On April 13, 2006 we mailed our application to Hope for Children to adopt a baby girl. My husband, Eric, and I have been married for 7 years. I have 2 children to a previous marriage--a son (16yrs) and a daughter (12yrs). Eric has been in our lives for 9 years and is a great step-father treating both children as if they are his own. We both knew from the beginning that we would never have a biological child together, but always hoped that someday we would be able to adopt. Back then the idea of adopting seemed so very far away--a dream that may never come true.
This last week of April we received our dossier packet and had our first home study meeting. We both are very excited. We have begun the paperchase! When first looking at all the paperwork requirements it's a bit dizzying. I wasn't sure where I should start first! But, quickly things all come together and organized in your mind, heart, and on paper in a binder. We are both reading The Lost Daughter's of China and trying to learn as much as possible about Chinese culture via internet and books.
Our 2 children are excited about having a new little sister. We've always talked to them about wanting to have another child to join our family. Our son is 16 now and is very consumed with school and his social life. Our daughter seems permenantly attached to the phone when not playing soccer or hanging out with girlfriends in the neighborhood. Watching them now and seeing how they have grown and changed over the years is enlightening, exciting, and fun. Bottles and diapers to Barney & Thomas the Tank Engine to Pokemon & Playstation games--and now...cell phones (the occasional big cell bill), Hollister & Abercrombie, formal dances, and braces. We are proud of them both.
There have been a few people that have questioned whether we realized that we would be giving up time alone and the ability to come and go more freely. This is something that we have plenty of now that the kids are a bit older, more self-sufficient, and don't think it's as cool to hang out with the 'rents. Oh...occasionally we can round them up & get everyone to agree on a movie--as long as it includes extra butter movie theater popcorn. And, we insist on eating dinner together as a family at least half of the week. We talk about and go over homework, grades, friends, current events etc...we catch and try to hold onto those brief moments in the kitchen when they are raiding the fridge for food and feeling a little talkative. Now, I have plenty to do when they don't have time for us--there's no such thing in our house as an empty laundry basket. I am also working on getting my BS in Nursing. But, Eric & I have always revolved our lives around the children...we feel that we're still very young (37 & 33). And, we know we have a great family full of love to share with another child. I miss having a little one around...Eric would love to see the baby phase...we have much love & family to share...and our hearts belong to a little girl somewhere in China we are meant to meet. We're happy to say that it will still be a long time coming that we will have soccer chairs in the way-back of our SUV.
