WA-HOO! WE HAVE OUR LOA!

ok, pretend you're at an Amusement Park and you find the biggest, most exciting, most panic-inducing, thrill ride in the park. You get in a very, very, very long line. You meet lots of other daredevils like yourself as you work your way through to the ticket booth. You pay your fees (this ride ain't cheap) and get handed a ticket (social worker/agency approval to adopt). Now you get in another very, very, very long line. By now, you're on friendly terms with the other daredevils, having shared all this time in line together. The line starts to move, verrrrrrrrrryy slowly, which is hard because you could really use a bathroom about now. But you don't dare get out of line. Finally, you get to the front of the line. You hand over your precious ticket that you sweat blood to buy (in adoption lingo this is called the DTC or documents to China, basically a dossier that includes every most private detail of your family's life, think I'm kidding? When was the last time a social worker documented the discipline techniques your parents used, or the marital status of all your siblings?!)

Gathering up your courage, you sit down in your seat and buckle up. Now the worst part comes, the roller coaster starts up the HUGE, SCARY and anxiety producing hill making that awful clicking sound as the car slowly (in a torture kinda way) goes up to the top. And of course you panic, should I have gotten on this ride? What the hell was I thinking?! Can I get off?! Is it too late?!! And then you reach the top (which is the LOA part of adoption, the very official and beautiful letter China sends to let you know they approve of you adopting in their Country) Ok, now you REALLY have to use the bathroom! But all you can do is look down, hold the hand of the person sitting next you and get ready to experience the ride of a lifetime.

We are on top of the hill, waiting for the coaster to tip over the other side. Here's to all the daredevils that get on this crazy ride. It's all worth it in the end.