New set of "official paperwork"

Today we received a new set of "official paperwork" for Olivia. Everything contains her birthparents names and identifying information should she ever want those when she is older. Even a hand written statement by her birthfather as to why he abandoned her. It is all very sobering. One thing he states is that he releases her for international adoption for good future. It is my prayer that we can provide that good future for her. Now with her new dossier resubmitted hopefully things will start to move along again. We were told that her visa paperwork (I-700) that needed to be changed will be processed by the US Embassy in Vietnam (instead of stateside), so that is one extra step we will have to take care of while we in VN, however, it should not cause an extention of our trip and we should still be able to be in the country for only 2 weeks. Please pray that is the case as we will be leaving all our other children in the US and don't want to have to be gone longer then absolutely necessary. (Not to mention Elliott being away from his job). Also, with us now being into October and still waiting for this next step of approval, traveling before Thanksgiving is looking unlikely and you know what December is like...(add M's 18th birthday)..and being gone will be hard (yet sweet since Olivia will finally be coming home).

Elliott's going to Boston

Another milestone reached. For the past 5 years E has been running the T.C. Marathon trying to make a qualifying time for running the Boston Marathon. Yesterday, on a beatiful MN morning he did it!! He finished the Marathon with a 3hr. 25m.49s official "chip" time. Since he had to run it in under 31/2 hours, he finished with a few minutes to spare. So now next year (in the same month in which he turns 50).....the Boston Marathon is his!! M and J also ran yesterday and both had great races. They both ran in the 10 mile race and M finished in 65m. 31s. and took 2nd place in his division (130th out of 4600 runners or top 3%). J finished in 95m. 31s. and finished 29th in her division (very good for a swimmer in her first long distance running race). She finished in the top 50% of all 10 mile runners!! E has managed to instill a love of running in all the kids so far. We'll have to see with the youngest two (but S is pretty quick at everything!!). Now if he could just get his wife out there!!