Time to Relax and Prepare for School

Today is the day that the Chinese Consulate in the US has to approve our soon-to-expire dossier documents-- or else we'll be delayed the four months it will take to receive Howie's birth certificates from PA, have those state sealed in PA, and then sent back to the Consulate.  Yes, that's right.  Birth certificates can expire.  How strange is that?

Anyway, we're going to assume that everything will be taken care of, and our dossier specialist at our agency told us that we can take a break from paperwork (aside from grants) at the moment.  Once these documents arrive back to the regional agency, altogether, they will be sent to China, which is called DTC in the adoption world-- dossier to China.  Right after that, we'll receive a call from the Special Needs Coordinator who will ask us detailed questions about the special needs to which we are open.  Shortly after that, we will be LID (logged in dossier), which means we will be eligible for matches.  Slowly, but surely, we're getting there!  We're hoping that the wait for a match  doesn't take long, but there's no telling.  Everything depends on the age we're willing to accept, the special needs that are available, and the list that China gives our agency once a month.  The angel Gabriel, our son's namesake, stated, "With God, nothing is impossible," so we'll focus on that and trust that we are matched when the time is right.

For now, the break is good, because the summer is quickly coming to an end, and it's time to prepare for school!  Howie is already attending meetings, and I'm busy gathering together material to teach my newest class: ninth grade Honors English.  The nice part is that I know my honors kids already, since I had them last year as seventh graders (who did both seventh and eighth grade work).  Then, school will be in session, which will help our waiting moments pass more quickly, since we'll have plenty of work to keep us busy.  I'm welcoming that, actually-- at least for now.

Well, that's the update for this week!  I'll continue to keep you posted as the process moves along.  Thanks to everyone who is praying for us.  I think we're starting to develop a little bit of patience.  :)

Jennifer