So many kind people ask us that question. Almost daily, someone wants to know when we will be bringing the newest member of our family home. And my answer, unfortunately, is always the same: "We really have no idea, but we do know it will be a very long wait."
Referrals are being sent out from the China Center for Adoption Affairs (CCAA) very slowly these days. About every month they finish the processing of about two weeks' worth of received dossiers. Right now, the wait for a referral is about 16 months, but if CCAA continues at its current rate, the wait will reach about 24 months. Our dossier was logged in at CCAA on August 14, 2006. You do the math...
Of course, we have plenty to keep us busy right here at home. Our three girls here keep us hopping. I can only imagine how agonizing the wait must be for first-time parents (oh, wait, I DO remember the agonizing wait for our first daughter - it was dreadful, and it only lasted about 7 months!). But in our hearts - in all our hearts, not just mine and Al's but our girls', too - we are a family of six. There are four girls in our family, and the littlest one's name is Sarah. We talk about her, plan for her, make home arrangements and furniture purchases with her in mind. Rachel knows that she is going to be Sarah's "buddy" (more on that in another post), and Abbie knows that she is going to be Sarah's "roomie". She is a definite presence in our family.
And so we wait. Sometimes the days just slip by and I realize that it's been one more month since our dossier went to China - one month closer to our Sarah. And other days, the wait for her is all I can think about, and I have to make a conscious effort to focus on the three beautiful girls who are at home with me right now and to try not to worry about the child I'm waiting for, missing.
So, thank you, everyone, for your interest and concern and enthusiasm for our upcoming adoption. And I really look forward to the day when I can provide a more optimistic answer than, "We really have no idea, but we do know it will be a very long wait."
5 comments:
Geez girl. I admire your strength. I about died when we waited just under six months for Anna. Spoiled is what we were! :) God knew he couldn't deal with me longer than that because the next month the wait started to go up. Blessings and patience as you wait. Amy
Amy, dear, you give me far too much credit! I just wrote that post in one of my calmer moments! Maybe I should post during a moment of weakness - look out!
Our referral waits have been all over the place for our girls - 7 1/2 months for Hannah, 14 months for Rachel, 5 1/2 months (!) for Abbie. Each wait tested my patience equally (though I do think Hannah's was the hardest, being the first)!
WE are right there with you! Waiting! But,what a blessed time it is! We are anxioulsy praying for our little Lydia,knowing she is in God's hands. Our 4 do keep us busy and we are, like you, using this time to spend with them...preparing them for a little sister,learning about China,and trying to figure out how we will ALL go to China!!!
There is a lot to prepare for! We logged in 9/21/06,so we have a long wait ahead of us,too!
Thanks for visiting me. I love to see your beautiful girls!
Kim
Rebecca,
I know exactly how you feel. I try not to talk about it much but when people ask....well they get the same answer.
Lisa
PS We need to get together soon!
I remember waiting for Joseph and John (coming from Russia). God bless you all! Its fun to keep track of this.
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