Found the camera - more pix!

Ok, I found the camera. I had left it on the fireplace bricks when we met with the cabinet man - oops.

So, here are a few more up to date pictures.

The fireplace mantle

Up close view of the texture of the walls

Long time no post - sorry!

I didn't realize it had been so long since I'd posted an update until last night when my mother in law asked on the phone why I hadn't posted any new pictures of the house in such a long time!

Things are happening on the house which is wonderful! They began bricking last Friday and they're doing a great job on it too. I'm picky about bricks and didn't want any messy brick work. Smudgy and lumpy mortar is a pet peeve of mine. I'm very pleased with their work! They've come a long way since I took these pictures, but I can't find my camera! I'm sure it'll turn up, but here is a glimpse at the brick work...




They also got all the texturing done inside and did the primer coat on the walls and the ceilings. Here are a couple pictures of that...



We met with the builder and cabinet maker two days ago. It took about 2 hours to walk through the house and hash out our ideas and for him to work through them and come up with a workable plan. I thought I had the kitchen all planned out, but we had to re-work several things to make all the drawers etc. fit. I think it's going to be beautiful. I really like this man, he reminds me sooo much of my uncle, my dad's youngest brother, that I felt like I already knew him. D and I went by the house this afternoon after school and were so surprised that the mantle was already there! Just two days after meeting with him! The builder estimates that the cabinets will be delivered by the end of next week! And we have a lot of cabinets!!

On the Adoption Topic: We got a report today that our agency's paperwork is actively being worked through by the ministries to determine accreditation. The multiple regional representatives have been notified that the "powers that be" have inquired as to our agency's reputation in each region and have been giving positive remarks. In addition, the Russian Consulate in Houston has also given our agency positive reviews. So, it looks like we may be close. I've not been reading FRUA and have tried to just take a step back from staying right on top of it. I had gotten a good bit discouraged so this new report at least encourages me a smidge. I'm trying to just "let it be." Yeah, right!

Who knows . . .

Who knows how much longer we'll have to wait for accreditation.

It could be that she hand delivers the document and they say, "ok, that's perfect - stamp them done." Or it could sit there for who knows how long before they decide to look it over.

Does anyone know if the four ministries look at the documents concurrently or consecutively?

***Edited March 31 after re-reading what I'd written:

Chelley, our case manager is supposed to return to the office on MARCH (not April as I had mistaken posted earlier) 24.

House Update and Adoption News (not good)

Do you want the good news or the bad news first??

Ok, I'll start with the bad news and end up with good news.

We received an e-mail from our agency on Friday evening letting us know that our casemanager is on her way to Russia to hand deliver a document to the Ministry of Justice which they had requested be done before our agency can complete accreditation. Yes, I said the MOJ!? Yes, we were waiting on the last signature, from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. What is going on? I don't know. This is Russian Adoption after all and you just never know what is going to come next. OUr casemanager is from Russia, so while she is there she will visit her family who she hasn't seen in 3 years. She'll also meet with the Moscow and St. Pete in-country staff while she is there.

That's all I know right now. I'm not feeling very cheerful about this news. Nope, not cheerful at all.

*******************************************************************

Ok, now onto the house update. All the sheetrock is up and is taped and mudding is done. From what I understand, they'll begin the texturing this week. I didn't realize they had to do the mud two coats so they were applying that today. It's looking good, though.

The vinyl is almost finished, finally! I guess they're about 3/4 of the way through. Once they finally get finished with the vinyl bits (there's not much at all, they guy is just sooooo slow!). And once it quits raining and snowing the bricks can get started!

We went and ordered our countertops this morning for the kitchen and baths. My big bathtub was delivered on Friday, but I can't see it since it's all wrapped up in the box and has saran wrap stuff all around it.

New House Update

At least this is a little more pleasant news.

We are getting sheetrock and we have all our ceilings and some walls. Hopefully by the end of the week we'll have all walls sheetrocked, taped, bedded and textured.

This is our master bedroom. The door on the left side is my closet and the
other door is to the bathroom

The vinyl people finally showed up and they are S-L-O-W. Think turtles here! Their every movement is slowness personified! It took them a full day to do just the back side of the house's soffits!

Not Us

Again.

Sigh....

Order #69: Adoption Center of Washington (USA)
Order #70: Global Adoption Services, Inc. (USA)
Order #71: Dove Adoptions International, Inc. (USA)
Order #72: Hand in Hand (USA)
Order #73: Diaconal Services of the Evangelical Church of the Rhein-Necker Region (Germany)