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2003-2004 China Journey

A Chinese "Li Bien" Ornament that Lea gave to Keith for Christmas 2002. This "Li Bien" ornament showcases the age-old skill of inside painting. 

JANUARY 2004 UPDATE: WE GOT HER!  GRACE IS NOW HOME IN NORFOLK!

DECEMBER 2003 UPDATE: We leave for China Dec 30, 2003!  Gotcha Day is Jan 4, 2004!

NOVEMBER 2003 UPDATE: We have a daughter!!! Meet Grace Katharine Xin McGhee. 

OCTOBER 2003 UPDATE: During the first week of October 2003, referrals for parents with December 2002 and January 2003 DTC dates came out.  Strong chance that we are next, possibly the last week of October, first week of November!!!!!!  Currently we are in the matching room, being matched by CCAA to our daughter.  If you want to see the famous match room in China, where the Chinese Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) matches parents to their children, click on www.angelcovers.org/ccaa/ccaa1.html.

SEPTEMBER 2003 UPDATE: During the first week of September 2003, the referrals for adoptive parents with October and November 2002 DTC (Dossier to China) dates came in! We are March 2003 DTC so our month is coming very soon!!!

 In January 2002, when we returned from our year-long Around the World Trip, Keith and I knew what we wanted to do next.  We wanted a child of our own! We also knew that we wanted to adopt and our hearts told us that a daughter would be waiting for us in China.  In China, due to economic conditions and the one son policy, there are thousands of Chinese girls, mainly infants, in orphanages and in need of parents to raise them.  China, showing concern for their children, opened their doors to international adoption in the early 1990s, requiring that all adoptions are through the government and that foreigners who adopt use a non-profit agency.  

Currently, about 5000 Americans are adopting each year from China, all for many different reasons but ultimately because, like us, they know in their hearts their children are in China. The long waiting period, about 14 months from our application in November 2002, will be worth it!  We hope to fly to China to meet our daughter and bring her to her new home in early 2004. 

 To join us on our journey or learn more about the process, check out our adoption pages:

The Paper Chase:  This page lists the paperwork required for Chinese adoption, an approximate timeline for Chinese Adoption, and a link to typical China adoption costs.

China Adoption Resources:  This page provides websites, online groups and books that you can use to learn more about China and adoption. 

Our Daughter's Referral:  Our daughter's Referral Pictures and Her Information.  Still waiting!

China Trip Preparation:  Includes a packing list, but more than that! Pre-adoption paperwork, orphanage package, nursery prep, baby shower and more! 

Our China Trip:  Our January 2004 journey to our daughter Grace in China.  Check out the itinerary, photos and journals.

 Thank you for joining the most wonderful journey with us.  Please email us at travel@ourlifejourney.com if you would like to contact us about adoption or China.

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