Waitlist!!

Whoo Hoo!! Our Dossier is officially complete and off to the Ethiopian Embassy in DC. We are officially on the waitlist as of 1/12/09!! I am so glad to be done with paperwork for the moment. We had our fingerprints for our CIS approval updated yesterday because they were set to expire in February. We got to the fingerprinting center about 9am, 1 hour after they opened, and we were done in 15 minutes. That has to be the fastest that we have had anything done related to this process. I guess the early bird does catch the worm.

I'm not sure if I'm going to be counting down weekly, but I'll likely mention where we are in this waiting phase periodically. Given how slow things have been moving lately, I won't allow myself to become too antsy until we are waiting at least 7-8 months. I know that is outside of the 4-6 months quoted by my agency, but it seems most folks are waiting at least 6 months these days, many a bit longer. Hopefully I won't become totally loony during the wait, but I guess we will have to wait and see. Nothing happens before it's proper time. I truly believe that. It's when we force things that the natural order is disrupted. So I will try to to be patient while waiting, knowing that God knows the perfect timing. Now, I need you all to pray that my actions will be as patient as my words are.

In the meantime, I have so many other task to complete, I'm sure I'll keep myself busy. For starters, I must continue our declutter. We started a month or two ago, but it sure seems that the more you clean, the more STUFF you realize that you have. I am so attached to STUFF, but I can give it away. Unlike my husband and son; 2 pack rats. B has a toy room that is big enough for another bedroom, but there is so much stuff in there, that I just close the door when I pass it. There are baby toys, tons of books, toddler toys, little kids toys, and older kids toys since he will be 9 this year. There is so much stuff in that room that you can hardly walk. I'm actually kinda scared to clean it. It is so intimidating. If I get up the courage, I'll post a before and after picture. (That if it's not too embarrassing). We also want to get our basement finished. It's currently partially finished, but now is the time to finish it completely. That's if I don't have the urge to move first (Ha!). I don't know why, but I seem to want a new car every 3-4 years, and a new house every 5-6 years. It's crazy I know, but there is something exciting about a new house and a new car. I'll have to quench this craving until our adoption is complete, because I have no plans on updating our homestudy before we need to.

During the wait I also hope to post more to our blog, and follow up the progress of all my blog buddies since I'll have nothing but free time on my hands (wink!) So to all of you who think the paperwork is impossible to complete or it's taking you forever; have some hope. If we finished, anyone can (LOL)! 1 year later, but hey it's done.