Answers, At Last!

I was pretty frustrated last week in my attempts to get some answers from adoption agencies about various issues related to international adoption in general, and China in particular. I spent many hours on the computer, investigating our options...everything from waiting children in every country imaginable, to domestic infant adoption, to foster to adopt here in the U.S. I prayed and prayed, asking God to give us direction. Over the weekend I found two more agencies that looked interesting, so this morning I called them to see what I could find out. I have found that in calling agencies, I get a much better feel for their staff and how they relate personally to people, which is important to me. Any agency can have a five-star website, but it is how they relate personally to me that matters. To make a long story short, after talking with these two different agencies, I think we now have some answers, and an adoption agency! I think we just might qualify for China now that I understand better how the assets requirement is documented, so we are definitely pursuing that option first. The agency we are sending our preliminary application to has a birth order and spacing policy which states that they will usually not place adopted children out of birth order, and they like nine months between the youngest child and the adopted child. Dave and I thought that over, and we agree with the reasoning behind their thinking. We will hopefully be submitting a formal application for the healthy child China program, but with the thought that we can change to the waiting child program at any time, should a child come forward that meets the birth order criteria. Right now we probably wouldn't be able to find a waiting child (children with special needs) who would fit the birth order/spacing requirement set forth by the agency. I feel good about having a plan, and I know that God will continue to guide and direct us as we move forward. It's going to be a long journey, but the reward at the end will be well worth the travel! Stay tuned!