First off, just to let everyone know that today....9 years ago.... Jason and I became one...... yep! Today is our 9th Wedding Anniversary;O)
We plan on going for dinner this evening, just the 2 of us, something we seldom get the chance to do!
Here are some pics that J and I took of ourselves when we got home from dinner.... We hardly have any of the 2 of us together, as either one of us is usually behind the lens, anyway, we were trying to get a photo of the 2 of us on our anniversary, and it turned out to be one goofy portrait taking session!!!
Our court date for Asia-Faith's adoption went well...We took a 4 hour train ride to Taitung, with just Asia-Faith and Keanu-Storm. Talis-Rain and Willow-River had their first sleep over in Taiwan with friends of ours and they had such a great time!
So we arrive in Taitung at around 11pm and our translator very kindly picked us up from the train station and then took us to our hotel where were staying for the night. The following morning Linda, our translator, picked us up after breakfast (at McDonald's), and then we headed off to court.
I really felt overdressed for court as everyone there was mostly in jeans and sneakers!!! Anyway, thought we would try and make a good impression on the judge. We were told that our hearing was delayed by 3 cases or so, so we would have a little wait...Anyway, I saw the birthmom and she came across and sat with us. Linda started talking to her, and I was able to ask her a few questions and such. I had a few photo's of Asia-Faith with me and I offered them to the birthmom and she declined...
Then it was time to go into court. They are very jacked up. Every desk had a computer monitor and someone typing as we speak - don't know what it all said as it was all in Chinese, but it was very impressive!
The judge had a few questions for us, like why do we want to adopt, how long have we been living in Taiwan, and how long do we plan on staying. He also questioned our document from Home Affairs that had been signed by the "Acting Director", and I guess when translated into Chinese, it doesn't quite have the same meaning (like 2nd In Charge, more like they are pretending) LOL. Anyway, I had to explain this to him and he had a little bit of a chuckle to himself and then continued. He then also asked the birthmom some questions, and then mentioned that the birthfather had not signed the adoption papers, and that they would need to find him to sign the papers. The birthmom said she was not sure how to find him, she only had his last known address. I was a little worried about this, but then the judge after asking the birthmom a few more questions told us that a social worker would be visiting our home and then we would receive the relevant documents. I asked if we were to appear in court again, and he told us no there was no need. So we are so pleased that we are almost done! Now we just wait for the social worker, and with Government Departments, I guess they are all the same everywhere in the world - no one is in a big hurry! LOL
After court Linda took us to a lovely little restaurant for lunch and then to meet her parents who have their own wood mill and then she took us to the train station. I was so amazed at the hospitality of this lady who we had only met the night before - I sometimes wonder if we would ever encounter that kind of experience and hospitality back home???
My dance classes are going really well. At the moment we are getting ready for our show on the 8th December - I am looking so forward to it! Finally dancing on stage - ok, so it is just a community dance hall - but it is a dream come true for me!
The boys are doing great with their rollerblading too - Keanu-Storm is staying on his feet a lot more now and is actually doing really well.
Asia-Faith's vocabulary is coming along great too - she now is trying to put sentences together, like the other day she was finished on the toilet and she was saying "I am finished", although it sounded more like " I I fini", but we kind of got what she was trying to say! And then she got so excited when we repeated what she had said...she was so proud of herself!
So the puppies....Jason and I have now decided that we are definitely more "cat" people....the puppies are cute and stuff, but honestly picking up the poo and wee all the time after 4 puppies is really starting to take its toll! Even their mom isn't really interested anymore - she comes up stands at the door, the pups try and hang on her, then after a few minutes turns and wants out!!! So we are desperately trying to find them homes. We explained to the kids that even though we wanted to keep the little girl, we had decided that we will wait until we move into a house rather! They seem ok with it!
Well, Christmas is just around the corner, can you believe it! We already have our tree and decorations up! The boys couldn't wait to put them up! We plan on having a Christmas lunch with our friends Kim and Colin with their kids and Rory, Stu and Tiffany too, on the Sunday before Christmas, I am looking so forward to it! It will definitely be better than our Christmas lunch of Mac'nCheese last year!
For those of you who do visit our blog from time to time... I have moved our family one (again!).... Anyway, you can now find us at http://tonkin-tribe.blogspot.com I haven't put too many pictures up on there yet (I only have so many hours in my day!!! LOL), but hope to put up more soon!
Also, you can find our adoption one (in case you haven't seen it yet), at http://adoptingasia-faith.blogspot.com
Take care, and just in case I don't get to send another letter before Christmas, hope you and yours have a blessed and safe Festive Season!
Peace and Love
~* Starr, Jason, Willow-River, Talis-Rain, Keanu-Storm and Asia-Faith *~
The Tonkin Tribe in Taiwan
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