Matching has begun...

Our agency has updated their website today saying that the CCAA has started matching for this month. That "usually" means that we should hear how many days they have matched sometime next week. It would be fantastic if they got through March 7th because it looks to be a day with many families logged in!!
With each set of matches we know how much closer we are to receiving our referral :) We will just have to wait... what's another week when we've waited this long :)

I thought I would explain a little about what is actually involved in "matching", to the best of my knowledge anyway!!


Above is a picture of the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) Building. This is the centralized agency in China to oversee all International Adoption. Each month Social Welfare Institutes in each Province (like states here) send the files of children cleared for adoption to the CCAA.



Here is one of the inside. On the far wall you will see all the family dossiers, like ours. Just sitting in piles waiting to be matched to child files..someday!



We are hoping that our dossier has at least made it from the wall of files to a cart (or any other means of transportation) on it's way to a matchers desk SOON!



Once the family dossiers make it onto a CCAA match-makers desk it will be paired with their child's file. Over the years we have heard all sorts of speculation as to why a certain child file may be matched to the parent's. It does seem they match an Agency batch to a Social Welfare Institute (SWI) based on numbers. For example if our agency has 18 dossiers and a SWI has 18 or so child files then they match accordingly. Or if two SWI's in the same province have a total of 18 then they work it out that way.

Some say they will look at our passport photos, which are on the cover of our dossier and look for physical similarities. We are hoping and praying that this one isn't the case as our passport photos are HORRIBLE! When we took them it was in a serious rush to get our dossier completed and well.. lets just say we look ROUGH! We have also heard they will look at the sibilings-to-be's pictures for similarities. This would be MUCH MUCH better :)


No one here really knows for sure but families that have adopted from China say God must have been present at the matching desks as their child is perfect for their family!

we will keep you updated as we learn more - M