Leap of Faith

This song from the second Big and Rich album sums up our adoption journey pretty well.

"Leap Of Faith"

I put myself on a limb
And I feel it giving way from the weight of the rain
If I break or I bend
I get myself together again, put my face to the wind

It might be a long, long way to my golden day
That's a chance I'm willing to take
There's no chain, no cage that I won't break
In this long, long leap of faith

I close my eyes
And I walk right to the edge, throw my hand up to the sky
Oh, I'm not afraid
I'm not afraid to live this life through my dreaming eyes

It might be a long, long way to my golden day
That's a chance I'm willing to take
There's no chain, no cage that I won't break
In this long, long leap of faith

To a rocket I've been tied, I'm ready for the screaming ride
It's full of fuel and I just lit the fuse
I'm a raging, burning ring of fire, and I get hotter as I get higher
And I'm tearing a hole right through this sky of blue

Oh, There's no chain, no cage that I won't break
In this long, long leap of faith

To a rocket I've been tied, I'm ready for the screaming ride
It's full of fuel, and I just lit the fuse
I'm a raging, burning ring of fire, and I get hotter as I get higher
And I'm tearing a hole right through this sky of blue

In this long, long leap of faith.

Our first Moon Festival

Tonight we went to the home of our Great Wall China Adoption regional representative for a Moon Festival party. There were several attending from the referral to the already been there, done that crowd.
It is so good to find those who know what an LID is or RQ, and it is great seeing the kids and knowing that one day our little girl will be among those playing.
We did find out we are the new kid on the block, as ours is the newest LID (much to the glee of the previous new kid) but there are others in the same boat as us - waiting and wondering.
We couldn't stay long, but we enjoyed the fellowship.
We have been blessed by this journey in so many ways. When we walked out of their house, a new moon was setting in the west. The party may have been a little late for the full moon, but for us and all we have been through in the past few weeks, the timing was perfect.

6 months and counting

We hit the 6-month mark recently, and on Tuesday we will celebrate the 1-year anniversary of when this crazy, wonderful journey began — as we walked in to a seminar on adopting from China and our hearts were stolen.
The wait is longer than we anticipated, but if we had known then what we know now we may never started on this roller coaster ride, and that would have been tragic.
So, here's to the next year, may it bring speedy referrals!

September was a difficult month

September started out bad when my purse was stolen on our anniversary, then my Mom got sick and finally we learned Dad was to have double bypass surgery.
Daddy died Sept. 26, two days before his 70th birthday, never recovering from the surgery. He was excited about our adoption, and his presence in our lives will be missed.
This month has indeed been hard, but we will endure and know that God has an ultimate purpose in mind.

Violet

5 months since LID

We hit the 5-month mark since LID today (Sept. 4)!
People in the U.S. also were getting their referrals today. It's great to see the pictures of the babies, but I will admit to getting a little jealous, too. I really wish it was us.
We realize our day will come, but since CCAA still isn't through November 2005 yet, it's going to be a long, long time.
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we deal with the wait.

Kevin

Those who walk along do not walk alone

I think one of the most wonderful discoveries on this journey has been the realization that so many others are on the same pathway. It is an overwhelming source of support that I never dreamed of finding.
So many people (who post encouraging messages on your blog or whom you read about or talk to everyday on blogs) have made this journey not only special but bearable.
It helps knowing at any time of the day or night I can find support by those who have been there or are going through the same things we are. It is so refreshing to help those behind us or to see their enthusiasm as they begin in the same place we started mere months ago. It is something I never expected going into this journey.
God bless all of us on this pathway to our futures.

Violet

Out of translation

We found out today we are out of the translation room. We only found out last month we were in translation, so to be out is pretty cool.

CCAA actually has dossiers through June out of translation, so it looks like that much of the process has speeded up. Wonder if the new regulations that took effect May 1 have had any impact on that (i.e., fewer dossiers to translate)? Of course, this move now puts us near the end of a long line pending review (July 2006 currently is in review). Then, it's the long line pending referral.

But, the good news is it's one more step in the process behind us. Gotta love that!