Age of Aquarius

January 21, 2005

That's the day our baby was born.

So she's an Aquarius...

The Water Carrier

January 21 to February 19

Traditional Aquarius Traits

Friendly and humanitarian

Honest and loyal

Original and inventive

Independent and intellectual

LIKES
Fighting for Causes
Dreaming and Planning for the Future
Thinking of the Past
Good Companions
Having Fun

DISLIKES
Full of Air Promises
Excessive Loneliness
The Ordinary
Imitations
Idealistic

Any Aquarius out there? Any of this true?

Here are a few people who share Tamara's birthday with her.

She's in pretty good company I think.

January 21, 1905 - Christian Dior - Designer , January 21, 1940 - Jack Nicklaus - Sports Figure, January 21, 1941 - Placido Domingo - Singer, January 21, 1942 - Mack Davis - Singer,

January 21, 1947 - Jill Eikenberry - Actress, January 21, 1957 - Geena Davis - Actress

~~~

We also had to give them (Georgian Courts) a middle name for Tamara so after going back and forth for weeks we finally decided on Tamara Katarina.

I always liked the name Katarina .. in fact if she were younger we would have changed her first name to Katarina. But we also thought it would be a great way for all of us to remember Kathy and Irina the two ladies state side that have been absolutely wonderful through this whole journey to Tamara. There is no doubt in my mind that they care for Tamara a great deal.

So Katarina it is.

On Bruce's side of the family.. strangely enough most of the ladies have the middle name Lee.

Weird huh? Nope can't make this stuff up.

I have had many people suggest that we name her Tamara Lee ... but to me that just sounded too much like a country western singer. And I wanted her to have a strong name she can grow into.

Katarina is a strong name. Sounds important I think? Anyway now she'll have something in common with her girl cousins here. Cousin Katie is a Katherine Ann and Cousin Amanda is Amanda Cathleen.

~~~

On the paper front. I spoke to INS today and they gave me our case # and they're working on it. Yahoo!!!! So exciting!!!

Georgia is cruising.. we should get our court date soon... I hope.

Another batch of documents are in Trenton should be back in a day or two.

These get hand carried to Georgia by us.

~~~

And more good news... Tamara's new bedroom set is being delivered tomorrow. Not bad considering it had to come from No. Carolina. I guess begging does work? ;o)

~nite~

Look for an open window

How many times have you heard when one door closes another one opens?

Too many to count I bet. I have learned through the years to always look for an open window.

Most things worth having require a climb rather then a simple walk through.

~~~

I received an email today from Cathy whom I hired as a mentor this winter to help me out with the paper chase for the Ukraine. We were going to attempt an independent adoption from there and then Tamara came along. Although Cathy's fees like all adoption fees are non refundable.. I never regretted sending her the check. In one fell swoop Cathy cleared up so many mysteries about the international adoption world for me. She is a single mother of 9 adoptive children. Talk about courage and in site.

Anyway... the email today made us feel like we had dodged yet another bullet. The Ukraine is voting yet again on an adoption bill. And although no one knows yet how it will turn out it's a very stressful time for those families who are in the process for the Ukraine.

Under the new bill no single adoptive parents and they would require a 45 year max age difference between the oldest parent and child. In our case that would have meant a 9 year old.

So as you can see sometimes we climb out the window before the door closes.

Sometimes we get lucky... sometimes when we follow our hearts... our inner voice and

we get it right. ;o)

~~~

The picture above was taken by my cousin Anna during her last trip to Croatia.

Yes Annie.. I messed with your photo. Kind of cool no?

It was taken in Glavotok on the Island Krk.

The picture below is an original from the series.

This was the view our mothers had growing up.

Talk about an open window.

And below is the aerial shot of Glavotok.

This place has a very special place in my family's heart. Someday I hope to take Tamara there. Someday perhaps she too will find the open window with the awe inspiring view.

~~~