EZ and G9

If you go WAY back to post #2 in 2006 you will come across the name Guilbeault (that's G plus 9 letters). Marci Guilbeault was the dear one who accidently gave away the fact that DH had set up this blog as a gift for me. Marci's DH worked with my DH back then, and now, just look-a-here I say, they're back together again!

Pics from the Humanitarian Mission

Here you go! Pics from the mission DH went on to provide donated items to students at a school in Kabul. In the first picture is Sophie, the girl whom Chris referred to in an earlier post.

The sigh heard from waiting IA PAPs

IA PAPs = International Adoption Prospective Adoptive Parents = us.

Let me make this simple. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced that those of us waiting (and waiting) and having our "Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative" paperwork expiring in the meanwhile (and expiring again), do NOT need to switch over to a more labor-intensive application.

Our USCIS paperwork expired once already, and we were allowed one free extension. The paperwork will expire again next April - three years from the date we originally filed the paperwork. Although we will need to pay $$$ to refile again, it is a relief not to have to worry about completing the application required of new IA PAPs.

THE 'STACHE

Well folks, here it is after four days. It's not the best, but certainly not the worst.

Sorry I haven't been able to post much lately. Being a Chief is much busier than I expected. I get up early and get to bed late, but it makes the time go by faster. As Carol mentioned earlier, I did go on a humanitarian mission earlier to a local school and met some great kids. They were all very glad we were there to hand out supplies, but most were pretty shy; with the exception of one young lady. Sophia was very outgoing and spoke excellent English. She was very helpful in the distro of the supplies in letting us know what was needed and what was not. She was also pretty good at getting little extra for herself, like the candy that some of us were carrying with us. I should have some photos of the trip a little later. Take care. DH

Updates from Afghanistan

Here's some fun updates from DH in Kabul:

• A few days ago he helped deliver donated supplies to a school in Kabul where he met a 16-year old student who expressed much thankfulness for ISAF's efforts


• He's working two jobs now: the one at his former rank and another as chief petty officer


• The moustache-growing contest has begun (I anxiously await more updates on this one but am not putting any money on DH being the grand champion)


• He has already voted for the next president

Adoption Status Update

Rumors are that this past month (September) the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) matched babies with families whose applications were received February 10 through February 15, 2006.

All signs (i.e., estimated number of applications sent in during the last half of February 2006 and the rate of matching over the past year) seem to indicate it will take another two months to complete referrals for February 2006.