Preparations

Now this is starting to feel real. Yikes! Much to do in the 2 months or so until I'm expected to travel. Everything from house projects to travel documents.

Guess I'd better get on those documents first! Actually have, but am running into issues with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation releasing MY background check to me. They are insisting on sending it to my homestudy agency where I will likely never see it again -- this I know from experience. What is it with that??! They are MY fingerprints, it is MY signed request, with MY address, and MY fedex return envelope! Sheesh. Will do battle next week.

Then there is the rest of it:

• Birth certificate (done!)
• HIV report (another blood test)
• Medical report and doctor's license (that will be fun -- 3 tries to get it right the first time around!)
• FBI clearance (have to get more sets of fingerprints first)
• Passport copies (HATE that picture!)
• Reference letters (one down, one to go)
• Powers of Attorney (expect the blank one to be a problem for the Secty of State...)

And of course everything has to be notarized and apostilled. Yep, better get on this stuff this week. Also need copies of dossier docs too. Ah, the paperchase continues.

What's next? Oh yeah, MONEY! Need to get the bank to start ordering the uncirculated bills I have to take with me. They've told me before it won't be a problem, but until I see it... Have to find the bucks to BUY those brand spankin' new bills too. Ugh.

Then there are the gifts for the caretakers and in-country staff, everything I need to travel (had started collecting stuff but for winter temps, now have to consider rainy, warmer weather), all the things I need to arrange/prepare for being gone for 5-6 weeks (petsitters, mail, bills, snow removal, etc.), the nursery (ways to go yet), etc. And those wise and wonderful parents that have gone before me all say get the "projects" done, go to lots of movies, do things with your friends, because life as you know it is coming to an end!

I need another 6 months. ;)