1. if you are going to have a Jesus bumper sticker on your car, you ought to think about driving well & courteously.
2. It is terrifying to hand over documents you've spent countless hours (and just a little coin on) to someone and feel great about them taking care of the package appropriately for you. Not too comforting.
3. it's crazy to compile all the documents needed for this International dossier, but it sure is fun to show my little boy's picture and tell the story of how we are now a family of 6. At least I can be glad about that while
I'm imagining a couple of truck loaders tossing my certified documents around like a sack of potatoes.
4. if you ever consider wallpapering over panelling, please, for the love of mustard, DON'T. Future generations will thank you. If you must, at least have the courtesy to put it on with really weak adhesive.
5. don't smoke in your home unless you NEVER plan to sell it to another living soul.
6. make sure you get a REALLY good deal on a house that's been previously smoked in. a REALLY, UNBELIEVABLY GOOD DEAL.
7. and hope that you find a really good deal on Kilz and paint.
8. the US Immigration office (USCIS for short) doesn't know the difference between a 9 and a 1. And because of that, they decided that we hadn't really paid for Audra's biometrics (aka fingerprinting).
9. and apparently the department who cashed our check and the department who is handling our case aren't speaking to each other right now. Lover's spat???
10. The USCIS requires a copy of the FRONT AND BACK of the canceled check (for the right amount) that THEY misread as $80 too short. And, unfortunately, your case is on hold until you can produce said copy of canceled check.
11. The bank doesn't open until 8:30am. Oh, they answer the phones and let you drive through at 7:30am, but it really doesn't do any good to arrive at, say 8:19am on a cold Monday morning if you need to get a copy of a canceled check. Even if the US Immigration Service is waiting on you.
12. I write really good blogs full of wit, zingers, interesting tidbits and compelling information while I'm driving in my car...with no access to the blog.
13. my short term memory is shot. can't remember much about the award-winning blogs I wrote somewhere along the I-65 corridor.
14. i love adoption travel blogs.
15. i'm terribly saddened by adoption travel blogs.
16. We REALLY need a few more (hundred) contestants for the Ipod Nano giveaway. Or the winner selected will have the distinct honor of having his or her shiny red Ipod Nano Touch purchased for them by an adorable 2 year old little guy who is waiting to come home.
17. The adorable 2 year old doesn't have the money to buy anyone an Ipod. Even if he could get a good deal in China.
18. Only $10 a chance (more $; more chances!) for a good cause. details in last blog entry.
19. I'm incredibly jealous of, but SO THANKFUL for Megan, Donna & Diana. Three women I've never met but who so unselfishly offered to take a care package to my son & get pictures & video of him this week, while they were on their own adoption trips. Three little boys are coming home forever in a few days. Wow! This stuff doesn't get old. (and, they have some great pics on their blogs of what we will be experiencing next Spring)
20. A baby changes everything. (Love the song; love the truth.)
21. OHHHH!! I almost forgot to update: my dad is doing well. Turns out, his medication was all messed up and caused him to pass out. BUT, the God thing in all this is that they found a clot during all the random testing and were able to begin to dissolve it. Had it gone unnoticed, it would have probably killed him. We're grateful that he passed out and fell off the ladder (well, not really, but, you know....) Cool thing - his heart is good, and he has no restrictions. We'll all be together this year for Christmas. and we'll also be giving thanks!
Congratulations on getting through the whole post. Your reward? A picture of our son doing what Kroeker boys do best. :) Is that a Twinkie? In China?!
