I'm a worrier.
There. I said it.
I'm also kind of obsessive compulsive with the tendency to count and check. As a child, I used to become physically uncomfortable watching Mr. Rogers come into his house and attempt to change into his sweater and tie his tennies before the end of the opening theme song.
What happened if Mr. Rogers didn't finish in time?!
I didn't know. I didn't want to find out. I had no concept of editing and do-overs in television. I just knew the fabric of the universe may be rent in two if the unthinkable happened.
Needless to say, I rooted Mr. Rogers on each and every day and said a silent 'thank you' each day when he finished on time.
For the past week or two, I felt like Mr. Rogers would have surely felt if he knew that I, and the other overthinking kids like me, were counting on him to finish on time. I have felt the weight of the world and the silent cheering from the stands as I tried to finish collecting and organizing our dossier paperwork so that I could submit it in time to perhaps beat the court closure for the rainy season which usually comes in early August.
We have had blips and outright obstacles crop up, but I kept moving.
Today, in the law library, I covered two, long library tables with my paperwork. I had to keep the originals in order in my magic binder while removing the photocopies and certified photocopies from their page protectors. They have to be in the order they are listed on the affidavit of dossier. I needed to remove them from the binder so I could send them to our adoption agency caseworker so she can give the dossier a once over and be sure we're good to go.
Once we receive the green light from her, we can send the originals off to the Assistant Stork in Virginia. This mom and pop business hand carries your dossier to the State Department and the Embassy to have it primped and processed. Then, the dossier is shipped to the adoption agency and off to Ethiopia.
The to-do steps have dwindled, my friends. And, even with the blips and boneheaded happenings of the past week, we may be able to squeeze ourselves through that window before court closure. Pray we do. It would be an amazing peace of mind to have going through the remainder of summer.
I'm packing up the originals (but not sealing the mailer, obviously!) over the weekend with all the other necessary items so it's seal and go when the green light comes.
I will be sooooo relieved to be done chasing paper. Seriously.
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