Jodi Speaks Her Mind

Adoption Process - Week 38 4/29/2005

I’ve been in list mode again this week only now the lists seem to have much more meaning! Having a specific date brings a new reality to the process that has had a much greater impact than I even anticipated. This is no small statement given how obsessed I was about getting that date.

We did manage to purchase our plane tickets this week, which is really exciting, though let me just make it clear for anybody who wasn’t sure - travel to/from Europe in the summertime is expensive! There must be an amazingly special child there just at that time for us to meet and bring home that wouldn’t have been available at any other time. This thought is quite profound, though it embodies the attitude and belief we have maintained throughout the process - i.e. that there is a specific child God means to be in our family, and He is orchestrating the circumstances so that our meeting and merge is assured. What a thrill to watch it played out and even moreso to be an integral part of it and primary recipient of the blessing!!

There is also something very deep, maternal, and mysterious taking place in me. I don’t know that I could effectively explain it even if I really tried. I am sensing new motivations in myself, changes in approaches and attitudes, processing information in different ways than before, and most of all just feeling a lot of emotions that are totally new! I even had an amazingly vivid dream about a boy that we had adopted, and I interacted with him briefly in a most intense, powerful, and intimate way! Considering how rarely I dream anything even remotely linear, this was indescribably amazing. I just see myself changing right before my own eyes, and it is a rather uncomfortable experience while at the same time somehow magical and wonderful. It is as though I am someone else’s work in progress. Hmmm….

I shared some of these feelings with a friend of mine and she said that God is preparing me for motherhood. Wow. Me, a mother? Is it possible that what was at first desired and assumed, then sought, then evaded , then demanded, then surrendered, and now waited for, is soon upon me?!?

I truly haven’t the words…

Adoption Process - Week 37 4/25/2005

This is the Week 37 update of what looks to be a 50 week process followed by the actual adoption.

This week we spent rejoicing, telling everyone we could tell and then some. We are excited beyond measure to finally have a target date to find, meet, and bring home our precious LT!!

Practically speaking, all we really did this week was begin researching in earnest the airfare and itinerary situation, which is always more complex than it appears at first. And summer prices are much higher than other times we looked at. In any case, we hope to buy our tickets this week!!

Thanks for staying tuned…

Outline help

Does anyone know of a basic online outliner? I’m not even sure if something like this exists, so I figured all I can do is ask. At home I can use OmniOutliner, but I’d prefer something that can be accessed anytime from anywhere. Thanks!

Welcome Adele! 4/20/2005

One of my good friends from “real life” has just launched her first blog. I’m impressed, Adele! Did you design it yourself?

Please bombard her with your best “welcome to blogdom” comments. Thanks!

The one where jodi gets shot 4/19/2005

Oh the violence, oh the pain, oh the mess!

Yep, I got shot playing outdoor desert paintball. Four times actually - once per game. I opted for an offensive position, so I couldn’t really avoid it. I did manage with each subsequent game to stay in a bit longer, though.

It was the first time I had ever played. I actually didn’t like it at first but by the third game I had the hang of it somewhat (mainly adjusting to the equipment) and felt more comfortable being aggressive (as is my nature) and all in all it was quite fun, welts notwithstanding.

We finally have a “due date”!!

The letter came today! We have an appointment at the Adoption Center in Ukraine on July 27, 2005.

Here we come, LT!!!!!

Note to Marla

(Pardon me readers while I post a personal note to someone I can’t reach any other way…)

Dear Marla,

Pleeeeeease e-mail me with a username and password so I can continue to share your world. E-mail me at jodi at redmonk dot net and I’ll be right over! We’ll be joining you soon as parents to an internationally adopted child!

Thanks!! Jodi

Adoption Process - Week 36 4/16/2005

This week we did get some good news. It isn’t huge, but it certainly has us a bit anxious and excited. We learned that the letter containing our appointment date was issued from the NAC and is en route to us via regular mail. The NAC representative who spoke with our translator would not inform her of the appointment date specified in the letter nor would they inform her of the date the letter was issued. She was only told that it had “already” been sent. This information was provided on Thursday. So the letter could have been mailed some day between April 5 and April 14 and will take approximately 9-12 days in transit. That means it should arrive somewhere between April 15 and April 27, which means any day!!

We haven’t really done much else specific to the adoption besides continue to pray and prepare in general for the prospect of becoming parents sometime in the foreseeable future - more specifically sometime in 2005 (we hope!).

Our parents (the soon to be grandparents) seem to be getting excited along with us and everyone else seems as anxious as we are to learn our appointment date. It is very encouraging to have this kind of support, as it really helps us feel like the “expecting” parents that we are!!

Keep praying for the children and the difficulties in the adoption process in Ukraine. It is not a smooth or easy process right now, and the families traveling and the children waiting need the hand of God to help them to meet one another at just the right time.

Thanks for following our story and standing with us for our LT!!