December 2008
CHRISTMAS UPDATE
We have been in the process
of adopting now for almost 3 years. We submitted our initial
contract right after Christmas 2005. When we started the process
the anticipated timeline would have put us in China March 2007
or sooner. But here we are drawing a close to 2008, about to say
2009. Currently, China has placed babies to families who have
log in dates up through February 23, 2006. There are
approximately 3 months of paper stacks ahead of us, our LID is
May 15, 2006. I don’t think for now I want to try and predict
how much longer it will be. At this point it is extremely hard
to predict how much longer it will be. I would like to say that
2009 is our year but...
Many families are in the same situation that we are in, where
the wait has grown exponentially, even to the point of uncharted
water. The wait for adoption from China has never grown to this
point. However, one very important point to always remember is
that the adoption program in China is still open.
I was reading adoption blogs about two weeks ago, and I stumbled
across a post that made a lot of sense to me. Maybe I can
explain a little better how I am doing during this long wait.
For whatever reason, that post gave me permission to feel both
happy and sad at the same time throughout this Christmas season.
I always thought that I had to be all in on my emotion, no fence
strattling! So here goes…
I am happy (thankful) for my health, husband and home ( a little
alliteration for ya!) Home to me means not the structure but
rather the special place or safe haven that Tom and I have
created. I am thankful for my family and friends, especially my
little sissy and my cousins! Furthermore, I can’t wait to be
able to live Christmas this year through Alayna, Morgan and
Jackson ’s eyes (my nieces and nephew)! Seeing Christmas through
the eyes of a four year old is magical and precious.
But on the contrary, I am sad to think that my daughter may be
lying in an orphanage crib with no special day planned for her,
no special food eaten, or no extra hugs and kisses from people
who adore her. I am also sad to think that my biggest Christmas
wish of becoming a mom will again not be filled.
Our daughter will be placed safely in our arms under the
timeline that God has constructed and not in the timeline that I
have tried to plan. I can only make the best of the time that I
am waiting; so therefore, I have given myself permission to be
both happy and sad at the exact same time.
I know that Eliana will someday be my daughter, a very specific
specially chosen daughter for Tom and me.
Please don’t be sad or disappointed for us, however please keep
us in your prayers and thoughts. Keep asking about the adoption,
talking about it makes it feel real to us. I love to answer any
and all questions about it, except how much longer, because I
truly have no idea.
Merry Christmas Precious Friends and Loving Family members!
Love,
Melissa and Tom
|
Tom and Melissa at Erica's IU game
Tom and Melissa at the KY game
Melissa, Morgan and Alayna
Tom and Erica
Erica, Melissa and Blaire at the KY game |
