Where we are in this...

Here's just an update to explain where we are in the process at this point.  After many months of lots of paperwork, a home study, notarizing, authenticating, fingerprinting, sending papers to Texas, Raleigh, etc., we now have our compilation of official documents in Washington, D.C. at the U.S State Dept and the Chinese Embassy.  Hopefully, they are now putting their official seal on all of it and it will return back to us this week.  Once it returns to me (hopefully all ay-okay), I will package it all up with a few more items and send the whole thing (aka "dossier") with duplicate copies to our agency in Oregon.  They will scrutinize everything, checking and double-checking it all.  After a few days, they will send it to China!  That is a major milestone in the international adoption world.  After a week or two or three, we will have a log-in date (aka "LID").  Another major milestone!  From that point, we are eligible to receive a referral from our agency.  That time frame is pretty variable (1 month - 5 months).  Once we receive a referral and send a LOI (Letter of Intent) accepting the referral, it will be about 5 months until we travel.  This is all a very step by step process with a lot of waiting in between.  I've never been a patient person, but during this process I have had faith that every passing day is bringing us to the exact moment to allow us to be matched with the child that is meant to be a part of our family.  So.... at this point, I have no paperwork to do.  Strange.  It's pretty much a waiting stage.  We will now spend a lot of time reading and learning about ways to help our new child adjust to a completely new life, home, and family.  No small task. Waiting and believing that God equips the ones He calls!