Shaking the inertia

It is easy when you spend year after year working towards something and not seeing much forward progress to feel as though you are in a holding pattern. That is where I am, in a rut. There is no doubt about it. So, I am going to try to shake this feeling of inertia a bit and try something new, something which I’ve been thinking about trying for a good while now.

Starting in July, this is what I will be up to three times a week for four weeks:

I am going to learn how to row! Cool huh? I am very excited. I love being out on the water and it will be great to be out there exercising and watching the river wake up. It is painfully early (I have to be at the boat house at 5:45 am !!) but I think it will be worth it:

Doesn’t that look so peaceful?

An update for you Lisa dear!

Thank you, Lisa, for your latest comment reminding me that 1) it has been awhile since my last update and 2) there are people out there who are waiting and hoping and praying along with us on this journey. I know you tell me that I do not need to thank you but the encouragement really does mean a lot.

So, I have good news! Our dossier was FINALLY submitted on Thursday, June 4!! OH.MY.GOODNESS. Our dossier made it to Nepal on February 17. We had our new 171H (immigration approval) on March 21. Our dossier was submitted on June 4. Yes, it took that freaking long to get that final missing piece, the Guarantee Letter, and get the dossier in to the Ministry. Phew!

(I do think I have a few pieces of hair left. But really. Not that many.)

So, what does that mean? Well, basically, we are officially in the “que” so to speak. My understanding from the rumor mill is that we will not be given our legal number which tells us just where in line we stand. And so we wait! At some point down the road, our dossier will be sent to the matching committee which does, well, the matching. When a match is made, our agency will receive the referral information. Upon acceptance of the referral, our dossier and our child’s paperwork will be sent back to the Ministry which gives the final approval. And at some point even further down the road, we travel.

I have no projections on time frame.   Again, this is still a very new process.  We will have to wait and see.  Maybe in a few months, we will have a better idea of what to expect time-wise.  I do know that referrals have been received, here in the US and in Europe.  So there is movement finally.   I eagerly await the news that these families are traveling to meet their children (all little girls I do believe), I hold them and their children in my thoughts, and I thank them for being willing to share with those of us at different stages in this journey.

This really has not sunk in. That we are finally at this point. And that this could actually lead to a referral. A child. We’ve been here before with Vietnam. But even when our dossier was in, we knew the chances were so very slim. We were seeing something through. But this? Well, it is different. Perhaps it is time for me to realize that. There will be more delays. And more hurtles. But the chances are not as slim this go around.  I am a mix of happy and cautious, relieved and excited.

That’s it!  ‘Bout time for some positive direction, eh?  Thanks for hanging in there with me these past few months!