questions on our minds

This week we’ve had more questions than answers about adoption. Here’s the story. 

Anne emailed our rep after watching a webinar because we were confused about a some changes in China’s adoption system. She wrote back that now there was one large pool of kids that many agencies draw from, that the change has made the wait much longer, and that now we may not be in China picking up our kid until 2012. We were shocked. 

Our goal in our adoption has been to find a child that needs a home. But if there is a waiting list, then the demand for kids is more than the supply, which means if we don’t adopt them, there are a dozen others who will. We didn’t do the traditional China program for that reason. We are enrolled in China’s “Waiting Child” program. We pictured a kid waiting for us, not us waiting on a kid. 

We’ve had all sorts of questions: Are we really even meeting a need? Is China for us? If not, why has Anne had a burden for China for so long? Are we doing the right thing? 

Then a friend called Anne and brought over a check to help with our adoption. We haven’t asked for anything from anyone. Anne cried. I was shocked. I am more thankful for that more than that person knows. I took that as God confirming in us that this is what we were supposed to do. I took that to mean that we have questions, but God has answers. That if it’s supposed to happen, He will make it happen. How else do you explain a check that we never asked for showing up the day we are questioning if we were doing the right thing?

I’ve watched my sister adopt from Ethiopia a couple years ago and again this year, and it seemed that things changed constantly for her. I’m not sure why we are so surprised that the same thing is happening to us. Why is it news to me that God is going to have to grow our faith and help us trust him through the process? We don’t have thousands of dollars in an offshore account. We don’t understand all the legal junk in two different countries on opposite sides of the planet. There’s lots we don’t know or have. But I am reminded that if God wants something to happen, it will. If not, Lord, your will be done. 

We have spoken with our rep some more, and we’ve found out that for some reason girls are going very quickly in China. When a girl hits the waiting child list, she is adopted in hours. But right now there are boys stuck on the list waiting for a family. She could only guess why, but it seems there is a more of a need to adopt boys than girls in our program. That seems to be another change. 

So we still have more questions than answers. Maybe “It’s a Boy.” Maybe not. We don’t know. But I’ve been reminded of important things this week. That God is in control, and I am not. That God can do anything He pleases, but only when He pleases. That even though we have question marks, God has exclamation points. And that Isaiah 46:10 says that God declares the end from the beginning and says, “My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.” 

it's been awhile

Let me first say that this picture is a glimpse of everyday life around here. Rex squeezing Wyatt with all that he has, teeth gritting and all, and Wyatt letting him hug for a second, then saying "Re-x!" Brotherly love.

It may seem like it has been forever since an update - because it has! For the past month or more, we have just been waiting. Waiting to receive paperwork, waiting on appointments and waiting for things to be completed. The waiting part has been very slow and very non-interesting. We did, however, receive word today that we have been approved to move on to the next steps in this process - our 1-800A (which is asking the US government for their "blessing" for us to adopt an child from another country) and our Dossier (fancy word for more paperwork to send to China). We should have most of the documents already that are needed, although I do believe we will need to be fingerprinted as well. Our Dossier will be a bit more of an ordeal than the I-800A because many of the documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.) will need to be authenticated, translated and then sent to China. After we have completed these steps, we officially start the true waiting process and are open to get a referral. The fun part!

I am a little nervous about starting both of these documents because they are very specific and very picky. There are instructions for every detail and specific timing that things will be valid for. Please pray that this part goes smoothly and quickly.

We are still very excited about this adoption, although at this point it still seems a bit surreal. The paperwork and wait are a bit of a distraction, so the idea that a year from now a little girl will (Lord willing) be living with us, seems pretty crazy. We have been trying to use this time to discuss things with the boys, start getting her room ready, and just enjoy our time with Wyatt and Rex. We have had many questions about names and fun details like that. While we have our name favorites, there isn't really a front runner. Part of me feels that once she has a name, the wait will be even harder. We are open to name suggestions though, so suggest away.

Please pray for -

Chris and I - that this adoption continues to be something that increases our faith, reminds us of our blessings, and brings us closer as a couple

Wyatt and Rex - that they continue to process this idea of a new sister

our finances - For every piece of paper and hurdle we have to jump, there is a cost involved. We have seen how the Lord has provided and trust that he will continue to do so.

the paperwork - The next 2 piles of paperwork will be very tedious. Please pray that we are able to get them done quickly and accurately. They will have to travel many miles and get approved by many levels of people.

We are so thankful for you all. Thanks for your support!