Photo Book Delivered

I was blessed to connect with another mom adopting from the same orphanage that our son is waiting at.  We've talked via Facebook and discussed what traveling might be like.  She was ahead on her journey and her family is in China RIGHT NOW meeting their new daughter/sister!  I am so happy for them and am thrilled to be able to follow and get a glimpse into what is ahead of us.  It gets even better though!  She offered to take a little something for our son!  She hand delivered a photobook and stuffed lion to nannies from our son's orphanage today! 

They said his name and took the things.  Her daughter had been prepared very well and had definitely seen their photobook, which gives me hope.  This is so exciting as I anticipate that our little guy is "meeting" us for the first time.  I thought I would share some of the pages of the photobook that he will be looking at!

The pages show our pictures, give our names, and our relation in Chinese (mom, dad, big brother, big sister, little brother, little sister).  On each of the kiddos' pages there is an animal, that is the Chinese animal associated with their birth year.  The stuffed lion was delivered with the book.   I hope this helps to introduce him to our family and provides a connection through that lion we all hugged.  Please pray for his heart as he tries to understand a piece of all of the transition that will be happening and that he can feel the love and fun that this family is full of!

LID... Finally!

We are FINALLY LID!!!

What does this mean?  Our paperwork is officially logged in (LID-Logged In Date) and China will begin the LONG process of translating, reviewing, and officially matching us to our kiddos!  THIS is the step that can vary TREMENDOUSLY!!  This is the step that makes and breaks timelines!  It can take as little as a month.  Some have had to wait over 5 months.  The average wait is 3 months.  The process is much more predictable after this step.  At the end, we will receive LOA for each child.  LOA is the Letter of Acceptance from China, in which they ask you to officially accept the referral.  Some agencies won't even let you share a photo of your kiddo until you receive LOA (it is a very important step).  It is the step that we go out and celebrate and let out a sigh relief! Praying for this wait to be quick.  I'm okay with hoping for that, see my last post. :)  However, I trust in the fact that God knows the perfect timing and "He's got this"! :)

Can Timelines and Trust Co-Exist?

“April, you just have to trust God’s timing.”  I’ve been struggling with this phrase for a long time, maybe through all of my adoptions.  Where does that leave those of us praying for the next step in our adoption process to speed up?  Are we not trusting God?  Let me back up and give you my perspective.  I hope this helps those of you in the same boat know that you are not alone and those who’ve not adopted understand our hearts and the process a little more.

I have been blessed to experience pregnancy and adoption.  There are so many similarities and an exponential amount of differences.  I am one of those moms who loved pregnancy!   This included some scary situations with hormone levels and morning sickness for 2 trimesters.  The feeling of those little ones and knowing they were there with you, growing and developing was nothing short of a miracle.  From the first positive sign on the pregnancy test, I was in love!  That love grew as I did.  Amazingly, adoption is very similar.  That first picture, file, video, and commitment (Letter of Interest) is all I needed to be completely and utterly in love!  For me it was instant in both cases.  However, this is where the differences start to vastly outnumber the similarities.  

While pregnant with my boys, I used to dream about what they might look like or how they might act.  I never truly knew until I gave birth and even then it took months for their little personalities to truly develop.  Birth truly is the first time you “meet” them.  Adoption is drastically different.  You have pictures, files, updates, videos, personality traits, likes and dislikes, etc.  Now, every adoption has brought with it different amounts of information from tons to VERY LITTLE, but each had something.  Your heart begins to fall in love with a human being you know something about.  It falls hard and fast!

While pregnant, I worked to take the best care of my boys.  I took pre-natal vitamins, went to doctor appointments, ate nutritious foods, cut caffeine out of my diet, and tried to keep myself healthy.  While adopting I have no control, my children live half way around the world, being cared for by someone I don’t know and have no communication with.  

Pregnancy lasts for 9 months, usually.  Adoption is filled with numerous steps, a couple of which have specified timelines but most can vary by months.  There is no guarantee about the length of an adoption process.  I trust God with all of my heart.  He has proven Himself over and over again, when He didn’t need to!  I know that He has set us on this path once again.  I know that He has ultimate control over our timeline and that He knows best.  I also know that He has put this all-consuming love for our children in my heart.  I know that He understands my desire to bring them home as soon as possible.  I know that He wants us to be able to love on them, play with them, provide for them, and teach them about His love.  So, do I question my desire to speed up the process?  Nope!  Not anymore!  My prayer is for us to get our children as quickly as we can!  If it doesn’t happen when I think it should, am I disappointed?  Of course!  I want to squeeze my babies!  BUT, does it mean I don’t trust God?  ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!  I couldn’t do this without His leading. 

Praying for the next step in the quickest time possible!  AND praying for His timing and His hand in our adoptions!!