I realized recently that it has been nearly an eternity since I've written at all about our adoption. And, well, I actually have an excuse. That is because it has been nearly an eternity since anything has changed on that front.
After beginning to collect all the information and jump through all the required hoops in July of 2005, we finally completed and sent in our dossier in March of 2006. We expected a baby perhaps that coming Christmas or early 2007. But about that time (March), Chinese adoptions came to a screeching halt. Okay, maybe not a halt. But a definite slowdown of epic proportions. We were given reasons...China had been pushing domestic adoptions, there was a huge insurgence of Americans wanting to adopt, and some internal changes all led to a growing waiting list with less children and the need to be patient.
Ah, patience.
31 months of patience, to be exact. So far.
And while we are told that China is working to speed up the process, we haven't exactly seen the rubber meeting the road in that respect.
In the meantime, we've welcomed Abby into our home, we moved to the country, Don is no longer employed full-time by the Air Force (though he is at the moment), and we'll need to be "approved" all over again in a new state. And our future holds the introduction of Don's folks into our home. In addition, requirements have changed and we now need a number of educational credits on adoption and child rearing due to the Hague Convention. Honestly, it has all become increasingly frustrating. I simply cannot imagine the torture of those adopting parents who are waiting to hold their first baby in their arms.
I don't know where we will go from here. We are holding open our hands, waiting to see what God has planned for us. Perhaps it might not happen for us after all of this. Perhaps it will. We don't even know, at this point, if our current financial and familial situation will exclude us when we need to renew (for the third time) or home study and state approval.
For now, we wait.
I wish the news could be more exciting. Honestly, most people have stopped asking. I mean, how many times can you hear, "Nothing new," and still keep beating your head against the wall? I don't want anyone to think we are depressed about this. We're not. God has blessed us in so many ways, none of it deserved, and we can't ask for more. And while it is easy to get frustrated and anxious for the future, I've settled back into a place where I can contentedly wait and see where God will take us. It's a good place to be.
4 comments:
I have been a lurker on your blog for some time. We seem to have a great deal in common (military, dreaming of retiring to our farm, 3 kids, homeschooling, and adoption to name a few). I have tremendously enjoyed hearing of your adventures as you get your farm established. When I read today's post, I TOTALLY sympathized. We have been through the adoption process very recently. However, our wait was not nearly as long. Long story, however, in the end God called us to adopt domestically. Like you, we were open to God's leading and the baby He had in mind. We were matched with a birthmom within just 3 months, and had a newborn 3 months later. We just finalized in July. Have you prayed about looking into domestic adoption? If you decide you would like more info at all, I would love to tell you our story and the things we learned about domestic adoption (there is a HUGE need right here!) E-mail me at mptclinics@hotmail.com
Thanks for posting about this. I have wondered for a long time how things were going but I didn't want to ask in case it was touchy or something.
May God bless you while you wait!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD8Z-m4jaYw
I was incredibly blessed with this song While I'm Waiting by John Waller. It was in the movie Fireproof.
http://www.fireproofthemovie.com/
(How I wish I could use Mr. Linky in comments.) :)
Faith
As a testimony to God's goodness and His fulfilling the plans He has for our lives, we are honored to be raising two of the least of these children from India. 7 years ago we were just waiting on Him, too. He is faithful to bring home his children. What a testimony to your trust in His plan for your life! It is a frustrating and long process. I'll be praying for you all! Terri
I found your blog this morning and have really enjoyed it. You sound a lot like us in starting your homesteading journey.
I hope all goes well with the path that God has given you. Sometimes it is so hard to deal with the uncertainty or rejection on something like your adoption but it seems as though you have peace. That's the best place to be.
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