Maybe he'll sign-off on our papers soon

...this post is taken directly from the CCAA's website - it rarely changes so it was nice to see some activity. Our friend Sheila and her husband just got back with their new daughter, Anna. They are doing great and give me hope that the wait does end in time. I pray that "Everything is indeed for the Children." New Year Greeting

Date of Post:December,31 2006　　Source:CCAA

As the light of springtime emerges gradually, it is a fresh start for all living things. With the advent of the New Year, I would like to, on behalf of the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA), thank leaders of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, related departments and fellow institutes for the concern and care you have given to CCAA, thank all governments of receiving states and adoption organizations for the sincere trust and good cooperation we have received from you, thank all circles of society for your warm support and deep-felt care to the orphans and handicapped children in China. We wish you have a harmoniously life, good health, happy family and good luck in everything in the forthcoming year. Packing off 2006 which is full of achievements and fruits, we welcome 2007 which is full of hope. The CCAA will continue to follow the principle of “everything for the children”, develop the inter-country adoption work in China towards the direction of being more consistent with international convention, being more reasonable with the reality in China, working harder in accordance with law and regulations and making a better protection of the rights and interests of children and contribute more for the orphans and handicapped children to make sure that they can grow up healthily and happily in the same world and under the same blue sky! 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Director General of CCAA:Luying 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　December 31, 2006

What's another week?!

We celebrated Christmas with everyone of our family members! What a feat to get us all home at the same time. It was the first time ever to occur and it may never happen again. We cheered with joy at the announcement of my niece's pregnancy. It was understandable that everyone is still a bit hesitant to be excited over our adoption. This wait is incomprehensible even to me. My sister-in-law so thoughtfully brought our Mia a gift for Christmas too, a chinese baby-doll. So many are scared that this may end in failure, a miscarriage or sorts. How precious is life and the relationships we build.
It was so nice to begin the Holy Day with a Christmas Eve candlelight service at our church with the pew lined with our family. The next morning was wonderfully delayed as we all slept 'til 7 and leisurely admired each others gifts. Somehow I talked the whole bunch into going to see "The Nativity" movie and even Mike's mom went along. The biggest joy was when Ethan admitted that it was really good. He's quite the movie critic.
We are in the homestretch and we've completed 16 months of this wait. Our dossier went to China on September 26, 2005. It's kind of like the re-entry story of the Apollo 13 module. If you haven't heard from us by this time next week - well.....we're coasting in outer-space. Pray that we hear soon. Holidays have our agency shut down until Thursday & Friday. If we haven't heard before the 4th or 5th I'll be nuts! Another week? God be merciful.

Hark the Herald is quiet

No, I don't feel guilty for not sending out Christmas cards this year. Every year Mike begins to sift through the ever increasing display of the yule-tide greetings, photo's and newsletters and I know he's thinking, "When are our cards going out?" Well, I refuse to be bluffed this year. In fact, I am quite staunch in my resolve to hold out on cards until the news of our referral comes. I have visions of a grand announcement in the New Year.
The heavens were silent for some 300 years prior to the coming Messiah. But upon Jesus' birth heaven burst open and out flowed The Word. His arrival was heralded in majestically. Words alone were not enough. Only the serafs and angels could do justice to this miraculous event. I've spent my entire life trying to understand His impact upon my being.
How inadequate I feel to describe our wait for this child. How empty our world feels knowing that we cannot predict the timing. We mortals love to be in control, yet our dominion is an illusion. Peace is found knowing that His love is perfect and in the fullness of time His plan will be completed. Our family is blessed to have been given this opportunity. Another life to enrich our path. God's fullness is limitless. We can not begin to imagine the things He has planned for each of us. My prayer is that, like the serafs, we reflect at least some of His splendor.

Soon a plane will carry packages from the China Center of Adoption Affairs containing the dossiers of many children already matched with a family. Once they are delivered to the different agencies, it will take several days to deliver the bundles of joy. Some agencies are anticipating referrals to come right before Christmas, some right after and some the first week of the New Year. I can hardly think of this time now without having my chest tighten and I can't imagine how I will hold up when it actually happens. If I could blow a trumpet to proclaim our delight, I would! The phones will ring and the blog will post. Stay tuned......Whenever we get the news that we have a child, the heralding will begin!

Silent Night, Holy Night
All is calm, all is bright
'Round yon virgin, Mother and Child
Holy enfant, so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

4 MORE WEEKS!

The bad news is...we missed by ONE STINKING DAY!
The goods news is.....NO MORE GUESSING. We are definitely gonna be in the next batch.
I can finally relax and know that the new year will be bringing us a baby girl.
I really didn't want to be in Bejing in the cold winter anyway.
God is Good!

FIELD TRIP!

Are we in? Stay tuned!

We are currently under an ORANGE alert. The question remains, "Will we be included in this batch?" God willing - we will know by weeks end.

Sweet relief

There were no referrals for October. How cruel can this wait get. Especially for those who had been waiting fourteen plus months. The month as the hardest month ever to get through. Even though we all have different log-in dates, we all wait together. Waiting to herald in the newest bundles of joy and waiting to see if we are moving ahead any faster in line. Referrals have typically been going out during the last two weeks of each month, but there's nothing "typical" about this wait. October came and went and we in the adoption community were on edge. So many lives wrapped up in the events to unfold. Rumors fly. Hopes dangle atop a tedious roller-coaster. November 1st was sweet relief for us all. The CCAA finally gave news and agencies began confirming - Referrals were released! I feel like a proud sister now. Our newfound friends here in our hometown now are parents to a beautiful little girl. They were logged-in with the CCAA August 16th, 2005. They hold in their hearts a ten-month old from Guangdong province. They await travel plans. This joyful realisation brings anticipation for all of us in my group logged in September 9th, 2005: Are we next?

It's a month to begin planning for the holidays. A month of reflecting on our blessings. I'm meeting so many wonderful people this side of China, I can only hope for more as we meet face-to-face in such a culture-full country. I have grown to a newer maturity. Though I can't begin to imagine what it will be like for us to finally receive our referral, it seems like a far-off dream now.....stretching farther and farther away, I'm trying to visualize it. How will it feel to finally see her face? Maybe we're next. We've hopped back on the roller-coaster ride for yet another month of ups and downs. We will either set ourselves up to be sorely dissappointed if we don't make it, or we will be swept away in joyful surprise if God intervines, OR.....we will resign ourselves to December. I just so wanted to see my baby's face before Christmas.

Quiet before the Storm

We've not had rain in over a month now. Everything is very dry and desolate. I know, October is supposed to be dry for harvest, but this is different. The weather is beautiful, calm and still. Last night there was rumbling and flashing in the distance giving some promise of scattered showers but still no relief for the parched earth.
There's a similar situation with the adoption. No news. Rumors dry and desolate. Weary parents. Just a few rumblings in the distant to keep us hoping this is the quiet before the storm. We always look forward to the end of the month to see how many referrals will be released. I'm especially anticipating this months because another couple from our hometown are expecting theirs. They've been waiting since August 16th, 2005.
Could this be the month that the flood gates open and relieve this barren land of parents? If so, we'll get to see our "little pumpkin's" face in November!

Keep on Rollin'

Oh to be in the river of "Denial" is treacherous indeed, but I've now sunk in to the 'ole black waters of Mississippi reality. We've prayed that we would have our Mia before we reached our 12 month anniversary (Sept. 9th) but that's not going to happen. Our best case scenario now is a referral in November and travel in January. There....I've said it out loud. That's been the hardest part - admitting that this process is out of our control. It's just not as simple as signing up for a cruise or tourist adventure. I could try to explain it by politics or supply and demand, but there's no one simple answer. This one thing I do feel certain about. Well, pretty certain because I've learned that at any moment China could close the doors and our daughter would be lost. But, I am going to be here until they do and we will slowly but surely inch our way to the receiving line. Wow, what a reception that will be! Just thought of the old classic song and it's put me in a mood.
"Ole black water,
Keep on roll'in
Mississippi Moon won't you keep on shinin'
Old black water,
Keep on roll'in
Mississippi Moon won't you keep on shinin on me
Keep on shinin' your light
Gonna make everythin'
Sweet Mama gonna make everythin' all right
And I aint in a hurry,
cause aint got no worries at all."

Rollin Slow but at least I'm not on "deNile"!!!

The future's not ours to see

So my prayer for all of July in July wasn't answered. But I know that God has a plan for our child. Our turn will come when it's our turn. My prayer is that I will be able to enjoy this time and be prepared for our Mia when she is delivered to us.

All of July in July?

With only a few more days left in this month, I am still praying that the CCAA will release referrals for all those logged in last July. If they will only get through more than half the month it will be a Godsend! What anticipation, what frustration, what helplessness we feel not knowing anything but bits and pieces from across the globe. Disjointed morsels of information that the CCAA has told to select individuals. Rarely any public statement.
Our family is doing well though. I try to keep the moments of insanity to a minimum as-far-as the wait is wearing on me. I'm the only one on the internet, so they rely on me to tell them what's going on. Everyday I give my husband and kids the same story, "looks like we may hear soon" or "rumors are flying the we may have all of July done in July." One thing is for certain, it took a almost a whole year of a rumored CCAA move before it actually occured. Last October or so, people heard that the CCAA was scheduled to make a physical move to another building across town (Beijing). All year long we've speculated when, where, how, what? Finally, this month, the month that the wait has reached 13 months for many, they've moved. No word from anyone, only those that are actually seeing boxes packed. Yes, it has put things behind schedule but we don't know for how long. Some families have been waiting for Travel Approval since June 28th!
Still our family is doing well. We speak more and more of Mia. Will she be afraid or calm? Will she sleep? Will she laugh at Ethan's antics? Finally, I've cleared our closet in our Master Bedroom and our dresser. Mike and I will share our walk-in in our bath and I placed two small chests in there for us. Ethan donated his toybox and I've got it and a few other things in the closet ready. Now for the crib and linens. I'm ready to start packing.
School starts next week for me and the kids go back August 7th. If we get our Mia's referral in September we will probably travel in November. Peking turkey Thanksgiving!

He's the Lily of the Valley

Today I mailed the last of my quilt squares. One of the ways we ladies (maybe even an few guys) help pass the time. It's supposed to be a Chinese tradition to piece together 100 squares given by family and friends along with a good wish to the child. So, now I have almost 100 squares from all across the country from people that are in various stages of adopting from China. The fabrics are varied, colorful, coordinated and unique. The wishes are well-worded blessings and scriptures for our family and our new child along with small remnants of the fabric swatches so we can match them to the quilt. I will put the blessings together in a scrapbook for Mia to see. This is the scripture and blessing I sent to the remaining families on my quilt swap list.
Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” But “seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” Luke 12:27, 31 (NIV)
May the LORD, our Abba Father, grant you peace and joy through this wait. May the God, El Roi, who sees and knows all things be with your family especially upon returning home with this little one from China. Cast all your cares upon Him for He cares for you. (Psalm 55:22)
I couldn't live a day with out Him! He's the Lily of the Valley - the Bright and Morning Star! The Fairest of Ten Thousand to my soul. Some days I just feel like singing.

A little more confident

This was announced early this morning from China and has me feeling a bit more optimistic that we'll be traveling before Christmas. I don't mind the waiting. It's just the not knowing - not hearing anything except rumors and speculation. If they told me we would be matched in November that would be fine - then we could plan. Well, this mornings referrals leads me to believe it's possible we could be referred between early September and early October and travel between November and December! Yeah!!! because our paper-work (orphan petition with the U.S. Immigration office) will have to be re-done in January. I'm excited. Now I've got to get busy. A baby's on the way.

Getting Ready for a little Girl!

I've decided to focus on the positive aspect of this wait. If there's a little girl entering our household before the year is out (yes - Lord-let it be so!) I must prepare for her. But first, I have to make some decisions! Where do I put her? Will she want a crib? Will I spoil her if I put her in our room? Will I tramatize her if I make her sleep alone? This is why I've not done this quicker. With my pregnancies it was easy - I loved preparing a nursery/crib area. Elliott was our first born and I spent many hours painting and finding just the right theme, blue and brown and teddy bears! Ethan, poor thing, came during our "famine" years, when we were struggling with our new business and lived in a small space. We made his spot in our bedroom, but still I went to lengths to prepare his spot and find the right accessories. Next came our princess Michaela! What a room plan! I even wrote about her nursery and took pictures. So what do I do with our sweet Mia? I need some advice. My first-born is now moving into a college dorm. His upstairs room will only be used for visiting, but no one wants it, Ethan loves his recently redone room. It's definitely masculine and I'd hate to try to change it so soon after we've just painted it a year ago. Michaela's afraid to stay upstairs alone and I don't think it wise to put a baby upstairs. I'd have to walk a long way at night and I'm afraid she would feel isolated. So what about Michaela's room? It's girly - and I could streamline her stuff and put a crib on one wall. But will Mia be able to sleep? Would Michaela be able to sleep? Would we have enough room for her stuff. So....that leaves Mike's & my bedroom. Plenty of room - we have an extra closet and an extra dresser. But will she become too dependent on us and not ever be able to sleep alone? This is my quandry. Can someone give me some advice so I can get busy?

Just over the Sunset

Well we're nine months pregnant and counting! Days pass and still no word from the CCAA since May 23rd. The Rumor Queen http://www.chinaadopttalk.com always has some information for me to absorb. Alot of the talk is negative and it would be very easy to get really depressed - if it weren't for the beauty of God's handywork. As I see God working - knowing that as the sun sets here - it is rising in China. Our daughter is just over the sunset.
lake at sunset

Elliott graduates #6 in class - #1 with our Family! 

Praying for a miracle

Today came the news. No referrals for our AWAA this month. The referral news came early this morning - those families logged in through June 15th have been referred. The stork will be landing before weeks end and we will begin seeing pictures of these beautiful babies. How exciting for these families. I am happy for these blessed families but for all the ones that come after - we are facing increased wait times. This month may mark the end of referrals within a years wait. Rumors are flying than it may increase upwards of 18 months. Please pray for a miracle.

Elliott's Senior trip to Mexico in April. 

We're in the Matching Room!

The China Center for Adoption affairs in Bejing has kept us (America World adoption families) on edge for 3 months now. We haven't seen any referrals since January 25th and the tension has been unbearable. This is all the information we've all been starring at, some many time a day.
"The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before September 30, 2005.
The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before June 6, 2005."
This simple statement has had many in tears. For us it means that our documents have passed review (our application documents were dated Sept. 9th) and are now in the Matching phase. Yes! The next few months (I'm thinking 4) will hold our future, or should I say...Our future is in His hands.

Meet Abbie from Belgium...she is helping us during the wait. We've 'bout rubbed all the fur off her!

Ethan and Violinist from Korean Choir 

Korean Choir spends the night!

Early morning after little sleep!

Korean Choir tours U.S.

This is the second time in one year we've been able to host member of this talented and inspiring choir. Elliott, Ethan and Michaela really love spending time with and getting to know them. They actually did not sleep at all but had fun talking all night. The next morning they were like zombies but knew they were going to sleep on the bus. We, however, were pooped.

Our Sixth Month of Waiting

For the first time in many months I've got exciting news! The group before us has gotten official word from China that they are finished reviewing their documents and are ready to be matched. That means our group (September 2005) is now being actively reviewed. I know, it may not sound like much to you, but for this depressed woman it's a step forward.
Winter has never been my most productive season. I tend to burrow down and hybernate. The dreary February days have rolled on into bleak, windy and unpredicatable March. March is almost gone and our household has gotten almost comfortable with the wait. But for me it has been like silent screaming. We know that the adoption will happen, but it may take upwards of another six months. Everything I understand points to a slow-down in the next few months so I'm trying to prepare myself for the possibility of a September referral. Why the lengthy wait. From all I read it stems from many factors like; 1) the numbers of abandoned children have decreased - this is good news for the children. 2) the number of domestic adoptions have increased - this is also good news for the children. 3)the number of paper-ready children has decreased - this sounds like bureaucratic red-tape - not good for kids. 4)the increase number of people wanting to adopt from China - again, good! 5) the investigation of possible illegal baby traffiking in Hunan province - its good that there is a thorough investigation! 6) the CCAA - China Center for Adoption Affairs has been disrupted because of moving it's facility - maybe they'll speed up once their system is set up. All of these things I read about and understand. It doesn't make it any easier, but I know that China has a reputable adoption program. I am now feeling a little easier knowing that our file isn't just "floating" around the hallways somewhere in China, but now I am really anxious to see how big this next group of referrals will be. Please pray with me that the group from June 2005 will get babies this next week. I hope you'll pray that we all stay encouraged during the wait. My next goal is to post of few updated photo's - if I can get my camera and family to cooperate. Happy Spring!

"The Sound of Silence"

January is supposed to be a reflective month anyway, but this year was ridiculous! Last year we took the family on the Carnival Cruise to contemplate this adoption and the whirlwind began. We were extremely busy getting all the mountains of documents ordered, prepared, and authorized. Now .....nothing....silence. Except........the clatter of my fingers on the keyboard. My nightly ritual is now to check the message boards of yahoo to see what's the latest news. You see, I'm on about 5 yahoo groups. We talk about how we are preparing for this baby, we give and listen to advice, we share news stories and photos of our nurseries. The ladies and a few gentlemen even open gifts on "cybershowers" we oooh and aahh over this months referral pictures. This months referrals! What an awesome time it is as child-less couples are greeted by fed-ex with these little ones they've long for for so long! I'm now good friends it seems with a blessed Christian woman named Edi. She shared her story with us all how her relative prayed for her to marry a Christian man only a few years ago and as he prayed a blessing for God to bless her with a man he prayed also that she be blessed with children. Edi is now the proud mom of a two year old daughter that was conceived around the same time as this prayer was voiced. You can see this same story at http://www.christianadoptionmoms.com/article_godsredthread.html I am just overwhelmed at the blessings I am receiving from these groups. Our agency received 39 babies (ages 7 mo. to 23 months - Edi's). We are praying that referrals will begin to speed up after Chinese New Year. It seems that this holiday goes on for about 2 weeks and closes everything down. Please-Please pray that AWAA groups 214 - 219 will get referrals next. We are group 230 and if the groups stay together by months we should know who our baby is by May or June! The sound of silence is deafening!