Agency Report #4

The saga continues...today we received notification that the CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs) wants to know the name and dosages of the meds that I'm currently taking. And all of this before we have even officially been accepted by the agency, let alone have a dossier on the way to China! Yikes!

Thanks for praying with us as we take these first tentative steps on our journey!

Agency Report #3

Just a quick update...we received a phone message today from our agency saying that they are still waiting for an answer from China. So, we wait...

Thanks for waiting with us!

Agency Report #2

We finally received another call today from our agency. I was working, but Dave talked with the woman (although he can't remember her name...). Apparently, IF he understood correctly, a committee in China will be discussing my "medical conditions" on Friday and will be making a decision as to whether or not we can pursue adoption there. Mind you, my "medical conditions" are nothing major, and I probably could be taken off of the two meds I'm on and be fine, but I'm on them for preventative measures. And, I know my doctor will say I'm in excellent health, even though I'm on the meds. But I was honest and put them down on the application, so now, only God knows what will happen. But at least we can rely on His plan and if China closes her adoption doors on us, God will open another one somewhere!

Thanks for your encouragement and prayers!

Agency Report

I finally received a call from our agency today! I thought I would hear from them sometime this week. To make a long story short, when submitting the preliminary application, we had to disclose any medical conditions for which we were were currently "under treatment". Here in the USA we are more proactive with our health issues, and are often on preventative and maintenance meds for various things such as high blood pressure, thyroid issues, insulin resistance, etc. To the Chinese mind, if you have to take meds, you are sick. If you are sick, you are not "good enough" to adopt one of their children. Therefore, we are awaiting word from the agency's liasion in China to see if the fact that I am on a couple of meds for regulatory measures will inhibit us from adopting from China. I guess it's better to find out before we expend a lot of time and energy, but it's a bit discouraging, too. However, we know that God is in control, and there are many more children in many other countries who need homes if the door to China is closed.

I'll keep you posted, and thanks for praying!

Waiting for Sophia Elizabeth

When Dave and I first got married, we had no idea that it was going to be hard for us to have biological children. We were not interested in starting a family right away, so it wasn't until my sisters, who were married a few years after us, began having difficulty conceiving that we wondered if there might be a medical reason for the difficulty we were all having with conceiving biologically. Through a myriad of divine appointments (not circumstances!) we found out that all three of us sisters have a condition called PCOS which has a multitude of symptoms that vary by individual, with infertility or difficulty conceiving being a big part of the syndrome. Dave and I knew that we wanted to adopt no matter what, so after the requisite fertility doctor appointment, we opted to adopt versus going down the expensive, no guarantees route of fertility treatments. Our two older sons are biological siblings who moved in with us in 2001 as a "foster to adopt" situation. Two years later, their adoption was finalized (that's a story for a later time!). About a year after that--surprise!--we were pregnant with our third son. At that time, not knowing at first if we were having a boy or a girl, we chose the name Sophia Elizabeth as our favorite girl name. When we got pregnant again, I thought for sure God allowed the pregnancy because He was giving us our little Sophia, but that was not the case--Nathaniel it was! So here we are, pursuing what was has been our heart's desire for many years, and we still have our favorite girl name available! How cool is that!

Sophia comes from Greek and means "wisdom", while Elizabeth comes from Hebrew and means "God's promise". In reality, I can't think of a better name for our adopted daughter. We will be clinging to God's promise of wisdom as we travel our silk road in the months--and years--ahead. Until the day we finally meet the daughter God intends for us to have, I will try to make the reality of her adoption part of our everyday lives as a family. As I mentioned in a previous post, I purchased a child's silk dress from China on another adoptive family's blog. Isn't it beautiful?

I intend to hang it in a prominent location in our home to remind us of what our journey is all about. I also am going to hang another picture frame in our living room alongside the frames containing our sons' yearly photos. I am thinking of putting the Chinese characters for "mei mei" or "little sister" in the frame until we can replace it with a real photograph. Until then, we will pray for Sophia and entrust her into God's almighty hands.

We love you Sophia Elizabeth - wherever and whoever you are!

The First Step...Done!

Well, it's in the mail! Our preliminary application is filled out--along with the first of many checks--and is on its way to the adoption agency. If we are approved after the preliminary application, then we move to the second step which is to have a meeting with the agency regarding international adoption (the check was to cover the expense of that meeting). If we still wish to proceed after that meeting, then we move to step three which is to fill out the (very long!) formal application with the agency. So, we have put the ball into motion, and we'll see where God takes us from here!

I have started compiling some adoption blogs that I like to read. You can find them on the right, below my archives. I have been so blessed by watching the little fundraising "ticker" on Red Thread Stitches as this adoptive family sews their way to their new daughter in China. The clothes this adoptive mom makes and sells to raise funds for her adoption are adorable! Yesterday I supported their adoption by purchasing a little pink dress, made in China and donated by another adoptive mom. I intend to hang the dress in our spare room, which will probably become our daughter's room someday, so that I have a tangible reminder of what is awaiting us at the end of this very long journey. When I receive the dress I will post pictures!

Thanks for joining us on this journey!