Where am I at in the process?

Adopting from China is a pretty straightforward process.  The steps are pretty much the same for everyone.  There is a lot of paperwork, but since I’ve done this before, I think it will be easier this time around.  I started by applying to WACAP last November.  (WACAP is the agency I used for my first adoption.)  In January, I applied to Evolve to have my home study completed.  They did my last home study so the process was pretty quick this time because they could use the previous one as a guide and just make changes to update it.  Once my home study was approved by WACAP, I sent my I-800A application to USCIS.  This is the request to US immigration to allow me to adopt from China.  Fingerprints are required before they will approve an application and they assign a date and time to have it done.  (The fingerprints have to be done in their office so it’s not as easy as just going down to the local police department.)  My fingerprint appointment was on May 28^th and I received my approval notice on June 1^st.  Sometimes this process takes as long as 90 days, but I got lucky and it took about 30 days from the date my application was mailed until I received my approval notice.

Now I just have to gather some other paperwork (employment verification letter, background letter from the sheriff’s office, and a few other items) to complete my dossier.  Once I have everything notarized, I’ll take it to the Secretary of State’s Office for certification (verifying all the notarizations).  After that I’ll send it to a courier who will take it to the Chinese Consulate in Chicago for authentication and after I get everything back from her it can be sent to WACAP who will send it to China.

My goal is to have all of these steps completed by the end of September.  Then I just wait to be “matched”.  Once I'm matched I should travel within six months or less.  I would like to be matched by the end of the year or early next year, but that’s out of my hands so I’ll try to be patient while I wait.

“God has perfect timing; never early, never late.  It takes a little patience and it takes a lot of faith, but it’s worth the wait.” - Unknown

Why China?

For my second adoption that is easy to answer…I went there for TK in 2012 and there was never any doubt in my mind that I would go back.

The first time around it was a little harder to decide.  I started out hoping to adopt from Guatemala, but that was about the time they stopped doing international adoptions.  I then considered Russia and Kazakhstan (a country located between Russia and China).  Russia was just too expensive and required too many trips so I settled on Kazakhstan.  The available children were young and the adoption process required daily visits with the child in the orphanage for two weeks before you could proceed with the adoption.  I liked this requirement because it would give the child time to become comfortable with the parent(s) before they were taken away from everything familiar to them.  Unfortunately, just before I finished all of the necessary paperwork, Kazakhstan also stopped doing adoptions while they made some changes to their process.  When they reopened several months later, they no longer allowed singles to adopt.

About that same time, China was again starting to allow singles to adopt.  I had never considered China before because it just wasn’t an option for me.  So I did some research and found the process to be pretty straightforward.  The “catch” was that singles were only allowed to adopt “special focus” children.  These were the children with more severe needs or children who were older and/or had been waiting longer for families.  I started to talk to agencies and was able to view some of the children that were available.  This gave me a good idea of what some of the more common needs were for these children.  I decided there were some needs I could handle so I started the process and it turned out to be the best thing I’ve ever done.

I also get asked why I didn’t adopt from the US.  There are several reasons, but in the end, it just wasn’t the right choice for me.  Yes, there are kids in the US that need homes too, but my child(ren) happened to be in China.

"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle but will never break.” - Chinese Proverb

Are you sure?

I’ve heard that question several times since I starting telling people I was going to adopt again.  I started thinking about going back before I even left China two and a half years ago.  There was never any doubt in my mind that I’d do it again, it was just a matter of when. 

When I brought TK home, I really thought I’d be starting the paperwork again within about a year.  However, it never felt like the right time.  Whenever I thought about getting started, something would happen to make me wait.  I think it was God’s way of telling me it wasn’t time yet.  Now everything seems to be falling into place and it feels right.    

I started this adoption expecting that it will be a year or longer before I bring a child home.  That will give me time to consider what our daily life will be like with another little one in the family and also to get TK used to the idea of having a brother or sister.  I know we’re ready, but I also know it won’t be easy for any of us so I don’t want to rush.  TK has had me to himself for almost three years and I don’t expect him to start sharing easily.  It was several months before TK and I settled in after he came home and adding another child could really set him back.  There were many tantrums, tears and struggles before we got to where we are now.  It’s a little scary to think about doing it again, but I know it’s worth it.  The transition could be harder than it was with TK or it could be easier.  I’m not the first single person to have more than one child.  It’s an adjustment whether you adopt or give birth.  I can’t let fear of the unknown stop me from moving forward.  

So, yes, I am sure.

“Fear is temporary, regret is forever.” - Unknown