Tomorrow it will be one year since we first met with our adoption caseworker from Bethany Christian Services. After prayerful consideration, we decided to adopt a child from China. As many of you already know, we fully expect our child to be a girl. For a variety of social and cultural reasons, that is what is primarily available in Chinese orphanages. She will most likely be between 8 months and 1 year old.
After months of paperwork, home-study interviews, fingerprinting, and getting up-to-date passports, our dossier was filed in China on May 24, 2005. Generally, families receive a referral six months after their dossier is filed. That means that sometime in late November we hope to have a name, a picture, any known medical history, and the name of the city and province where our child was born. At that point, we prepare for our trip to China, which should come six to eight weeks after we receive our referral. Kurt will be travelling with Julie's cousin Jan...an experienced traveller, mother, and great friend.
Our daughter's Chinese name will become her middle name. We are already calling her by the name we have chosen..."Lily." She's out there somewhere. I find myself looking often at the map of China in our World Atlas wondering where she is and what she is doing right now.
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3 comments:
This is an amazing journey for both of you and I love being a part of it. This is such a special time for your family and you will always treasure these thoughts and memories. What a wonderful way to capture these treasured memories. And you offer so much insight, it is a learning experience for all of us. My thoughts and prayers are with you both and that precious baby, Lily, that will soon find her way to her home with you by the grace of God.
Kurt and Julie,
It is such a pleasure to watch this process move forward and to feel along with you the sense of excitement that runs through your notes already.
I am beginning a study of China with my year 10 Geography class - in fact, it began today. As we were reading through the material one of my students asked about the one child family rule in China and how that fits with a country with such a large population. I related to her that this was a relatively new policy, and that it is quite hostile to baby girls. I shared that many of these young baby girls are put up for adoption and that families like you make a place in their hearts and homes. It is a blessing to be able to share with our young people that injustice is always met with God's justice and mercy in wonderful ways.
You do not have to worry about "bugging" us with updates. It is great to share in your blessing.
Love,
Marc and Thelma
Dear Kurt and Julie,
I was really touched by your phrase "we are in our 12th month." I've experienced the adoption process, right up to the call that says "we have a match," and I can tell you, it is a pregnancy....the mental preparation, the picking of a name (Lily is beautiful), the preparing the room, or even just thinking about it...is every bit as significant as carrying a child yourself. I've done both..it really is the same in more ways than I could've imagined.
God bless you both. We will keep you and your daughter in our prayers.
Lora Horn
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