The final day is here in our Journey to Amazing Grace. When Sarah and I first started the process of adopting from China, we knew there was a rainbow and the end. The first stage of our journey was the completion of our home study, which was done by The Family Network in Capitola, CA. The second stage of our journey was the completion of our CIS documentation for approval and submission to the China Center for Adoption Affairs on 06/22/05. The third stage of our journey was the long wait for our referral. During this wait we experience highs and lows while following those that were ahead of us. We would track all the “Yahoo” groups, RumorQueen, or just about any other website that existed with referral updates. There were moments during this wait that we would pull our hair out wondering why it was taking so long. And there were moments when we had the feelings that progress was forthcoming.
On June 22, 2006 I was asleep when startled awake by Sarah with the news that CCAA had changed their website to announce that referrals were completed through 06/28/06. Sarah was so excited to see this that she was on a conference call with April (her sister) and Candie (her mother). There was wild hysteria happening that night at 11:30 pm as we had been waiting so patiently for the news. The following day we received a phone call from Audrey (our SW). Our referral was definitely forthcoming and that we need to get our Visa’s and finish packing. The next phase of our journey was waiting for TA and CA to be issued by China and the American Consulate. This took five weeks with the call coming on Sunday (8/6/06) that we needed to be in China on Saturday (8/12/06). The next morning we completed our travel arrangements and packing for this amazing trip, which would start on Thursday (8/10/06).
Our Journey to Grace has been the most emotionally happy time that we could have ever imagined. From the moment we laid eyes on her as she entered the Lake Side Hotel Lobby to the moment she was placed in our arms, and now that we have spent these past two weeks with her it feels as though Grace has been a part of our lives “FOREVER”. Grace has been a perfect blessing for us, and we feel tremendously lucky that we were the people chosen to be her parents. Everything about Grace makes us melt, from the moment she wakes up to the moment she is sleeping. As Grace comes home to the United States tomorrow (8/25/06) there will be huge celebration as we have come to the finish line. I could go on and on with many words to describe our love for Grace. She has come into our lives to make our family whole, and as we look forward to her growing up there are treasured moments that we will keep “FOREVER”. Grace…you came to Mommy and Daddy from a country far away, you will be “FOREVER” cherished by your Mommy and Daddy, you will be “FOREVER” our daughter and we will be “FOREVER” your parents. We will provide you with everything that we can, so that you have the opportunities that you deserve. At nights when you feel lonely or wonder about your birth mother, just look to the stars and know that she thinks of you constantly, and knows that you have a happy life in America with your parents. Once you are finished looking at the stars, come to Mommy and Daddy for great big hugs. We love you dear Grace, and we feel so lucky and proud that you are our daughter.
