What happened to 2007?

This statement gets old, but seriously, the years are going by faster and faster every year. I feel totally out of control at times, but on the other hand, I am always looking ahead and hoping for things to get here quickly. I didn't mention in my first post, but we are currently on a journey that is taking it's time to get here. We are adopting from China. We started the process about 2.5 years ago. We thought we would be done by now. In fact, we thought we would be done over a year ago. When we first started the process, it was about an 8 month turn around from Log In Date (LID) until Gotcha Day. An LID is a date that the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) gives you when they receive your paperwork. Our LID is 12/26/2005. That means our paperwork has been in China's possession for over 2 years now. Why the long wait. I am not too sure. There is a lot of speculation as to why, the 2 most common explanations being not enough "paper-ready" children or less abandonment of children, and the 2008 Summer Olympics.

As far as there not being enough children for the number of new applicants, I think that is completely hogwash. Granted, China opened up their adoption program to more countries before we were logged in, but they still have their "one child policy". Reading the information out there, the number of children up for adoption has not decreased significantly. Personally, I think it is all related to the Olympics. The 2008 Summer Olympics are in Beijing, China. I tend to agree with those that are saying that China has purposely decreased their adoptees to make it look like to the rest of the world that they are indeed not the country that sends out all their abandoned or ill children. It is all about "Saving Face" for China. Appearance is everything.

So we wait. Currently China has matched all dossiers through December 19, 2005. Yes, we are closer, but how much longer will it be is the big question? I think they only got through 3 months of referrals in 2007. Most likely 2008 is our year, but it still could be months away.

Our little girl is named Arisson. Arisson is all our names put together. It isn't going to have an American meaning, but for the Lodwig's, it means she is hugged by us all day! We have been praying for this little girl for 2.5 years now. We are so ready for her to come home. I believe that she is now alive. Our prayer is that God is holding her tightly until we can come get her.

So for that, I am glad that 2007 is over. I don't want 2008 to fly by. I just want it to speed up to the part where we go get Arisson, and then it can slow down and take it's time!