Why Adopt?

An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break. ~ Chinese Proverb

Welcome
Welcome to our journey for a daughter whom we plan to name Linsey. This site is being created so that friends and family from across the country can follow our journey. We hope that you find this site informative about our adoption, adoptions in general, China and Orphan relief. If there is any information you would like to know and don't see it listed, please email us and we will be happy to share any knowledge we may have or help find the information for you.

Name:

Linsey (precious jade) Mei (beautiful)

Gividen

Why Adopt?
Romans 8:15

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Mark and I were married December 20, 1986. We both shared of love of children and began planning a family the following year. It wasn't quite as easy for us as it was for some but joyfully Nick came into the world on August 14, 1989 and Amy soon followed on October 19, 1990. We were blessed! Our kids were healthy and beautiful. Our family was complete. Or maybe not... As the kids grew older, our desire to have another baby increased. Thus began our trial of secondary infertility. Many miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy later we called it quits. We were done trying to conceive another child. We didn't know it then but God was preparing us. Actually, looking back on various circumstances and relationships, God had been preparing both of us our entire lives. Our journey to adopt a child began in the summer of 2003. Nick and Amy were away at summer camp and Mark and I spent a week together in Santa Barbara. One evening at dinner, overlooking the Pacific Ocean I asked Mark if he'd ever thought about adoption. By the end of the evening, we both felt that this was something that had tugged on our hearts for many years. The Lord was telling us to GO FOR IT!


Why China?
China is a country whose culture dates back to the earliest records known to man. At first glance, some of China's beliefs may seem quite different than those we hold in the western world. One example of this is the cultural preference for a male child. There are several reasons why Chinese families might prefer a boy over a girl. In rural provinces, a family's livelihood depends directly on the output of its family members. Because of this, a family with sons would be at a considerable advantage than one with daughters. Historically, it is also the son's honored responsibility to take care of his parents in their old age. A daughter, however, would be expected to care for her husband's parents rather than her own. In this regard, the Chinese believe that having a son is crucial to their livelihood, as well as a form of social security for the parents when they grow older. Although in recent years, China has done much to change these belief systems, many families, especially in rural areas, still strongly favor the birth of a male child. This situation is further complicated by China's One- Child Policy, which prohibits families from having more than one child. As a result of this policy, there are thousands of abandoned children throughout China, with the vast majority of them being healthy girls.

Some countries typically have age or other requirements that make it difficult to adopt, but China’s adoption program is streamlined and predictable. To adopt a healthy infant form China, one must be between the ages of 30-55 years old, whether a couple or single, The Chinese age minimum reflects their belief that mature people make good parents and that (for their own citizens) prime childbearing age has passed. This is their domestic law and the Chinese meticulously apply the same law to foreigner’s to ensure that foreigners do not have any advantage over their own citizens in the adoption process.

We qualify to adopt a healthy Chinese infant, which is usually any child under the age of 2, but most often 10-14 months old at time of referral. Some of the positive aspects of China adoption include: only 6-8 month wait time after submitting one’s dossier, it compares favorable in expense, and is absolutely finalized upon completing the adoption within China. The fact that Chinese children are absolutely adorable doesn’t hurt!





Favorite Links
http://www.chinasprout.com/community/tv

http://www.dpeters2.com/adopt/shamian.html

http://www.china-ccaa.org/english-index.htm

http://fcadoptions.org/

http://adoptchinese.org/



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