chinaconnectiononline.com/story.htm Adoption Story

Adoption Story Two Adoption Stories: Our Short Versions In adopting Clare Lin (in 1994), our choice of China was a simple extension of our interest and attachment formed earlier through two extended trips to China, each preceded by language and history study. We applied and, six months later, went to Changzhou to adopt Clare (at 7 months of age). In October, 1997, nearly three years later, we three traveled to Guilin to adopt Lisa Juanjuan, her referral coming a year after our dossier went to China. Additional details on both adoption processes are below. View on the Grand Canal, in the environs of Clares city, Changzhou. Clare with her two primary caretakers at the Changzhou Childrens Welfare Institute. December, 1994. On the Li River near Guilin, Lisa Juanjuans city. Lisa Juanjuan at home barely twelve days. October, 1997 Lisa Juanjuan and Clare Lin looking for the right pumpkin. October, 1997 Lisa Juanjuan and Clare Lin (l-r). Nov. 4, 1997 Lisa and Clare (l-r). Sept., 1999 Lisa & Clare April, 2000 Lisa in her long- awaited dance class. Oct. 26, 2000 Clare, ready for seasons final game to start. Oct. 28, 2000 Lisa & Clare May 28, 2001 Story of Two Adoptions 1994 Seems like the Fast Track Now: Clare For our homestudy in 1994, we found an organization in our area. To make our China arrangements, we found an agency by calling a few advertised in Adoptive Families magazine as having China programs. (This was before the time of extensive World Wide Web sources, but a very workable approach.) By phoning some questions and requesting information packets as well as phone numbers of reference families, we gained enough information to choose an agency confidently. We chose Christian World Adoption, (go there) but felt others would have served well, too. About six months after formally beginning our process, we were on our way to Clares city of Changzhou, in the Jiangsu Provi...