Dearest Dema,
Well, since I last wrote to you I have learned a lesson in humility. After our home study was done and the immigration paperwork sent off, I was feeling very superior. I was thinking, "This adoption paperwork isn't that hard - we are most of the way done and it hasn't been too bad." This was accompanied by many slaps on the back and expressions of job well done and aren't I just the thing!
Well Dema, remember in life there is always just one more thing. And this one more thing was 17 more documents that needed to be obtained, notarized, and apostilled in the state capitol. So I quickly deflated and went back to work. This next set of documents is for Ukraine and composed of certified marriage licenses, powers of attorney, employment letters, pictures of the house, etc. Oh, and before I forget, MORE fingerprints. We have gotten most of the documents together and are waiting on a few stragglers that will hopefully be tied up before the immigration paperwork comes back.
Amanda is doing well. She competed in the Pan-Am games in 4 events: board breaking, forms, demo team, and sparring. She won 4 medals - gold in board breaking, silver in forms, gold in demo team, and silver in sparring. She is going to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs in 2 weeks to compete in the Rocky Mountain Open and then the very next weekend is the Utah Open Games.
G4 is also doing well. He is getting A's in all of his classes and is working about 10 hours a week in the tutoring center, tutoring chemistry. He is still working on his model railroad - finally most of the trees are done. He was working on part of it last weekend and wanted to model an area where there were forest fires, so he got the brilliant idea to make model trees and burn them. Let's just say that the house spelled like burnt plaster for the rest of the day and we were deaf from having to listen to the smoke alarm go off - but it actually turned out pretty convincing looking.
G3 is out of town again for business. Sometimes I feel like he just passes through the house, never staying too long. But the one benefit of that is that he is able to rack up those frequent flier miles so we will hopefully be able to fly first class back and forth to Ukraine. It's a really long trip and having those few extra amenities will make the trip all the easier.
I am starting to have worries that we will not get to you by your birthday. I really want you to have this next birthday with us. But I have to remain positive and realize you will be ours for the rest of your life so a few weeks shouldn't matter - except it does. I hate to be separated from you. I want to start making you part of our family, learning from you and in turn being able to teach you. I am normally pretty patient, but I have to confess that my patience if wearing thin. And I am not the only one - G4 and Amanda talk about you almost every day. They are getting anxious too.
Anyway, we will keep our fingers crossed that everything will work out for the best. If for some reason it looks like the paperwork will be delayed - I have asked G3 if we can go over the Ukraine over the holidays. I don't want you to forget us!
Love,
Bethany, G3, G4, and Amanda
