So it’s been about a week since my agency prepped me for the big Department of State announcement.  I’ve discussed the situation with my casework and I’ve decided to be  cautiously optimistic that I will be able to complete my adoption from Vietnam before any possible shutdown.  (Of course, I FERVENTLY HOPE AND PRAY that the countries can come to an agreement and that all PAPs who – at the very least – have dossiers in Vietnam – will be able to complete their adoptions as well.)

I am lucky enough to be very high on “the list” – I hope for a referral in the next 2 months.  (February is Tet, and I’ve heard that Vietnam essentially shuts down for this holiday – is this true?  Does anyone know?)  My sense – and this is my sense only! I am no expert – is that families with referrals – even if the adoption is not complete on September 1st – will be allowed to continue.  I can’t see either government turning away PAPs who have an identified child waiting for them simply because of a calendar deadline.  I would also expect that there would be some pressure put on at least the US side of things by PAPs who may be writing to their congress representatives to allow these families to continue.

I’ve considered switching countries.  Sadly, as a single woman, I do not have as many options as married couples do.  (For the record, I don’t begrudge any country its right to specify married couples only, I understand the desire to want these children raised in a two-parent home.)  I also feel as if I’ve come so far down this road that to switch courses now isn’t right for me.  I believe in listening to the little voice inside of me, and just as it told me several weeks ago to open my heart to a son, right now it is telling me to wait a little while and see what happens.

Of course, the reality is that there is very little I could do outside of changing countries.  And if I did switch countries, would I withdraw my dossier from Vietnam?  I don’t think I would…

In my heart, I know I am meant to be a mother.   And in these times, I hold on to that knowledge.