Changes......

For the past little bit I have really thought about going "PRIVATE" on my blog. After tossing and turning I have decided to keep this blog and then have another blog for my family and friends to follow. I love that I have lots of visitors and comments left on my blog but ever since my referral of Channing I have been feeling more than a little exposed here in bloggy land.

For my family and friends who dont have a "google" account, there is a sign in procedure that you will need to do to access the other blog. The other blog will be my main CHANNING blog and it will also be the blog that I will use while I'm in China. Please email me and I can walk you through the steps if you need help. Its EASY and FREE. I know I asked this a few weeks back, but since I have switched computers I deleted all the requests. Soooo.....to all my family and friends.....If you would like to follow the more personal blog please email me and I will add you to the list. Sorry for the inconvenience, but I want to protect my little girls privacy.

Update: Sorry I was typing so fast and didnt type my email address correct....thanks Carolyn for pointing that out!!! All is correct now!!

New Photos: My Sweet Girl..........

I'm a happy camper!!! This really made my day. Last night Y from my agency called me to give me an update on Channing. Then I asked if she was able to get some pictures. She said that they have been sent. I called them back today to say I haven't received them (thought they were coming via email) and B said they were sent in the mail on a disc!!! So to tie me over he emailed me 2 pictures.............and this is the 1st one I opened!!! The only previous pictures I have of Channing are ones of her with a serious look.........so this was exciting to see my girl smile and she looks happy!! She looks so grown-up, and I better to remeber to pack the hair pretties....yayyy!!!
Now I cannot wait to get the disc with the rest of the pictures.........hopefully I will see some of the care package goodies that I sent to her. Then I will know she knows about me!!!

Only 48 more days and this girl will be in her mommy's arms FOREVER!!!

Laptop HELP!!!

OK.....panic is starting...LOL!!! Lastweek I finally went out and bought myself a laptop. I ended up getting a MACBOOK (I got the baby one- white). It has all the bells & whistles on it, cool looking, light enough for my backpack and is very popular.

PROBLEM IS: I'm so not a computer person. I like my windows XP and I have no idea what I'm doing on the MAC. If I knew my MAC would do what,I want I'm sure I would be fine trying to figure it out.

Here are my problems (this will be my main computer since I'm getting rid of my PC):

1) Can I transfer all my files (windows xp) from my PC to my MAC

2) Can I transfer all my pictures

3) What software for MAC can you get to compare to windows xp (like word, excel)

4) What add ons do people get for the MAC

5) I cant seem to chat on MSN with the MAC.....(BIG PROBLEM!!!)

The store I bought my MAC at, the sales guys were good, but not great in helping me. They werent familiar with MAC.....so I'm pretty much left on my own. I know lots of you have MAC's so if anyone can help with suggestions or advice I would appreciate it!!! And if you have a laptop and love it....share what you have. I may be back to the drawing board soon since i only have 14 days to return it for a full refund!!!

Travel Dates!!!

The dates are set, and the tickets are booked!!! I'M GOING TO CHINA!!!! Anyways, this is how the trip will look. A more detailed Itinerary to come:

August 8th: Leave for Vancouver

August 9th: Leave for Beijing

August 10th: Arrive in Beijing

August 12th or 13th: Fly to Guangxi

August 13th: Channing will be placed in my arms!!!

August 17th: Fly back to Beijing

August 23rd: Leave for Vancouver

August 23rd: Arrive HOME!!!!!

As many of you who are part of my daily life know...I have been very busy these past weeks. This is an amazing time in my life!! I'm trying to get my house all ready for Channing, things organized for when I'm gone to China, paperwork finished, shopping finished and packing started. I have to take a few days in the next week to go lap top and video camera shopping....which I'm not looking forward too!!! Also I'm starting to get exicted about a few months off from work....so I have to get things organized and ready for my replacement!!! I'm truly sorry for the emails that aren't getting answered right away and comments that I'm not leaving on your blogs. I'm reading them, but dont have the time to keep up to them at the moment!! Please know how important each and every one of you are to me and without your support I could not have made it through this journey.

Yayyy-Travel Dates!!!

Well the phone call I have been waiting for finally came lastnight!!! My agency has given us our travel dates!! I will be leaving Canada by August 11th (probably the 8th or 9th) and either flying to Beijing or Hong Kong. They will confirm this in the next few days!! I prefer to fly into Hong Kong since our second week in China will be spent in Beijing. We will return to Canada on August 23rd. So I will post more about my travel early next week once everything is set in stone!!!

The most exciting news is I will have Channing in my arms on August 13th!!!!!!!!!!!

Yay, Yippee, Horray!!!

This afternoon my LOA/Letter Seeking Confirmation from the Adopter arrived. My Social Worker called and I ran right down....the letter is so cool it gave me "good" shivers!!! I asked for a photocopy of the letter, but I guess I will receive one in the mail next week.

Also I will share this: I almost had a panic attach!! My Social Worker said "read the letter and sign it if I choose" (HELLO). Anyways, I read the letter, checked the box off that said YES I still want to adopt Channing, signed the letter and dated it. Well when I signed the letter I signed it like I would sign any letter.....my 1st initial, my middle inital and then my last name. My Social Worker said NO!!!! She said you NEVER sign a legal document like that, you always write you name.....then she said it should be fine!! Once I left the building I called my agency and they said it will be fine.......thank heavens!!! Thinking back, I think I have signed my name like this on everything adoption related!! Anyone else done this???

Now I'm due for a DRINK!!! Happy weekend everyone!!!

L.O.A is HERE!!!!

Day 102.......Today I received an email from my Social Worker that my LOA has arrived to Central Office!!!! That means it should arrive to my Social Worker within the next day or two for my signature. The LOA is an important document. Its your Letter of Approval from China and is also one last form I need to sign. Its also called a Letter Seeking Commitment from the Adopter. I need to check the box off saying I'm still wishing to adopt Channing, date the letter and sign it. Then off it goes back to China.

The next and final step in this adoption journey is waiting for my TA....Travel Approval!!! China usually will send this out within 2 to 5 weeks after they receive my LOA back. My agency will soon let me know when I will be travelling!!!

I am just on cloud nine......HORRAY......this is so real.......I'm going to China soon!!! Soon I will be able to hold and kiss my little girl!!!!!

Lake weekend!!

Since I have no adoption news............

here are some pictures from the weekend!!!

We FINALLY put the boat in the water...Look who is driving....

Pretty PELICANS but a pain in the BUTT when they crap all over the dock.


My GIRL.......

A relaxing cruz down the lake....

H and Jade...

H not too interested in driving his

new John Deere Gator

Time for GOLFING......Kadi was great....

she would retrieve the balls back to H....was too cute!!!

Hiding from the sun

Our new garage at the lake......the whole back yard is a CONSTRUCTION ZONE.....notice my "living quarters" on the far left........perfect!!