Change is in the air
Can you feel it?
Change is in the air, and it is coming sooner than expected. Tomorrow morning we will go to court to finalize Cici's adoption. The only father she has ever known will be legally recognized as her father. Her name will change. She will become a U.S. Citizen. All with one stroke of the Judge's pen. To say it is a big day for her would be an understatement.
Last night Cici stood beside me in our home office, full of excitement. She was holding a legal pad, pen at the ready, looking like she was going to take my order for lunch. Papa, she said, what do you want from China? Mostly I just want Mama to come back safely, I told her. Are you really making a list of things that you want from China? Yes, she shook her head excitedly, I have many things on the list already.
Ping will make a solo trip back to China later this month to ensure that things are done correctly as our new home in Guangzhou is built out and decorated. So yesterday we were looking at gifts for the nephews, and talking about how they have begged her to bring some of the Hershey chocolate bars with almonds like I always took with me. Ping was on the telephone with our family members last night and they are very excited about seeing her again soon.
Cici, perhaps surprisingly, is not begging to go with Ping. She has a busy summer planned here with Papa, so she doesn't want to return to China for a visit until next summer. We will wait until her 16th birthday on August 10 before applying for her U.S. passport. That way she will have a ten year rather than a five year passport. That passport will be in her hands well before next summer, so she will be good to go.
We also just have two weeks of classes left in Cici's freshman year, followed by Memorial Day and final exam week. Tomorrow we will finalize the selection of her classes for her sophomore year. She told me last night that she wants to take both geometry and algebra II next year. Are you serious? I asked her. Most students dread taking math, and you want to take two courses at the same time. I can do it, she said, and there are many courses that I need to take, so I don't want to waste any time.
Today is Mother's Day, so Cici and I will take Ping to lunch at our favorite Malaysian restaurant. We will spend time talking about all of these changes in our lives, planning our summer, planning Cici's sophomore year, and even planning for next summer. At the moment, Ping is saying that she doesn't want to return to China next summer, and that Cici can make that trip alone. I don't know about that, but that is a year away, so we will see how everyone feels when the time arrives.
Change is in the air, and it is coming sooner than expected. Tomorrow morning we will go to court to finalize Cici's adoption. The only father she has ever known will be legally recognized as her father. Her name will change. She will become a U.S. Citizen. All with one stroke of the Judge's pen. To say it is a big day for her would be an understatement.
Last night Cici stood beside me in our home office, full of excitement. She was holding a legal pad, pen at the ready, looking like she was going to take my order for lunch. Papa, she said, what do you want from China? Mostly I just want Mama to come back safely, I told her. Are you really making a list of things that you want from China? Yes, she shook her head excitedly, I have many things on the list already.
Ping will make a solo trip back to China later this month to ensure that things are done correctly as our new home in Guangzhou is built out and decorated. So yesterday we were looking at gifts for the nephews, and talking about how they have begged her to bring some of the Hershey chocolate bars with almonds like I always took with me. Ping was on the telephone with our family members last night and they are very excited about seeing her again soon.
Cici, perhaps surprisingly, is not begging to go with Ping. She has a busy summer planned here with Papa, so she doesn't want to return to China for a visit until next summer. We will wait until her 16th birthday on August 10 before applying for her U.S. passport. That way she will have a ten year rather than a five year passport. That passport will be in her hands well before next summer, so she will be good to go.
We also just have two weeks of classes left in Cici's freshman year, followed by Memorial Day and final exam week. Tomorrow we will finalize the selection of her classes for her sophomore year. She told me last night that she wants to take both geometry and algebra II next year. Are you serious? I asked her. Most students dread taking math, and you want to take two courses at the same time. I can do it, she said, and there are many courses that I need to take, so I don't want to waste any time.
Today is Mother's Day, so Cici and I will take Ping to lunch at our favorite Malaysian restaurant. We will spend time talking about all of these changes in our lives, planning our summer, planning Cici's sophomore year, and even planning for next summer. At the moment, Ping is saying that she doesn't want to return to China next summer, and that Cici can make that trip alone. I don't know about that, but that is a year away, so we will see how everyone feels when the time arrives.
Congrats Cici on finally getting every thing you have ever wanted, Happy Mothers Day Ping, and Lee hold on Bro., it only gets better from here on out.
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Thanks Michael.
At Ping's suggestion we will have a family meeting tonight to prepare for court tomorrow and celebrate our good fortune. This is a very nice Mother's Day gift for her, as you can imagine.
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I'm very excited for you and the ladies Lee! Best wishes for a stress free day!
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Thanks Smitty.
This will be my first trip to court where the other lawyers have to do all the work. Fortunately the three lawyers are in agreement that this adoption is in the best interest of Cici, which is the standard we must meet. With any luck it will go smoothly and we can have Cici in school before the morning gets away.
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You have a very smart young lady on your hands. I had both Geometry and Algebra my freshman year in high school. They are different enough that Cici will have no problem doing both. I look forward to hearing about a positive outcome, as we just received notice Mingjun was approved for a visa!
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Congratulations, Craig! That is great news about the visa.
And thanks for the encouragement. I guess we will go with both Geometry and Algebra for the sophomore year.
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