LOA... LSC... anyone else confused by all the acronyms?

Crazy, creepy excited mommy face!

We have reached another big milestone! On Wednesday morning I received an email from CCAI (our agency) that they have received our "Letter Seeking Confirmation of Adoptee" from the CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs). This letter is also referred to as the LOA (Letter of Acceptance - because by signing it, we officially declare that we accept this match) or LSC (Letter Seeking Confirmation). Still with me? I will go easy on the acronyms from here on out, I promise!

So, what does it mean? Well, firstly, this is one of those big milestones in the process. It's China's official OK for us to adopt Didi. So, that's a biggie! It also means that we have a mountain of paperwork to scale again, in very quick and sporadic spurts. From here on out, everything is incredibly time-sensitive, but it doesn't speed up our timeline at all. We will probably travel between December and January still, and we ask for your prayers that it will be as soon as possible!

What happens next? Again... that mountain of paperwork. I felt like I had a really good grasp on the process and order of things pre-Dossier. However, though it's been explained to me by at least 4 different people and I've read over various forms, power point slideshows, and timelines, I still don't fully comprehend all the details. All I know is that the attitude seems to be "Hurry up and wait!" more than ever, but as one friend pointed out, "it's all downhill from here"... (and that's meant in a non-pessimistic way... more like we're rolling down the hill to our destination and everything will go increasingly fast as we near the bottom).

I'm really excited, and part of me wants to fast forward as the wait is so frustrating, but I still remember how blessed we are! I've still managed to get my hands on a couple new pics, and I've been in contact with two other moms with the same LID (Log-in Date), whose kids are in the same facility as Didi. We're all hoping to travel together, and there is a chance that it may work out. We'll see. Ultimately though, I'm not stressed or worried about the wait. In my most selfish moments, I am tempted to feel sorry for myself because December is still a ways away, but I snap out of it quickly, knowing that God still knows what is best and it will happen in His timing. Didi will come home when the task he has to do over there is done, and I can wait for that.

And along that line, on an encouraging and massively cute note, check out the latest Show Hope video update! Look at the sporty little man who starts it off, and note the lyrics that play while they show him getting his pre-op exam from June: "You were meant to be touching the lives that you touch!" Amen. Couldn't have said it better.