Our Journey Thusfar....

Happy New Year! It's been awhile since we have updated our blog, but with the many changes recently and some good news, we found it "blog worthy" to take note of the many great things that have recently happened along our journey.

Brent turned the BIG 4-0!!!! It was a great night and we surprised him at The Club at Flying Horse for dinner and drinks with family and two of his good friends (singer and all). Oh... and a ginormous cake!!! Much to all of our surprise - the Chef spared no expense! It's hard to believe we first met when we were just kids at 18 years of age. How time flies!

Besides the big birthday, there's a lot to marvel at so far in 2009: Brent will celebrate his 15th year at Ramtron Int'l, I was able to hang tough throughout the whole mortgage melt down mess and celebrate my 18th year in the mortgage biz (I even opened my own branch back in May). And yes, even our dog, Hera, will enjoy a big birthday year herself when she turns 11!

The BEST thing, however, is that our very good friends, Mark & Barrie, FINALLY got their match from China! Kelsie Mei, born Fu Na Xiu, in November 2007!!! She is a beautiful girl with a big smile and we couldn't be happier for them. They are set to leave for China to bring her home in the next 4 to 6 weeks (at last!) This bit of news, therefore, as you can imagine, gives us the most hope we've had thus far.

We started this Journey October 2005. It has been 3 years and three months of waiting (who's counting, right??). But, despite the sceptics, despite the tears, despite the rumors, it looks like this indeed is going to happen. If all goes well, we will receive "the call" as Barrie and Mark just did. By Spring we should have a picture of her, and by Summer, we should be in China to meet our daughter for the first time. Our Dossier arrived in China 2 weeks after Mark and Barrie's, which gives us hope to believe that indeed we will receive our match soon.

Today, we were encouraged enough to actually fold the little jeans, t-shirts and onesies that have been accumulating on the floor these past 3 years and put them away in her drawers. We hung her cute little dresses and bathing suits on pink and green baby hangers and stood back in awe looking at her "complete closet" - laughing that her room has been finished for over 2 years, but no baby. Was the closet symbolic of a process close to completion? Perhaps.

Thanx to the kindness of strangers and a BIG BIG thanx to Deirdre whom we met in Mexico while vacationing in April. A couple months ago, a HUGE box of baby clothes were awaiting us on our front porch when we got home one day. They were from her own adopted daughter from Guatamala. It is true that the red thread brings people together...regardless of space or time. It's been an amazing journey thus far. Thank you to all of the Angels that have made it so special along the way!

Here's to a grand 2009!