A cousin from China too?!

This journey of ours has only just begun, and already we have been surprised by a very unexpected, yet amazing change in our path to China. 

Ironically, amazingly, miraculously...at about the same time we had contacted the adoption agency and started our journey in motion, Sean's brother, Tim, and his wife, Dawn, had also contacted the same agency to begin the process of adoption for their family.  And neither of us knew of the other's plans. 

I do believe that the Lord has a hand in this...with perfect timing...to make two families whole, all at the same time.  What an even bigger blessing it will be to bring two children home from the same place at the same time.   They will have each other to grow up with, share their heritage with...someone who looks like them...forever.  From orphans...to cousins!!

So now we are comparing notes, completing paperwork and hoping that the stars will line up so that we are matched with children around the same time and can travel to China together.  And return home two weeks later with an extended family that has grown by 2.

While I would like to think that I can plan every detail of this whole journey meticulously, just the way I plan our family vacations...this news reminds me that we are being led on this journey.  Guided to what is destined to be, with an outcome we do not have control over, but are blessed to be part of. Our eyes are wide shut and our hearts wide open...

"...a nice addition to the family"

...words directly from the mouth of our very matter-of-fact son, Riley.  He is a boy-of-few-words, but his words always speak directly from his heart and soul. 

We sat our three kids down last night and asked them how they would feel about having another brother or sister join our family.  There were a few confused faces, and some priceless comments...

Maura:  "Yea!"
Aidan:  "I need to think about it for a minute."
Riley:   "It would be a nice addition to the family."

Then we explained that this sibling would join our family in a special way.  Aidan guessed adoption right away, he even said "from a different country."  I think his little ears have been picking up on some of our "adult" conversations lately. 

Riley:  "I can't believe we're going to adopt a kid from China...it's AMAZING!"
Maura:  "Mommy, are they gonna stay at our house everyday...forever?"
Riley:  "It's gonna be kinda weird not understanding your sibling."
Aidan:  "No Riley, they know English AND Spanish!"

So, I think "the talk" went pretty well.  The kids seem open to the idea, even a bit excited.  It will be a long wait for them though...which is why we originally planned to wait a while before telling them.  But now, since we had to tell our neighbors, employers, doctors, etc. (because of some  necessary paperwork) we decided we needed to tell the kids before they heard it from someone else. 

And now that we have told them, I think the whole world will know soon.  Riley will tell everyone at  school, Aidan will tell all his teammates (and that's a lot of people considering that right now he plays ice hockey, flag football, baseball and soccer), and Maura will tell everyone at the grocery store, mall, post office, and every other place we drag her along to all day long. 

Now it seems so official, so real, so exciting!  And we feel so very blessed to be given this opportunity...we have closed our eyes and we are listening to our hearts, patiently awaiting our journey to whatever is destined to be, knowing that we will be led to a most precious gift.

The First of Many

A few days ago we received our application packet in the mail.  And so the paperwork maze begins...Yesterday we had what I believe will be the first of many trips to the notary (I think we are going to get to know these people quite well over the next year!)  This time there were only four documents to be notarized.  Here is an abbreviated list of all the paperwork we need to compile in time to be invited to the Home Study group meeting on May 18, 2012:

1.   Service Agreement
2.   Fee Policy
3.   Hague Training form
4.   Financial Statement
5.   Financial Statement for China
6.   Copy of 2011 1040 Tax form
7.   Medical examination reports for each household member
8.   Photographs of all household members and our home
9.   Letters from employers
10.  Certified copies of birth certificates and marriage license
11.  Four reference letters
12.  Release for photos and related materials
13.  Risks of intercountry adoption form
14.  Civil Rights Compliance form
15.  Child conditions form
16.  Declining a referral while in China
17.  Autobiographies
18.  Home Study questionnaire
19.  Child Abuse/Criminal history checks and FBI fingerprints

This will keep us busy for a while and pass the time while we wait for the next step of our journey. 

We have also been in contact with the International Adoption Physicians at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.  We will be meeting with them soon to review the Medical Conditions List to determine which "special needs" will be a good match for our family.  These doctors will have an important role during our entire adoption process...

• They will meet with us before we are matched with a child
• They will review a proposed child's medical/developmental profile with us prior to us submitting the acceptance forms
• They will help us plan for travel to China and "in country" procedures
• They will assess the child shortly after we return home and assist us with obtaining the appropriate medical care and services

Please view the youtube video link below, it beautifully explains the "special needs" of children on China's Waiting Child list...It's easy to fall in love with every child in the video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7nlaigXvX8

Our Journey Begins...

As you are reading this for the first time, maybe you have just learned about our journey, or maybe you have known for some time.  To each of you...WELCOME  and THANK YOU for joining us on this journey!  We are  so very grateful for the love and support of our family and friends.

How it all began....
We have often spoken about our desire to adopt the final child that would complete our family.  It always seemed so far off in the distance though.  Something changed recently, and we found ourselves thinking about adoption more often.  Then in March 2012 we felt a constant calling and knew it was time.  We could not deny the thoughts and feelings that were filling our minds and hearts.  So....

March 28th:  the first meeting with our adoption agency,

                           Welcome House of Pearl S. Buck International

March 31st:   we mailed our Facesheet of Applicantion

And so our journey begins...a maze of paperwork and waiting, more paperwork and more waiting.  We anticipate that our journey will lead us to China and end in approximately one year...when we see the sweet face of a young child with a mild special need that has deemed him/her unacceptable or unadoptable in his or her own country...and he/she will become ours, a part of our family, the end of our Red Thread.

It's going to be an amazing journey, thank you for coming along with us!