Adoption Update

February 5, 2007

Well, it has been a while since I mentioned anything about adoption. Jamie and I went to an information meeting in Charlotesville a few weeks ago. It was a very informative.

We definitely want to adopt, and we definitely want to adopt from China. Although there will be numerous changes that will take effect this May, we still qualify even though the CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs) have made it harder to adopt internationally. The only thing stopping us from pursuing this RIGHT now is my age. You have to be 30 to adopt from China. Initially I knew it took about 24 months so I thought we could start the process and I would be 30 when we went to China, unfortunately I was wrong. Most of the paperwork expires after 15 months. The adoption agency recommended waiting until this time next year to begin the process. :(

At first I was really upset, but I know there are some things we need to do before we add another child to our family. We need to prepare emotionally and financially. We need to sell our house, and buy another (larger) one. Madison will be starting Kindergarten and I need to focus on her. She is getting so big. We did make the mistake and tell her about it before we realized that we will have to wait. She is so excited about getting her mei mei (little sister), and now I tell her it will be a long time, but the thought of it being years is lost on her. She doesn't understand the concept of time. She will be a great big sister or jie jie as the say in Mandarin :)

I know that if this is what God has in store for us then it will work out in His time. Patience is a gift that He blessed me with, I just hope I have the strength to endure the wait once we actually start the process. Jamie on the other hand gets more upset that it can't take place now. He fills like there isn't a light at the end of the tunnel. He is keeping himself busy with what needs to be done to prepare. Hopefully that will help at least for a while. I am keeping myself busy with research. But I know I will have plenty of time for more of that as the time draws closer....

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers....