Our Chinese Adoption Story

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:

to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself

from being polluted by the world. James 1:27

After Greg & I were married in 1992, we immediately had Greg Jr. We would talk of having more children and laughingly decided that we would probably have all boys. If we would try for a girl, we could end up with 20 children! Kevin joined our family in 1998. During all of these years we had discussed the possibility of adopting a daughter and when we would think of her we both saw her Chinese. I look back on these discussions and see that God was preparing our hearts. I never imagined this would be reality. I didn't know how we would be able to afford a third child and then when I looked into adoption in 2002 and saw the cost, I really didn't see how all of this could happen.

For a couple of years we talked about our daughter and felt our hearts growing more anxious about beginning this adoption process, but wanted God to direct our steps. He knows who our daughter is and when it would be the right time to start the process. Again, financially was and still is our biggest obstacle. I started searching for a name for her. I looked at the baby name books, looked online, and looked at different Chinese names. I really wanted a name that meant something having to do with a "gift from God" or "blessing" or "from the Lord." I want her to know how special she is in God's eyes and how much we love her. I would look at the meaning of every name I found or thought of. Nothing struck me. Greg & I both prayed about it for awhile. I asked the Lord to give me her name so that I could hold onto that as a promise from Him that this adoption would one day take place.

One day in early January 2004 the name Kyria came to me. I cannot remember if I heard it, saw it, or if it just came to my mind. I knew exactly how to spell it. My heart raced! I didn't go right then and look up the meaning of Kyria. I told Greg that night that I think God gave me her name. I told him I was afraid because this means that God is serious about all of this and that it is really going to happen. I wouldn't tell him the name. Instead, I prayed to the Lord that if this truly was from him that he would give Greg the exact same name. Knowing Greg is horrible with names, I rested easy that night. :-) A few days later, not thinking about the name Kyria, Greg and I were once again discussing names for our little girl. Out of the clear blue, Greg says "How about Kyria?" I fell to the ground! I said "What did you say?" He said "I don't remember what I said. What did I say?" No way was I saying it!! So, he said it again....Kyria. I told him that was the name God gave me a few days ago. We couldn't believe it! I immediately went down to the computer to see what Kyria meant. Kyria is the feminine form of the Greek word "Kurios" which means "Of the Lord." Kyria translates to "ladylike" or "a Christian lady." Some Bible scholars believe that the Second Letter of John in the New Testament was written to a Christian lady named Kyria and her children. I knew at that moment our daughter's name is Kyria.

So, we stepped out in faith in May of 2004 when we submitted our application to America World Adoption Association. From May 2004 to December 2004 we dealt with the "paper chase." We began our home study (Burlington United Methodist Family Services did our home study) in June 2004 and it was completed in September 2004. The last piece we were waiting on was the I-171H Form. We are DTC (Dossier To China) December 3, 2004 and our LID (Log In Date) is December 14, 2004. We look to have her referral in June 2005 and travel in July or August. We are very excited and a bit nervous. Still...how are we going to afford this? And, travel to China?? Now that's a long way to travel! However, I'd go to the ends of the world for any one of my children!!

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

The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break.

- Chinese Proverb