Saturday, December 19, 2009

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

We are in the midst of a huge snow storm. Thankfully most of our Christmas shopping is done, just need to get some stuff for Christmas stockings and dinner. It will just have to wait till next week. We are definitely going to stay in today, maybe read a book and sit by a fire. John is outside right now shoveling the sidewalk and driveway along with our neighbors. It's interesting, people are not usually very neighborly in DC. One of the only times is when it snows. It is one of the things I have always liked about the snow in this area. Neither of us has read a book for fun in a while so we are looking forward to a relaxing day inside.

Pictures of our house were requested along time ago which I never got around to until now. Better late than never! It is not super clear because the snow is still coming down pretty hard, but here is our house.




Trying to keep ahead of the storm (unfortunately during the time since taking this picture another inch or two has already fallen)

In other news, we finished our self studies! Both of ours ended up being 12 typed pages. I actually enjoyed the process for the opportunity for introspection it provided. I have really turned around my thinking where this is concerned. Initially, I was feeling a bit resentful about having to go through all of this to have a child when it is so easy for most people. I have begun to think of this process as a "get to" rather than a "have to." Most people don't get this type of preparation for parenting. We are getting to think about and ask ourselves questions that will help us and our child so much. Last Friday we attended the pre-adoption class and Monday evening we went to hear a panel of adult adoptees share their experiences 0f being part of a transracial family. We learned so much and I look forward to sharing the info in a future post.

I believe our last reference letter has been sent. We are only waiting for our Maryland child abuse clearance; apparently it is taking them about 6 weeks to get these back. Florida took 1 week :) enough said. As soon as this clearance arrives, we should be assigned a social worker and then have our interviews and home visit. Making progress!

6 comments:

Alicia said...

I'm so excited that you guys are making such great progress through your paper work! I like what you said about all of this preparing you for parenthood, I totally agree.

About that snow....I heard DC would get like 1 to 2 feet!!!!! Whew better you than me (hehe)

Wendi Kitsteiner said...

What a neat way to look at it Becky. I, too, enjoyed some of the questions and books we read for our home study process and the China paperwork. But I never thought of it like that ...

Jackie said...

Wow! It's really coming down over there! I am glad you are making so much progress with the adoption paperwork. Have a Merry Christmas!

Stacey said...

I thought of you when I heard about all the snow in the DC area. How beautiful! Love the house pic. Looks so cozy, even in the snow. :)

Congrats on all the progress you've made!

Hope you two have a very merry Christmas!

A said...

Love the snow pictures- we got alot, too!! Congrats on finishing the self studies! Merry Christmas!

Lisa said...

Yea! Progress is GOOD! :) The snow looks so beautiful! I miss the snow so much. We had more than enough when I was growing up in Alaska and now for the past 10 years living in Alabama we have had flurries only a handful of times. So sad...