We're getting close!

We've gotten word that CCAA is matching, which means we will be hearing very soon (hopefully within a week or so) who and where our baby is! It has been so long, that we're feeling sorta surreal right now. We were "Logged In" with CCAA on January 13, 2006, so this means we've officially waited for 28 1/2 months. Actually, we started compiling our dossier back in September of 2005, so it's been a long and winding road. For those of y'all not familiar with the terminology, the information we've been waiting on for so long is called a "referral." The referral is information about the baby that the China Center of Adoption Affairs has matched you with. It usually includes a couple of photos, a short bio, a little medical history, and a few descriptive details about your child. After we receive our referral, we'll have it reviewed by our physician, and shortly thereafter respond to our adoption agency that we've accepted it. Then, they notify CCAA. About 3-4 weeks later, China issues a "Travel Approval," which we'll have to have in order to purchase flights, hotels, etc. in China. Also, US consulate appointments in Guangzhou, China have to be secured, as well as many other details which must come together, including Chinese visas being issued for all of us, her passport being applied for, etc...

Here's a peek into the "Matching Room" at China Center of Adoption Affairs in Beijing:





Anyway, the bottom line is that we're in the home-stretch. It's kinda like we're in the transitional phase of labor! YIKES! Just typing that makes my heart flutter. I'm flooded with every feeling from outrageous joy and excitement, to nerves, to feeling overwhelmed with how much there is to do, to fear, to a feeling of what else is going to happen to delay this even longer, to just about every emotion you can think of.

We'll keep you posted! Please pray!