not this year

We received word that our dossier was not submitted.  SDA will begin accepting dossiers at the beginning of February, 2009.  I hope and pray that we will then be submitted, and that we will have a travel date in the Spring.  In the meantime, Billy and I are considering hosting a child from Ukraine for 10 days this summer.  Our adoption agency has a program for older orphans. Since they have virtually no chance of being adopted, the are given the opportunity to spend time with a family, in the hopes of making a connection which would lead to an adoption.  I have read of many families having successful experiences with hosting programs.  We will keep you posted.

Here are some pictures of where my Opa is from.  He was born in Ukraine, but in a German settlement.  Just like the rest of my grandparents were born in german settlements in Yugoslavia. It doesn't look like things have changed much!  Yikes!

Barack Obama

Barack Obama has just been elected the 44th President of the United States.  Kitty called earlier, and she and Beau were riding their bikes down to Grant Park.  Someone Beau knows gave them the tickets.  What a once in a lifetime experience!  The energy there must be overwhelming.

We were contacted by our caseworker, and she asked that we update our documents asap.  Some of them will expire in 5 months, and they need to be good for an additional 6 months after the time of submission.  We just may be getting closer.....

waiting....

Our dossier is still waiting to be submitted.  We were told October, but it is nearing the end, and I am not optimistic about the upcoming week.  Anyways, here is the news that I had to dig around for:  

 October 23, 2008-Unused Quotas

On another note....we just go back from a wonderful weekend in Chicago visiting with Kitty and Beau.  We drove there with Billy's mom, dad and their dog Evee.  On Friday, we were able to make it to my favorite cafe, Julius Meinl, as well as enjoy the day at the Field Museum.  We spent that evening with Beau's mom eating out at a Cuban restaurant.  Yum.  On Saturday, we had a really great day at the Mexican museum (Day of the Dead exhibit) followed by an evening of drinks at a bar and then a play at a neighborhood theatre.  I loved the bar. Inside, it was very dark with white candles that smell like magnolias maybe, crystal chandeliers barely lit,  pale blue painted walls, tall heavy blue drapes and high-backed "Alice in Wonderland" leather chairs.  It is a throwback to a "speakeasy".   There is no sign out front, and if you don't go early enough, you will have to wait to get in.  It's in the Wicker Park/Bucktown neighborhood.