a big sister

We've been talking to Lilah for a while now about how much fun being a big sister would be. She certainly seems to agree with us now. She is ready. And we know she will make an amazing big sister.

Last week I pulled this little pig out from the bottom of her stuffed toy basket, because I thought it would look cute as part of the decor in her new bedroom. Well, Lilah has taken a special interest in it, she tells me she's the big sister to baby piglet, and that we are "The Pig Family".

She has also told me that he's adoped from the same orphanage as her in China and she's repeating everything we've ever told her about the beginnings of her adoption story - how she didn't know us at the start, that she was scared and that we rocked her to sleep in our arms. She's pretty much playing out her own adoption story with this new little adopted piglet. It's so innocent and sweet. I even overheard her telling piglet yesterday that "You're ALWAYS going to be a part of our family."

All that to say, yes, we have started the paperwork again to adopt through China's Waiting Children Program! The bulk of the paperwork and the social worker visits should be finished in another month or so. After that we need to be approved by the (Canadian) Ontario Ministry, which can take up to 8 weeks, then our file is sent to CCCWA (China's adoption authority). At that stage our agency will be able to match our family to a child. However, it could take longer or shorter depending on many things. Our agency coordinator may be a little optimistic, but she thinks we could have a referral as early as the Fall and be in China next Spring!

We are so so SO thrilled!

Especially thrilled because God made Himself very clear to us, that this is His will. To be honest, even though my husband has been pushing me to get this started for a while now, I was dragging my heels a bit. I was a little scared about the change of dynamics in our family and was hesitant on that first step of faith. And the truth is, I wanted more than one confirmation from God that this was His plan. I'm so thankful I have a God I can depend on, to love me, strengthen me and guide me, even when I doubt Him. I'm thankful that He is persistent and has spoken to me in so many ways.

With every passing day I am filled with more and more excitment. I can already feel my heart growing to love this child, a child that I don't even know yet. To think that this child, our child, is very likely already born and has already been chosen for our family by our Heavenly Father. Truly, it's a moment of realization like this, that takes my breath away.

[ baby piglet comes grocery shopping, in a makeshift sling ]