1/29 Poems

The Waiting Child

I saw you meet your child today
You kissed your baby joyfully
And as you walked away with her
I played pretend you'd chosen me.

I'm happy for the baby, yet
Inside I'm aching miserably
I want to plead as you go by,
"Does no-one want a child of three?"

I saw you meet your child today
In love with her before you met
And as I watched you take her out
I knew it wasn't my turn yet.

I recognize you from last year!
I knew I'd seen your face before!
But you came for a second babe.
Does no-one want a child of four?

I saw you meet your child today
But this time there was something new
A nurse came in and took MY hand
And then she gave my hand to you.
Can this be true?

I'm almost six!
And there are infants here, you see?
But then you kissed me and I knew
The child you picked this time was me.

by Debbie Bodie
Copyright 1997


THE WAIT

You're sending off for papers for a governmental file
While I wait.

You're praying that I'll be alright for just a little while
And I wait.

You're paying out your money and you're paying out your tears.
You're riding out your hopes and doubts and swallowing your fears,
You're growing more impatient as the time for travel nears;
I just wait.

You're wrestling the INS.
You're fixing up my room.
While I wait.

You're meeting social workers in a spotless living room.
And I wait.

I seem to know you're coming though I couldn't tell you how.
I feel the promise of your love as on your knees you bow.
I don't know I have parents, all I know is that for now I just wait.

You've gotten your referral and you've memorized my face
While I wait.

You've tucked me in your heart and in your home you've made a place.
And I wait.

You've made it now to China and your face is all aglow.
Your love is washing through me as you rock me to and fro.

As we start our lives together there's just one thing that I know;
I can't wait.

by Debbie Bodie
Copyright 1996

1/27 Maps of China

China

Liaoning Province

We will fly into Beijing then onto Chaoyang.

Chaoyang City, China

1/27 Friendships Formed Across the Miles

This is a picture of my new friend, Elizabeth, and her beautiful family. Linsey was adopted in 2003 from Hunan, and Luke was adopted in 2006, from Hainan. Elizabeth, lives in California (we are in NY). She and her church team went on a Mission Trip to Chaoyang SWI in July 2007. The trip is documented in her blog http://visitingorphanschaoyang.blogspot.com/. Thanks to Elizabeth, for helping me achieve this wonderful goal of blog ownership! I always wondered how people did this and had no idea it was so simple. I had it all done in an hour!

This is a picture of Elizabeth's daughter, Amy, holding our daughter, Megan Ling, during the mission trip last summer.

This is a picture of my friends Susan and Richard, their son Harrison and their newly adopted daughter, Hannah Miao Miao, on Hannah's Gotcha Day, December 10, 2007. Susan and I met at the Great Wall China Adoption Conference in Tampa in November 2007. I am sure we were meant to cross paths, as she has been instrumental and inspirational in Eric's and my decision to open our hearts and minds to an older waiting child. Hannah is blossoming in her new family and I am so happy for all of them!

1/25 Visiting Orphans Mission Trip to Ling's Orphanage 7/07

We were fortunate to immediately find the blog of another adoptive mother who led a ministry trip to Chaoyang SWI last summer (http://visitingorphanschaoyang.blogspot.com/ ). She and others on the ministry trip shared many photos of Megan Ling with us. We are most grateful. The trip was taken in July 2007. Ling was 3 years old at the time.

When I asked what she knew about Ling, she said

"What can I say about Ling? She is a doll baby!! A couple of my girls just claimed her as "their baby". She loved to string beads, eat anything and everything we had, and follow us around. She was a snuggler too, my girls loved that!

We are so relieved to see that she is well-cared for, happy and connected with other people. The internet is an amazing thing. Without it we would never have been able to have this wonderful insight into our little girl's China life.

Here are more photos at Chaoyang SWI, including a birthday party for all the kids, and a group photo of the whole orphanage.

I love how bright and cheerful Visiting Orphans has made it!

These are some of the Chaoyang Nannies, and one of the ministry angels.

1/24 The Best News!!

Eric, Linda, Matthew & Mary Alice

On a trip to Hawaii, July 4, 2007

This photo was actually taken a day after Megan Ling's birthday!

We are so happy to be able to share this news. On January 24th , 2008 (Eric's Birthday) we received word that we are matched to our little girl Megan Ling, who is in Chaoyang SWI in Liaoning Province, China. She is 3 1/2 years old and we will be traveling to meet her within the next 3-4 months. We are registered with GWCA, LID August 2006.

I believe these pictures were taken in May 2007, at age 2 years, 10 months.