Brotherly Love

We were given the news yesterday that our daughter was told about her forever family. I will post later about that as I am still waiting for details from our super fantabulous agency. However, because of this, we spent last night getting her care package ready to send. Her little brother wanted in on the action and told us that he wanted to make something for his big sister. He took out his art supplies and with a little help from Mommy (completely under the direction of the artist) made her a card. When finished he proudly exclaimed "I made art for Mimi!" He also chose sticker books to send her so she can share with her friends.

Soundtrack

A friend asked me a really cool question about what song was in my head when Brian called with the news of our having received the NOC. Anyone who knows me well is aware that I have a soundtrack to my life that plays in my head. Just about any song I hear takes me to a moment in time - sometimes it reminds me of a person or just a place in time or a feeling. So I thought it was so cool that someone who barely knows me thought to ask what song I heard.

The answer: Blackbird by The Beatles. Paul McCartney, who wrote this song, has said it was written about the struggle of African-American's during that period of time. Nevertheless, great songs such as this have a certain ambiguity that allows for interpretation by the listener so that the song speaks to their heart. So it is no surprise to me that as I was given the news that our daughter is that much closer to coming home that I would hear the melodic voice of Paul McCartney sing in my head "Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life you were only waiting for this moment to arise."

One giant step forward...

We received word today that CARA has issued the NOC. They are waiting to assign a judge to hear our case in family court and they think this will happen sometime in February and then the court date will be calendared. Once the court date happens we will get the travel invitation to bring our daughter home! They are estimating that she will be coming home in 4-5 months from today (May-June).

With love...

I have to say that I have some awesome friends.

My very dear friend Heidi and her children came to spend the weekend with us. On the very first night as we sat in the kitchen enjoying coffee and conversation she presented me with a gift bag that contained all the amazing play clothes for our sweet Mimi to enjoy when she comes home.

and because another dear friend KT knows that I embrace the culture of my children as my own and also enjoy playing dress up she surprised me with the gift of a beautiful Saree. I cannot wait to wrap myself up in this beautiful cloth! I will post pictures once I master the art of wearing the Saree.

An Update (kinda, sorta...)

I emailed AIAA for an update (even knowing that they are so awesome they would have told me already if there was any). Nevertheless my sleuthing got this additional information:

Our dossier was actually not received in India until Tuesday, November 20th. This means CARA likely got it the end of that week (November 23rd) or the first of the following week (November 26th).

I did additional research to determine when the government in India was closed during the months of November/December. I came upon a website that lists government holidays in India. Based on this calendar, CARA may have been closed on November 20th and then again from December 20th through the 25th.

Our agency also said that the NOC from CARA is typically received "2-3 months" after the dossier is submitted. Taking into consideration the holiday slowdown, I'm thinking maybe (just maybe) NOC approval for our sweet Mimi will be our Valentine's Day gift.

Longing...

It seems strange to write that I miss Mimi since we've never met. But here it is. I miss Mimi. This private blog for our India adoption has thus far been our place to catalogue the adoption process. However, behind the process and the paper (and even more paper) is a matter of the heart.

A long time ago I was lectured by our first caseworker (for our Ethiopian adoption) that I needed to "guard my heart" while waiting for our son to come home during the process of adoption. I knew right then that she just didn't get it (and, no, she was not an adoptive parent).

You cannot help but fall in love "at first sight." I think about Mimi all the time. I wonder what she does, who her friends are, what she dreams about (or if she has already given up dreaming). I wonder if anyone holds her when she cries, even knowing that she'll never ever be held as lovingly or warmly as she will be by her mommy and daddy. I wonder when they will tell her about us. I wonder when she is coming home or if any government official will bar that from happening.

It is a very primal thing -- that which a mother feels for her child. It does not happen when you feel the heartbeat of the child. It happens when your heart beats for the child. My heart beats loudly right now. I pray that on some level she can hear it, and feel it, and know that she will soon be home.