Indian Holidays

We have discovered that our travel plans may be affected by an Indian holiday, Guru Nanak's Birthday. While we're waiting to hear back from the children's home about when we can come, I thought I'd post links to information about the 2 holidays that are possibly affecting our paperwork/travel--since most Americans--especially Christians-- don't know much about them.

In 2008:

Tuesday, October 28th is Diwali.

Thursday, November 13th is Guru Nanak's B'Day.

I know from web searching that "Sweeti"'s baby home does celebrate Diwali with the kids--but probably pretty secular--I've also heard they have a Christmas party. I'm not sure what they would do on Guru Nanak's birthday--seems like a lot of worshipping, not a lot of celebrating.

Visa apps off!

We got our pictures taken at Walgreens (very nice pictures for a very nice price--if you need passport/visa pics, find a Walgreens!) and then sent off our visa applications at the UPS store next door. It is supposed to take 5 business days once the Indian Consulate in Chicago receives them to have them sent back out to us---so we should not have any problems getting our passports w/visas back in time.

We also bought a bunch of stuff at Target--and, since I've been getting questions at church about what types of baby things we need--I also registered for a few things at Target while filling my cart with Immodium, travel toilet paper rolls, sink packets of Tide, oral rehydration powder and the like. I didn't get everything on the registry that I had thought of at home, as I was trying to accomplish a lot of India-trip-shopping, regular haven't-been-to-Bemidji-in-a-month shopping, and what-does-a-toddler-need-when-we-get-home shopping at the same time. I'll have to go back and add some books etc. later.

I'll tell ya it did feel weird throwing the sippy cups and diapers in the cart after such a long baby hiatus. And all the lice/anti-diarrheal/toilet paper/medication in the cart made me feel kind of like a leper or something at the checkout. For all you Monk fans--I bought about 6 packages of anti-bacterial wipes for the trip since nothing in India is really sanitary. I also bought sanitary liners for the airplane trays for when we have Sweeti--so she can eat finger foods off it without getting sick (although her stomach can probably take the bacteria while ours can't.) I'm not bringing my own Sierra Springs bottled water, though! Ha!

Anyone speak govermentese?

Here's a taste of what I've been reading and doing this week: US Embassy New Delhi Adoption (We are one of the "transition" cases discussed at the bottom of the page. Fun!!

We are sending our passports off today to get Indian Visas--as soon as we get our visa pictures taken. And, since we need to get the photos in Bemidji, we are going to buy travel/baby stuff at Target with my 10% card and a bunch of coupons. I went on the internet and found coupons for about everything we need--including anti-bacterial wipes, immodium and lice shampoo--so I hope no one standing behind me in line today will be in much of a hurry!!

Welcome to Holland!

This essay was included in our LSS adoption training last summer and I ran across it again. I thought I'd post it, because it can not only inspire those facing unexpected special needs in a child, but also those facing other losses-including infertility or other medical problems- and adjusting to different lives than they had planned.

Jer 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Welcome to Holland

Aid Box

Our box of aid from AIAA arrived today. It is 20 pounds of things for the orphanage for us to bring--it includes 3 build-a-bears, several developmental infant toys, a set of plastic building toys and 20 or so outfits sized 6 months-4T. I put the items as compactly as possible in a large suitcase, and it is 3/4 full. So, I guess we will have a piece of checked luggage with the aid items and whatever liquidish things can't go in our carry-ons! I didn't want to check anything, but things like lice shampoo (yes, yuck) can't go in our carry-ons because of airline security, so they'd need to be checked if we brought them. And, I'm not really excited about running around India asking locals where the lice shampoo is sold. Imagine if I had to act that out! So we will just pray that the luggage stays with us through all our connections.

My husband and my brother picked up a new digital camera at Best Buy when they were at the Mall of America Monday night. So now, we will be able to post pictures to this blog while we are on our trip. Now we're almost into the 21st century--but still holding onto our cassette players and VCR's!!

I'm off to get my Hep A shot this morning. I stayed up late last night trying to find non-stop flights from the US to India. Not a lot of choices--but it's time to get serious about this!! I also had a dream last night where we were meeting Sweeti for the first time....and now this morning I feel renewed to tackle all the remaining paperwork and research and thought and effort still needed to get her home.

:-) New E-mail :-)

Excerpt from my e-mail from AIAA:

"Good Morning Amy,
Thanks for the email, I heard back from Ashraya today and they will apply for Anju's passport the week of Oct 13-18, it will take 10 days to get it, so I would plan on going the first part of November. "

So, I guess election, then India!

Preparing for Sweeti

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