Still #5

I found out yesterday that we're still #5. I was hoping we would travel before the end of the year, but you never know. When it happens, it happens. It will be the right time and the right baby for us.

There have been some changes in when some of the paperwork is filed. It used to be that form I600 was filed while in Vietnam. This form is filed once a child has been identified to adopt and USCIS (US Citizenship & Immigration Services) determines that the child has been released correctly and there wasn't any corruption. The new regulations state that form I600 is filed once we receive and accept a referral and before we travel. This could mean a longer wait between referral and travel, since USCIS has 60 days to make their determination. It doesn't mean it will take 60 days. And it will probably result in a shorter stay in Vietnam. They haven't determined when this new regulation will go into effect, so I don't know if it will affect us or not.

Annual adoption picnic

Yesterday was our adoption agency's annual picnic. We visited with a couple who is adopting from Guatemala. They have had their referral since last December and still don't have a travel date. Their son had his 1 year birthday a couple of weeks ago and they weren't able to share it with him. They get updated pictures and even video, but it's not the same. The Guatemala program has become risky because of what's going on with their government and the Hague treaty. We also spent some time with our friends from Janesville. The have a 2 1/2 year old son they adopted from Korea and a 9 1/2 month old daughter from Vietnam. She is so good natured and has bonded well with them. I had some concern because I had heard of someone else who adopted from another country and is having a hard time with the bonding. She reassured me that the Vietnam babies have all transitioned and bonded well. They are very well cared for by the orphanage nannies where the ratio is usually 1:2.

We continue to wait for our referral. I have become more relaxed about it knowing it is in God's hands. When we do get our referral it will be the perfect baby for us.

A quick update

As of Wednesday, we are now #5 on the list. CAS received 5 referrals about a week ago, 2 girls, 3 boys. I was disappointed to find out we had only moved up 2 spots. But I know it will happen eventually and it will all be worth it in the end. So I need to be patient. I've been driving myself crazy trying to predict when we will have a referral. I need to stop that. It's unpredictable. My friend who traveled to Vietnam the end of May received her referral the next day. And now, just a few months later, we're still waiting for ours. That's the nature of international adoption.

Well, we're still waiting. It's so hard knowing we are so close. I keep thinking any day now. Everytime the phone rings, I wonder is this the call we're waiting for. It can't be too much longer, right?

Anyway, school has started and we are getting back into our routine. Nate was so excited to start 4th grade. He is at Northside Intermediate School in Milton, which is grades 4, 5, and 6. The first day he came home he was so excited about school. He will be starting Cub Scouts soon. This will be his 4th year. He is still very interested and said he is going to keep going. Mark is going to be a Co-Den Leader this year.

Luke is in 2nd grade at Harmony Elementary, which is just down the road from our house, about 2 minutes away. Luke doesn't have any interest in Scouts, but is going to be starting 4H this year.

Our hand bell choir at church started this week, so I will be going to weekly practice. I'll be taking a leave once we go to Vietnam.

I'll keep you posted, hopefully we'll have news soon!