Good News in the Blog World

Wow!  Two referrals today for two families on blogs I follow. 

Early in 2009 I discovered blogs.  I had seen them before but never really followed them until I found blogs of other families going through an adoption from Nepal.  I could relate to the families in these blogs as we were all going through the same things.  I didn't feel alone in the journey when someone wrote about their frustrations with the process or how they would think about their future child.  And even when the Nepal program closed, I continued to follow these families as they chose different paths after the heartbreak of Nepal.  Many of them have had success and it makes me feel so happy that these families have found their child finally.  One of the families that received a referral today was so heartbroken after Nepal and then a few weeks ago the news out of their new country Ethiopia was not good.  I could really feel her pain through this past year.  And now she has the news she has waited for.  She will finally be a mother!

I really hope that this good news continues for others still waiting.  I have found some new blogs lately of families still hurting from Nepal, still waiting for their child.  Lets hope and pray that soon they all recieve the news that the two families got today: Referral. 

Seattle

Its March break here and I decided that it would be a good time for a small get-a-way so Ali, myself and my Dad headed to Seattle for the weekend.  We took the Clipper from Victoria, a passenger ferry that leaves from the harbour in Victoria and goes to downtown Seattle.  The trip was 3 hours and boy was it rough.  Ali, who has been on lots of ferries with no problem, got sea sick but by the time we entered the calmer waters near Seattle she was feeling much better. 

On Saturday we headed to the famous Pike Street Market and wandered around before heading up to the major shopping area.  Ali had a bit of money to spend from her allowance and extra money for doing good on her report card.  This was sure burning a hole in her pocket and she couldn't wait to spend it.  She bought herself a ring.  I bought her a whole new wardrobe from Old Navy since she has almost outgrown or worn out all her clothes.  Here are a few scenes from the market.

Sunday was Ali's favourite day.  We went to the Science Centre and the Imax.  Ali spent the day running around from thing to thing.  She didn't know what to do first.  My Dad enjoyed the Butterfly Conservatory. 

Ali's little foot next to a dinosaur foot print

If Ali lived on the sun she would weigh over 1,500 lbs!

Ali would not hold this Hissing Cockroach.  I don't blame her!

Ali has two heads!

The trip back on the ferry was much smoother and to make it easier for Ali I got her a sea sick pill.  It knocked her out for the whole trip waking up just as we pulled into the harbour in Victoria.  Overall, it was a great weekend get-a-away!

A request from Immigration

I have heard twice from the Immigration Dpartment since sending in my paperwork.  First I recieved a letter last week stating that they had recieved my application and that it would take 20 weeks to review my file.  Yes, 20 weeks!!  I was told it would take six not 20.  I called my agency right away but they said that it wasn't a problem and if I did get a referral before I had the paperwork, they had some people they could contact regarding the problem.

Then on Tuesday there was a message on my machine asking me to contact them.  They had reviewed my paperwork and I did not send a certified copy of the back of my birth certificiate.  The back of my birth certificate is blank, nothing there.  But that does not matter to the immigration department.  I guess they want proof that the back of the document is blank.  So, yesterday I had to get a certified copy of the back of my birth certificate and send the document xpress post. Total cost was $40.00 to send a copy of a black space.  Whatever.  At least they are reviewing my application which makes me think that I will get a response quicker then the 20 weeks. 

Immigration

I finally got around to doing my immigration paperwork.   I went the citizenship route after my agency recommended this route as it is much easier.  In Canada we have two options: citizenship or permanent resident visa.  With the resident visa a medical is required which can cause delays with the process.  With the citizenship route a medical is not required.  The paperwork was straight forward and they were looking for proof that I was a Canadian citizen so along with the forms I needed to send in notarized copies of my birth certificate, passport etc.  Once everything is reviewed and approved, I will get a case number and the second set of forms.  These will be filled out once the adoption is complete.  I am not sure how long it will take to get my case number. 

I waited a while to fill out the immigration forms as I thought the approval was only good for a year but it turns out it won't expire for two years.  Plus, I now think that I am going to get a referral very soon and I want to be ready.

This time of year.

Two years ago on this very weekend I was happily filling out the paperwork and getting all my documents together for Nepal.  I had my homestudy completed the September before and the agency had assured me that they would be ready to go when Nepal opened on Jan 1.  Well, they were a little late....and it was the begining of a nightmare.  Everything just went down hill from that day forward. 

Last year at this time I was in a state of shock and disbelief at the news that Canada had put a hold on referrals from Nepal and were investigating the program.  We were warned that it was highly likely that Canada would close the program.  It was the begining of months of tears.  And the end finally came in June.

It was also at this time last year that I first investigated the country where my dossier now sits.  It would take me a few months to sign up, after the emotion and the fighting for Nepal was done. 

I still think about what happened and how it all played out.  I think about how I had bad feelings about the Nepal program all along.  How stressed I was.  And how hard it was when it ended. 

I have moved on now though.  And last weekend I actually shredded my Nepal dossier, or the copy of it that the agency returned to me.  It took me along time to get to this point.  I felt that it was time to finally let it all go. 

Now, in a year from now, when I look back to Feb 14, 2011, I think it will be a happy memory because I think a referral is coming.....soon.

A New Number

My agency told me in December that they would provide me with an updated number, or my number in the line to a referral.  With the issue of the psychology report we weren't sure whether I had stayed in line or not.  This week I recieved by new number and I now know that my file was removed or other files moved ahead.  My number is now higher then it was before so I have move farther back from the front.  However, I haven't moved that far back.  I am still quiet close to the front. 

As for the length of time to referral, I do think it will happen this year.  The questions is when.  I was told in September that it would probably be within six months but that was before the psychology report fiasco.  So really, I need to start counting all over again.  And, now that I am farther back in the list, I think the time will be longer.  I am not worrying about this though.  If I got a referral by summer, I would be very happy.  I might start getting impatient if I don't have one by fall.  But only time will tell.

A Late Happy New Year

Happy New Year!! Finally I can post this.  It has been a little difficult for me to post anything lately because I DON'T HAVE A COMPUTER.   Well, I do have one, but it has been in for repair for over TWO WEEKS weeks and I think I will have to wait another week yet.  My Mom did lend me her little note book computer but it wouldn't hook up to the internet.  Finally I have worked that issue out and I can get back on line. 

Christmas seems long ago now.  We stayed home and my parents and sister came.  My sister did most of the cooking which made life easy for me.  We hung around home for the next few days after Christmas and then I went back to work. 

Ali woke up early this year, at 5 am.  I thought it was the dogs who were restless early but it was Ali who woke them up.  By the time I got up at six she had emptied the stocking and had already used the modelling clay to create a sculpture.  She enjoyed the gifts of course. 

New Years was uneventful.  The only memorable thing was that I actually stayed up til midnight this year.  And that was only because I was trying to fix my Mom's internet.

So its onto the new year.  I am really hoping and praying that this will be the year I get a referral.  I think I have waited long enough.