2012 - A Year of Waiting and Anticipation

If you know me at all, you know what 2012 was all about for me.  It was a year of lots of big decisions, lots of waiting, lots of stress and lots of excitement.  2013 is sure to be the craziest year of my life so far!  Here are some highlights of 2012 (both adoption and non-adoption related):

January
Adoption:  

I started this entire process.  I looked into different programs, contacted Reece's Rainbow, the adoption agency and the home study agency.  I sought advice from family and friends.  I received a packet containing this beautiful picture.
I started filling out reams and reams of paperwork.  This would continue for the entire year.

Non-Adoption:
Ummm...something must have happened......

February
Adoption:  
I had an intake meeting with the social worker for my home study.  
My homestudy was officially started.  
Sara and I were officially matched on RR.

Non-Adoption:
I spent a weekend in Indy with Anna and with some dear friends from Maine.  It was fun to reconnect with Lisa and her family.

March
Adoption:  
I had my home visit with the social worker.
I did my 10 hours of training required by Hague.

Non-Adoption:
I spent my spring break with my family in NY.  These are the kinds of things I do with my family:

April
Adoption:  
My amazing work friends through me a toddler shower.

Non-Adoption:
My family welcomed another little girl.  Kinsley Morgan Keller was born to my brother and sister-in-law on April 20th.

May
Adoption:  
My home study was FINALLY finished.
My i-800A was submitted to USCIS.

Non-Adoption:
I spent my last "I'm not a Mom" Mother's day.
I got to meet my first RR baby--Henry.

June
Adoption:  
The women in my small group put together a huge yard sale for Sara.  Despite the yucky weather, it was a HUGE success.
My mother threw me a shower with some friends and family in NY.  My sister made the trip and I got to meet my new niece.  I also got to meet Angie and Jason.  (We have walked through this process together.  I can't wait to get our girls together.) 

Non-Adoption:
Anna and I went on one last girls' vacation to Cozumel, Mexico.  Thanks to LivingSocial, we got a great deal.  It involved sitting in the pool and doing little else (except dodging some of the staff) for 6 days.  Amazing.

July
Adoption:  
My I-800A application was approved by USCIS.  This let me start filling out grant applications and submit my dossier.

Non-Adoption:
I dog sat for a week.  The dog survived and so did I!
I spent a weekend in Holland, MI with my dear friend Becky.

August
Adoption:  
I received word that I had been given a large grant by Show Hope.  What a blessing!
Sara celebrated her 4th birthday---the last one she will know without a family.
My dossier was submitted.

Non-Adoption:
I spent a weekend in Indy with Anna.  It involved lots of trips to Joanns and Redbox.  I have to appreciate a friend that loves low-key weekends as much as I do.
I also spent a chunk of time in NY with my parents.  My mom and I even went "camping."  We stayed in the air-conditioned RV and watched lots of ER and knit.  We did it in the state park so it's considered camping, right?

September
Adoption:  
Sara's orphanage approved my request to adopt her.

Non-Adoption:
I started my 13th year of teaching.  I'm really not sure how that happened.  I swear I'm not that old!

October
Adoption:  
I got Sara's official referral in October.  Before that, I had a few pages and a couple of little pictures.  Her referral allowed me to find out tons more about her and fall even farther in love with her.  It also allowed me to accept her referral and tell my country and hers that I wanted to be her mom.  It also meant I got a new picture.

I was issued my approval by USCIS.  A huge step in the process!

Non-Adoption:
I spent three days in Minnesota at a conference for work.  I got to experience the Mall of America and add another state to my list.  I think we decided I'm at 40.


November
Adoption:  

Not much really happened on the adoption front.  I found out that Sara wouldn't be home in time for Christmas and that I would have to wait until January to travel.  The rest of the month was spent waiting and waiting and waiting.
I got to hang out with Angie.  We had our own little "our girls won't be home for Christmas pity party."  We also went and met Selah and Yvonne.  I had been following their story since August and had seen Selah in the hospital days after their accident.  It was nice to finally meet them!
Non-Adoption:
I flew to NY for Thanksgiving.  My sister didn't make it home but the rest of the family got some time together.  I got to spend a little time with my aunt and 4 cousins.  I'm not sure the last time we all were together.

December  
Adoption:  
Sara's Article 5 was issued.  This is the promise from the US Embassy that they will issue her a visa to come to the US.  This means that I finally got a travel date.  I booked tickets, got a visa, booked the hotel.  Traveling planning was in full swing.

I also got to Skype with Sara.  It was absolutely priceless.  I didn't really say much.  I just sat and watched her.  She's convinced my dad is Santa Claus and kept asking where the dog was.  Poor child may be very disappointed when she finally gets home!

Non-Adoption:
I got to spend the day waiting for this little princess to arrive into the world.  Her mom and I have worked together forever and it was such a privilege to spend a day in the hospital awaiting her arrival.

I drove to NY for Christmas.  Every time I drive, I vow I'll never do it again.  But, I needed to bring back a lot of pork from an adoption fundraiser so I drove.  I managed to miss most of the snow on the trip but there was definitely plenty at my parents' house.

Our Christmases tend to be very low key affairs, which is really how must of us prefer it!  We spent some time with my nieces---something I just don't get to do enough of.  It was fun to think about what Christmas will look like next year with another little girl running around!

(I also got an iPhone.  Not sure if this is blog-worthy or not but I love it!)  

Lessons Learned:
*I have some of the most amazing, generous, giving, supportive friends and family in the world.
*Sometimes, if you have the guts to speak your craziest, wildest ideas out loud, you'll learn that they aren't crazy at all.
*Sometimes, it's best to not really know how hard something is going to be when you get into it.
*There are good people in the world.  People that will help complete strangers.

Letters to My Daughter - July

Mija,

I'm sitting here with tears running down my face.  I just want you home.  I'm frustrated with how long this process is taking and it just seems to be getting longer. I was hoping this would be my last letter to you because I wanted to be with you in August. But, that wasn't meant to be. Now, I'm just hoping and praying we are back in time for a good, old fashioned, American Thanksgiving and Christmas. I spend all my time raising money to get you home, filling out paper work, making phone calls, researching, studying...I just want to be done with it all. I just want to meet you and hold you in my arms. You belong here with me!

Your Tia Anna and I went on vacation last month. One last girls trip before you come and change my life forever. We spent a lot of the time talking about how much fun you would have had if you'd been with us and where we will go on our summer vacation next year--with you! Everything I do this summer makes me think of you and how much fun you would be having if you were there. It's amazing how much I can miss someone that I've never met. My life just isn't complete without you in it.

Your Nana threw a shower for us in June. Our friends were incredibly generous and you got some great gifts. Your cousin Grace checked out, and approved, most of them. All I really need is a carseat and I will be all set for you to finally come home. I'm amazed at how much of the house you have taken over and you aren't even here yet.

Mija, even though I'm frustrated and sad, I will continue to work and fight. I will do everything I can to get you here as soon as possible. I love you and can't wait to share my life with you!

Con todo mi amor,
Tu Mami

(I probably should warn you know about your first winter in the US. It will be a little bit cold but you will LOVE the snow!)

Letters to My Daughter - May 2012

Mija,

I've been putting off writing this letter to you because I was starting to feel like I'd never get through this process and you would never come home. So many people kept asking about you and I felt like I had nothing to say. I was still waiting for the home study to be finished and I haven't received any more information about you. It was a little discouraging. Even with all that, some big things have happened for you in the past month. Whether I feel like it or not, each day brings us one day closer to meeting. I dream about that day. I long for it. You are so loved!

Some of my amazing work friends got together last month and threw you a shower. They bought you tons of great toys, books, decorations, clothes. You are well spoiled already. (You are so special that a few of the guys from work showed up for their first ever showers!)

We all love to sit around and talk about what it will be like when you finally get here. People continue to offer to baby sit you, teach you about sports, let you swim in their pool, travel with us.

After the shower, your Tia Anna and Miss Julia came over and helped me unpack and set up your room. Your bedroom is adorable. Every time I walk by it, I long to see you in it. Your play room is coming together too. I just need to get some more shelves for all your toys! (You should probably know that Anna is responsible for all the cuteness. Don't expect that kind of thing from me!)

Sarita, I am amazed at your power to bring people together. There are people that I haven't talked to in years that are watching your story unfold and helping bring you home. There are people that I've never met that are very invested in getting you home as soon as possible. It's a little bit crazy to me how many people love you!

I met with the principal of your school the other day. Your Tia Anna and I went and met the teacher. I could definitely picture you in that class with all those adorable little kids. The teacher speaks Spanish and that makes me feel so much better about sending you off every day.

Last weekend was Mother's Day. It's always a hard day for me. I've wanted to be a mom for so long. While I AM your mom, this year just made me realize how much I want you here with me!!! NOW!! I look forward to celebrating our first Mother's Day together next year.

I've been trying to read as much as I can on your country. I want to help you preserve that heritage. I also want to get as much as possible out of our time together there---even though I hope it will be short.

Today, I finally got the official home study in the mail. This is a HUGE step!! I'm so excited and I wish you were here to celebrate with me. Now, I'm waiting for home land security and immigration to give me permission to bring you into this country. I hope they work quickly and that we'll be together before your birthday! Until then, I promise to keep working and to love you more every day!

Te quiero,
Tu Mami