Why China?

If I had a dime for every time we've been asked, "Why China?" we'd have this adoption paid for and then some. Sometimes I'm in a generous mood and I go through what I'm about to say here. Other times I want to say (but haven't yet) "Why NOT China?"

I began dreaming of adopting a daughter in high school. When I saw her face, she was Asian. I never really wanted to carry a child and in no way whatsoever have I ever wanted to give birth to one. I do want to be a mom, however. Adoption is the logical choice. Our daughter lives in China. We knew that in our souls years ago.

China has a population problem. There's no denying that and in an attempt to feed its people, China's government made a really stupid rule over 20 years ago. You can only have one child. There are exceptions, of course but they're expensive exceptions and most people in China don't have extra cash to throw around. So babies are abandoned.

Mostly, they're girl babies. This is NOT because the Chinese hate girls. Good golly. We've heard that ridiculous statement from seemingly intelligent people over and over again. Let me just be clear: Chinese people do not hate their daughters! The issue at hand is thousands of years of tradition versus The One Child Policy. Sons grow up, take wives and provide for their parents in every possible way. Daughters grow up, get married, leave and take care of their in-laws in every possible way. Also, handing down the family name is beyond important in China. People are poor. Sons mean security in old age. It's a painful, dreadful, unthinkable choice and thousands face it every day in China.

So...to recap...Chinese sons are an insurance policy and a way to live forever. So when the government, in an attempt to control population, put a cap on children, girls and second sons suffered. But they're not the only ones who suffer. Birthmoms who leave newborns on the steps of orphanages suffer. Fathers who take toddler daughters to train stations...and then walk away...suffer.

My heartstrings are deeply attached to China for many reasons and these are just a few of them. The plight of that scared, sorrowful mother as she gently places her daughter in bright pieces of red cloth, tugs on my heart. She wraps her up tightly. Kisses her one last time and disappears into the night. Or maybe she watches from a safe distance until her little one is found and carried away. Either way, that woman is depending on us. She's asking us to care for her baby girl as she would if she could.

We're so grateful that God uses adoption to form families, to form OUR family. Reagan is already loved by so many and she's not even here yet. She's the daughter of my heart. She's in China and we're going to get her. It's pretty much that simple.