Christmas 2008

To those who are wondering and afraid to ask, yes, I am still adopting a baby from China. The adoption process has slowed considerably over the past three years. The reasons why are pure speculation and vary from adoption opening up to families in China who have been unable to have a baby, to more and more China families making more money and willing to pay the fine for having the additional child. Also, the Olympics in China earlier this year slowed the process considerably. And still I wait in 2008.

My paperwork was logged in at the China Center for Adoption Affairs (“CCAA”) on March 29, 2006. This is what is referred to as the LID. Currently the CCAA has processed the paperwork and matched babies from China with families who have an LID of February 23, 2006, or before. That means the CCAA needs to process 33 more days of LIDs to get to my LID of March 29, 2006. Thirty-three days of paperwork may not sound like a lot but the CCAA receives numerous applications each day and there may be 30 or more families with the same LID. That being said, they must have available babies to match to each family to process each day before going on to the next. My case worker predicted I might receive a referral in February or March of next year and travel in March or April. However, due to current slow down, we may be looking at spring or early summer but it will happen.

This has always been and continues to be a “God thing” for me. That being said, I must learn to be still and wait patiently for Him. (Psalm 37:7a) He has been involved each step of the way and has a plan for me and for Abby. (Jeremiah 29:11). Many of you have been praying for me and for Abby throughout this process. I truly appreciate your prayers and ask that you continue to pray as we reach what hopefully will be the final stretch of the waiting and the beginning of a new life with my baby girl. Hopefully next year I can write, “She’s all mine in 2009”.

Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years!