Ever wonder how God works throughout your life?
On November 24th, 2010, Bill and I were traveling to Destin, FL to visit my dad for Thanksgiving. Many times throughout our marriage we had talked about the desire of adopting a child from another country, but during that car ride I announced to Bill that I felt like it was the right time for our family to seriously consider it. He looked over at me and said that he had actually been thinking a lot about it lately as well. During that 5 hour car ride, we made the decision to start what became our two year journey.
On that exact same day in November of 2010, a little girl was abandoned at the gate of Social Children's Welfare Institute of Fuyang City in the Anhui Province in The Peoples Republic of China. They named her Yang Chun Yan and brought her into the orphanage. After putting an announcement in the local newspaper that produced no results and a thorough police search for her parents, the institute became the legal guardian of Chun Yan. They estimated her birth date to be September 28th, 2010.
By the end of that year and after many prayers and much research, we chose to adopt a little girl between the ages of 0 and 3 from China. Next came choosing an agency and starting the paperwork chase. Over the next several months we gathered and processed so much paperwork that I now have a 4 inch 3 ring binder that is overflowing with what seems like every single detail of our lives. After completing the Home study, applying for all the necessary documents, and waiting and waiting and waiting, we were given approval from China to adopt. The LID (approval) date actually came on my birthday April 16, 2012. This granted us approval to be matched with a child to adopt. Then they told us we had to wait even more.
That didn't really happen. A week later, on April 24th I received the call that they had a match for us. I sat in my office taking in every detail the agency had for me on our soon to be daughter. They emailed me over her complete file and for those of you who know me well, you will be very shocked at the blubbering mess I instantly became. I proved that I really do have tears. I immediately left and drove to Bill. I was shaking as I walked into his classroom holding up the picture of the perfect little girl that God had put on this earth for Bill and I to become her parents.
Hebrews 12:1 says "...and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." I believe in my heart that this is our race so very clearly marked out for us.
After being matched, we had to start another approval process for us to specifically adopt her. This approval came in August which sent us into the last waiting period. This phase was to apply for a date to go before the Consulate in Guangzhou to take an oath before him. Once this date is granted, the entire trip can be booked to go pick her up.
We received the phone call last Thursday that we have our appointment. We will be leaving on Thursday November 15th. Our itinerary will be as follows....
11/15 – Depart US
11/16 – Arrive in Beijing
11/19 - Gotcha Day -
11/23 – Fly to Guangzhou
11/29 - AC appointment – Oath Taking Ceremony
12/01- Bring Kora home
Yang Chun Yan will have the American name of Kora Marie. We have decided to take Billy and Karsyn with us on the trip. I can't imagine starting Kora's life as part of our family without the entire family. Bill and I have also chosen to start this blog so that our amazing extended family and friends can follow the trip with us. God has blessed us with an incredible support group who without them, this journey would not have happened. We have appreciated all the prayers and words of encouragement along this 2 year journey. Please keep them coming.
