Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Progress!

This round of required paperwork is in, and our home study is being written! We hope to see a copy sometime next week. We will have the chance to check it for any factual errors - and once it's signed off, we'll move to the next steps in the dossier process. There is absolutely always something to be working on!

In the meantime, while I recover from the flu, I'm spending in more $$ for various fees, sending thank-yous to those who have helped us along the way, starting the next round of paperwork and brainstorming on ideas to benefit the children and orphanages in Nepal.
Namaste for now.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Maybe about to potentially almost reach a milestone!

On Monday, we'll Fed-Ex a package to our agency with everying needed (I hope) to officially finish our home study. With these documents, our social worker will be able to write the actual study. We've already had all 3 required meetings, and now have to attend our training/classes. (The only piece to this that is out of our control is whether or not the people we asked to be references have sent in their forms - but I'm pretty sure they have!)

So now we wait to see what the social worker's assessment of us as potential parents is. (I won't go into the whole "how I hate being judged" thing here...) Next is the Dossier. It's coming along - I'm getting at least one thing accomplished every day, even if it's minor. It's really unbelieveable how much work this process is! Namaste for now.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Minor blip, all things considered...


Our marriage license copies arrived today - certified, but not in color! Oh well - all things considered this is a pretty easy correction. I'll just send for them again and be more explicit in my explicitness. And write another check.

But we're making good progress! Last night we completed the final home-study session. Our social worker was great and put us at ease. We both have official (color) copies of our birth certificates. We've both had our doc's appointments... I am having my blood work done tomorrow. We've signed up for training in March and April. (Our second session will be on my 40th birthday, so my 40th b'day trip to Bryce Canyon and the San Rafael Swell for slot canyoneering has been bumped a bit. Bummer, but anything for Pebble!)

We're now starting on the long list of dossier requirements. The goal is to accomplish one thing every day. (My accomplishment for today was an email to my contact at Adoption Alliance with a long list of questions!) Which reminds me: thank you to my amazing hubby who is catching my oversights! I'm not a details person, so this process would be nearly impossible - or at least twice as long - without his keen eye! Also - thanks to Laura for her continued support and learnings. By the way - her dossier is delivered in Nepal - we're so excited for you - congratulations, Laura! Namaste for now.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Denver & Nepal Get Together

I had lunch with Laura today (http://www.nepaladoptionblog.com/). She's much futher along in the process than we are, and has been a great support to us already with tips and information. We started talking about community, and we decided it'd be fun to do a potluck with those of us locally who are either in the process of adopting from Nepal, or have recently adopted from Nepal.

So if you're in the process - and in (or close to) Denver - add a comment to this post with your email address and I'll get you the details! In the meantime plan on Sunday, March 15th at 5pm. Namaste!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Check, check, check...

We've just scheduled our first visit for our home study. We meet with the social worker at our home on Monday evening! We've also scheduled our parenting classes. Terry had his physical, mine's next week. I sent away for "original copies" of our marriage license (I still think that's an oxymoron...) I also just sent for "original copies" of my birth certificate, and Terry will get his soon, too. (They still had me listed as my maiden name, so hopefully that's not a kink in the plan.) Meanwhile, we wait for background and child abuse clearances and hope that Jackson Golden behaves himself Monday evening. Oh, and we'll need to clean the house. Namaste for now.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Namasté नमस्ते

I bought a Nepali phrase book last week, interested in the culture, words, pronunciations. The very first word listed is “namasté”, which is commonly used in saying both “hello” and “goodbye”. In Nepal (and India and elsewhere in South Asia too) this expression can be used any time of the day and, though slightly informal, is considered appropriate between all people. When used, it should be accompanied by holding your palms together in front of your face or chest, as if in prayer. I am immediately fascinated.

Having tried a stint with yoga a few years ago, “namasté” was used between the instructor and class as the session began and ended. There I learned it had a deeper, spiritual meaning, so it never occurred to me that it could also be a simple greeting. The Wikipedia definition (which must be true) reminded me that what I learned conveyed deep respect: “The light in me honors the light in you” and also “ I bow to that (divinity) inherent in you.” Wow. That’s a little different than “hello” or “hey, how’s it goin’?”

It seems to me that is incredibly powerful. So whenever you greet a person in Nepal – even a stranger on the street – you’re not just saying “hi” but “I respect the Divine within you.” When was the last time you greeted somebody with such profound reverence? I know I haven’t, even to those I love dearly. It makes me think though that the Nepalese are a beautiful and wise people... that deep respect and acceptance, no matter what religion or beliefs, help bind their people together.

So I’m thankful I’ve already learned something from our unknown child. I look forward to the day when we first meet…

Namasté.