The most common response to the news that we’ve been matched seems to be something like “well when/how do you get that lovely little girl?” I wish we had an answer, but see we’re waiting again.

Here’s how it works with China adoption…
First, you complete a small mountain of paperwork and get it certified by pretty much every governing body on the planet. Literally, our paperwork folder weighs about 5 pounds and it took just under six months to put it all together.

Next, you send about half of this pile to China – the other half you keep in case there is a paper shortage somewhere in the world, or if there are any questions on the mound of papers you sent. For us, this was August 2005.

Then, you wait.

And wait.

And wait.

Finally, the day comes when you get your match and you get some information and a few pictures of the wonderful child you’ve been dreaming about. And then…

You wait.

This time it’s only 5 to 8 weeks. First, China says it’s OK to come over. Then the US says that they’ll let us stop in their offices for a visit. Then China says that it’s really OK to come over … they really mean it. In between, guess what? We fill out more paper! That’s right, we need even more! Good thing we’re allowed to carry more than one suitcase.

Finally, we go to China for a 15-day, 3-city tour complete with jet lag, strange food, sleepless nights and that bundle of joy we’re waiting for.

Yup, it’s all definitely worth it.