I'm Into NaNoWriMo

Well, I signed up for NaNoWriMo, which for those who don't know, stands for "National Novel Writing Month". And you thought it had something to do with nanobots, didn't you?

Basically, you are committing to write 50,000 words in the month of November. Now why, you ask, would I ever want to do that? It's not like I don't have enough going on in November. I guess I want to do it mainly because it's such a challenge. And it will really boost my writing experience and force me to make writing an even bigger part of my life because of the deadline. There's nothing like that sense of accomplishment, too.

As of this writing, I am about 58,000 words into a novel already. I've been working on it for over six weeks, and would have been further along if I hadn't become lazy for a few weeks in October. Anyway, one of the rules of NaNoWriMo is that you can't use a work that you're currently writing. I have to start fresh other than having an outline or notes.

Silly me, I forgot to sign up until just a little while ago. Oh yeah, did I mention that I'm a procrastinator? So, I'm writing the sequel to my current novel for this contest. I have a basic idea how it's going to go, but nothing as sketched out as for my first story. But you know what the good thing about a rough draft is? They can really, REALLY stink and that's OK.

Oh, do you know what's going to make it even harder to do all this writing? The "R" key on my keyboard is gone. It's not easy to type the "R" because I have to press extra hard on that spot to get an "R" to show up. Darrrrn. Isn't there always something? Hopefully, I'll get a new laptop before I wear out anymore keys.

Happy Birthday To Me!

So yeah, today is my birthday. I'm 35 years old. Wow. I hardly know what to say about that. You always think you are getting "old" until more years go by and you look back and think how young you were then. That happens whether you're 20, 30, and so on, I imagine.

Trust me, any young-uns reading this, I know you think I'm old! But get this, the 30's are just youth with all the good stuff thrown in that you probably wish you had right now (or, at least I used to!) Stuff that tends to just come with the experience of living your life. You know, things like getting respect, having more patience, humor, smarts, etc.

Sure, there are trade-offs, but it's that way with everything. A few gray hairs shining in the bathroom mirror? That's why science invented all those pretty boxes of haircolor at the store, you know! Take it from someone living it, don't dread being "30-something".

Ha, I remember being in shock when I turned 25. I mean, that seemed impossible at the time that I had reached such an old, decrepit age. Twenty-five? That was really getting up there! Serious aging going on, you know?

Ah, but the 30's. I feel like I'm just starting to live in some ways. I will say that my 30's have been the best of my adult years so far. The 20's had some shining moments, but the 30's just radiate.

So going on about today, I had a phlebotomy job interview and I get to go on to the next step of the process. That's great! In typical fashion, I'm excited, thrilled, and scared at the same time. I still need time to absorb it all.

When my son got home from school, he told me "Happy Birthday, Mom!" and presented me with a gift bag. I got two beautiful Autumn coffee mugs. Perfect.

I spent a low-key evening with my husband, watching a movie, having warm drinks and snuggling on the couch. Right now while sipping my tea, I can hear the faint drumming of the high school marching band at the football game. Every so often, the announcer comes through on the loudspeaker, and I hear the far away roar of the crowd. I think our team is getting thrashed. So, nothing's perfect, right?

I'm happy, healthy, and I have my whole life ahead of me. That's the best birthday present ever, don't you agree?

We Love You & Miss You Too, Baby.

One thing I didn't have when waiting to get Jean Paul from the O, was email access to him. Now, thanks to Bryn Boorman (pictured with James on the right), I can send and get the occasional email from James.

I'm happy to hear that he's learning English. He seems very intelligent, just like Jean Paul. I love that he loves to draw; that he has a great imagination. He also says that he doesn't like Math. It sounds like we have some things in common already! (I'll have to ask Jean Paul to tutor us both.) It's also good to know that James is respectful of others; that's something that we have tried to teach Jean Paul as well. And, I bet certain people are going to be happy that he's a soccer player.

I am so ready to have him here. There are so many "firsts" for us to experience with him. I can't wait to see what all I can interest him in, what his sense of humor is like, how he and Jean Paul will get along (especially sharing a room!), what it will be like to have our family complete, and the kind of person he is and will become.

Below is the email from Bryn re: James, and then below that are a couple of treasured emails from my boy himself.

Hi Paula -

What can I tell you about him? I could talk forever about James, but
first let me just say you are one of the luckiest mamas ever to be
getting him.

He did get your e-mail and he asked me yesterday if he could come over
and write, but we've had a lot going on. I'll try to pull him over
here soon to reply. I typed the letter for him and while his English
isn't that good, it is very good for his age. He's in my 3rd group of
English (I have 4) and he's the youngest kid in that group and often
knows the answers before the older kids know them.

He's a very quiet child, but his quietness is what I love about him.
In spite of that attribute, he loves to be goofy and I love to just
sit across the room at him and make faces at each other. He's always
the first to come when I call them over for English class and he
always participates willingly in everything and does the assignments
without complaing (which is quite rare!). He has quite the imagination
and loves to draw. He and Monsanto were best friends and so I was
worried about him when Monsanto left, but he and Ernso and Adler (the
3 youngest boys in the boys' house) have all melded together. The
older boys really like James, too, so they usually have him with them.

He's very respectful too, which is rare in this culture. Haitian
culture as a whole doesn't have a lot of respect for people, so it's
amazing to watch him show all the adults and the other boys respect.

Ok - I draw my James novel to a close. I'll try to call him over today
to write.

Dear mom –

How are you? I am good. School started on Monday. I am in the 3rd
grade. Greet everyone for me. I pray for you every day. I
love you and I miss you.

Love, James


Dear mom and dad -

How are you? How is Jean Paul? Thank you for your letter. I am good. My
favorite class is Social Science. I don't like math! I like school so far.

Bryn translates my letters for me, but she says I am very smart in English.

My favorite food is rice. My favorites sport is soccer. I love the team
Manchester United. I like to watch tv with the other boys. I like to draw.
Ashley is my best friend.

I can't wait to receive the package you will send. Thank you for sending it.
I miss Jean Paul very much.

I love you and I miss you.

Love, James

Here We Go Again

You think you see the light at the end of the adoption paper chase tunnel, when WHAM! It's just another train that hits you.

I just opened a fat, yellow envelope from our adoption agency in Columbus that did our homestudy for Jean Paul and the update for James. Since our last homestudy update was October 2005, it's expired, and now we have to start all over with a new homestudy.

It's discouraging to flip through all these forms we have to fill out, tests we'll have to have done. These aren't all just single sheets of paper; there are multiple papers stapled together in this stack.

And then there are the fees. The homestudy fee is big enough, but most of these papers will have their own fees attached.

Vent, vent, vent. Argh... (insert expletive here.)

We've been waiting a long time to get James. I'm sure some people wonder if we're really going to get him at all. The answer is, "Yes." But when will we get him? Sometime in 2009. I can at least be positive on that.

There are many reasons why adoptions are now taking so long in Haiti. Our agency in Haiti, New Life Link, is working hard and doing all they can to get adoptions processed. Things have changed in Haiti in the last three years, however, things beyond their control.

Steps that used to take days or weeks are now taking months. For example, when we were adopting Jean Paul, we had him within seven months of sending our dossier (paperwork) down. It's going on three years since we sent our dossier for James. Our seven year old child is now a nine year old. His tenth birthday is February 5.

This is just one of the challenges you have to face when you adopt. I am temporarily discouraged, but it won't last. Now, I better dig out a pencil and get started...