Russian Travel

Wow--it's been a month since I made an entry--time sure flies when you are doing nothing.
No--I am not going to Russia yet as the title implies but I did attend a Russian Travel orientation at the agency. I have heard many people on the chat boards talk about three trips to Russia but my agency still prepares us for two trips as that is what their families have been able to do. I learned lots of good info about what to expect when a referral actually does come. Unfortunately, I still have no idea when that will happen. I do love going to the classes they offer because they always end them with a panel of parents who have already adopted and their children--it is so cool to see them and to hear their stories.
I have been amazingly patient with this wait--more so than with the first one. Maybe because I am experienced in the disappointment of not going so I am afraid to be too hopeful or maybe because of the realization that the end cost (financially) will much higher than I had started out expecting so I need to spend some time socking away as much money as I can. I used to put my overtime earnings away to the adoption fund but OT has been nearly eliminated at my work so now I need to look at ways to decrease spending--not quite as easy as working overtime. but..I am extremely happy that I do have my job and have no fear of losing it--that is not true for many people so I am grateful.

I had a great Easter with my sister and her in-laws. We did church, Easter egg hunt, and the big dinner with ham and all the fixings.
The rest of my family was pretty spread out. Two of my brothers took their sons and went snow-mobiling in the Buckhorn Mountains of Wyoming--their third trip there this winter but as my nephew says "We gotta ride as long as there is snow". They love it.
Both of their wives worked the weekend but they got together with my Mom after they got off work and had a big dinner. both sisters when to their in-laws and then two of my brother's live on the west coast so they did their own thing with family members. It was kind of weird because Easter was usually the big holiday in our family (We love the celebration of Christ rising) and we would all get together but my sister's in-laws were a great substitute for my family.

Two of my adoption friends live in Tennessee where the tornadoes hit. Their town was hit hard but fortunately both of them and their families are okay. My thoughts go out to those who lost their homes or other things and especially to those who lost loved ones or who were harmed.