The Waiting is the Hardest Part

The waiting is the hardest part, or at least it has been so far on our adoption journey. Getting a referral (match) is the next step in our journey. We are now waiting for that very important phone call from our agency saying that we have been matched with a child. I expect (or at least hope) that the next shared list of waiting children that China releases or our agency’s private list will have our little one on it. Our LID was 9/27/2011. We are adopting a child with a minor medical need or special need, so once we are matched, we should be traveling to get her within six months. Of course, we have been praying that it happens sooner. “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Families waiting for a healthy child from China currently have over a five year wait once they have a LID.  I can’t imagine waiting that long, but God bless those families that have and that are still waiting. From what I’ve seen and read, some of these families change programs, some adopt domestically during that wait time, and some end up having biological children during that time. I hope that these families that have waited for so long receive their referrals soon, and that their waiting is soon replaced with joy.

                                                                                                Lori

We Have Our LID!!!

We received a priority package today from Children's Hope. The letter stated that we have our official log in date(LID). Our LID is 9/27/2011. (Yes, we met that very important deadline!) This is a very exciting news. We can now be matched with a waiting child at anytime. I was told that CCCWA puts out an updated list every 6 weeks or so. I will call Tina Monday to see if I can find out more information.

                                            Lori

100 Good Wishes Quilt

I have decided to make a “100 Good Wishes Quilt” for our daughter. In China it is called a “Bai Jia Bei,” and it is an old tradition in parts of China for friends and family to donate pieces of fabric to the child’s mother to make a quilt. Often the fabric comes from clothes that the people no longer wear, or even from clothing of ancestors that have passed. The quilt is then handed down through the generations. They believe that the good wishes from all of the families and friends surround the child when she is wrapped in the quilt. We would like for our friends, family, and people out there in blogosphere to help us honor this tradition from our daughter’s homeland.  If you’re reading this, we would love for you to participate too!

Here’s what you need to do to participate:

1. Please choose a fabric that is 100% cotton(no knit). Maybe you have some remnants you’re not using that would be perfect. You are also welcome to send fabric that has a history or special meaning, even from old clothing like they do in China.

2. Cut a 8” square to be used for the quilt.

3. Then on a piece of paper write or type your wish for our daughter.  You can use decorative paper if you’d like, and if you’re into scrapbooking you can be as creative as you’d like. Your “wish” can be a prayer, scripture, song lyric, advice, your hopes for our daughter’s future, or just a simple note welcoming her to the family.

4. Attach a small swatch of the fabric you’re using to the note and be sure to sign your name.

The “wishes” will then be made into a memory book that will match the quilt blocks to who they’re from and that person’s wish for our daughter. What a wonderful keepsake it will be.

5. Send the fabric and good wishes to us, or you may give them to either of our mom’s or my sister Leonda if you’re in the Southern Illinois area. If you wish to mail them, please contact me for my address.

If you have more than one person in your family who would like to participate, you are welcome to send more than one quilt block and wish. Remember, we trying to collect at least 100, so the more the better. Children are also welcome to contribute to this project.

Thank you for participating!
                                   
                                                                                           Lori

Keeping Busy While Waiting

Once again we are waiting. We haven’t heard yet whether or not our dossier arrived at CCCWA before the Oct. 1 deadline. Tina at CHI says she assumes that it did. This week was a holiday in China, but maybe next week we will hear something definite.

Last Thursday we found out about a donation from a couple at church that hadn’t been counted in with the previous fundraising. With it, we not only got our full matching grant from Hand in Hand, but exceeded it. We feel so blessed!

Last weekend we moved our son’s bedroom downstairs into the finished basement. It’s not the best setup, though He says that he likes it. He’s away at college most of the time anyway.  The now empty room will be transformed for our soon to arrive little one. We already had a twin bedroom set not in use, so we are redoing it for her. Brent is getting it sanded and then I will paint it white while it is still warm enough to paint outside. I will post pictures as the room takes shape.

                                                                             Lori