a year of waiting

On July 23rd, 2007, the CCAA logged our dossier into their system. We were officially “in line” to be referred a baby girl. A year has passed already since that day. During this year, the CCAA has only processed about 2 1/2 months worth of paperwork. So, the line that was already long when we started has barely moved and has only gotten longer. Some say the long wait (currently about 2 1/2 years from log in date) is due to rising domestic adoption within China and decreased abandonments (both good things). But, others say it is because of the Olympics and that things will speed up some come fall. I don’t know what to think about that. All I know is that things can’t keep going at the current rate. They just can’t.

During this year, though, I have realized a few things:

1. I have realized that I simply need to be faithful to the children I have right now. We have had A LOT going on this year as we figure out school needs for Evan and parent him, Ashlyn, and a very active Drew. I have been thankful that we’ve had this time to focus on Evan’s needs in particular.
2. I have realized that the community of families adopting with us are a source of encouragement and friendship. I am thankful that we are not in this alone.
3. I have realized the depth of our commitment and love for a child who most likely has yet to be born. She may or may not even be conceived at this point. And, yet, we think of her often. We pray for her often. We have named her. We have planned a place for her to rest her head. We have an open frame for her beside her brothers and sister’s pictures by the fireplace. We have books for her, clothes for her, gifts for her. She is already a part of our family though we have yet to meet her.
4. I have realized how much we need to learn still about parenting and about Chinese culture and about the potential needs of an adopted child. I thought I was well read when we started this process about 16 months ago. But, I have read a lot more this year and realize that I need to read a lot more yet and take advantage of every opportunity we get to learn from others. God is using this time to prepare us to be the parents we need to be for all 4 children.
5. I have realized how amazing Mark is with paperwork–I know, maybe that’s a lame realization. But, I had to include it because he is the Master of Dossiers. He is the guru on all this stuff and is so well organized and together with it all. I am thankful that he has committed to that role for us so that I haven’t had to do anything but sign my name where he tells me basically.
6. I have realized that the wait is long, but it is worth it. Every month when referrals are distributed and I look online at all the faces of babies that parents have just seen for the first time, I am overwhelmed. With access to blogs and personal websites, we are able to get a window into families’ first experience seeing their children. And, that is really fun and a wonderful reminder that even when things are long and costly financially, emotionally, and otherwise, when we see our child, whenever that may be, the timing will be perfect because she will be ours.

Here’s to 1 year of waiting down. In this next year, may God bring many more babies home to their families!

Note. The photo is of abandoned baby girls from China Trends website from 2007.