How we got here...

For those of you that do not know, Kristi, Thatcher and I have been working on and praying about getting Amelia Belle for about three years. It has been three years filled with many ups and downs, lots of excitement and disappointments and some setbacks along the way as well. As we are getting ready to leave, I wanted to document briefly how we got to where we are now in this post.

In early 2006, when we were living in Delaware, Kristi and I started thinking about and praying about an adoption. From the start, Kristi felt pulled to China. She felt very strongly about the situation of the little girls in China and it did not take much convincing to pull me in that direction as well. We (and by we I mean Kristi) started looking at agencies and getting information from them. We (and I mean we this time) began looking through the information, reading and watching DVDs from agencies and we settled on two. We were praying about both…one a Christian organization and the other a secular organization…and both looked like possibilities. About this time, I went away to a sales meeting. At the meeting one of my training colleagues introduced me to one of his former colleagues who had already adopted one child internationally and was about to adopt another. While she had adopted her first from Russia and was adopting her second from Guatemala, her agency was one of the two we were considering. After she shared her wonderful experience with me, it convinced me that European Adoption Consultants, Inc. was the right place for us to start. Thank you, Mimi Hayden!
We began the process with an application to EACI, anticipating an 18-month wait We were accepted and soon began our home study. EACI is not licensed to do home studies in Delaware, so we used an agency called Adoptions from the Heart. We went through several classes and interviews and despite their best efforts to slow things down, we were able to finish our home study in a little less than 6 months--a process that a year later in Louisiana took us less than 6 weeks.

Around this time, several things happened that threw a kink in things. First, I was hired for a position back in Louisiana. Secondly, the Adoption Authority in China changed the adoption laws, causing more stringent requirements and a MUCH longer wait. Our Dossier was accepted into China, but knowing that our wait could possibly be three or four more years, our agency suggested we consider an interim adoption in Vietnam. This would possibly be a faster process for us. A little reluctantly, we changed our approval with the U.S. government and our home study in hopes of a Vietnamese adoption. But again, setbacks. Because of problems with human trafficking, the U.S. government refused to ratify a treaty with Vietnam. U.S. adoptions from Vietnam were suspended, so we ended up back where we started.

This whole process was exciting and very frustrating at times. There were times that we wanted to give up, but we decided to keep our application in place in China and pray and wait to see what happened. Little did we know God had a little girl in mind for us. During this time, I noticed Kristi on the EACI website looking at and commenting on the special needs children. I did not think much of this, because we had decided on a healthy little girl. HOWEVER, one afternoon in the beginning of October Kristi called me on my way home. She explained to me that she had been discussing EACI’s special needs program with one of our counselors and after research, consideration and prayer we decided to move in this direction. EACI explained to us that we could potentially have a referral in 2-6 weeks and that once a month the adoption authority releases a group of special needs children for adoption. We became very hopeful and prayerful.
That next week we did not receive a referral. We were very disappointed, but our counselors explained that there were no children they felt were a fit for our family. They encouraged us and we stayed hopeful.

At about 12:15 am on October 16 Kristi walked into our bedroom on the phone and I sat straight up in bed. It was the most surreal feeling I have ever felt and I do not think I will ever forget that night. After getting all of the information, Kristi put me on the phone with our counselor. She explained to me that she had a beautiful 19-month-old baby girl named Li Hai-Fang who she thought was a perfect fit for our family. She explained to us the baby’s health situation and we began praying. We had her medical records reviewed the next day by an international adoptions specialist and we decided to move forward…This was our baby. We were told to expect to travel no sooner than May and we prepared ourselves for a long wait.

Fast forward a few months. On January 2nd, we received a call that our paperwork had moved very quickly through the proper channels with the Chinese Adoption Authority and we would be traveling in late February to mid-March. We were happy to get the news, but I did not really believe it. Nevertheless, we did begin preparing ourselves and we now find ourselves getting ready to travel.

One other bit of information I have to share…our friends, my co-workers and family have been amazing with gifts, cards, helping paint, encouragement and prayers. On Sunday before we left two groups of people, our Sunday School Class and our Growth Group gathered around us and took turns praying for us, Thatcher and Amelia Belle. It has been very moving for me. I cannot get over and am constantly amazed at the thoughtfulness and love that people have shown us.
It is now the night before we leave. My mother-in-law has offered to come with us to so that our son Thatcher can experience this amazing time with us. Thatcher will be able to meet his new baby sister from the very beginning!

Mimi and Thatcher are asleep, Kristi is asleep and the house is quiet. We have a very big day ahead of us tomorrow. Three flights and over 20 hours from the time we leave until we reach Beijing. But…we will have a little girl in less than 5 days. To me it is an amazing thought. I have been so busy with work that it has not really hit home with me what is happening…it hasn’t’ been quite real. Now, though, in the quiet, now that we are packed and ready to go I am feeling many different things. All at the same time I am excited, hopeful, a little nervous and overwhelmingly thankful. Please keep us in your prayers. We’ll keep you updated and we would love to hear from you.

--Gene