The Red Thread

An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance.

The thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break.

- Chinese proverb

This Chinese proverb has been cherished by adoptive parents for years.  It's a sweet thought and image. (Although, I hope our red thread to Virginia Grace won't "stretch" much longer.) :)

Many of you have asked for an update. I wish so much that I had one to give. The step we are waiting on is called LOA (Letter of Approval), and the average wait is 60-90 days, but it can be much shorter or longer. We're currently on day 68.  

Conveniently, there is a chart that keeps track of this on Rumor Queen, an online community board for China adoptive families. I am able to see what the averages are, when people receive their approvals, etc. Everyone on there is so supportive and helpful in answering questions and celebrating with each other when a milestone is marked.  Anyway, from the time we receive our LOA, the average wait for TA (Travel Approval) is 6-8 weeks. However, some people have recently waited as long as 12 weeks!  We will then travel within 2 weeks following receipt of TA.

Our hopes of traveling in March are slipping away, but we're still hopeful to leave for China in April. By then, our little girl will be 16 months. The idea of the red thread is beautiful, but all this red tape is not!

In the meantime, we've enjoyed watching several friends travel to China to bring home their daughters.  And right now, a couple I met through the RQ site are in the Yunnan province adopting their daughter from the same orphanage where Virginia Grace is! Their daughter, Anna, has actually been in the same foster village.  We compared pictures of our girls, and they're posed on the same play mat! We've talked about how they probably play together and may even live in the same home and family.  It's amazing that they are in such close vicinity to Virginia Grace right now.  And I am learning a great deal as they navigate the in-country process.  You can follow their journey on their blog, Red Thread to Anna. 

And a HUGE thank you for the outpouring of encouragement and prayers  you've given me through your comments and emails.  Each one brought tears and hope and reminders that God is holding all of us in His hands.  God's "unfailing love" seems to appear in every verse I've read lately, so I am pretty certain of the theme of His lessons for me right now. :) His mercies and compassions are indeed new every morning...thank you for showing them to me.