Inquiring people wanna know....

Why is your adoption taking so long?

There is speculation that the child match process has slowed down considerably this time due to the increasing popularity of Chinese adoptions. We don't know for sure. We do know that 100,000's of children are waiting in China for loving parents. Because of the nature of any international adoption, the time frame may change... and the journey seems like forever. We know "His" timing and hand is in this, so we patiently wait for our Lilly. Oh, how precious the uniting of our addition to the family will be!

Why are there so many babies in China?

Millions of baby girls and boys are abandoned each year in China. The Chinese government allows parents to have only one child. If the mother is found pregnant, they are fined a year's wage. If the first child is a girl, they will abandon her in a safe place with hopes of having a boy in the future. Sometimes, the couple will keep the baby girl until they have a baby boy, then abandon the first child. It's very important to have a son to carry on the family name. It is the son who takes care of his parents when they are old and will carry on the family business or farming. Thousands (95 percent girls) live in orphanages and foster homes in China. If a family already has a boy and they are pregnant with the second, they are not allowed to keep that child. If they do, they will be fined. The child will not be "registered" and will not be able to attend school or get jobs as an adult. Because of the one child policy we are seeing more and more boys being referred to families as well.

We also learned that children with disabilities are viewed as a "curse" to the family. Lillian Grace is all BUT that-- she is so precious and priceless. WE feel Blessed to be called to be her family!

Why does it cost so much to adopt an orphan?

Good question. We figure Lilly's adoption will end up costing around $27,000 . We are within the final $10,000 .. and somehow, someway... it has always worked out. I can remember initially going to MANY banks and applying for a loan ( DENIED- no loans for children. Cars? Sure. Home? Sure. Yikes!) We exhausted our resources and spent nights awake wondering how on God's green earth we would do it. Now, we give thanks! It has been a trust builder, and a humbling experience. We are better people because of it! Maybe that's why it is so expensive ;)