Packing, packing, and more packing is taking place in the Johnson household. We received more forms from the agency who forwarded documents from the Chinese government giving us permission to travel to China to complete the adoption. This is the final document we received June 19th. With this document came an afternoon of making copies of paperwork from our government, home studies, affidavits for having Sidney immunized within 30 days of our return, and copies of anything and everything else, including the large dossier we were required to put together at the start of this entire process.
With this buzz of activity comes the reaction of Eli who continues to take this entire change in stride. Now if we can just get me past saying goodbye to him for this period of time we will be ok. Even the cat recognizes that something strange is happening in the house. Last weekend we put up the crib, and the cat’s response was to tuck his tail and hide. Yes Ralph, your days of bodily safety are numbered.
Luckily tomorrow, we have the annual Independence parade and BBQ with friends down the street. Tom has called on the skill of his brother in Texas and is working with our neighbor down the street to prepare some kind of BBQ feast. This is only after Tom will take upwards of 7 lawn chairs and position them strategically along the parade route. We have lived here for 8 years and I still find it hilarious that people start delivering lawn chairs to a particular location, along the parade route, sometime around 7am. The parade does not start until at least 9am. Our tiny main street which is normally full of cars on its single lanes going through downtown is typically a buzz of activity. This is also the only day of the year when I can get Eli to take a nap in preparation for the evenings fireworks.