Happy New Year!

Thanks for checking in. I haven't posted in awhile as there hasn't been much progress since the end of December. However, today 19 referrals were received, which included groups 231 and 232. This means we are now 11 groups away---almost into the single digits! We've heard that summer is about the worst time to travel in China (very hot!), but we really don't care at this point---we just want to get there and meet that sweet baby girl!

Last week we had our fingerprints redone at the Department of Homeland Security here in KC. Apparently, fingerprints 'expire' after 15 months, so we had to do them again just in case one of us had committed a felony recently (we didn't...phew). I also learned that almost 10 years of working in a hospital (and washing my hands constantly), leads to 'difficult to read fingerprints.' I tried to say something clever about that, but the people at the Dept of Homeland Security don't have the best sense of humor.

I also made a call this week to our agency to ask what I need to do with the revised home study (it also expires). I expected to have to send it 3 different places for certification, authentication, etc. etc., but my coordinator instead told me that I would be handing that to the officials in China! I don't know why, but it just made my day having someone assure me that yes, someday we'll be headed to China and this long, long, wait will be soon forgotten.

Much love from Kansas City,
Alissa and Jason