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Sunday, February 22, 2009

Updating our Paperwork

A few days ago we got our packet with the information regarding our update. We need to start on this NOW! It seems a bit daunting, so I don't want to put it off and panic next month. One step at a time. The biggest concern is the medical. Only because neither of us have a doctor and the clinic I used last time no longer has a doctor. Tide Guy may have to go to the base here or we'll need to get a general practitioner. Other things such background checks should be easier.

We are waiting to see how referrals will go this month. Right now, it doesn't look very positive. I think we may have a few more days of waiting.

In other news, gas prices have stayed stable at roughly $1.78 a gallon. The economy is still in the dumps. Unemployment is extremely high. The stock market is suffering.

The exterior of our house looks amazing. The masons are on the last side of the house and have already bricked the front porch. They still need to do the side landing and the end of the drive way. Yesterday, Tide Guy and I picked up pieces of brick and threw them into the porch for fill before the concrete is poured in. Great fun. The other day I ordered a block with the house number from a monument place. It was half the price than if I had ordered it from a brick store and took 1 day to complete rather than 2 or more weeks. It was placed within the bricks a few days ago and we love the way it looks.

The stucco guys have started and their work is spectacular. I love it. They created a design for us and we love it. They put columns on the exterior of the foyer window area. Around the window, they added a raised key way and trim. It frames that area nicely and it looks amazing. They have started the area around the window above the garage. I can't wait to see their work completed. We still have to pick the color of the stucco.

Tide Gal & Tide Guy

Saturday, February 14, 2009

It's Time

Our paperwork will expire on April 10, 2009, so we have to update what was presented to our agency. We will need to redo our fingerprints, get multiple copies of birth certificates and marriage certificates, update our financial statement, get medical statements again, get more reference statements, and several other forms need to be completed.

The worst part is the dreaded home study will also have to be redone. We will not be able to do our home study in our new home, but will have to do it in the house we live in now. And it is 117 years old. We have to be creative living here since there is limited lighting and even less outlets. We have numerous extension cords and wiring running everywhere! We have also coverted one bedroom into a storage room. When we moved back to the States after being stationed overseas, we left many boxes packed. When we moved here, we left even more boxes packed since we consider living here just "camping out". We are comfortable living here, but only utilize part of the house. The home study looks at the whole house to make sure it is safe for a baby, not just what we use. It will be okay. I'm sure we will have to redo all of this paperwork and home study again so we we will update that when we move. The home study is also an interview with the two of us to make sure we are not crazy, decide if we have good morals, and should be allowed to adopt a child.

Today is Valentine's Day. Tide Guy and I will celebrate by moving gravel with a tractor, shopping for a house number block to go into the brick, meeting with the stucco guy (for accent places on the house) and possibly sweeping sheet rock dust. Romantic, huh? Tide Guy did give me a dozen red roses and some dark chocolate. Yum. Dark chocolate is my favorite. I'm sure we can take a break and go to our favorite Mexican restaurant. Tide Guy has been gone all week and just returned yesterday, so he will not want go far or wait too long to eat.

Happy Valentine's Day!
Tide Gal & Tide Guy

Friday, February 6, 2009

15 months.....

We are 15 months into our wait. Rumors have started that there is a possibility of a speed up. Right now we need to start updating our information, doing a new home study, doing fingerprints, and gathering paperwork. Our paperwork expires in April, so we have about 6 weeks to get things in order.

Gas is up to $1.83 at our local Race Way.

Congress may put a cap on the bonuses "big business" can give to employees. A cap of $500,000. Seriously? We (the tax payers) are giving these companies millions of dollars of bail out money to keep their businesses open and their are still giving bonuses? Seriously?

Our house looks so good. The brick is amazing. I talked to someone about the stucco last night. We only have a small area so that shouldn't be a problem to get set up. I really need to start concentrating on paint colors and coordinating rugs, furniture, and other items we already have.

Tide Gal and Tide Guy

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Super Bowl!

Today is the Super Bowl between Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals. I have no real interest in the game other than the commercials. So far, the commercials are not great. Some are a tiny bit funny, but nothing memorable.

Our brickers are doing such a fine job and are close to completing the front of the house. Tide Guy has spent two days on my brother's tractor spreading gravel into the garage. We need to get with the builder to finalize the interior trim. Yesterday I went to a glass place to check on having custom panes made to into the window above the master tub and in the water closet. When they gave me a very rough estimate per square foot, I luckily didn't calculate the price correctly or I would have been completely shocked in front of them. I was only about $2000 short on the window over the tub. We will have to find another solution for the master bath windows.

Gas is still steady at $1.69 a gallon.

That's about all for this Super Bowl Sunday.....

Tide Gal and Tide Guy