Roller Coaster Ride

The emotional ups and downs of adoption is a rough ride. I was so "up" when we received our quick Letter of Acceptance from China. Less than 24 hours later, I found myself on the "down" part of the ride.

We cannot send our LOA in to CIS (immigration) yet because we are still waiting on a document we need from CIS.

We had to complete an addendum to our home study when we found Joy because she is older than our home study had stated. Our home study was suppose to approve us for 0 THROUGH 6 years old, but in one section it says 0-72 months, which is UP TO 6 years old. Joy was 6 when we found her and when we receive PA from China, but she was well over 72 months.

Although China went ahead and approved us, thankfully, without requiring an addendum, CIS will not. So we submitted our addendum and are awaiting the approval for that. Our original approval we received from them will not be good enough. The approval on the addendum is required before we can send our LOA to CIS for the FINAL approval from them.

Did I lose you in all of that? Don't feel bad. I am swimming in all this paperwork. Much of it seems so needless.

We have no idea how much longer this little delay will cause Joy to remain in the orphanage. We pray just a few extra weeks. It all rests in our government's hands. How quickly will they get to our file? We have no idea.

I called CIS to inquire. I learned that our very sweet case manager is no longer with CIS, and we've been assigned a new one. I think he's the same man other families have encountered. I refer to him as Mr. Grumpy because he has not been very compassionate toward families waiting. It concerns me that our wait is in his hands. :(

I spoke with him on the phone and was told he has not even received our addendum (it was mailed over two weeks ago). He went on to explain that even though it only takes a few days to approve us if all is in order, he has 19 files in front of us. So....

we wait...

I've decided to pray for Mr. Grumpy, because I really don't know what burdens he is carrying. Perhaps he is inundated with adoption paperwork and hopeful families calling him since the previous case manager left. Maybe he is exhausted and is truly working his best and hardest to help bring these children out of the orphanages and to their new homes. I pray his burdens are lifted and he is renewed. I pray he has new energy to face his workday and he accomplishes more than he ever thought he could. I pray that he SEES the faces of the orphans and realizes that he, too, is impacting their lives in his daily work. May God bless him, and may the blessings trickle down to all the waiting families and children.

I wait...

I know God has this all under control.

But I miss my baby girl and long to hold her and tell her "Bie pa. MeiShi, ni hen. Wo ai ne." "Don't be afraid. You are safe. I love you."