"They" said the time between referral and travel is the most stressful of the entire adoption process. Before, I couldn't imagine why - I mean, you've got a baby and you know for whom you're waiting!

But now I understand. We've got our baby, and we know for whom we're waiting... and waiting.......

Our weekend plans were mostly shot or delayed due to weather and poor driving conditions. We kept busy for the most part and tended to some other things. But outside of wanting to just GO NOW, we want to bring Roman home. We want to hold him and cuddle him and kiss his adorable face. I wouldn't call it agony, but it's like my heart is being stretched. We are starting to compare time zones, and wondering what he's doing at different parts of the day. Ekat. is 10 hours ahead of us. And knowing that this weekend was when we were _slated_ to go, and then put off; it's hard.

In other news, the generosity keeps rolling in and overwhelming me. Friends from Pittsburgh sent a congrats gift, a gift arrived via teacher's mailbox from an 8th grader's parent, a colleague purchased a book for us (a person you wouldn't expect to be touched by this, so it threw me even more), and another colleague gave us "immediate safety needs" as she put it - a variety pack of plug covers, drawer holders, and doorknob covers.

Best of all was the card I received Friday morning. One of my "difficult" students from the notorious "6th hour gang" came in and put an envelope on my desk. I looked at it, then at him - I was about to say thank you (in a bit of a shock) when his face turned red and he blurts, "it's only a card!" and turns and rushes out. I opened it to find a $20 gift certificate to Meijer, his mom and stepdad had both signed it, and David had written, "me and my family want to thank you for making me a better person."

Oh my gosh. I get tears again just thinking of it. And THAT'S why I teach.