CCAA Update 2-2008

The CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs) has updated their website with referrals through December 27, 2005. That means that this last month saw a whopping 8 days (although with the entire year of 2007 having an average of only 6.9 days per month, this was actually an improvement). Let's hope that this is at least a small sign of good things to come.

Concurrent Adoption Policy Change?

A few months back, the CCAA relaxed their long-standing policy on concurrent adoptions. They had always stated that once you began the adoption process in China, that you were "locked-out" from pursuing another adoption simultaneously elsewhere. They have since reviewed that policy and now allow it (because of the enormous backlog). Bethany Christian Services has also had a long-standing policy forbidding concurrent adoptions. They too are now in the process of reviewing that policy for their China families. Our social worker expects a decision in the very near future. We are not sure what this would mean for us in particular, but it certainly can't hurt to have yet another option open to us. And the puzzle becomes yet more interesting.

CCAA Update 1-2008

The CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs) has updated their website with referrals through December 19, 2005. As you can see, that means only 5 days were referred for this month. I could go on and on about this for days, but what's the point. I cannot lie - at times, it would seem easier to admit defeat and withdraw from the program. This week, we will be meeting with our social worker to discuss our case. We'll see what comes of it, although to say that we have high expectations would be a slight untruth. We do not have any concrete plans to make any drastic changes but in the very near future we will be exploring any and all options we may have within the China program. I will try to keep you updated with what takes place, but please know, that sometimes just typing out these words gets more and more difficult to do. We have become all too familiar with what can only be described as "referral-time blues". It's kinda funny - you really wouldn't want to be inside our household during the first week of the month...

Christmas in China

With Christmas season upon us, I thought I'd share a little tidbit about the celebration of Christmas within China. Christians in China celebrate by lighting their houses with beautiful paper lanterns and decorating their Christmas trees, which they call "Trees of Light," with paper chains, paper flowers, and paper lanterns. Chinese Children hang muslin stockings and await a visit from Santa Claus, whom they call Dun Che Lao Ren (dwyn-chuh-lau-oh-run) which means "Christmas Old Man." Since the vast majority of the Chinese people practice Buddhism, not Christianity, the main winter festival in China is the Chinese New Year which takes place toward the end of January. Now officially called the "Spring Festival," it is a time when children receive new clothing, eat luxurious meals, receive new toys, and enjoy firecracker displays. An important aspect of the New Year celebration is the recognition of ancestors. Portraits and paintings of ancestors are brought out and hung in the main room of the home. The celebration of Christmas, although still thought to be a very "Christian" and "western" holiday, is a slowly growing trend within China's borders.

Love Without Boundaries

There is an organization in China called Love Without Boundaries. It is an organization made up strictly of volunteers who have committed themselves to donating their time and resources in order to better the lives of orphans living within China's orphanages. Volunteers give of themselves in a number of selfless capacities. It is a heartbreaking yet heartwarming organization worth taking a look at.

Check out their official website at http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/index.php.

You can also check out their blog (which is incredible) at http://lwbchinablog.blogspot.com/.

Inspiring!

CCAA Update 12-2007

The CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs) has updated their website with referrals through December 14, 2005. I would like to congratulate those families now receiving their referrals, having waited about a year longer than they originally believed. But I must admit, I am extremely disappointed in the referral of only 6 days this month. Well, it's official. We have now passed the two year waiting point from LID to referral - (i.e. when referrals are released in January 2008, those with December 15-31, 2005 will have waited 25 months.) This is a sad milestone that noone wanted to reach, and only serves to make the wait all that much more excruciating for the rest of us. The discouragement with this process continues to permeate our lives - Oh God, please help us to lean on You for the strength that we know we do not have. Give us clear direction for our future and let us receive the Peace that certainly passes our own understanding - (because we simply do not understand this).

Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

You should know by now that the 2008 Summer Olympic Games are being held in Beijing, China. This actually is pretty exciting. The people of China, their culture being one of the oldest civilizations on earth, will be on a global stage for the world to experience. I have always loved the Olympic Games, but with Beijing, our household will be embracing the games with a fervor we have not had before. Let the games begin! Mark it down - August 8-24, 2008.

The official site of Beijing2008 - http://en.beijing2008.cn/