Lyme Disease?

While I was working Wednesday morning I noticed a sore spot on the back of my left thigh. When I touched it, it moved-GROSS! So I skipped into the bathroom to check it out, and sure enough, it was a tick. I enlisted the aid of one of my coworkers to remove the tick because I couldn't reach it. She managed to remove the entire tick, and we examined it closely. It was not big for a tick, but larger than the deer ticks I have seen, and it did not seem to be engorged so I was not really concerned. The spot on my leg was sore though. The next morning I noticed it was still sore, so I checked it out. I had a tiny (smaller than a dime), but perfect bullseye around the bite. When I got home I looked up bullseye rashes. It looked like a small, less vibrant version of the rash. At bedtime, the pink outer ring was more oblong and wider than a quarter. I decided to call the nurse in the morning. By the time I got to the doctor's office yesterday afternoon the pink ring was barely visible. My doctor decided to play it safe and prescribed two weeks worth of doxycycline which I started taking today. This afternoon I started feeling lousy. I've probably talked myself into thinking I'm sick.:) Anyway, I'm glad now to be taking the antibiotics.

Projects

Today I came home to find an envelope containing 4 official copies of our homestudy. I just knew it would come today. So, hopefully, tomorrow I will file our I-800A. I am trying to be positive, and I've come up with a waiting strategy...projects. My first project is to complete our dossier just in case things happen faster than I imagine they will. Next I am going to start applying for grants. Then I am going to buy some soft, lightweight wool yarn and make a beautiful(handsome) hat and mitten set for Andres. My dad is going to help me make a treefort playhouse. I am hoping to carve/whittle some rough pieces of furniture. The idea is for it to look like one of those very expensive, but adorable elf homes in the toy catalogs. I want to make swings and rope ladders and all kinds of little detail things. Not really sure if it will actually happen, but it gives me something to think about.:)

Bad news, but it actually made me feel better.

I was so bummed when I opened our mailbox and once again our homestudy was not there! I skipped right over anger and frustration and dove into despair. I moped around in a fog for a few hours and then decided to call Barbara at AHI. She told me that Estonia has changed the rules again which means we won't be visiting any time soon.:( For some reason I started to feel better right away. Now the missing envelope is only keeping my from filing our I-800A. It just doesn't seem as important anymore. It isn't keeping us from travelling and meeting Andres, so I can wait. When it does come, probably tomorrow, I will send in the paperwork and wait, wait, wait. Our dossier is just about done and when we get our INS approval we can go visit. If we are lucky, we will get to visit in midwinter. Did I mention that Tallinn is on parallel with Stockholm, Sweden and Juneau, Alaska? Doesn't that sound like a fun time to go? Okay, now I'm getting sarcastic, I guess it bothered me more than I thought.
Anyway, I am not in despair, and I am no longer pulling my hair out. Today has been very busy, but I have had alot of quiet time to pray. The Lord has been good and has comforted me. He has also impressed upon me, my need to live in the present. If I can focus on doing the task at hand to His glory, I will see how precious my life is right now, and be greatful for what I already have. It is amazing how my outlook changed in a second. My 11y.o. son, Connor called me on my cell phone. He is so mature that I forget he is just a little guy. When I heard his voice on the phone he sounded so young and sweet that my heart just bubbled over with love. I would have missed it if I was still moping! A few minutes later, I was able to connect with, and comfort Meredith on the way home. Thank you, Lord, for adjusting my focus. We will get to Estonia, and Andres, in Your time.

My Connor boy.:)

Estonia, What a beautiful place!

My favorite part of Estonia...whether it's Sunshine

or Storm clouds



The Estonian Crest-notice the oak branches and acorns? That sure is appropriate for us.:)




Images of Old Town, Tallinn We will be staying here. Isn't it gorgeous!





These stamps show the knitting heritage of Estonia. I love folk knitting! The woman is knitting as they walk to church in their Sunday best.






The Estonian flag and a flag stamp





Estonian Money 10.7 Eesti Kroons= 1 US$

Passports are here

Dan received his passport today. Mine came on Saturday. Yay! That was one thing that went amazingly fast. Mine took exactly 1 week!! We are still waiting for the agency to type up the finished draft of our homestudy.:( In the meantime,we are scurrying around to complete our dossier so we can bring it with us to Estonia. Hopefully we will have it done by the time AHI gets our homestudy. Knowing we are so close to meeting Andres is agonizing in so many ways. I know it will be soon, but when exactly? Will he like us? Will he do something to freak us out? It is too exciting and too scary at the same time!