The twins...

Another family from our old agency just picked up their daughter from the same orphanage where the twins resided. She had said that she would check on them for us since we think of them often. Well, we found out that they just went home with an American family about a week and a half ago. We don't know how to feel about it. Of course we are happy that they aren't in the orphanage. That would have just broken our hearts. But now we have many questions. We withdrew our petition last July and are wondering after all the problems we had (8 months trying to get an approval) how did another family bring them home, especially with only having 2 months to get a referral (before September 1st). We were also told that when petitions are withdrawn that it takes awhile for them to be eligible for adoption. How could this happen?? I didn't think any other American agencies (besides the agency we were with) did adoptions with this orphanage. Maybe the referral was given out after September 1st because of extenuating circumstances. There were some cases like this, right?

This is so hard but if the family did receive a referral before September 1st and the twins just went home, it means there were problems because it took 7 months to get approval.

We strongly feel like we did the right thing but that doesn't make it any easier. We could have been the family they went home with but we aren't. It was hard hearing the news but we have to believe that we did the right thing. I think I'm in shock right now but am glad they are with a family. That's the important thing.