Lutefisk

Ghana continues to be crazy, HUGE things changing dramatically in one day. Two days ago I got news that made me want to shut my doors, curl up and take a nap for a very long time. I did not feel certain our daughter was coming home. Today is much more hopeful, as best it can be in the midst of continual change.

Before going into the crazies, I want to celebrate what a beautiful day it is today. Currently 75 and climbing, Jaden is off playing with a friend down at the low tides at Discovery park. I had a lovely cup of coffee and pastry at my most favorite cafe on the planet by myself. I only did about 20 minutes of work today. I just took a long shower that did not get interrupted for the first time in... ? I have a sitter scheduled to arrive at 6 tonight and at 6:01 I am headed out the door to meet Chris in downtown Ballard to celebrate us, and dive into the beginnings of Seafood Fest. My dear friend found the love of his life and is so moved that he's giving marriage a second shot. Jaden felt enough courage to get back on his bike this week after a 6 week hiatus post-accident and now we can't get him off of it. Awesome, awesome, he is an inspiration to me. I recently purchased a new kayak (beautiful bubblegum pink!) that I can carry and supports my body much better than my old one. I freakin' love it and have been out every weekend since getting it. This will continue... It is a good day and I do not forget that in this quest to bring our second child home. It is not all doom and gloom, I've been good about celebrating what is special and wonderful right now. (Again, thank you yoga.)

I go to Ghana in one week. What will happen there? Who knows. It is crazy, crazy. The things I know we have to/want to do in 5 short days are as follows:

1. Find a home for 27 kids who previously were in an orphanage.
2. Give said kids a pile of clothes from my beloved Yoga Mommas.
   
3. Get a foster license for the new home, and for the home where my child resides.
4. Make sure that she is going to stay put where she is now, we do not want another move for our child before she comes home. She is resilient and joyful, but we do not want to push our luck!
   
5. Get our adoption decree once and for all (8 weeks delayed now.)
6. Attempt to file the I-600 in country with or without the in-country adoption decree.
   
7. Meet, hug, love and spend time with our new child.
   
8. Make sure whatever was in her ear has been removed. (She decided that was a good place to store something...)

Can we do it? You bet your ass we can. (Have you met me???) The super news we got today was that a family who was just one step further in the process than we are just got notice from the consolate that they can bring their daughter home. It is exciting - we needed this actual event as evidence to back up the continual claims that there would be nothing to stop the process. With everything that has happened as of late, we were beginning to question.

I haven't covered everything that has happened in the blog. I am concerned about doing so as the dark side has reared its ugly head and has not been completely vanquished. Seriously, that is all I can comfortably share at this point. The light will triumph, I sense good in the force. Christi was brought to the family through this light and I can only rest in faith and let the fear go.

In the great words of Yoda (remember, we're a Star Wars family now:)

Fear is the path to the dark side.
Fear leads to anger.
Anger leads to hate.
Hate leads to suffering.

I will not be afraid, I will not be afraid... I will instead eat Salmon on a stick and watch a Lutefisk eating contest.