Leaving Tomorrow Morning

After more than 2 years of waiting, it doesn't seem like we are really going to China tomorrow. But we are. During the past few days, several friends and neighbors have asked, "Are you ready?" Somehow, I don't think so. Yes, we've read all the right books, got all the right papers, and packed things to cover lots of contingencies, but nothing really prepares you to become a parent, does it? It comes down to an act of faith.
If I were looking for signs that the universe is in perfect order, I saw one today. While browsing in Barnes & Noble for some good airplane reading, I was surprised to see a copy of a book that I'd read10 years ago. It is Adeline Yen Mah's Falling Leaves: The Memoir of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter. I have read thousands of books in my lifetime, and few have stayed with me as that book did. The author endured appalling emotional abuse in her childhood, eventually emigrating to the U.S. and becoming an M.D. It is a remarkable story and I highly recommend it. Of course, I bought a copy. We'll put it on a high shelf for now, where Mia can't see it. (Another great read is Karin Evans' Lost Daughters of China.)
Please keep praying that Mia is healthy and ready to join our family.