Our Adoption From Ukraine

Friday, September 30, 2005

Well it’s just over 3 weeks until we leave. I am feeling a lot better about the packing situation. I went to Walmart and the dollar store and purchased travel sizes of every toiletry they sell. Thanks to Karen for being so kind to give me her travel clothes line. I have been searching high and low for one. One less thing to figure out. I pulled out my new carry on size rolling duffel bag last night. I could not believe how much stuff fit! And it also has a shoulder strap. As long as Sherri lends me her suitcase we are in business. We have two, but one is too big and the other is too heavy. We sound like the three bears looking for the one that is just right. I don’t think Brad will be a ahppy camper if he has to carry a suitcase that weighs about 15 pounds empty. www.frua.org (my biggest research tool) has had a great blog going for the past couple of weeks about packing. I have gotten an abundance of ideas from there. Thanks to Dolores for telling me that I am not over packing if I bring 4 pairs of pants.

Friday, September 09, 2005

It's hard to believe that we started this process to adopt from the Ukraine 15 months ago and now it's 6 weeks until we leave! The last of our paper work that will expire or has expired has been submitted to the Ukrainian Embassy in Canada. Now we just sit and wait until we leave. Well actually there will be no sitting, there are still tons of 1/2 done projects. Hopefully the will be "done" before we leave, or at least most of them done.

Brad can take his suit with him for our meeting at the National Adoption Center, the first time we go to the orphanage to meet the children, and to court. Now is the difficult task to finding an appropriate outfit for myself. We have been informed by our adoption coordinator that even though Ukrainians are not rich people, like typically Europeans they like to dress up and are very fashionable. Since Canada is so casual and my work is business casual I have nothing to wear! No that is not a typical "woman" comment, I really do not have anything suitable. I need to get out shopping before the last minute panic hits.

O.K., so the panic is already starting. What to pack. Sure it great to have a big suitcase, but the cars in Ukraine are small and we may be moving around a bit so we have been advised to pack as little as possible and take the small suit cases. Yikes!! - as Valerie would say.