As of today Scott and I have officially entered AW's "Waiting Child Program". This means that we have requested permission to review referrals of children with minor or correctable special needs. Our paperwork will remain on the "normal" track unless we accept one of the WC referrals. Adopting a child with a medical special need has always been on our radar and with the wait time up to 51-52 months and increasing a month each month for the past three years, we just feel God leading us in this direction. It took a lot of prayer and discussion to come to this conclusion because although the growing wait time is a good motivation to take a deeper look into this program, it is not a good reason to go forward with it. We ask for continued prayer as we are committed to staying united as a couple and within God's will. We always knew that the process would involve reviewing and accepting a referral but we assumed it would be a "yes" for a healthy baby. Now we have to take a real look at what our family can handle with God's grace and be willing to say "no". I know that won't be easy so we're praying that God guides the AW staff and gives us clear indication on who our daughter is. It's exciting folks.. nerve-racking-overwhelming-make-me-giddy-and-scared-and-stressed-all-at-the-same-time...but exciting.
We haven't heard much about the first Gansu trip just that it went well and they are planning another one in the fall. If the staff who went identified a child who they thought would fit with our family, they have not told us. They could have a baby in mind for us but either the paperwork isn't ready or they are waiting until they get it just to be sure she is available and ready.
On a seperate note, our current children are doing so wonderfully and we find much joy daily in raising them. It's hard for me to imagine Colston as a big brother but we have confidence he'll step up to the plate when duty calls. Thinking about three kids brings me some anxiety but after speaking with my many expecting loved ones, they all feel similiar. So it's not an adoption thing I guess and I figure I will step up to the plate when duty calls as well.
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