i can't say it enough...

we are in for a LONG wait. I don't know how else to say it. People are constantly asking me how long until we get our baby, the truth is I don't know. I do know that it isn't looking good. I think we are in the only line that actually gets longer as we wait in it. I'm not kidding! I've said this before, but in October when we started this process we were told we may wait about 15 months from our LID (2/20/07). Then by the time we got our LID we knew we would be waiting at least 18 months. Then (just to be on the safe side) we are predicting 24 months from our LID, but the truth is it could be as long as 36 months. The reality is we may not have a child until 2010. Again, I'm not kidding! I am trying to stay positive. We are in this for the long haul, as we feel it is not our decision, but a choice that God has made for us. Kevin is, of course, just fine with whatever happens. I, on the other hand, do a lot of questioning and wondering if we should look into other programs. I can't imagine that our child is anywhere but China, I just never guessed it would take so long to get her.

The reason I am posting this now is because we just had a get-together with some of the other China families from our agency. There was one couple who had a 2 1/2 year old waiting for a referral for #2, one family had been home for 2 months with their little girl and another couple just received their referral last week. So we got to talk to people from all different phases of the wait. I couldn't help but get a little sad when people would ask us where we are in the wait and I would say "Oh, we just got logged in in February." Their reactions were all the same "Oh, then you really have a long wait."

I'm not trying to get sympathy or make you feel sorry for us having to wait. It's all in God's perfect timing. He has shown me that too many times at this point in my life for me not to trust Him. I just want everyone (or at least those who read this) to know that it will be years before we meet our child and bring her home. So, until then we will talk about her, pray for her and just go on living like we have been. When the day comes that she is finally with us all of this waiting will seem like ancient history. I may not be a mother for a few more years, but I have been an Auntie for 17, and I just LOVE it! There is a baby at the end of this journey, I know that for sure.

I have clung to this verse in times when I needed some encouragment. It was given to me when I graduated high school, but I didn't realize it's significance until after college.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5,6