Finally! {Adoption Update}

It is here! The adoption update you (and we) have been waiting for since April! On September 24th our agency called and told us they had a referral for us. Our coordinator filled us in on the highlights of the file and then emailed the file to us. I opened the file like it was Christmas morning and there looking back at me were the cutest brown eyes.

I immediately called Jason and forwarded the file to him and then began my search for information. We are doing the China special needs program so all of the children in the program have some type of medical special need. I had never heard of the special need this little guy was born with and so I opened my trusty Google window and began an exhaustive search for info. I emailed a specialist and we had the file reviewed by an adoption clinic at Children's hospital.

We prayed and I went back and forth some (I've been known to struggle with the unknown at times :), but in the end we decided that this was the little one that God had in mind for us when we started this crazy process a year ago and on September 26th we officially accepted the referral. I should not here that I don't think Jason ever had any doubts or reservations. He is the most loving and faithful man and I am so blessed to call him my husband.  On September 30th our agency submitted our official letter requesting approval to adopt him (LOI) to China.

At this point families adopting from China begin the excruciating wait for LOA (letter of approval) from China which can take anywhere from 6 weeks to well over 3 months. We were praying that since we had been logged in for so long that our dossier had already been translated and reviewed and we would therefore have a very short wait for LOA.

Our prayers were answered today when we learned that we have been approved and that the hard copy of our LOA will be issued tomorrow! We are so excited and are hoping to travel in the next 8-12 weeks. We will share pictures (and his name) soon and will keep everyone posted on prayer requests and dates. (Oh, and I almost forgot to update that the 'story' I alluded to here was not the story God had for us and He has made that even more clear since we accepted the referral for Justin. I love how God works everything out so perfectly!)

Thank you all for praying and for all the love and support you've given us over the past year. We can't wait to introduce you all to our new son!

New blog name coming soon too! ;)

P.S. Don't forget to do all of your Christmas shopping on Amazon using our fundraising link in the left side bar :)