Chapter 2: Dotting the i's and Crossing the t's

Chapter 2: Dotting the I’s and Crossing the T’s and Then Boom!

I stand corrected (see Chapter 1). We actually traveled to Lifeline Children’s Services the week of Thanksgiving and met with Dustin Britt, so that would be late November of 2005. We had met with our Pastor at Isom's Chapel UMC concerning the adoption and had done much praying and listening to God’s guidance. So we wanted to discuss this with our Pastor to see what he thought about the idea. We had a really good meeting with our Pastor and he prayed with us about the adoption. Brother Eddie has been a great influence in our lives and so naturally, we wanted him in on this from the start. Austin really looks up to Brother Eddie and that’s really important to us as parents.

December 1st is the day we had our first meeting with Anna Pearson of Lifeline. We all agreed that Anna was one of the sweetest and most sincere ladies we have ever met. We also met Lauren, the administrative assistant at Lifeline who also was very sweet and very helpful. Anyway, Anna was assigned as our case specialist and we agreed to meet with her on December 1st, only a few days after our original meeting with Dustin – we were really serious about this and wanted to get the paperwork started right away. Patience, what patience, my child is waiting for me in China and I’ve gotta do something about it!! Anna just looked at us and smiled an all-knowing smile as we asked “Can we get this done by Christmas, we’re really in a hurry?” Oh boy, were we in for a surprise! Our interview with Anna that day lasted about an hour or so. Austin, who had come with us because we wanted him to feel a part of everything that happened, waited patiently in the lobby while Anna talked to all of us, then only Connie, then only me. Afterward, Anna said “OK, when do you want to do your individual interviews?” What, you mean there’s more? OK, OK, let’s schedule them for the week we’re off between Christmas and New Year’s? Well, there went getting this done by Christmas (reality is settling in for the long haul).



So we had additional interviews after that – actually, I think Anna came to our house while Jerry was on travel and did Connie’s interview and the home evaluation part of the study. Then Jerry went to Birmingham during the week of Christmas to do his interview. Of course, Austin went along too, because if Anna was going to interview Jerry and Connie, then it just wouldn’t do for her not to interview Austin. Of course as Austin walks back with Anna for his interview, he turns and says to his frightened parents “Don’t worry, I won’t say anything bad about you!” Anyway, with Jerry’s and Austin’s completed interviews, Anna turned to us and said “OK, when do we want to schedule the last interview?” What, I thought we were finished! OK, ok, let’s do it as soon as possible, how’s the week of New Years? Good, we’ll do it then. Anna, when we said by Christmas, you did understand that we meant 2005 didn’t you?

Meanwhile, we worked on paper work, financial data, employment data, health data, census data, irs data, the gross national product, ……. Just kidding, the process was really smooth. Lifeline made sure that it was and we owe them a debt of gratitude for that (I hope at this point that’s the only debt we owe them!). They couldn’t have selected a more appropriate name for the services that they provide. And if this is beginning to sound like an advertisement for Lifeline, that’s because it is. Except it’s not a paid advertisement, it’s an earned advertisement. We would choose them again in a heartbeat (cool connection)! They are definitely extending a “life line” to many children, both in the US and abroad.

We also knew there were other paperwork items to be worked on, but were not as time critical. Things like passport applications, visas, etc. So we put these off. If you’re starting this process today, go ahead and apply for your passports as soon as Lifeline (or your adoption agency) tells you to do so. There are sometimes difficulties getting this particular step completed. It’s most likely our own fault, but still do something about this one as soon as you can. We struggled with this one a lot. After many exasperating calls to Dept of Homeland Defense, we finally got our passports. Of course, by waiting and by making mistakes along the way, we wasted lots of money paying expediting fees and such. So please take our advice on this one. Same thing with fingerprints and CIS approvals. Do it as soon as you’re given the go ahead.

So one day, Connie gets a call from Lifeline and they tell her that the new “Special Needs” list is out and wondered if she’d be interested in looking at it. Boom! That was it. She looked and our little girl was there waiting. When Jerry came home from work that day, Connie announces that Lifeline has sent the Special Needs list and it has pictures. “Don’t show them to me, while I think about it.” Boom! How about this one Connie says as she holds an 8 x 10 glossy of our little girl. Wow, how can you look at a picture of a little girl and say No, let’s keep looking. The little biography that came along with the picture was funny and said that she liked music and wriggled her body when she heard music played. Being a musical family, that fit right in with us. It also said that when she talked, she moved hands a lot (much like Connie). It also said she was clever, although we’re not really sure what that meant. Connie contacted Lifeline immediately and said Please don’t let anyone else take our baby!” We did pray about it, but it was very clear to us that we had found Lily Grace. So that was it! Now we have a little girl, not just a collection of paperwork and the trail that goes with it.



Hello, my name is Lily Grace!

So God’s plan is falling right into place. We can choose to embrace it or run from it. No-brainer at this point! Where do we sign, can we skip the rest of the paperwork, when do we leave for China, who makes the travel arrangements, uh oh how much money do we need, ……So many questions and so little time to get answers.