A Year and a Half

That's the time frame for us so far. We still really don't have an idea when we will get a referral but are hoping for sometime this year. Other than that we are just keeping on keeping on.

Because we have been saving money for the adoption we held off from any travel, as it is so expensive, and on top of that I don't get vacation days from much of my work, so we have always lost that income. But it has been a long time since I have be able to spend time with any of my family. We had always used most holidays and most of Mark's time off to go see our families. We took one weekend a year as a trip for us (our anniversary) to somewhere close like Memphis or Chattanooga. That has been on haitus too.

As travel has really been limited for close to two years now, the adoption process officially started for a year and a half, and the whole process looking like two to two and half years (please no longer) right now, well, we are going to have to chang things up. We have seen Mark's family, except for his dad whom we've only seen once, more due to needs and circumstances over the last two years but still not enough. We need to see everyone more and will have to make some trips this year to do that.

Our neighbors had us over for their yummy fried fish last night and they had all their family there as they always do when they have a reson to get together. Cars were up and down the street on both sides and in the drives - for fried fish. Just wait till the 4th of July an the cars will be that much more and they all come full. It was really nice to be there but it made me even more aware of what we are missing with our own families. Where we live is kinda in the middle of all of ours but they are all spread out.

I hope people can come here more to see us as time goes on but know that we will have to be very proactive in making sure we get to our families and that our girl sees them enough to bond and feel connected to them all.