BAH!

I don't think this is fun at all.

I had a nice time in Columbiana. My sister and I were able to celebrate her birthday and have a little girl time. I made really good time and got in early. We started off at Barnes and Noble (and Starbucks!). We found a globe and looked up Guatemala and then found a travel book that had some great pictures. We made a couple of trips to different stores... didn't really buy much but had fun walking around. We had a nice dinner and then went home.

I don't miss being 22. I know a lot of people look back at that period in their life with fond memories but I think it is one of the toughest points in your life. You're still young. But you're supposed to be grown up. The magic switch is supposed to flip so you can take care of yourself, but there's still so much room to learn... and make mistakes. We were hanging out at the house when Katy got a call from a friend. The friend had run into another friend and after chatting they realized they had friends (Katy being one) who were dating the same guy... Katy had fun with that phone call later. She was forced to realize the guy she liked and had spent quite a few months with but who wouldn't commit, wouldn't commit because he had a girlfriend the entire time. I don't miss that at all!

Anyway, we stayed up telling gory boy stories for way too late, but we managed to get up a decent hour and get out of the house. We drove the 30 minutes to Lisbon where I was able to get the Doctors letters certified. I thought I had it made at this point. We got breakfast (thank goodness!) and I headed back home. I had heard from everyone that needed to re-do the other letters and I thought I had plenty of time to get home, pick them up, run to the clerk of courts and even get to the Sec. of State... Plenty of time!

Traci met me outside work and gave me the work letters. I buzzed over to the clerk of courts and breezed on through only to have two of three letters left to be certified kicked out... again. The notary wasn't registered in Franklin County. I was so mad I wanted to punch something... or cry. I called Traci and she called the notary and we figured out she was registered in Pickaway County. I called the clerk of courts there and they were able to confirm she was registered but now I only had around 45 minutes to get there before they closed for the week. I made it! I cannot believe it but I walked out of the Pickaway County clerk of courts at 3:49 (they close at 4). The Sec. of State wouldn't take anyone passed 4:30 and I knew there was no way I would be back into downtown Columbus by 4:30 so I decided I would take off Monday morning and finish it up.

While I was feeling good about getting all the letters certified I was so angry that I hadn't done it earlier. I was angry that all my friends had to be dragged through these hoops with me! And I was so angry that notaries do not seem to understand the process. I spent from 9:00 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon (minus the trips into the clerk of courts, breakfast and stopping for gas) in my car... the entire day! I didn't stop to have lunch or even go to the bathroom I so badly wanted to have this finished up. I knew this process would be difficult. I was prepared for that. What I wasn't prepared for was the anger and disappointment. For the last three days it felt like I was so close to having it all finished up. Every other hour I thought I would be done and every other hour it felt like I was days away from getting this wrapped up. It seems like such a little thing but it has been absolutely exhausting.

I finally got home and collapsed on the couch. I turned on the TV and went through the DVR shows. Discovery hasn't shown any new adoption story shows in forever but I keep taping them in the hopes of one. Anyway, I have seen them all 20 times, but there's this one episode that always gets me. This couple in Cincinnati adopted out of India and they're story is sweet, just like any other one. But there is this moment in the show when the agency representative goes to the orphanage to act as escort to bring the boy to the U.S. The little boy is so cute and he is 3 and seems to understand exactly what is going on. He is sitting at the table with all the other kids and the head of the orphanage introduces him to the man who is going to take him to his mommy and daddy. The little boy about jumps out of his seat he is so excited. Every time I see that I think about some poor child who just wants a family... and then I cry. And then I remind myself that all this is worth it. It will work out. And what is one more day off work! It'll keep.

So there I am exhausted and crying when Brian gets home. He says to make me feel better I get to pick dinner and he will drive and get it... Whatever I want, where ever I want. Things are definitely looking up!