I'm still here...

I'm still here but not for long. ;o)

Major update coming your way shortly.

Stay tuned as we finalize a few major details.

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Splish Splash

Splish Splash

Ever feel like filling up the tub with bubbles?

Today we received a letter from the State Department informing us that they have forwarded our VISA approval for Tamara to the US Embassy in Tbilisi.

Wahoo!!! Where's the bubbly?

Now we just need confirmation from our Ambassador in Tbilisi and we're "still" waiting for confirmation of our court date.

We're getting close here

so exciting!

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As we wait we're still baby proofing and packing.

I never realized how many draws and cabinets we have until now.

And the packing? Wow! And I haven't even started with our personal stuff yet.

Amazing!

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Today is also my 29 th Birthday.. AGAIN ;o)

May 13th not 12th as post...

A friend of mine told me I needed to set my clock back before Tamara learns how to count.

So it's official... I'm 29 today.

For my Real Age

LOL .. yeah like that's gonna work? lol

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Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day...

to all the Moms out there including my own.

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Happy Mother's Day...

to all my friends who are in the process of adopting.

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Happy Mother's Day...

to all those who may not be a Mom but someone thinks they act like one or should be one.

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This Mother's Day is bitter sweet for me.

A bit bitter as it should have been my first with Tamara.

A bit sweet as I know this will be my last Mother's Day without her.

Soooo whatcha doin...

So whatcha doin'?

Every once in a while I get a funny I have to share...

This is cute.. enjoy!

Life

A little girl asked her father , 'How did the human race appear?'

The father answered, 'God made Adam and Eve and they had children and so was all mankind made.'

Two days later the girl asked her Mother the same question.

The Mother answered, 'Many years ago there were monkeys from which the human race evolved.'

The confused girl returned to her Father and said, ' Dad , how is it possible that you told me the human race was created by God, and Mom said they developed from monkeys?'

The Father answered, 'Well, it is very simple. I told you about my side of the family and your Mother told you about hers.'

*arrived via email from Judy C. in Fl. Thanks JC ;o)

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Hiccup's in my Garden

Do you believe in tomorrow?

When you sit in your garden what do you see?

They say there are two kinds of gardeners. Those who want immediate gratification and buy annuals which produce an instant splash of color. And those who plant perennials and bulbs and dream of tomorrows splendor.

Most years when I sit in my garden this time of year I enjoy the fruits of last Fall's plantings as the bulbs come to life that were planted every Autumn since 1999. I also look forward to seeing our perennials emerge like old friends from a long winters nap.

I plan my annual plantings for the season of color. Always leaving room in my flower beds for colorful borders and splashes of color between those old friends some which may only entertain us for a brief period during the summer. By now I would have 8 hanging baskets planted and hanging along with 16 planter rail boxes between the front porch and back deck.

This year I have none so far. I had made the decision months ago to wait until we return so as not to create a maintenance nightmare for our house sitters.

The original plan was to travel in April returning in plenty of time to plant, water, mow and tend to what one of my friends calls my own personal Eden.

Yesterday I noticed many of our bulb flowers seemed to have vanished and some of my old perennial friends don't seem to be thriving as well this year? And it made me remember what a huge leap of faith planting bulbs is. After all... think about it you plant this ugly little onion like tuber (yuk) in dirt (more yuk) and expect to see a fabulous flower in return.

Most times it works well... sometimes you encounter an unexpected problem.

After closer inspection of our flower beds and the mystery droppings left behind we discovered we have a very cute fuzzy uninvited guest in our garden this year.

Yes for the 1st time since we've lived here 1999 we have a bunny.

I've decided to call him Hiccup.

And as cute as Hiccup may be ... he is killing my garden one bite at a time.

A leap of Faith in the Garden... I've decided is still worth the effort. It's believing in the beauty of tomorrow. And like all Hiccups in our garden of life once we identify them we decide which is more important the Hiccup or the flower?

For me right now it's the flower. The promise of tomorrow's Eden.

FREE Hiccup ( and possible family? you know what they say about rabbits) to good home.

Comes with Bunny Hutch.

Seriously.. see "OH DUCKY" we have a hutch to give.

Pick Up only... no delivery.

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Hiccups in our garden of life.

Yes there too we find we can not always predict what will happen, when or how.

As we wait... yes I said wait for our court date confirmation and wait to hear that our USCIS approval has made it to the US embassy in Tbilisi. As we already have our approval copy we are constantly reminded of what a huge Leap of Faith this process really is.

Our original target date was in April. And then we had several hiccups.

Then May 10th which would have meant getting Tamara on the 11th.. Mother's Day here in the USA... how perfect I thought? My 1st Mother's Day. And then we had several hiccups.

Then we were told May 12th... getting her the 13th.

Not Mother's Day but my Birthday still way cool. And then we had several hiccups.

Now we have a target date of the 20th?

As frustrating as the waiting is we have to be patient...

something I'm just starting to appreciate as a skill.

Hoping we can overcome the hiccups in time to complete our Journey to Tamara.

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Tamara... I am told is doing well. She received the gift we sent her as well as the photo album of Mama (that would be Bruce) and Dada (yeah me..lol), her kitty cats, our house, yard, her room in the hopes that she'll become familiar with us before we arrive.

We are told she's extremely shy around adults and won't talk to any... that should make for a fun 26hr trip home? lol. But she likes all the kids. Perhaps once she realizes we're just two really big kids she'll open up?

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Here's a video of Tamara.. it is to show that she knows how to wash her hands. I was happy to see that she likes water... pool and all. This week I ordered her an adorable kiddie pool with cabana that we can use as a transition to the larger pool.

Enjoy!

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Are You Ready For This?

Are you ready for this?

Today is Wednesday.. and if you've been paying attention the only day that adoptive parents can call USCIS between 1 and 4 pm. So I did and guess what?

I found out we were approved last week.

Our documents will go out tomorrow via DHL.

Yippee!!!

So Exciting!!!

This was the in depth FBI / Homeland Security clearance.

So now we just wait for the confirmation of our court date in Georgia and we're off.

It's nice to know that both countries have approved us. Thank You USCIS !

And for people like Kevin C. our neighbor who's been telling people that he thinks we're

like Mr. & Mrs. Smith? You know Brad Pitt and Angelina ? Yeah I see the resemblance. lol

Sorry to disappoint you but Brad.. I mean Bruce and I lead very "normal" lives.

Really this is normal ;o)

Ask Bruce / Brad / Mama ..lol

Yes he married me for the entertainment.

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So what's left to do? Lots.. I have to finish my letter for translation which will be presented before the court in Tbilisi. Prepare a photo album of our life as well as some of the other children from Georgia that are already here in the USA to show how well their doing.

You should see how cute they are. And I must say the families who have adopted them are truly special. They really care not only for their child but Tamara and all the other children left behind. It's an honor to know these people.

Tamara already has play dates lined up.

Monday I will contact the US embassy in Tbilisi to check and see if they got our file.

They need our file to grant Tamara a Visa to return to the USA with us.

Once her little feet hit American soil she becomes an instant US citizen. ;o)

Cool Huh?

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And then there's the packing, packing, packing and yes re-packing.

If you recall I packed Tamara's bags a while back... well I don't imagine she'll need the ski jacket any more or the dressy coat? LOL. So I have a little bit of repacking to do.

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We also have to bring gifts for the facilitator, her assistant, translator, the nanny, cook, driver, lawyer, foster Mom, 2 - 10 year old girls that have befriended Tamara. One is the bio daughter of the foster family the other is their neighbor. And two Toddler Foster siblings that share a room with Tamara. So I still have some shopping to do.

Such a hardship ;o)

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So are you ready for this?

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Queen Tamara

Queen Tamara or Thamar

Most Americans think of the state of Georgia when you say Georgia.

But there was a very great empire long before the Europeans found America.

Queen Tamara ( or Thamar) ruled the medieval kingdom in the very crucial area between the Black and Caspian Seas and the Caucasus Mountains. She began the protector of Byzantium after the Fourth Crusade returned it to the control of the Christians but she also was the protector of many Muslims areas as well.

As the leader of Georgia, she brought a new age of arts and literature to the country, and was revered as being "radiant as the rising sun, born to illuminate the world around her. Women though she is, God had created her to be a sovereign."

http://www.european-georgia.com/culture/history/ Follow this link to the fascinating history of the Republic of Georgia. It will not only enlighten about the past but give you a deeper understanding of Georgia today.

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One of the many "surprise" things we have to do is address our judge. Since Georgia doesn't allow too many adoptions their judges don't usually get very many international cases. Our judge I was told handled an adoption 2 years ago for a 6 yr. old boy in CA.
His Dad I am told memorized an hour long speech / presentation for the judge which apparently brought the judge to tears. How would you like to follow in those foot steps??? Oh yes... did I mention he did this in Georgian? Eeek.
So.. now we have to come up with some sort of presentation / act / performance if you will.
Any suggestions? I suppose I could always twirl my fire baton to a Georgian song? LOL..
Nah... they'd never allow one of those on the plane.

Oh well back to the drawing board.

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