how it all began and little more

years ago Scott and I began our journey to adopt from China. It started with researching agencies to see which one fit us the best.
Once we found the right one we set up an appoinment to take the 2 day class that goes through the process of adoption and what other types of adoption are out there (foster children,or other countries ).
After the class we started the "paperwork". This is a huge undertaking. I have never kept track of all the dates we got things done, but it took us 9 months to complete.
Once we got all of our paperwork done it is called the "dossier" . This includes all of your important documents, homestudy, birthcertificates, background checks, and much much more. Our agency then sends this to China for our LID, (log in date) This is a very important date and becomes about as important as your social secuirity number. The LID is the date you are logged into China Center of Adoption Affairs or CCAA. When we initially started this we were told the wait after your LID was 6 months utill you get your referral. Referral is the picuture and health information of your little girl. When it comes you can either accept or deny it, based on what you feel the information says. Denial of referrals doesnt happen often. Unfortunetly, that wait has gone from 9 months, all the way up to 18-24 months. After you get your referral and you accept it you will travel in 6-8weeks. I thought this would be good for us to teach you the "lingo" Adoption is a pretty long journey and I was really suprised how on top of things you have to be in order to get your dossier done the correct way.
Where we are at. We are patientely waiting to get our referral. If it all goes the way we would like we would recieve it in September or October. BUT, this is something that I have become very used to. We think that could be the date but then again we thought Annaka would be home by now.
One more thing I want to add. We are very lucky and unique to also have our best frineds Michon, Raina and there 12 year old daughter Ashley adopting with us. Raina and I have been best friends since the 7th grade. Scott and Michon are best friends and recently Michon has started to work with Scott in his electrical business. We have the same LID (thats a quiz, what is LID?) and will travel together to get our daughters. They will come from the same orphange or foster home in China. We all feel this is going to be such a rewarding thing for the girls. For them to be able to play together and share things will be something very special.
I will end this, its amazing how much you can write when youare home sick with pneumonia . I cant talk with out coughing so I might as well get this blog going.

first day at this

Today is my first blog entry. I have created this to keep our family and friends up to date on our daughter, Annaka. Adopting from China has been roller coaster these last few months. With China's referrals taking longer and longer I really dont know when we will be getting Annaka home with her family.
We talk about Annaka everyday, she is a big part of life. Once she comes home our family will be complete.
Heather