Travel Approval!!!

Our agency notified us today that the CCAA has updated their website indicating that we have been approved for travel to China... WOOHOO!! Another milestone down. We should know our travel dates by the first of next week. Based on the travel dates of others who also got their travel approval today, we could leave anytime between 2/19 and the first week in March. Our best guess is that we will traveling closer to the end of this spectrum.

On a not-so-happy note, Grandma Karen (Doug's mom) fell on the ice yesterday and hurt her back. Please pray for a speedy recovery for her. She will need a healthy back to be able to fulfill her dreams of spoiling her granddaughter!

Below is a link that I found to be very interesting and insightful. It was written by an adult adoptee. Family and friends, we share these links to give you some food for thought and with hopes that it will give you some insight as well, as you will be and already are such an important part of Maddie's life. This article may or may not be relevant for Maddie as she grows up, but Doug and I want to be as prepared and educated as possible to support our dear daughter when the "tough stuff" comes our way.

"I Don't Want Adoption to Define My Kids" The author of this essay talks about adoption defining her as a person, just as her race, her religious background, and her many other life experiences define her. We are all shaped by those varied life experiences and circumstances in which we are placed - things that bring us extreme joy or deep pain, people who touch us deeply, challenges over which we claim victory or admit defeat. Doug and I will strive to raise Maddie in such a way that she can embrace each of those events that shape her life.

We have learned that when we are faced with adversities - betrayal; loss of health, love, a dear friend; vulnerability - we can choose which path to take. One path can have us paralyzed by fear, hurt, and anger, and forces us to build walls. However, by embracing these adversities as gifts, we can head down a different path. On that path we are forced to grow, to learn, and to embrace new ideas. God never gives us more than we can handle and it's up to us to decide how we will react to each adversity. The reward for choosing the second path is enlightenment.

Our prayer is that Doug and I can be examples for Maddie so that she learns to choose that second path with each of her adversities. We want her to be secure enough with us to be able to express herself and to talk to us about the "tough stuff" as she grows up.

Sweet Baby Maddie, in just a few short weeks you will be placed in our arms and all of our lives will be forever changed. We thank God for choosing us to be your parents.

With all our love from half a world away,

Mommy & Daddy