A Follow-up to The Last Post

No news is bad news...... or at least challenging news. In this amazing and tumultuous journey to our daughter we have hit yet another road block. I am so tired of these solid brick walls and I apologize for the obvious comment and easy target. I usually try and be a little more poignant and clever in my references but I am honestly too tired for such nonsense. I just can't help the cynical attitude. Tomorrow is a new day and I am hopeful I will change my mind. But, if you are in the Vietnam adoption world- you know what I am referring too and if you are a dear friend or family member then you know where we are and where our thoughts and heart is. I am still sending positive vibes out to the Universe and more importantly to our little one, Mattine, who unfortunately in this mess of a process is stuck on a cold bamboo mat. Still cynical! This is so unlike me but I think I have succumbed to this journey and for tonight is has claimed me as victim. I will be raring to fight tomorrow, I am sure.

On a lighter note, we have been blessed to run across another wonderful family in this process (shout out). My closest PAP is coming to visit us on Tuesday and is planning to stay with us until Friday. I am so excited and am really relieved to have some camaraderie here next week. I am not quite sure what we will do but I can say with the most positive of spirit that I couldn't ask for a stronger support system. This is such a small world we live in and the adoption community is even smaller. For most, this appears to be a easy process and transition- only those in the midst of confusion and love know the feelings and state of mind we are experiencing. It will be a relief to have "that" support system close and we want to thanks all those who play a part in our network of support. BTW, I am so ready to freak out and place that bubble gum pink streak in my hair. In fact, I am making the call tomorrow. Mattine would be proud of her momma sporting the pink! I will take a little peace from anything.

Relentless Sunshine (even though I don't feel like it!)

They say no news is good news but lately I am not thinking so. It seems there may some speed bumps ahead of us. I am trying to be optimistic but somedays I just want to crawl back in bed and pull the covers over my head. Today is one of those days. What else do we have ....hmmmm, an adorably funny friend of mine sent a wickedly funny list, "The Rules of Life" , and I haven't been able to stop laughing especially since a lot of them hit home.

Here goes....

1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

2. Don't worry about what people think - they don't do it very often.

3. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car.

4. Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

5. If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried before.

6. My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.

7. Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.

8. A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person.

9. For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program.

10. If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.

11. Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.

12. A conscience is what hurts when all of your other parts feel so good.

13. Eat well, stay fit, die anyway.

14. Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.

15. No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes.

16. A balanced diet is a muffin (I changed it to cupcake!) in each hand.

17. Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.

18. Opportunities always look bigger going than coming.

19. Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.

20. There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.

21. Experience is a wonderful thing - It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

22. By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.

23. Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.

24. Someone who thinks logically provides nice contrast to the real world.

25. It ain't the jeans that make your butt look fat.

26. If you had to identify in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved it's full potential, that word would be "meetings."

27. There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

28. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.

29. You should not confuse your career with your life.

30. Nobody cares if you can't dance well - Just get up and dance.

31. Never lick a steak knife.

32. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.

33. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.

34. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.

35. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe we are good drivers.

36. No matter what, your mother loves you!

A Great Article To Educate

This article appeared in the NY Times this morning and references several families from our agency. Our thoughts and prayers continue with these families as they struggle with the beaucratic red tape that is now engulfing Vietnam adoptions. We are hopeful that the Tet celebrations and agency closures didn't delay us too much and are anxiously awaiting those in front of us to get approval. I am back to stalking the morning e-mail and wishing our day would come.

Here She Is.....

We received a fabulous surprise the other night... not really a surprise because I was so waiting by the computer for pictures to come each day. And when they finally came what amazing things I saw. First, Miss Mattine has grown so much. A little person is looking back at me. All of her mearurements fall into a mid-range percentile, so she appears to right on track growth wise. She is sitting up. All by her self, not even the slightest prop. That's my girl... alreadly Miss Independent. And she is still rockin the orange. On Monday we hit our 30 day mark in the new I-600 process so I guess we are half-way there in the waiting department. She turns seven months this week and I am hoping she doesn't have to go much past her eighth month mark without us. My mom thinks that at the rate she is growing and developing she will walk off the plane all by her self! Her little feet will hit American soil- that's for sure BUT I will be holding her hand as she does it. I can't wait to squeeze those cheeks!