As many of you know we are in the dossier prep phase of adoption number 2. We are requesting and infant girl. We received our dossier packet next week and it really doesn’t seem any less daunting that it did before. I know I shouldn’t complain as Ethiopia really has a pretty simple dossier. It is just frustrating having to acquire so many duplicate documents even though we just did them 13 months ago. I guess if I would have had more foresight I would have made sure that the notary who notarized our birth certificates and marriage license–that her commission didn’t expire until sometime in 2008. But I didn’t have that much foresight.
I am excited by the prospect that this time next year we could have our daughter home–or at least know who she is. This time around I am much more relaxed about the whole process. I don’t have the fire and urgency that I had the first time around. I am pretty sure that will all change once we have submitted our dossier and we are waiting. That I am not really looking forward to–as many of you will remember, I am absolutely the worst waiter in the history of waiting. No really, I am. Check my early archives if you do not believe me.
Here we go again….

Seven Years Ago today I became Mrs. Hubby. I have loved every minute of our marriage. You are so much more than just a husband. You are my best friend, my rock. You keep me honest and your have helped me find myself. You have always encouraged me to be true to myself. You have loved me more than I thought I could be loved. I love you hubby. Here’s to many, many more years of bliss.

One year ago today you gave birth to “our” son. I can only imagine how scared you must have been. I hope you were not alone. I know so little about you; I can only hope that your employeer who reared “our” son for the first 3 weeks was there to help you bring this amazing boy into the world. I feel guilty to have so much happiness born out of your own sorrow. I want you to know that I think of you often and wished we could have met you while in Ethiopia to express my gratitude for your strength, courage, and love for your child. I want you to know that he is loved by so many people and that he is a very special little man. He has the most gorgeous eyes that are deep and thoughtful. He has brought so much joy to our family and is the blessing that my husband and I had waited years and years for.
I hope that you have recovered from your decision to give up your child for a hope he would have a “better” life. I wonder if you think of him often. I wish there was a way to let you know how wonderful and amazing he is. I know that you are an amazing woman because Minnow is a part of you and he is amazing. You have given us and this world an amazing child who will do wonders and will change the world. He certainly has already changed ours and yours.
I celebrate you on this day. I thank you which is in no way a suffient way to repay you for this most amazing gift.
Thank you,
Minnow’s Mom