board meeting outfit and some "light breathe-able fabric" clothes this weekend on my girl's trip to the Gatlinburg Outlet Mall. I also picked up a few other things that were JUST too good to pass up whether they were cute or practically free or both.

Clothes - we are ready to go.

Feeding - we are ready to go.

House - we need some work.

Keep everyone occupied on flight - we need some work.

Be ready for Christmas 6 weeks early - I should really start.

There are a lot of things on my list but they are all items that I put on my “One Month Prior to Travel List” so we’ll be ok.

I’m also attempting to keep all my weekends as “free” as possible.

Here are some of my purchases:


The 4-in-1 jacket is awesome and exactly what I was looking for!

They practically paid me to take this outfit!

The silly monkey corduroy jumper made me laugh

The knit elephant dress stole my heart! Had to have it!

Tentative Travel Dates

We just found out Holt is planning to present our family for first approval (i.e. travel approval) at either the 10.21 meeting or the 11.4 meeting. As long as this occurs, which is usually does if they tell you it's going to, we were told we will be traveling to attend the 12.2 board meeting. She'll be 11 months old when we meet her!

So we could be leaving in about 6 weeks. Although, they did say, "Don't buy airfare YET!"

I'm at a loss for words - just feeling really blessed right now - and praying harder than I ever have that we find out we're approved next week - I was still hoping for December travel but was really thinking it would be January. Although, I did buy Mia's Christmas dress the other day...just in case.

There's one other family who is tentatively scheduled for the same meeting. I hope it's who I'm thinking it is!

Matt will get to celebrate his birthday Thai style. He shares the King's birthday 12.5 and I hear it's quite a celebration!

20 Months!

20 months ago we began a journey to adopt a little girl. Walking by love and faith, we asked for a child 0-3 years of age and were told, "you are likely to wait 21-24 months."

Now the little girl has a name, a face, a history, a family in Thailand who loves her and takes care of her, a family in America who is ready to bring her home.

We don't know when we're going to Thailand but one thing is for certain, 20 months ago, 20 months seemed like it would never get here and yet, here it is. We've come a long way baby and we're almost there. As I sit knowing we are 1-4 months from meeting our little girl, I feel like it will never get here! Of course, I know it will.

Bring on that travel approval! I'm ready to book!

VIVA LAS VEGAS!

This weekend Chris and I escaped parenthood for a great weekend in Vegas. We actually couldn’t remember the last time we traveled alone without another couple. While all our couple trips have been a blast, it was nice to be just the two of us. We wandered up and down the strip, in and out of hotels, shopped, gambled, ATE, ATE, and ATE some more and had a blast. Of course, we had plenty of time to talk (FINALLY) about all things in life, which was nice too. I think we might be closer to narrowing down the middle name for Mia but we still haven’t decided. LOL

Funny Story - Passing through security Chris’ backpack was getting the thorough inspection and the “What is that?” look from 2 inspectors. Chris finally asked, “What is it?” They said with a chuckle, “Do you have a pair of handcuffs in there?” Chris busted out laughing and said, “No! But I wonder what you are seeing, my keys maybe.” They all laughed and never checked the bag. After I boarded (we fly separate – another story), he started looking through his backpack and low and behold, found a pair of handcuffs!!! A small, metal, kid-sized pair of handcuffs. He turned red and laughed out loud as he thought, “DARN KIDS”!!! Mental note - check all pockets before boarding for Thailand!

On the way home, after we reached the altitude above the clouds, I looked out the window and thought wow – I could see all the way to Thailand. For once, I actually felt close to Mia and yet, so far away. It is October and we know that some time between now and December we’ll find out travel dates. The “life in limbo feeling” will be gone.

Yep - Me, Chris, George and Brad - we all stood in the same spot - unfortunately, not at the same time! A girl's dream - those three! ;)



This is the World's Largest Chocolate Fountain! Woah! Love it!


The waterfall at the Mirage - could stand there all morning!

The Eiffel Tower is one of my favorite sites! I've never seen the real one.

I love the Wynn - It's so beautiful inside and out!

The waterfall at the Wynn

Ok - this guy is just plain nuts! That's a tiger crazy man!