July 3, 2005
We decided to adopt about a year ago. As we started the process, we considered just about everything from fostering to an open adoption, leaning toward domestic. We tried a do-it-yourself approach and actually got some response from a newspaper ad, but we found the results to be a little shaky.
No matter which way you go, one of the first orders of business when you adopt is to complete a home study. This is society’s way of making sure you will be good parents. You basically open up your life to a social worker that gives a recommendation about your competence. Fortunately, we had an excellent representative and very little to hide (those of you reading this know who you are).
During the home study process, Heather (from Adopt Kids, Inc.) told us the story of how she adopted from China with the help of an agency in Utah. The more we talked, the more we liked what we heard, and that’s how we came to make the same decision. We believe that we have the best chance to get a healthy baby, and give one little girl a better life than she probably would otherwise have. In return, our days will surely be filled with excitement and joy. Well, that’s what we’re planning for, anyway!
We finally got all the necessary information together and sent it off to the Chinese government in November 2004. Our agency, Wasatch International Adoptions, and particularly the director, Kathy, provided exceptional direction and support every step of the way. An international adoption is pretty complicated, but by following their system, it has been a smooth process. Once our dossier had been sent, we could only sit tight, wait and imagine what the coming months would bring. During that time, we did manage to pick out a name – Lily Beth. Six months later, in May, just as the agency predicted, we received our referral. 
At that point, the clock really began to tick. We accepted the referral, sent it back and waited for an invitation to come get our daughter. It came in a couple of weeks, at which point we were finally able to make travel arrangements. Another Wasatch representative, Sabrina, has expertly crafted a trip for us that will include some site seeing in Beijing for a few days, then on to Chongqing to get Lily. We’ll spend about 5 days there, getting to know each other, and then it’s off to Guangzhou for another 5 days. There, we’ll complete the official paperwork that will finally allow us to bring her home on July 28.
As you can tell, a lot has happened in the last year. It’s been a long time, but in retrospect, it has passed pretty quickly. Now, we await the final few days before we leave on July 12. Dilla’s got just about everything packed. Justin will throw his stuff in the suitcases at the last minute – as usual – and off we will go! We appreciate your interest, and all the love and support you’ve given us throughout the process thus far. Now, we invite you to enjoy this incredible journey with us!