Advice from the Dalai Lama

This quote from the Dalai Lama has been particularly helpful to me during the long wait up to this point.

What irritates in the first place is that our wishes are not fulfilled. But remaining upset does nothing to help fulfill those wishes. So we neither fulfill our wishes nor regain our cheerfulness. This disconcerted state, from which anger can grow, is most dangerous. We should try never to let our happy frame of mind be disturbed. Whether we are suffering at present or have suffered in the past, there is no reason to be unhappy.

Timelines

Whenever I read an adoption blog I'm always searching for dates to try to extrapolate them into my situation. So if you're interested here are some key dates but please keep in mind that circumstances change and situations are different. I believe that the repercussions of the US closure created about a year's extra wait time for us.

Homestudy started - March 2007
Homestudy finished - June 2007
Ontario approval - August 2007
Register with TDH(secondary waiting list - either gender) - May 2007
Dossier to Vietnam - October 2007
Proposal - Feb 24 2009
Travel date - TBA

If you're involved in this process you'll know there is oh so much more paperwork and approvals than I've listed here. I have to say so far the government forms have been the most challenging. Big surprise. Buy yourself lots of whiteout, file folders and yellow post it notes.