UBI's...

When I was in the Peace Corps, one of the program director's would have a UBI session, otherwise known as "useless bits of information." So here are some UBI's (some more "u" than not)from our homestead... As you can see, the bunny did make it to our house. Can you guess which basket is mine?
Natalie immediately declared this basket as hers. She told me I could have the basket with one piece of candy. Nice...
Okay, so I'm proud of my dessert. Actually, the whole meal was great thanks to the Food Network. I made Paula Deen's Texas Brisket. Oh my gosh was that good! We also had a potato casserole, asparagus (should have roasted it but didn't have the oven space at the time) and the above little yummy for dessert. It is Tyler Florence's Lemon Curd Trifle. It is a great springtime dessert...okay really anytime would work..Loved the fresh berries and the lemony curd. You mix the lemon curd with fresh whipped cream. Yum-Oh.
Natalie starts her T-Ball practice next week. Her coach called a few days ago with all of the info...okay my three year old has a coach?!? You must be some kind of saint to volunteer to coach a bunch of three year olds...lol... It will by hysterical to watch. She is going to play with her friends Lily and Brandon (brother and sister) who will also be going to the same school as her next year. More pics and video for your enjoyment to come soon...I'm sure!!
Two weeks from today we'll be on an airplane with our friends Jim and Mary Anne and their daughters to pay a visit to the mouse. It's been too long!

On the adoption front, referrals just were sent this week for only two days worth of dossiers from October of 2005!!! Can you believe only two days? I hadn't heard until yesterday that October was one of the largest months ever for the CCAA with over 2000 dossiers sent in. The CCAA has been sending out referrals for October for the last 4 months and they still aren't finished! I have heard that November is similarly a large month so who knows how long that will take? At this rate, we will be lucky to get our referral by the end of 2009...I know that we are just beginning this process again and I TOTALLY feel for those that have been waiting since October 2005 to see their children. Can you imagine if you missed the cut-off date yet again? I'd be pulling my hair out...

We do have the option of going through the special needs program which does seem to speed things up a bit. Phil and I have been talking about this option since before even deciding to adopt again. We're actually working out a profile now for what types of needs we feel that we can accomodate in our family. We're contacting our insurance company to see what types of things are covered and talking to other families that have adopted or will adopt through the SN program. Really, all of the children adopted internationally are "special needs" if you think about it. China just considers those with some type of physical deformity more SN than others. That, obviously, isn't the only type of thing considered to be SN but appears to be the bulk of it. We have had such amazing help and services available to us with Natalie and I know how to access the system for whatever Sophia may need. We'll just keep plugging along and see what God has in store for us. I just will keep on having faith that all will work out as it should.

That's all for now folks... Jennifer-out!