Is 60 Days A Long Time?

Grant's Social Welfare Institute in Chengdu

I have been reading adoption packing lists from other families. I have to laugh because when you combine more than one list - the list soon gets much larger:). For some reason, I have spent too much time reading about the best bottle to take. I can so easily get focused on one thing and take it entirely too far. I really CANNOT wait to feed Grant a bottle! Even if he no longer use a bottle, he is going to get it back. It doesn't even have to be milk - I think I am taking just about every kind - (I am not kidding), except Dr. Browns ( too slow), I thought that one would frustrate him.

We are at least 60 days out from China sending us an invitation to travel - best case scenario. This next letter is called a TA. Once we receive our TA, we will schedule an appointment with the US Consulate in Guangzhou. So we are a couple of months away and I almost have Grant packed.

Skip and I will travel to China. The older girls really would like to go, but I really think this time should just be for Grant. Recently, I have had dreams about traveling with them. The last dream one of the girls was brushing their teeth and using the tap water - Because I forgot to remind them to not use the tap water! Nightmare! Anyway, I am so looking forward to traveling with Skip as he is a bit more responsible (LOL)! and it has been a very long time since we have been on a trip together.

As we look into traveling, we have found that adding Beijing to our travel will cost a bit more money. The more conservative trip for us would be flying into Hong Kong, going to Chengdu then to Guangzhou. I do think Hong Kong would be wonderful to see, I just have had my heart set on going to Beijing and New Day for a long time. God will work out that detail.

I am also am wondering if we need to take a video recorder/cam recorder. We do have one, from about 10 years ago. My father gave it to us before Olivia was born - ALMOST 11 years ago! It works great, but the battery has issues. We had to replace the original battery and the new one has to be forcefully but carefully rigged up to the charger - there is a 50/50 chance that the battery will be charged after 12 hours. It is very unpredictable. ? would I regret not having a video tape?

Traveling Many Miles West

On Easter afternoon I received a call from my father telling me of my grandmother's passing.  She was 87 years old and had recently fallen and broken her hip.  After hip surgery it was very difficult for her body to recover from the trauma.  

As I have been preparing to head  3,000 miles west, I am very sad, but I have loved how my mind has been flooded with some really fond memories of her.

As a little girl, she would always tell me stories about a princess and a prince charming and as I laid in her lap, she would play with my ears.  I remember her hands were so soft.  She would tell me one day my prince would come, and he did.

She could throw wonderful Sunday afternoon parties!  I was always in charge of preparing the relish tray.  At every family get together, I would get out her rectangular glass dish and arrange the small pickles and olives.  She was so patient with me as I spilled all over her table cloths.  I never remember her saying, "are your hands clean?"   "don't put all the olives on the tips of your fingers before you put them on the tray" 

She always had licorice - strawberry, chocolate and original.  My favorite candy is the world is strawberry licorice!  I LOVE strawberry licorice!

She was the most fashionable person I ever knew.  She had A LOT of clothes and she delighted in me playing dress-up in them. -  I would make such a mess of her closets and have her accessorise strung all over the house.  She never fussed, nor did she make me clean up my mess.

She bought me my first pair of high heels.  BIG DAY!!!!

Her hands were beautiful and her nails were always manicured. 

She made the best oatmeal - I know how she made it, but it still is not the same.

She grew big beautiful fragrant roses.

She would let me take her beautiful museum quality dolls to my first grade show-in-tell.  

She had a foil Christmas tree - I have always wanted one.

She always had a pot of coffee heated.

She always had time for me and  I rarely remember her telling me "NO."

She never owned a dishwasher and her sink never had dirty dishes sitting in it.

I could go on and on . . .  oh how I am so thankful for the wonderful memories of her.  

She will be very very missed!