Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Thankful for Rumors...
The latest rumor is that China has matched the June DTC parents to the Chinese babies. Officials should be signing referrals and mailing them out sometime next week. Needless to say, we are very excited to see the end of the long wait filled with wondering... who? how many? how old? where exactly? There should finally be answers around the corner.
But first we will be thankful with plenty of turkey and pumpkin pie, friends and family.... Happy Thanksgiving!
But first we will be thankful with plenty of turkey and pumpkin pie, friends and family.... Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 15, 2004
A Few Days on a Plantation
Well the May referrals came a week earlier than expected, and the June dossier group is abuzz with wondering when our referrals will actually arrive. Since none of the June referrals were included with the May batch, we have to wonder if the next delivery will go through June 30th (where our dossier is grouped). Lately the months seem to include the whole month, but there is always a possibility of being left out and waiting longer.
But in the meantime, we were invited to attend a writer's weekend (Sunday - Tuesday) at the Mansfield Plantation near Georgetown, SC. We first drove to Charleston to visit with Alexa, Steve's middle daughter. Steve helped her extend a chain link fence for Eva, our "grand-dog". It was so much fun to see Alexa so settled in her home and enjoy her knack for decorating.
Now I am sitting in our assigned room in an old guest house on the plantation, enjoying the sun shining through the shutters as I type. There are a number of not-yet-restored slave quarters on the property of over 900 acres. There is a small white clapboard church, a main plantation house, and numerous guest houses. Eventually the property will be re-opened as a Bed and Breakfast. We are here on a weekend when they are "warming up" to having guest here again.
Scenes for the "Patriot" were filmed here in the plantation main house. Since I loved that movie, it makes being here really fun. Last night, Steve and I were alone in the main house. We were standing in the historic dining room when Steve said offhandedly, "I need to use the bathroom. Do you know where it is?" Just then a door latch clicked and a door opened about 10 inches. I croaked, "That better not be the bathroom!" IT WAS!! A ghost with the gift of southern hospitality!
Steve is hoping to write while he is here. I am simply banking up time in solitude, reading a book and thinking. I know these times will be few and far between, so I am treasuring them. Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner, times with little solitude although the seasons should demand it. So before I get busy and forget, this season I am grateful... for the process of this whole adoption experience and for the hope of the gift(s)"made in China" to come.
But in the meantime, we were invited to attend a writer's weekend (Sunday - Tuesday) at the Mansfield Plantation near Georgetown, SC. We first drove to Charleston to visit with Alexa, Steve's middle daughter. Steve helped her extend a chain link fence for Eva, our "grand-dog". It was so much fun to see Alexa so settled in her home and enjoy her knack for decorating.
Now I am sitting in our assigned room in an old guest house on the plantation, enjoying the sun shining through the shutters as I type. There are a number of not-yet-restored slave quarters on the property of over 900 acres. There is a small white clapboard church, a main plantation house, and numerous guest houses. Eventually the property will be re-opened as a Bed and Breakfast. We are here on a weekend when they are "warming up" to having guest here again.
Scenes for the "Patriot" were filmed here in the plantation main house. Since I loved that movie, it makes being here really fun. Last night, Steve and I were alone in the main house. We were standing in the historic dining room when Steve said offhandedly, "I need to use the bathroom. Do you know where it is?" Just then a door latch clicked and a door opened about 10 inches. I croaked, "That better not be the bathroom!" IT WAS!! A ghost with the gift of southern hospitality!
Steve is hoping to write while he is here. I am simply banking up time in solitude, reading a book and thinking. I know these times will be few and far between, so I am treasuring them. Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner, times with little solitude although the seasons should demand it. So before I get busy and forget, this season I am grateful... for the process of this whole adoption experience and for the hope of the gift(s)"made in China" to come.
