July Shared List

The July shared list was released tonight.  However, Laura said that this was one of the shortest lists she has ever seen, and she did not find our daughter on it.  We know our little girl is out there somewhere, and we are anxiously waiting to know who she is!

Finalized Homestudy!

Our homestudy was finalized today!  Laura will begin searching the shared list for our daughter as soon as the next list is released. 

100%

Jacques and I have 100% decided to work with Adoption Associates Inc.  Today we began filling out our formal application.  I am really enjoying all of the paperwork right now, and am so excited to begin the first steps to bringing home our daughter.

We have also made contact with a Hague accredited adoption agency in our area to begin our homestudy.  Maureen is our social worker, and we will begin meeting with her  over the next few weeks.

Adoption Associates Inc.

Today I emailed Adoption Associates Inc. in reference to a little girl who is assigned to their agency.  One of their agency consultants, Laura, emailed me back immediately.  Jacques and I have been praying about which adoption agency to work with to bring home our daughter, and much to our surprise we have found this to be a very difficult decision.  I have emailed dozens of agencies, trying to get a feel for who they are and what they believe in, but most of them blow me off, and never respond to my questions.  Laura is different.  She has emailed me back and returned all of my phone calls promptly for the past few weeks.  Laura has taken the time to answer all of my newbie questions without ever making me feel like I am taking up too much of her time.  Jacques and I feel strongly that even though AAI is located in Michigan, this is the agency that will help us bring home our daughter.

Eyes Wide Open

"...once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act."
Proverbs 24:12

My eyes have been opened to the growing number of special needs children in China.  Because of the one child policy, Chinese parents give their daughters and medically frail children up for adoption in order to birth a healthy son who will care for them in the future.  In China, when a child enters an orphanage, they are given a name that marks them for life as an orphan.  Their name, as well as their Certificate of Abandonment ensure that a normal life outside of the institution is impossible.  If a child reaches the age of 14 and has not been adopted, all hope is lost...literally.  These children will never get a job, never get married, and never live happily ever after. 

Now that I know this information, 

I cannot pretend that I don’t know what to do.