Why China?

The other day Lily and I ran into a girl (woman) I haven’t seen since middle school. For many years Jeannie and I were practically joined at the hip. Then we went to separate high schools and that was the end of that. It was great to see Jeannie again and for an hour we talked and tried to get caught up on the highlights of the past 30 years.

Jeannie asked me a question that so many people have asked (in one form or another) since we announced our plans to adopt. Why China? I tried to explain why to Jeannie. I don't think she understood. I'll try again now. The simple answer is...God only knows...and I mean that quite literally.

When I began to see myself as a mother it wasn’t pregnancy, sonograms, and maternity clothes that I dreamed of. I simply longed for my daughter…that was born half a world away. I can’t explain it any other way. I just knew that the child I was meant to parent would be born in China. I knew and believed it just like I know and believe the sun will rise tomorrow. I’m sure it sounds strange, but it’s true. From the very beginning Lily was as real to me as she is right now.

I would love to be able to tell you that I have always had a deep interest and connection to China. That is not the case. It may seem odd for me to say that God called me to adopt my daughter from China but that is what I truly believe. In my mind there is no other way to explain it.

That does not mean we didn't research adoption from other countries (including the US). We did. In fact, we completed an application for an adoption from Korea. On the way home from the agency that afternoon we were talking in the car and pretty much asked each other, "Why did we apply for a Korean adoption if our child is in China?" We called the next day and cancelled the application and submitted our application to adopt from China and bring Lily home.

When I first saw Lily’s referral picture it felt as if a missing puzzle piece had magically slid into place. I looked at her beautiful face and said, “There you are.” I honestly believe if the adoption agency had given me a stack of baby pictures I would have been able to pick Lily out. Seeing her sweet little face for the first time felt just like coming home.


When I held Lily in my arms for the first time I realized I had been waiting for her my whole life...it just took me a little while to figure it out.


I'm not sure that that explanation adequately answers the question "Why China?" All I know is that I am so glad we followed what God put in our hearts.