Game, Set, MATCH!

First, and most importantly: She. is. adorable. and already SO loved. For everyone's privacy, we must keep any further details and photos offline at this time. Just know that we could go on and on and can't wait to share more when we are able.

Second: We wanted to share a tiny behind-the-scenes peek of the post-match process and what we can expect moving forward. When we received a message from our agency out of the blue on a Friday afternoon with the words, “We have news,” I froze. Shock is probably the best word for it. I was NOT anticipating receiving a match so quickly. We were warned it could take up to two years! But we got the call just over six months after sending our home study to Taiwan! Then our liaison forwarded the child’s file, and it became even more real.

I think I was in shock for a few more days, wandering about with no idea what to do.

Nelson, in contrast, handled everything with calm steadiness. It reminded me of my cancer journey. I carried the flood of emotions, while Nelson dug in and did what needed to be done. He thrives in those moments, though I don’t want to test that too often.

From the time a family receives a match, there are two weeks to accept or decline. Our agency shared with us early on that they had never had anyone decline a match because the agency they work with in Taiwan does such a fantastic job getting to know families, that by the time a file is presented, it’s the right fit.

The file we received from Taiwan was extensive. It's one of the reasons our hearts steered to adopting from Taiwan. Their level of detail and care for the children under their care is impressive.

So for about a week and a half we studied every page, every word, and asked some clarifying questions. Our agency also gave us a big spreadsheet of prompts to help us process the details and better understand what our child has experienced in her environment and culture. Part of this stage also includes connecting with a doctor who specializes in reviewing medical records for international adoptions.

After a time of prayer and another two-hour long meeting with our agency, we officially accepted the match at the end of July. What happens now? Because Taiwan is the child’s guardian, they must, for lack of a better phrase, approve our approval. In the meantime, we keep moving forward on our side with more documents, notaries, and all the legal mumbo jumbo that goes into what’s called a court dossier. Much of it is very similar to everything we filled out for the home study, about 35 documents that must be notarized.

I currently have 342 emails in my "Adoption" folder in my inbox.

We don’t have a set timeframe yet to travel to Taiwan. Our hope is that spring or summer of next year might be when we finally bring her home. Until then, we keep waiting, working, and trusting. And once Taiwan completes guardianship approval we hope to begin sending care packages and have Zoom calls with her.

We also want to take a moment to thank those who have generously donated to our adoption fund. It is very difficult for us to ask for donations, and it is humbling to receive such kindness. We know this is ultimately our responsibility, and you didn’t choose this path for us, but you chose to come alongside us in it. Your thoughtfulness and care mean so much. Each gift is not just financial help, it is a reminder that we are not walking this journey alone, and that encouragement carries us on the harder days.

We have funded approximately 50% of the cost thus far with our own monies, and any donation you make helps us put more of our own resources into caring for her when she comes home. Adoption is not only an emotional journey but also a significant financial one, with layers of fees at every stage. Knowing that friends and family are willing to help bridge the gap allows us to focus more on preparing our hearts and home for her. Every contribution, big or small, is a piece of the story that brings her closer to us, and we are VERY grateful and honored if you choose to support us in this way.

Make a Donation Directly to Our Adoption Fund

As I had promised from when we first shared our adoption plans, and as a way to honor your kindness, I'm creating a special blanket with each donor’s name on it just for her. Depending on timing, it will be here for her when she gets home or it will be sent to her prior to our arrival. It will be a lasting reminder of the community that helped bring her home.

And as always, thank you for your prayers and love.