Another Anniversary

Today marks seven years since my paperwork was logged in at the Chinese Centre for Adoption Affairs.  For six years, it sat on a pile or in a filing cabinet or maybe just on someone's desk for all I know, and for six years I dreamed of the little girl who has now taken over my life.  The pain of that wait will never completely vanish, it was far too uncertain and frustrating and exhausting, but it does diminish.  "The wait" as I used to call it was my whole life for six years.  I was bitter and sad and angry about it and at some points it started to seem like "the wait" was actually the event, I was simply this woman who was waiting to adopt from China.  Now that I have Grace home, the wait seems like a distant memory, an old scar, still visible when you check for it, but no longer hurts.  Hard to believe what one year as a mother to such a terrific girl like Grace can do to your mindset.  My heart breaks for those still waiting and the only advice I can give to them is that she was worth the wait!!!