Two people-One story: Journey to the end of the earth

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Journey to the end of the earth

Ok, so it's not that dramatic....but packing my bags right now makes it feel like I may be going to the end of the earth. It's just Uganda. I mean ITS JUST UGANDA!!! In about 36 hours I will be boarding a flight that after a few stops will eventually lead me to Uganda.

This trip has nothing to do with our adoption*. I am going with Compassion International where I will visit a Leadership Development Student we sponsor, see the work of Compassion firsthand and connect with a former student I served who, through the program I manage, got his Masters Degree from Moody Theological Seminary. It will be an action packed 7 days.

Richmond is the one to my right. He came to the USA in 2008 and graduated in 2011.

This is Faith- our LDP Student

*To clarify-- while this trip is not directly related to our adoption, it does touch it. Literally and figuratively. (And let's be honest everything in our lives right now has something to do with our adoption.) Check out the map. See the neighboring country to the northwestish? Thats where our babies are. So, this is as close as I have ever been to them. I'll probably cry.

I feel so many things about this trip right now:

Excitement (I mean I am going to AFRICA!)
Terror (I mean I am going to AFRICA!)
Amazement (To see the children who I have helped release from poverty! Wow!)
Joy (I can't wait to see Richmond (former student) and Faith (LDP we sponsor)!
Sorrow (I really wish I could experience this with Andy. I know I will come back changed and it makes me so sad that we can't experience it together.)

I know that even though I work with International students every day- I am not prepared for the culture shock that I will experience. I am not prepared to see poverty this close up. I am not prepared to travel a million miles from home and see my 'neighbor' suffering.

But I'm prepared to GO- and today, that is the most I can do.

Would love your prayers! I leave November 5 and return November 15. I'll try to update from there- I mean you know I will be taking a bazillion photos...maybe I can post some. You might have a better chance of seeing news on Facebook, so if you are not already my friend, go here and friend me:

https://www.facebook.com/celinabaldwin

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2015 Books

Whiskey & Charlie by Annabel Smith 6/23/15
Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall 6/12/15
The Art of Neighboring by Jay Pathak & Dave Runyon 6/6/15
The Hardest Peace by Kara Tippetts 6/3/15 so GOOD!
An Abundance of Katherines by John Greene 6/2/15
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell 5/27/15
Paper Towns by John Greene 5/19/15
The Precious One by Marisa de Los Santos 5/15/15
A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler 5/9/15
Dept of Speculation by Jenny Offill 4/25/15
The Bear by CLaire Cameron 4/15/15
Toddlers are A#@holes by Bunmi Latidan 4/5/15
The Rose Effect by Graeme Simonson 4/5/15
Some Luck By Jane Smiley 3/28/15
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion 3/21/15 you've heard of it. I'll confirm it's as good as they say!!
interrupted by Jen Hatmaker 3/15/15 - game.changer!!
Spark by John Twelve Hawks 3/14/15 - fascinating! don't read the jacket description!
Mama Koko and the Hundred Gunmen by Lisa J. Shannon 3/8/15
Simplify by Bill Hybels 2/28/25
It Starts With Food by Dallas & Melissa Hartwig 2/23/15 2nd time through!
The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant 2/23/15 meh.
Horse Heaven by Jane Smiley 2/15/15 my new favorite author!
Yes Please by Amy Poehler 2/1/15 no thank you.
Some Luck by Jane Smiley 1/19/15 READ!!!
Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford 1/12/15
Dear White People by Justin Simien 1/10/15 HILARIOUS
The Circle by Dave Eggers 1/4/15

2014 Book List

1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 1/7/14- must read!
2. David & Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell 1/19/14-interesting

3. The Tie that Binds by Kent Haruf 1/29/14- loved his other books, but not this one so much

4. The Color of Water by James McBride 2/8/14-so,so good!!
5. Those who save us by Jenna Blum 2/22/14- Book Club
6. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan 3/2/14- candy bar book (good, but won't fill your intellectual needs)

7. Help. Thanks. Wow by Anne Lamott 3/4/14 - Anne is a great friend to spend a few hours with. Worth the short read.
8. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling 3/8/14- Mindy is funny & real. I enjoyed this book!
9. The Bookman's Tale by Charlie Lovett 3/31/14 - book club pick- didn't lovett.
10. The Orchardist by Amanda Copin 4/09/14 - book club pick- AOK

11. Notes from a Blue Bike by Tsh Oxenrider 4/14/14- right up my alley!
12. It Starts with Food by Dallas & Melissa Hartwig 4/21/14- the Whole 30 inspiration book- good science-y information!
13. The Great Fitness Experiment by Charlotte Hilton Andersen 5/11/14- Meh. Blah. Don't bother.

14. Major Pettigrews Last Stand by Helen Simonson 5/17/14 - two thumbs up.

15. Drive by Daniel Pink 6/4/14- interesting but not life changing
16. Hands Free Mama by Rachel Stafford 6/18/14- this is a MUST read!

17. Wonder by RJ Palacio 6/19/14- Yes! Yes!!
18. Free- Range Chickens by Simon Rich - 6/20/14- ok...

19. Keep You Love On by Danny Silk 6/26/14- do you have any relationships? Then you need to read this book.
20. This is where I leave you by Jonathan Tropper 7/5/14- However many stars I give to the best books, this book gets
21. What is the What by Dave Eggers 7/30/14- Fantastic!
22. Sparkly Green Earrings by Melanie Shankle 7/31/14- Good vacation read
23. The Light Between Oceans- 8/1/14- AWESOME!
24. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn 8/4/14- Yep!
25. The Wild Things by Dave Eggers 8/10/14- really great!
26. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 8/24/14- skip this.
27. Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist 8/26/14- great!
28. Looking for Alaska by John Greene 8/29/14- great!
29. Always Watching by Chevy Stevens 9/5/14- no.
30. Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan 9/11/14- good, but you may be paranoid while you are reading it that you will end up with a rare brain autoimmune disease. And you might. Who knows....
31. The White Mary by Kira Silak 9/21/14- so good!
32. City of Tranquil Light by Bo Caldwell 9/24/14- another great novel!
33. The Vacationers by Emma Straub 9/28/14- good
34. Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler 10/08/14 - OK
35. Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster 10/22/14- NO.
36. The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd 10/29/14- YES!
37. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain 12/15/14 I am questioning my lifelong stance on whether or not I am an introvert. Fascinating read!
38. Everygreen by Rebecca Rasmussen 12/23/14
39. Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy 12/29/14 I'm trying to get to 40 books and Maeve delivers with a quick enjoyable read!
40. The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin 12/31/14 GREAT book to end the year on. I LOVED it!!!

Our adoption timeline

June 2010- January 2011- Talk, pray, eat, sleep and research adoption

February 2,2011- Mail applications for home study (local) agency & international agency

February 14, 2011- Applications approved by both agencies

February 17, 2011- Signed contracts with both agencies and mailed first (big) payment

March 15, 2011- First home study

March 22, 2011- Second home study

April-June 2011- Everything on hold for moving

June 15, 2011- Final home study meeting at our house

August 11, 2011- Meeting with Angel Dance to finalize home study

September 8, 2011- I600A Application sent Fed Ex to USCIS (8-12 week wait for approval)

September 9, 2011- Dossier sent to One World!

September 19, 2011- Notice of biometrics appointment

October 11, 2011- Biometrics appointment!

October 18, 2011- I-171H Approval! (Thats 6 weeks if you are counting)

April 19, 2012- REFERRAL!

April 27, 2012- Documents sent to DRC

May 4, 2012- Entered court

June 25, 2012- Verbal notification that we passed court (no documents have been issued yet)

July 30, 2012- Official news that we lost our referral for E & E

August 17, 2012- Accepted new referral for Winner (F,2YO)& Malco (M,4YO)

August 22, 2012- News that we entered court

September 10, 2012- News that we have passed court (still need documents)

November 16, 2012- Received CONA. This means court is complete and we are the parents of two precious little ones!

November 28, 2012- PASSPORTS for kids ready!

December 9-16, 2012 Andy travel to Congo to file I600 & meet kids

January 8-17, 2013- Celina travel to Congo to pick up kids!

January 18, 2013- TOGETHER as a FAMILY!

September 3, 2013- Adoptiona FINALIZED by state of Colorado. New birth certificates issued. V&E are BALDWINS!

2013 Book List

1. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey 1/7/13

2. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver 2/14/13

3. Falling Together by Maris de los Santos 2/20/13

4. The Fault in our Stars by John Green 3/6/13

5. Taft by Ann Patchett 3/19/13

6. The Call by Yannick Murphy 3/21/13

7. Gap Creek by Robert Morgan 3/25/13

8. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls 3/30/13

9. Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way by Susan McCutcheon 4/9/13

10. Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin 4/19/13

11. Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver 4/22/13

12. The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler 4/26/13

13. Orphan Train by Christina Baker Cline 5/1/13

14. Some Assembly Required by Anne Lamott 5/5/13

15. Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin 5/10/13 (Loved!)

16. Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear 5/17/13

17. Benediction by Kent Haruf 5/19/13

18. Cider House Rules by John Irving 5/22/13

19. When She Was Gone by Gwendolen Gross 5/25/13

20. Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman 5/30/13

21. Everyone Says That at the End of the World by Owen Egerton 6/6/13

22. The Time of My Life by Cecelia Ahern 6/10/13

23. The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory 6/18/13

24. Birthing from Within by Pam England & Rob Horowitz 6/24/13

25. The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory 6/29/13

26. What We Keep by Elizabeth Berg 7/4/13

27. The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman 7/8/13

28. The Preacher by Camilla Lackberg 7/11/13

29. Black List by Brad Thor 7/15/13

30. Tapestry of Fortunes by Elizabeth Berg 7/18/13

31. The Last Man by Vince Flynn 7/30/13

32. The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout 8/1/13

33. Topsy by Michael Daly 8/6/13

34. From Fear to Love by Bryan Post 8/10/13

35. The Honest Toddler: A Child's Guide to Parenting by Bunmi Latidan- This book was 2 nights of laugh out loud funny!! 8/13/13

36. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn 8/16/13

37. How Eskimos Keep Their Babies Warm and other Adventures in Parenting by Mei-Ling Hopgood 8/21/13

38. Where'd You Go Bernadette? Maria Semple 8/22/13

39. We are all completely beside ourselves Karen Joy Fowler 8/26/13

40. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson 8/30/13

41. Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris 9/6/13

42. Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O'Farrell 9/22/13

43. Grace (eventually) by Anne Lamott 10/6/13

44. Secrets of the Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg 10/29/13

45. & Sons by David Gilbert 11/20/13

46. Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick 12/6/13

47. Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres 12/9/13

48. The Good Braider by Terry Farish 12/14/13

49. The Power of Play by David Elkind 12/24/13

50. Christmas Bliss by Mary Kay Andrews 12/28/13

2012 Reading List

43. Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann 12/29/12

42. Attaching in Adoption by Deborah D. Gray 12/23/12

41. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand 11/27/12

40. The Magicians Assistant by Ann Patchett 11/19/12

39. The Dog Stars by Peter Heller 10/30/12

38. Eat Mor Chikin Inspire More People by S. Truett Cathy 10/26/12

37. Off the Grid by Nick Rosen 10/19/12

36. Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly & Martin Dugard 10/9/12

35. Her Daughters Dream by Francine Rivers 9/23/12

34. The Harbinger by Jonathan Kahn 9/14/12 (if you only take one of my book suggestions, let it be this one!)

33. Run by Ann Patchett 9/10/12 (Ann has easily become my favorite author this year!)

32. Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons 8/28/12 (love it!)

31. Let's Don't Go To The Dogs by Alexandra Fuller 8/26/12

30. I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron 8/16/12

29. Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen 8/11/12

28. 7: an experimental mutiny against excess by Jen Hatmaker 8/7/12

27. Rescue by Anita Shreve 8/4/12

26. Dress your Family in Corduroy & Denim by David Sedaris 7/19/12

25. Radical by David Platt 7/19/12

24. Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris 7/12/12

23. Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear 7/8/12

22. A Change in Altitude by Anita Shreve 7/1/12

21. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver 6/19/12

20. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett 6/7/12 (another excellent book!)

19. The God of Animals by Aryn Kyle 6/3/12

18. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett 6/2/12 (this is the most well written book I have read all year! I am considering bumping Extremely Loud and giving best book to this great read!)

17. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese 5/29/12 (excellent!!)

16. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear 5/21/12

15. Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis 5/9/12

14. Wesley the Owl by Stacey O'Brien 5/2/12

13. Her Mothers Hope by Francine Rivers 4/26/12

12. Saints in Limbo by River Jordan 4/11/12

*11. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer 4/2/12 (*Best Book of the Year so far!)

10. The Girl with Three Legs by Soraya Mire 3/28/12

9. Bossypants by Tina Fey 3/14/12

8. Imperfect Birds by Anne Lamott 3/11/12

7. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie 3/4/12

6. Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond 3/3/12

5. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom 2/27/12

4. Just a Minute by Wess Stafford 2/20/12

3. 1984 by George Orwell 2/14/12

2. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers 1/24/12

1. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger 1/16/12