This post will start this blog which is a map of the road to Claire.
While it may seem like a quick decision on our part, we can look at our lives and know that this decision, to add another child to our lives was long in coming. I suppose it started when we were adopting our son Luke. We initially had asked China to match us with twins. International adoption is a long, and sometimes difficult road. So it seemed that getting two children at the same time was a time and cost effective plan to round out our family. However, when approximately 10 weeks after registering all of our documents in China, I found out I was pregnant, it seemed that we were getting our two children and Triplets seemed too overwhelming. Catherine was born and a month later Kevin traveled to China to get Luke. Kevin was really moved by the number of children who were in the Shanghai Children's Welfare Institute. 600 in the Orphanage and another 400 in foster care. And that was in one city!!
I know this has really worked on Kevin's heart for awhile. It did mine too, but I didn't see it first hand and have been so happy with the 4 children we have that adopting another seemed like it wasn't in the cards. Fast forward to August 2010 when our friend Irv passed away. Irv and his wife Joann have been huge advocates for adoption from China. In fact in a time of their lives when most are enjoying retirement and grandchildren, they adopted 6 children from China. During his memorial service, we all were awestruck by the number of Chinese children that were present. Somewhere between 40 and 50. Irv and Joann had touched that many lives. During some quiet time, Luke climbed on my lap and said "Mom, I think we should go to China and get another kid." Kevin's response when I told him later was that she had to be 15 so she could babysit. This was the first sign to both of us that we were, perhaps, open to the possibility. A few weeks later we watched the PBS special, The Lost Daughters of China. It was very emotional for both of us, and ultimately an acknowledgement that we both were open to adopting again. But we didn't really formally pursue the idea. I think we were just letting the idea rest in our hearts, waiting for the right time.
In mid October, I received an email from a list serve I'm on of parents in the area who have adopted from China. The email was from a woman who had recently adopted a 4 year old boy. He had to leave behind his best friend, a 7 year old girl who had helped take care of him and was his constant companion. He spoke of her daily and his mother promised that she would do what she could to find a home for his friend. I was touched by the story and sent it to Kevin. He didn't see it and with the busy lives we have, I forgot to point it out. About two weeks went by and another email came saying that this girl, "Belle", was still in need of a family. I was able to see a picture and forwarded the picture and story again to Kevin. That night he asked me what it was all about and I told him to read the story. He was quiet for a bit, and then said "I think we should do it." I didn't really believe him and made him repeat what he'd said. Luke asked what we were talking about and when we told him, he thought it was a great idea. We decided to talk with Catherine in the morning and she too thought it was a great idea to have a sister she could play with all the time.
But the story doesn't stop there. I called the adoption agency and was told she was matched with another family. Not one to take "No" for an answer as I asked for a return call anyway. Then I boarded a plane for Texas. By late in the afternoon the next day, I had not had a return phone call so I called the agency again and left a voice mail message asking for a return call about "Belle". That was a Friday and I didn't think that I'd hear over the weekend. I spent most of the day flying home on Monday and didn't pick up messages until the next day. Tuesday I had a message that said that the agency was 99% sure she was matched but they had other kids to adopt if we were interested. The next message that came in, approximately 1.5 hours later, said thought she was matched, but might not be so please call. I called and was told that she wasn't matched, and was available. I filled out the paperwork in about 5 minutes and with in a half hour I had her picture and her history. Even though we spent several days investigating some medical issues, talking with doctors, our hearts knew she was meant to be with us. We called and confirmed we wanted her, got paperwork together and the day before Thanksgiving we were told that China had given us preapproval to move ahead with our adoption! How happy we are to have her join our family and how happy to know that we will be reuniting her with her friend that lives nearby. His parents assure us that knowing she will have a family has brought a lot of peace to his little heart.
Some brief stats: Her Chinese name is Wan BaiBai. We have decided to name her Claire. We don't have a middle name yet, but it will likely include part of her Chinese name. She is 7 years old and has been in her orphanage since she was about 6 months old. She has scoliosis and has had 2 surgeries to improve her condition. We are hoping that we will all travel to China this summer to get her. In the meantime, please keep her in your prayers and us that we will move through this process quickly and get her home soon.
Stay posted over the next few months and follow us on our road to Claire!
