When we sent our dossier (a 3 inch stack of papers that took us a year to compile) to China, the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) logged it in as recieved on August 13, 2008. Adoptions in China are primarily handled first-come/first-serve based on a family's log in date (LID).
On our actual LID the CCAA had matched perspective adoptive families who had LIDs before January 31, 2006 to their children. Yep, that’s right...the CCAA had a backlog of 2 ½ years. 925 days to be exact.
The boys are too young to understand any of this now but I wanted to have a visual to get the kids excited when we finally (one day far, far in the future) would get close to recieving our referral. I decided to fill a vase with 925 rocks. Every month as the CCAA would match families and children I would take out the number of rocks for the number of LIDs they had gotten through. The boys would be able to see the level of rocks drop and drop each month as we got closer to being matched to our daughter.
This is what 925 rocks looks like.
In the past 365 days, the CCAA has only gotten through 50 LIDs. This is what the vase looks like with 50 rocks removed.
Notice the difference? Yeah, I didn't think so. ;)
The CCAA might have only gotten through 50 LIDs in the past year. But our family has gone on living life and so far while waiting for our daughter:
- Jack turned 4
- Logan turned 3
- Scott and I both got...older
- I started a blog
- The boys visited Disneyland for the first (and last?) time
- Logan started preschool
- We went to Monterey three times
- Jack finally let us cut his hair (yea!)
- Scott & I celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary
- I ditched my diaper bag (woohoo!)
- The boys tried ice skating for the first (and last?) time
- We spent a lot of family time at the beach
- The boys went fishing for their first and second (and not last) time
I can only imagine what milestones our family will encounter before we meet our daughter in 5? / 7? / 10? years.
Wow..you have reached alot of milestones in the last year! Just think, when you get your baby, you will have new ones!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing journey you are on. I admire you very much.
ReplyDeleteI love that idea!! Children are very visual creatures and that is perfect!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to meet here also in the future :)
boy you guys have done a lot! I'm sorry it's taking you so long... hang in there!
ReplyDeleteIt's a great perspective using the rocks...that's too bad it takes so long to get through so little LIDS ;( There are so many families waiting. I wish there was a better way! You've had some wonderful things happen during that time! It is definitely quite a journey...ups and downs! Keep looking for the ups and logging those milestones! You're inspiring lots of us!
ReplyDeleteI love the rock idea! We so need a visual sometimes. Jack and Logan have gotten bigger, another summer has passed..and as you say life indeed goes on..
ReplyDeletewhat a great idea!
ReplyDeleteYou are so creative. So much has happened in one short year. I hope that you remove 875 rocks this year.
ReplyDeleteHere's to *hundreds* of rocks being removed in the next 12 months!!
ReplyDeleteI can't begin to imagine how difficult the wait must be. I admire your positive outlook on it, and your determination to not put life on hold while you wait. It will be worth the wait!
What a great idea to help the kids visualize things. I'll have to use that for our vacation next year !
ReplyDeleteOh my word, what a visual!!! I had not realize that it had gotten that back logged, and only 50 in one year...unbelieveable.
ReplyDeleteOne day...there will be only 1 rock left...and I plan to follow you until then. Chin up!!!
I can't imagine a wait like that. I really is a great way for your kids to understand, but so sad that only 50 adoptions took place this year.
ReplyDelete{{{hugs}}}
I like your rocks. I wish that the rocks were reversed for you. :(
ReplyDeleteI think that the rocks are a great visual. I hope that you're hugging your little girl sooner than you think. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a lot of rocks, hon. The idea behind it is beautiful, though. How great that they have a visual reminder of something wonderful to come.
ReplyDeleteWow, I do hope they pick up the speed with the placements, so that you can meet your daughter very soon. The longer you wait - the sweeter it will be.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great visual, but I know you are sad and wish it would all come sooner. You are gonna be such a fab mom to a daughter. I think everyone needs a little girl in their lives-wow, only 50, huh?
ReplyDeleteThis is a great visual for your little ones.
ReplyDeleteI know it is discouraging and difficult to wait. But maybe if you think of the people that will never have a baby at all. I know many who can't have children and can't afford to adopt or for one reason or another aren't allowed to adopt. My sister waited 7 years of fertility trouble to conceive her first baby. Your angel will come. And think of all the blessings you have as you wait!
Be patient and we will pray for speed if it be His will.
Hugs,
Kat
Hang in there. And what a great idea with the rocks!!
ReplyDeleteThat is so hard.. I hope those rocks move a lot faster... soon...
ReplyDelete