A little progress

It’s been a while since I’ve given an update.  I’m making progress at about the pace I expected.  My paperwork is complete (for this step) and it’s been in China since the beginning of October.  Now I'm just waiting for a match.  It’s hard to say how long the wait will be.  I could hear from my agency tomorrow or I could wait a few months.  I’m trying not to think about it and just go on with my daily routine, but it’s always in the back of my mind.  Thankfully, the holidays are coming and that should keep me busy.

Because my paperwork is already in China I could (should) end up travelling about 2-3 months after I am matched.  For my first adoption, I found a child before my paperwork went to China and had to wait about 6 months before traveling.  That was quicker than most families because some of my paperwork had been started, but still was a long time to sit and wonder how much he was growing and changing.

While I’m waiting I’ve been applying for grants and considering other ways to come up with the money to pay the remaining fees.  (Don’t get me wrong, there is no danger of me not completing this adoption but there are some big payments due at the end.)  For my first adoption, I was able to take on a part time job (or two), but this time having to pay someone to babysit while I work would not leave me with much extra income.  Instead I’m working on making things I can sell and some other fundraising ideas that have worked for other families.

November is National Adoption Month.  I first saw the following quote a few years ago and I’ve been seeing it quite a bit over the past few weeks.  I get tears in my eyes every single time.

“A child born to another woman calls me mommy.  The magnitude of that tragedy and the depth of that privilege are not lost on me.” – Jody Landers