Welcome to our Journey!

July 4, 2008

Welcome to the Montgomery Family blog! Jordan and I welcome you into our lives and our journey to add baby Brian into our family.
My life took a 180 degree blessed shift two and a half years ago (November 2005) when the most beautiful Chinese baby (now Princess) came in (and took over) my life! Jordan is awesome and I am filled with so much LOVE for her continuously. Words just can't express...

I know that I have been given the most wonderful gift from God – the gift of parenting her, loving her and caring for her, and that it will be only for a short while. Before I know it, she’ll be grown, and I will give my eternal gratitude to our Father as I thank Him for this opportunity to be a mother.

Now we are provided another humbling gift of love – the opportunity to add to our family with a baby boy. He will be my son, and baby brother to Jordan (and Annie dog). This blog will chronicle the journey to the Bac Ninh province in Vietnam to bring home baby Brian – and beyond.

I have been actively working to expand our family since January of 2007, and submitted the full adoption process and expenses to China for baby girl #2. Unfortunately, the China adoption process has taken a significant slowdown for multiple reasons, and the current wait time for an adoption from China is close to 5 years. Since I am no longer a ‘spring chicken’, the adoptive biological clock was not just ticking, but rapidly being thrown ‘over the hill’. Our Dossier was logged into China in April of 2007. By the end of 2007, it was apparent that this China adoption would still be years away. It was difficult for me to think about a 5 year age gap between Jordan and a younger sibling, and the impact that would also have on me as a single parent, in capabilities and in age.

I began exploring other international adoption opportunities, and after research and lots of Yahoo Group lurking (and prayer), decided on Vietnam. It was a pleasant surprise to learn that baby BOYS from Vietnam were available for adoption. Since Jordan’s China province is the southwestern most part of China, her province actually borders on Vietnam. I hoped that the possibilities of having two children who were geographically close to one another would be a benefit to each of them as they develop their identities, their physical similarities and later in life as we travel to the lands of their births and genetic heritages.

So, Ithe Dossier process began again (referred to by some as the “paper pregnancy”) and our Dossier was officially logged into Vietnam on January 7, 2008.

On June 21, 2008 we received the referral. YIPPEE! In the process, this is called a “child for consideration” or “CFC”. It consisted of three photos of an orphan, a medical examination summary and lab work summaries. The baby is a boy, born on April 20, 2008, and abandoned at the Bac Ninh Orphanage in Bac Ninh province, Vietnam on his birth day. His given name is NXX KXXX Giang. (I am not allowed to "post" his full name). I was to “consider” and possibly “accept” this child as my son. It was done immediately! The paperwork of this acceptance is in process, and the wheels are in motion for baby Ngo Kien Giang to become Brian Anthony Montgomery.

It is not allowed to post his photo until the adoption is final, so stay tuned!

The Bac Ninh province is a NE suburb of Hanoi, in northern Vietnam. This is geographically very close to Jordan’s place of birth in Kunming, China. The picture on my blog cover page was posted on a yahoo site and is purported to be a photo from inside the orphanage, although I do not know for sure, and I do not know who the two babies are on the bed. There are (supposedly) 3-5 babies per bed in this orphanage, cared for by a nanny for about every 5 children, and all babies are said to be in very good health.

There are multiple steps left in the process before we can go bring baby Brian home. My sister Cindy, who is ‘just a wee bit’ older J, wiser, and extremely nurturing and supportive will travel with us to Vietnam to bring the baby home. Her counsel, guidance and support in China and her help after we returned home was immensely contributive and appreciated. We will have a great time on our adventures to Vietnam. We hope to travel in October or November 2008 to bring Brian home.

Please pray for baby Brian as he lives in an orphanage and knows no parental love. Pray that our processes and trip will be without dilemma and smooth by all accords. Pray that Jordan will love and accept her new sibling with joy. Please pray for me as I undertake this new privilege, obligation and heartfelt calling. Pray that I will have such humility and thankfulness that fear and being overwhelmed will have no place in my awareness!

Thank you for your sincere good will and spirit of charity as you follow our journey!