Hello all! The paperwork continues to cycle through. I sent off over a dozen apostilled documents to St. Louis over the weekend. It still seems like there are still several left. On Friday, Children's Hope notified families adopting out of Vladivostok that there are two new requirements: an FBI check and a no Sexual Predator history certification. It is amazing how this all gets done.

Anyway I met with the group at work about the little one's shower which will now be held after he is home. I am thinking about registering at Sears because they replace clothing or shoes that a child either outgrows or destroys too soon for free. Since he will be leaving Russia with nothing, I suspect I need serious help in gettng him outfitted. Other than that I have my heart kind of set on getting him a Playmobil Airport set. And all the little extras. He and I will go through several airports before we get home and I thought it would be something he could see as a bridge from Vlad to Portland and all that entails. So that is totally going on the list.

And I am almost done with Art History classes for the year. They are hard but I may be done with those for the degree. If so, I can focus on the Russian language classes next year. I can hardly wait. Even better, with the school year ending I can pay more attention to the children I sponser in Russia. Even if children cannot be adopted they need someone to love and care for them. And I have the best and most wonderful sponser children. I am so proud of them. I am so looking forward to writing them more and letting them know I care about them.

So, off I go. I need to write at least one page on Japanese shogunate castles before I go to bed tonight. Take care and God Bless. - Sarah :)

So the paperwork goes. Hopefully it gets done soon. And the best thing of all is that people at work are meeting with me on Wednesday to plan a "shower" for my little one. How cool is that. Of course I have no idea what to ask for - just having him home would be enough. I got him that totally cool multi-directional bunkbed from America the Beautiful Dreamer AND a lifetime supply of the most excellent bubbles so I think we are set. And there are the tons of other toys (mostly gifts) and the complete children's library compliments of my dear dear friend Nancy. Everyone who sees it is blown away by its size. Thank you Nancy.

And I did the update with the social worker and she is so wonderful. That is one of the things I like most about my agency is the people. They are what helps me remain so calm and centered. Now I kind scurry around and try to be ready.

I did have a great sadness in my life recently given I put my oldest and most favorite Dalmatian to sleep at the beginning of May. Her name was Good Golly Miss Molly, Molly for short. She was ill and even though we seemed to be winning the medical battle we lost the war even with around the clock care. It was a very sad time. It seems better now but I still miss her.

And school is getting closer to being done. I woke up today dreaming about Shogon palaces and portraits of Zen buddhist monks. That was a cool place to begin a day. Work did its best to dent that morning glow but it fell short. So tonight I cuddle with my other Dalmatian, Louie and go back to dreaming.

Tonight I dream of a sunrise in Moscow. Pray for us and take care, Sarah :)