The Path to Abby Rose

The path to my sweet Abby Rose has been paved with many stones. Over the past five months these steps have become remembrance stones for me as I watch God weave my daughter into my life and me into hers. There are stones of personal experiences and of callings on my life, stones of influence and inspiration set there by beloved saints who took the time to invest their own gifts into my life, and several stones of grief. All of these are set on a path of grace and it is this very grace that has brought me to this place of commitment to my daughter.

I am awed by the Master's hand as I witness and feel Him weave all the fibers of my life into something beautiful in a perfect way to support the addition of my daughter. It is a miracle in itself, this path of grace I'm on. In time, I will share more about the experiences, giftings of others and callings that led me to this path. For now, I will spread some of these steps out in a simpler way to help those who are unfamiliar with international adoption to catch a glimpse of this Almighty grace. 

International Adoption:
I have been open to any door through which the Lord would call me to step to receive my first child. I looked into all the possible paths in the greatest of detail and those of you who know me well know that means I left no stone unturned in my research of possibilities. I entertained every possibility with an open heart. I had specific hopes and dreams but I did not know if those were just the emotional drawing of my heart or a spiritual longing that mustneeds be fulfilled, the kind that was set into place before the foundation of the world.  After a year of preparation and basking in the sweet wondering of which direction I would turn, be it homeward or an unfamiliar nation, I knew. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, I was going overseas because that is where my daughter was waiting. The Lord said, "Follow Me!" I followed in heart, mind and spirit. "Now, where were we going?" I wondered peacefully while His grace shone all around.


China! : 
Imagine my joy when I discovered that we were going to the place that was written in my heart for as long as I can remember! It was true delight knowing that my longings were, and had always been, the divine drawing of my heart and were not just an emotional pull after all. My joy was full and now, my arms would also be full. I knew the path was long and winding ahead of me and the unknowns outnumbered the knowns, but there was grace and the grace was also full. My very own daughter was awaiting me in China!



Choosing my daughter:
 China is a very particular place with an exacting and precise process. Adoption is one of these processes. As a single mother my options of finding my daughter were slim, the possibility of my daughter reaching me through the limited listing was also slim. Enter, grace. Waiting for me against all odds on the special focus list of moderate to severely needy children, was my infant daughter. Her eyes were huge clear seas of wonder, "Will you find me here, Mama?" In His grace and through His grace and most definitely by His grace we found each other. Forty-eight hours later my sweet baby girl was "locked" into my heart and my placement agency file.  


Climbing the "Great Wall" of Chinese Adoption:
  
Adoption is, in itself a journey of unexpected proportions, be it domestic or international, private or agency managed. Chinese adoption by a single woman is definitely a wall that rises steadily before one's eyes! 
The steps, according to elevation, are as follows. 

 -Choosing your Homestudy Adoption Agency, Acceptance and payment of fees

- Choosing your child's country and beginning your homestudy so you may be found suitable and be cleared for international adoption, payment of fees

-Applying to your Placement Adoption Agency if your local Homestudy Agency is unable to place your child with you for various geographical or business reasons

 -Acceptance by Placement Adoption Agency and payment of adoption fees  

- Matching to your very own child according to your status, your stated preference, your agency worker's intuition, and the limited availability of listed children. In my experience this was unequivicably my choice, as I had been assured it would be. Of course, once I saw my daughter's face through the covering of grace, there was no question. 
  
Becoming Abby Rose, A New American Tale:   

(It was easier for Fievel, the little Russian mouse!)

Many of the steps now included in the Chinese international adoption process of healthy and special focus children are focused specifically on the immigration aspect. It is necessary and required to complete the naturalization and immigration process to allow for the citizenship of your soon to be adopted child, before it is possible to travel and receive full custody of her. Therefore, these steps are precise and complicated with many security features, leaving plenty of room for grace! There is the I800a immigration form which requires precise forms and evidence of forms along with impeccable fingerpads and fingerprint ridges, detectable by monstrous computer systems. I had none of these; instead I had grace! 
Then comes notarizations, state seals and certifications of notorizations, federal and embassy translations with authentications, and finally a dossier report containing all the ifs ands buts and 'tions any official could ever want. These are all accompanied with and preceded by the ever present fees.  At long last an invitation to receive your child and take custody in China is sent, at which time the Visa and Immigration process is required to be completed and travel arrangements made. Finally, the dreamed- for day arrives. The plane lands and a two week whirlwind visit in China ensues. On the third day all your dreams come true and you receive the most precious of gifts, your child forever safe in your arms. 


~ Abby Rose and I are completing the first half of the immigration process, 1800a form, in preparation for the dossier report to be assembled, dance through all the many steps ahead and land in China on the desk of an unknown, divinely chosen, official who has already been the recipient of much fervent prayer!  Then we will receive a Log In Date for our dossier report followed by a Letter of Acceptance and invitation. I will complete the Visa and Immigration process called I800 (not to be confused with I800a-notice we will have shed the a) and travel! (All the time paying the ever present fees.) A moments glance into my daughter's wondering eyes assures me it is all meant to be, despite the walls of China. May we be blessed with a new supply of grace!