Yes....I am a red neck...at least today.

This weekend Omaha reached a balmy 66 degrees.  So Nathaniel and I went to a couple of friends baseball games. it was cool but it was great to sit back, relax and watch them play ball. Sadly to say, I burn quickly which includes a red face, red legs (like the old baseball team) and yes....a red neck! It hurts too...but not too bad. What is exciting about today is that Nathaniel's new baseball team "Ralston Rams", at least new to him had a double header today. Nathaniel and his team played well.  The coaches he plays for and the boys the plays with are all very nice much like those he played on with his old team "Bellevue Bruins". We have been lucky to play for these two teams...just good people.  So, yes...wrestling season in officially over and Nathaniel took 4th place in the 106 pound class (which scores points for the overall team) at the State Tournament which was a nice accomplishment for him and his team took second place. His grandparents would have been proud of him. Coincidentally, his high school wrestling coach called him to let him know that they have off season workouts he can join even though he is not officially in high school yet...I think he was quite excited about that...so we will make what we can knowing he is in baseball season now and that must take priority since baseball is in season as we speak.

We just learned that Nathaniel's cousin Payton made the Freshman Cheer squad at her school so we are extremely excited for her...that is a huge accomplishment. Way to go Payton!

An update on bringing Zoe home. Last week we received our official visa's so that we can travel to China. We also completed all of our 2011 Nebraska required adoption paperwork so we are in good standing at the moment. Nebraska requires that you update it (medical, security, etc.) each calendar year. So, we are in our second week of waiting to see when we travel. We know for sure it will not be in the month of April, but are crossing our fingers it will be May or at the latest the first or second week in June. We are betting on May. Sonja continues to work on Zoe's room and is getting closer to what she has envisioned.

I think Nathaniel's activities and working to get Zoe have been great for the soul.  I am still very melancholy due to the recent events but must say am keeping myself busy.  I think the same goes for both Sonja and Nathaniel. However...we keep plugging along...Thanks for checking out the blog from time to time...

Wait....is that light at the end of the tunnel? Or is that someone else with a flashlight looking for a way out...

Nope...that is clearly light at the end of the tunnel...

On March 18th, Holt International, our adoption agency received word that our Article 5 was picked up and forwarded to the China Center of Adoption Affairs this week. They estimate that our travel approval (TA) should arrive in Holt’s office in the next 2-3 weeks.  This is an average based on families that have gone before us most recently.  Our actual TA might arrive sooner or later.  When our TA arrives in Holt's office, Holt will let us know via email, and then start working on our travel arrangements.  Families typically travel to China 3-6 weeks after their TA arrives in Holt’s office.

At the same time we have been working with a courier to help us secure visa’s which are added to our passport which gives us permission to travel to and from China. We just got word that the visa’s were approved and should get our passports back either Thursday or Friday of this week so we continue to move forward. We just received the completed Visa's back over the weekend!

The last outstanding piece we have left with our current paperwork obligations is to get a renewed medical evaluation on Sonja and I. We are in the process of doing that and should have everything complete in about a week. So everything is moving along...and we are getting increasingly excited about meeting Zoe.

Oh....a special shout out to our son Nathaniel as today is his birthday...Happy Birthday Nathaniel, your mom and dad love you...only 10 more years when you turn 24 then we might consider allowing you to get your drivers permit! 

Thanks for following our blog!