The elephant is the mammal with the longest gestation period - 22 months - but for those of us adopting from China, we can prove otherwise! 
Today marks exactly THREE YEARS since our paperwork was logged in to China's system. Unless you have been in our shoes, there is simply no way that we can explain what it has been like to wait with the line in the sand moved back every few months or so. We hurt. All "waiting parents" (adopting parents) hurt. Many of us have been through miscarriages or infertility (or both). Many of us have been married a long time and are weary of waiting. Many of us grit our teeth when we hear moms complain about their kids. Many of us can't understand why. Why others seemingly have it so easy and get pregnant again and again and have the family that the others of us struggle and desire so much to have.After Lee and I have our moments of hugs, sadness, and shaking our heads in disbelief that after getting married at 21 and 22 we are still waiting at 38 and 39 to have our family, we do get back to the core. The core is that God is good and we know we have a special child coming to us soon from China, and that we also have two beautiful kids waiting in Haiti. Here is a link to a post I wrote a year and a half ago. Time IS nothing to God; a day is as a thousand years. We just hope our wait for our kids is somewhere in between :)
Blessings and ((hugs)) to all the waiting parents and kids!!
13 comments:
{Hugs} to you. You're right, I can't imagine.
Though I am really hating the wait, I will say one thing... that I know our turn is lurking around the corner... though yours first... I still got a little way to go... it is nice knowing we can hold onto a pregnancy (!) longer then an elephant... even if it is a paper pregnancy... the labour pains are really kicking in now :)
Loving you!! Still praying for you.
Oh Dawn, You know this one grabs at my heart. I am so ready to see children in your arms. ALL of your children. At home with you. I am so sorry for all you have endured. I hate that it's still not over. I am sure people always tell you that God redeems the time. That's what they always tell me. Honestly, I have a hard time believing it, but I cling to that hope for your family and mine. It is hard not to wonder why some have it so easy. But we know that God puts us on the paths that bring Him the most glory. Can you imagine the hugeness of the party when your children all come home? The joy of the MANY who have prayed for you for so, so, long? It is going to be overwhelming, amazing! His mercy and goodness will shine like an industrial spotlight over your home on that day. Many will see and fear. Love, hugs, cocoa, cookies, & prayers to you guys.
Good, good post, sister! Thanks for sharing your heart. Praying your babes come home SOON!
Oh wow - you certainly captured how hard this is and explained it well. I cannot imagine waiting three years, and I admire your strength, your humor and I absolutely know in my heart that the perfect child is coming to you VERY soon.
Oh - and you made me cry at work!
Dawn,
This post explains it all. I know how you feel and I hurt with you. There is no explanation to relieve the hurt but someday you will see God's perfect timing when you hold all three of your children in your arms and realize he's been holding this perfect child just for you at His perfect time.
Karen
3 years. That is a long time. Praying them ALL home, and soon.
Great post Dawn. I know I only waited 17 months for our referral, which seemed like forever back then. Your Olivia is on her way to you!
The most amazing thing, is that the one thing we wanted and waited for the most was the one most precious gift we ever received, and made all the waiting so very worthwhile. When that day comes for you, I will cry tears of joy and happiness!
The bond that holds all of us IAPs together....the wait. Your are so right, unless you have been there and waited (especially since our group started out with the wait only being 6-8 months) you have no idea the pain. We try so hard to make sense out of it all....why? Why me? God have you forgotten me down here? I promise you, (I know I hated hearing this when I was waiting) you will understand when that amazing baby is placed in your arms.
I am so sorry that you are having to wait this long. I am so sorry for the pain and disappointment. I am so sorry that sometimes life can hurt in a place so deep, you cannot breathe. Praying for you sweetie.
PS....International Adoption ain't for sissies huh?
Big huge hugs! I cannot imagine the pain of waiting this long. I pray you see your baby's picture soon!!
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