Acceptance

Just heard from our agency that our homestudy has been accepted at the first stage. It's now having something else done to it (??) and it will be sent to us shortly.
Pros:
we get this show on the road soon!
Cons:
we have to come up with thousands of dollars soon!
Ok, the pros definitely outweigh the cons!
Then our homoestudy goes on to immigration. We get our fingerprint appointment. Get fingerprinted. Get all our documents state sealed and reviewed one more time. (get things redone if necessary-- I don't even want to entertain this thought!). Wait for our i-171H (immigration OK--again!). Get that state sealed. Send complete dossier to our agency. Wait, wait, and wait.
Jeff and I went to another meeting last Friday. This one was only 1 hour away instead of 3, so we couldn't pass it up! (we also went to Hobby Lobby on the way:) We really weren't looking forward to the meeting, but we have to complete 12 hours of adoption education, so we went.
WOW!!! I just have to say, every meeting we've been to has been FANTASTIC! Just when you think you know it all, or aren't interested......
I really think the best part of the meetings is the fact that we get to commiserate with our own kind! Kind of like the last time I went to NY. I DID NOT want to stay in Times Square. We stayed in Chelsea in a B&B. It was really a great experience to be a part of a neighborhood. But, I have to say, when we ventured to Times Square, it was really nice to be among our own kind!!
Anyway, we get to talk to other people who know all about the "LID" , "DTC", "CCAA", etc. And we always learn something. We get to meet families that have just gotten back from China and are able to realize that it is possible to get through this! It re-energizes us. Now, ask me in another year if anything can re-energize me!!
We even met someone that has the same social worker as us (which, always traveling to things out of our area, we haven't experienced yet). She is EXACTLY at the same point in the process as us, so we may be traveling together. Jeff also recognized someone from our hometown that is at the same point as us, so that's more potential travel mates.
All in all, a very moving, comforting, positive and wonderful experience.
There is NEVER any talk of "if", always "when". There is never the feeling that this might not turn out. There is never anyone telling us not to get our hopes up. Exactly what I need!