Led by HIS hand (or a boot in the butt)

Last week, Natalie and I went with Jon's mom for her post-surgery follow-up visit (she had her gallbladder removed). As we approached the Dr's office, I noticed that in the office across the hall was one of our state senators offices. Hmmmmmm.... I wonder if I should go in and talk to them about the current situation in Vietnam regarding the adoption shutdown. Of course I when in! I had a great talk with one of her assistants (you never get to see the big kahuna), she was very interested and said that she would relay all the info to Ms. Senator. AND Miss Natalie was there being her sweet, charming self. She is my International Adoption Goodwill Ambassador. One smile from her, and I have everyones attention. LOL

Anyway, I digress. After we left the office, I received an urgent e-mail from our agency asking that we contact our state senators and representatives to discuss contacting the US Department of State. It seems that Dr. Long, from the Vietnam Department of International Adoptions, is willing to consider grandfathering in ALL the dossiers registered in Vietnam before July 1st - the cut off! That means that if you make the July 1st deadline, you would still receive a referral, even after the September 1st shutdown. I know a lot of families that have been told that even though they have been registered for quite sometime, they will not be receiving a referral. If we had not switched agencies, we would be looking at no referral, too!

I got on my hot little computer and composed a letter to my senators and representatives, and the members of the committee that are working to try and get things on track again with VN adoptions. While I was at it, I sent a fax to my governor, Mr. Vice President AND the Big Guy himself....Mr. President. I figure what could it hurt - they ARE supposed to be working for US! Right?!?!?!

Yesterday, we went back to the surgeons office to pick up some papers, so I stopped in at my friendly, neighborhood senators office. I just wanted to check to see if they had received my e-mail (or make sure that they read it - lol)and while I was there I was ushered in to talk with their constituency liaison. We talked for about a half an hour. Turns out that she is also in process of adopting (domestically) and is very informed on adoption issues. She took all my info and said that she would see what she could do. "Hey - it's something."

Last evening, I received an e-mail from one of VP Cheney's assistants requesting more info and names of the people that he should contact! I sent a very detailed e-mail back this morning. The squeaky wheel gets the grease!

Now, I do believe in 'signs' but I firmly believe that I was shoved into action. Normally I would not go with Jana for one of her Dr's appointments just because of trying to keep Natalie quite for who knows how long. But this time when she asked I said yes without thinking. Then yesterday, I thought that she was going to her work office, not the Dr's office. If I had chosen not to go on either of these two occasions, I would never have had the opportunity to talk to one of my senators staff. And they would not have seen how beautiful and well-adjusted (ha-ha) adopted children are.