It has been a few weeks since I have posted anything on this blog, and for no real reason other than I didn't have much to say and I have been rather busy. Actually, I guess those are two very good reasons to stay quiet! But several folks have asked how I am doing and what is going on, so I'm make a quick update.
In short, I am in a good place! I honestly had really really been dreading this part of the adoption journey. I thought after having met our son and spent a bit of time with him, that having to return home without him for some untold number of months would be excrutiatingly painful for me, and as a result for everyone around me. Of course, I do miss him. Of course, of course, of course. I think of him and say a little prayer for him frequently during the day. But I am not sad and am not moping around and I don't think I am adding to the stress level of those around me (any more than normal, that is!). I can only think that God is being especially kind to me, and busloads of people are praying big time, and for both of those I am hugely grateful.
Evenings and weekends have been filled up with the regular things of life: homework, dinner, playing with the boys, going here or there. And the daytime hours have been somewhat filled up too. I don't know how it is possible, but it is not uncommon for me to come back home after dropping the boys off at school and going to Mass, then I get involved with something, and before I know it, it is afternoon already and nearly time to go get the boys again. And before I know it, it's Friday again just like it is today.
I have been making a conscious effort to fill my days will good things, so have met several times with my prayer group, or my Bible study group, or been working on my school work (which is St. John's gospel this semester, by the way), or met with friends or family members, or practiced music for choir, or helped out at school or elsewhere. Or when I can't think of anything else to do, there's always cleaning the house, though I try to do that in moderation! :D
There is no word to share on our case. Realistically though, I'm not sure that there really could be anything to provide as an update, until everything is ready for us to travel again and sign the final adoption decree and bring back our sweet little boy. It's either they're not yet done processing our case, or they are done processing our case and we need to travel. So I don't expect anything until that time. When will it be is the million dollar question. I'm thinking anytime from around the end of this month to the end of the year. Obviously I am hoping for as soon as possible. Our attorney said it would likely be two months from when we petitioned the court, and we were at court on August 25th. I am really hoping and praying everything is complete within two months of that date, which would be October 25th. The later it gets toward the end of the year, and things generally start to slow down for the Christmas season. Although I bet it is gorgeous in Honduras for Christmas, I would really prefer that our trip need be no more than four to six weeks and we are all set to go home by then. Really hoping and praying for that.
And the other thing relates to the adoption tax credit. As yet, Congress has not acted to extend the adoption tax credit, and unless they extend it, the credit will end after this year. Which means that adoptions would need to be finalized by the end of this year in order to receive the tax credit. We are really counting on that tax credit. Really counting on it. So, if I can ask you once again, if you haven't contacted your Congressmen to ask them to extend it, please do that. It will make a huge difference for us and for many many other adopting families. Refer to my archived blog posts if you need more information on the tax credit.
Thank you so much my friends!