Moon Festival

Tuesday night is the mid-Autumn moon festival, a traditional Chinese holiday. We'll be celebrating with a night-time tea party in our backyard after a special meal. We'll eat mooncakes and gaze at the full moon and think about those we love who can't be with us. Most especially, our dear Tian.

We've recently learned that there has been a problem with a group of files at the CCAA and ours is among them. We've been told that there were problems with a group who did translations and many files had to be redone. This has caused a delay for those files. Lucky us to get in that stack, right? Unfortunatly, there is nothing we can do, but continue to wait. We've been told not to expect anything until well after the Oct. holiday in China (the government offices shut down the whole first week of Oct.) and likely mid-Oct. It's very frustrating, since based on the usual timelines we'd be in China now, or in early Oct.

We still have two major pieces of paperwork we need from China. The next is called the Letter of Acceptance. We sign this agreeing to be Tian's family and send it back to China. After that, usually in 3-4 weeks, we get the golden ticket, Travel Approval, which means we can head out. It usually take a few weeks to get the appointments and arrangements made.

So based on all that...we likely won't be in China in late Nov. or Dec. Our agency has said they will do all they can to help us travel quickly since we've had this delay. It is sad, because we will almost certainly miss Tian's first birthday. Every child deserves a first birthday party...with the single candle and the cake to smear on their face. So, I've decided that she will have a first birthday party no matter what, even if it's few months late.

In Dane's family, since his dad was a pilot, he often missed holidays or birthdays. This has made them much more laid back about holidays than most families. They say things like "When is Christmas this year?" So, we are making that part of our family life too. It's not the exact day that matters...it's being together and celebrating!

Happy Moon Festival to all...especially our Tian!