Short straight black hair cut in a bob style.  Huge, almond-shaped dark eyes that twinkle with life.  Twin dimples gracing chubby, apple cheeks.  A short, sturdy body, well-formed arms and legs.

Meet Darling.  My future daughter that my wife, Karen, and myself (Chaz) are in the process of adopting.  We have already had the required medical exams (passed with flying colors), several home studies (same results), extensive background checks (another pass), and are getting our paperwork in order.  We've been on this journey for nine months and it seems closer now than ever.

All we are waiting on is the go-ahead from the adoption agency as well as the officials back in China, to let us know that Darling has been officially cleared to come to America to join our family.  It's a nerve-wracking experience; it's almost like having a baby excepting our baby is coming from across the world.

Besides Darling, we have two other daughters: Dimples (6) and Darla (8).  Darling is four.  Like her sisters, Darling has special needs: she was born with a cleft palate (since repaired) but is otherwise in perfect health.  She will probably need speech therapy once she learns English, but we are more than ready to take on the task.

Don't ask me why we gave our daughters such cutesy names; we just did.  And the names seem to suit them perfectly. 

We are looking forward to the day when we will go to the airport to pick up Darling and add her to the family.  She already knows about us: we've sent her pictures and we've contacted her via e-mails, plus Karen and I have been taking basic Chinese, so we can communicate until she learns English.

It is a highly exciting time for our family.  And I already feel like a new father all over again.  There is nothing quite like it in the world!  Just pray that the adoption will go through and that the Chiinese officials will say yes; that way we can get our new daughter!!  Thanks in advance for any and all prayers! :)