Our Lady of Adoptions

Yesterday, we had our final post-placement visit with our adoption social worker, Janice. The first time we met Janice was when we began the adoption process for Josie - way back in January 2005. Ah, yes! Back when we were rookies at this adoption stuff...

As required by law, Janice visited with us on three separate occasions back in the early part of 2005. Her job was to prepare a 'homestudy' report which is then filed with the adoption agency and with the USCIS, (or INS as it used to be known as) and THAT is used to produce a form which gives us advanced approval to adopt a child abroad. Whew! What a paper trail!

Janice was also the bearer of the most precious gift - our first photos of Josie (or Chong Si Li - as she was then known as...) on Thursday, January 5th, 2006. That's the photo shown above. Once we returned home from China with Josie, Janice visited us three more times for 'post placement visits'. These visits are required by our agency, the China Center for Adoption Affairs, and the Commonwealth of Virginia (for the purpose of readopting in the state). Finally, there is the last visit which takes place at or near the one year anniversary of Josie's adoption. That was yesterday's visit.

I have to say right now, that Janice should be nominated for sainthood. Her patience and kindness during our adoption process should be grounds enough for beatification immediately!! When you take into consideration that I am a total control freak and James has never taken 'no' for an answer in his life - well, to say she had her hands full would be an understatement. Note to future adoptive parents: the CCAA does not work on an American ( or Canadian,or insert country here) time line. This was the HARDEST thing for my husband - who can attribute most of his success in life to his shear 'force of will' (or as we like to call it- hard headedness!)- and I to accept. I firmly believed that if I was organized and had complete knowledge of all the facts that I could somehow control the process. Oh boy, was I wrong!

Throughout the turbulent times, Janice remained the calm and ever smiling wonder that she is. When we hugged her goodbye yesterday, we were saying goodbye to our one true advocate in the whole adoption process. We will always consider her our friend and hold her in the highest esteem - as she was one of the people who helped us find our way to Josie.

So, just to be sure about all that 'sainthood' stuff... I checked with Catholic Online's directory of saint names. It seems that there are currently no St. Janice's on the books! ( Just as a quick aside - Janice is a form of the name Jane, which means God has Mercy. There are a TON of St. Janes - most were French and most were guillotined for refusing to follow some sillyass French laws)

Since we'll be in Rome this summer, I'm going to request an audience with the Pope (you can do that via fax now!) and petition him to start the ball rolling on getting us a St. Janice of Richmond. Sounds nice...

Thank you, Janice - for everything!!