DO YOU BELIEVE IN DREAMS?

Around March/April of 2004 I had a very powerful dream. I asked my sister-in-law, who is excellent at interpreting dreams, to tell me what she thought of my dream...
My sister-in-laws comments are in blue:

We were in a car going to a party ~ being in a car can mean progress, change, movement, since cars transport us from one place to another, a transport in the form of a trip, like to China! Going to a party: celebration/happy event.

There are a lot of people at this party and I find a seat on a folding chair~"folding chair":unfolding of events

My mother-in-law ( she is an adoptive mother!) is sitting to the left of me and we find out she is throwing us a going away party~ "going away" to get your baby!?, moving forward, change, moving on...

Then someone hands me an infant (interesting to note that the baby was given to you!) and I hug the baby and say, "my little girl, I finally have my little girl". I was very emotional in the dream~

That's what I see, without hearing your associations to help guide me further. You know I do believe that God sometimes sends us dreams (sometimes through other people, even!) to guide us/give us hope, and this could very well be such a dream, I lean towards this.
PRETTY AMAZING, ISN'T IT?

Yes, I do think it's amazing...I've been thinking back to some pretty "amazing" events. I do see how things have been unfolding. At the time, I was oblivious to them and now I'm putting them together.

"Home"-Boy!

Happy to be home - his face says it all - watching "Bob the Builder", playing with his toys - Home! His teachers said he quickly "recovered" after I left and had a real good day! Mommy has a smile on her face (almost) as big as Eddie's ... my boy!

Breaking My Heart...

My little guy is having such a hard time going to Preschool and saying good-bye. He was trying to smile in this picture before school...we even tried bringing his bear, Buddy today. Nothing seems to make it easier for him ~ mommy is so sad this morning; but hopefully when I call they will tell me he is having a good time!?
I often wonder if Mia will have an easier time going off to school than her brothers, but will I have a harder time...hmmmm, that is the question.

*Still no word about our LID. I'm just hoping that it is a September 2006 LID and not an October LID...hopefully we'll know sooner rather than later!

WELCOME FALL!

This is my favorite time of year! The excitement of the upcoming holidays:
Halloween,
Thanksgiving,
and my very favorite ~ CHRISTMAS!

Unfortunately, I should also welcome...COLD season; as my little guy has his first cold - and he's only been to school 3 TIMES! Let the drama begin...

OFFICIAL DTC DATE: SEPTEMBER 15, 2006!

My adoption agency notified me that my "official DTC date (dossier to China) is Sept. 15th"!

Now it will go to the CCAA(China Center of Adoption Affairs) where it will first be registered, then it will go to translation, then reviewed, matching room and ultimately our referral!!

They basically go by our LID (log in date); which I am assuming we will get after we are registered ~ come on now CCAA, let's register that dossier!

My agency also said I am officially in the "waiting phase. They said, "this is usually the hardest part" and "it is a good time to decorate the nursery so that you'll have something to keep you busy". What about...

SHOPPING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOVE & SUPPORT ~

How can thank you be enough?
Friends & family have already blessed Mia with very special "presents". I wanted to dedicate this post to the special people in our lives, not only the ones who gave to Mia; but to those of you who supported me through everything...and now sharing in my "Mia-joy"!

Bags & bags of special clothes for Miss Mia! Thank you, B!

Fabulous book! Thank you, M & F!

Wonderful keepsake & book! Thank you, D!

Mia's first Barbie! Thank you, M!

Once again, thank you all for your kindness, Love, Mia's Mommy!

ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS...

WE ARE DONE - DONE - DONE - WITH THE PAPERCHASE!

* 3 POUNDS OF PAPERS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO OUR ADOPTION AGENCY AS I WRITE ~ "you are reading this correctly 3 POUNDS" of papers were put into a Fedex box, kissed, yes I really did kiss them...and the box...the lady at the counter understood completely (she said), because she adopted her son 20 years ago.

WE ARE DONE WITH ALL OF THE PAPERWORK,

BUT OUR WAIT HAS JUST BEGUN...

MIA IS HER NAME ~ THERE'S NO TURNING BACK NOW!

Now, we have our girls name in writing, so she will really and truley be : Mia!
We went to the city yesterday to "show" my aunt and cousin around - we ended up in China town and saw this artist making these amazing pictures. Each letter is made out of a flower, butterfly or a bird - this makes up her name (we also had him write her name in chinese). I was thrilled because it was hubbys idea to get one for Mia's room!! That meant a lot to me... look how pretty!

LOOK OUT PRESCHOOL, HERE HE COMES!

Eddie seemed real happy to see his preschool today. He has wonderful teachers - sweet & caring; and the classroom is full of great toys, play-doh, paint and the cutest pint sized bathroom (let's just hope he uses it instead of his pants!).

The real test is next Thursday when I do the old "drop off" - for now, we have one more day of "mommy & me" on Tuesday and then after that it's solo! Exciting, but scarey...for mommy!



*Paperwork is still at the Chinese Consulate and we'll get it Monday - hubby has the day off, so he'll go into the city, grab the papers and run home so we can make copies and run to Fedex! So exciting - looks like we'll be DTC (date to China) next Friday ~ a week from today!! Happy dance again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SCHOOL DAZE!

3rd grader ready to leave for school!

little brother, not ready to let him go...








Even Penny is going
to miss him!






*Anthony did GREAT this morning ~ I am so very proud of him! However, he's only been gone an hour and I already miss my boy...

BASEBALL BOYS!

Turned out to be a pretty nice weekend ~ there was a lot of baseball being played at our house!

Handed over my I-171H to my brother - he'll bring it to be Country Certified for me - what a brother!

Wednesday it will be handed to the hubby to be brought in to be State Certified and hopefully to the Chinese Consulate!? Not sure if it can all be done in one day...


If my agency receives my dossier by 10 am on Wednesday, then it will be sent to China by that Friday! It will never make it by this week....but, by next week!! ??