We finally received our last document for the bambino. Now, we authenticate and then certify. It is actually coming to a close soon. Of course this just means that we'll get on a waiting list but at least our part will be over.

Wish us luck.

Changes

The finalized homestudy has finally arrived! Now there's just one more doc to arrive at our little door and I can complete the authentication stage. This weekend we'll get fingerprinted by INS and hand in the homestudy so that the INS countdown will begin. Also next week I'll need to get the police clearance redone as I made an error on the address.

Why?

As my partner and I have begun the adoption process it has felt like we were entering this new world, where two dads don't exist. This new reality came into view when we first walked into a baby goods store and the salesclerk completely ignored us turning to the woman behind us with a happy greeting. Also when I went check out the daycare center at my work I discovered that they had no other adopted children there.

I had been kicking around the blog idea for a while and when I came across that story on a buddhist site (gee I should probably credit that after I refind the link) it seemed a natural fit. There may be a very big ocean out there full of fish but if you walk a bit you'll find a great pond all for your exploring.

One day the turtle went for a walk on dry land. He was away from the lake for a few weeks. When he returned he met some of the fish. The fish asked him, "Mister turtle, hello! How are you? We have not seen you for a few weeks. Where have you been? The turtle said, "I was up on the land, I have been spending some time on dry land." The fish were a little puzzled and they said, "Up on dry land? What are you talking about? What is this dry land? Is it wet?" The turtle said "No, it is not," "Is it cool and refreshing?" "No it is not", "Does it have waves and ripples?" "No, it does not have waves and ripples." "Can you swim in it?" "No you can't" So the fish said, "it is not wet, it is not cool there are no waves, you cant swim in it. So this dry land of yours must be completely non-existent, just an imaginary thing, nothing real at all." The turtle said that "Well may be so" and he left the fish and went for another walk on dry land.