Okay, I know, that sounds all wrong. But seriously, its a struggle, because how do 2 little words actually show my tremedous gratitude? I worry, does he or she REALLY know how truly thankful I am, how honestly deeply, truly, whole-heartedly thankful WE are? Do they know that the prayers, the financial gifts, the hugs, the words of encouragement they shared with us were unforgettable, life-changing, eye-opening, totally changed our day, gave us the strength to go on?! Do people know how thankful we are?
And so I wait to say those words, as if I'll come with some more profound way to say it or show it? Or have more time to write a longer note? Its a struggle for me and may sound odd, but its true. There is SO much thanks to give, and its regarding a child. Thank you for loving our child, our son! There are many thank you's coming, but today I'll update y'all on where we're at and where we've been.......
The past few months have been filled with awesomeness. Today is the first day in a long time where we didn't have anywhere to go, so where did we go? Well, the kids and I went to read in the hammock - a Mother's Day gift, quite possibly the BEST Mother's Day gift - a place to be with my children, to read, cuddle, and look up at the sky. Thanks Adam and kids!
So yes, with all the awesomeness of the past few months, came busyness! God has provided joy in the waiting and much blessing to our family. Annabelle graduated preschool and rocked it honestly, bopping up and down onstage to the Wiggle song - she's got moves! I actually had happy tears streaming down my face watching her joy onstage as she danced and sang her heart out. Her preschool years were wonderful, filled with learning and crafting, and friendships and just plain fun! Oliver turned 3! I know 3 sounds so little and it is so little, but sometimes it seems so big, and yet.... he seems 3, not 2 anymore. He is the funniest kid, gosh, it was a special day celebrating him with family and friends, and then just us on his birthday. He is a joyful child, makes us laugh, and I'm quite certain he will be the child about which we will have many stories. :-) Oh and our firstborn, Hanker dog turned 10 years old. Happy 10th Hank!
In the past month, we were asked to complete our paperwork - the last packet of paperwork (I think and hope) for our adoption. So when you get that call to get it done, all else has to wait, and we got it done! And then did it wrong! Then got it done again! Then did that other sheet wrong, then got it done again! Ahhhhhhhhhhh, seriously - good times, thus the photo... :-) (I was putting on the drama a bit for the photo for Adam). BUT its done! Yay! Praise God - paperwork is a challenge to me for some reason, so Adam helped me knock it out!SO Praise God - we got a call last week from our agency that our sweet boy will be in Batch 2 of Emigration Permissions to be submitted. This was great news and some of the news we were hoping for, so we are thankful for this answer. Thank you for praying! But keep praying because the first "batch" of Emigration Permissions has not been submitted fully yet (batches are groups of children and their paperwork). So really, nothing changes for Tae yet. He still waits and we wait. But we can pray, please pray Batch 1 gets submitted for Emigration Permission (I know a momma who is waiting for her sweet one in this batch to move forward and its truly time for things to get moving). Please pray that Tae's paperwork is good to go and will move across desks swiftly, and for the Korean process to move along efficiently. Another PRAISE - family court dates just started happening this month, so the process is up and running again after months of revision.
So where do we stand as for timeframe? Honestly, we are still months out from travel. I know this is discouraging - I feel it too, trust me, but we can't dwell there too long. Realistically, from Emigration Permission submission to travel is about 6 months time, unless the process speeds up, so right now we are looking at late fall, early winter. Gosh, I'd love to have our boy home for Christmas! Let's ask God for that! A change which has happened in the Korean adoption process is 2 trips are now being required instead of 1 short trip to Seoul, South Korea. As part of the new adoption laws, adoptive families will travel to meet their child and appear in Family Court on the first trip, then there is a 14 day waiting period (customary in Korean courts), then there is some more paperwork done which is submitted to the U.S. Embassy, then we will travel again for a second trip to South Korea to pick up Benjamin once he has his Visa. The 2 trips presents some complications as expected, one of which is it doubles the expense of airfare and hotel, and Benjamin will be 2 years old upon coming to the U.S. which will require a plane ticket (though his is the plane ticket I want to buy more than any other plane ticket EVER ;0). Our plane tickets are one of the most expensive parts of the adoption and now that has more than doubled, but we are not discouraged. God has truly provided through so many of you through our Lifesong Fundraising Account and our Thirty-One Fundraiser. Thank you beyond words, because without your support, this would be beyond worrisome - God has blessed our son and us richly through you! Yet, we are still fundraising to meet these expenses, and our Lifesong for Orphans Adoption Fundraising Account will remain open until we travel to South Korea.
So how is our littlest guy? Benjamin is doing really well - growing, running, is 22 lbs. now, 32 inches tall, "helps dress", "takes off socks", washes hands, kicks ball, says 20 words (in Korean, he doesn't speak English), and his eye is slowly healing. He's definitely growing in that when you see his pic, he's not a baby. I imagine taking his photos is getting trickier, as most 21 months olds don't sit still long! :-)
As for us, we miss him like crazy. His photo has become our "Flat Stanley" - we take "him" most places, and I'd post a bunch of pics of us with him, but can't post them here according to the rules of our agency. We take him everywhere in our hearts too. And I think just lately I started to really believe he's coming home. He will. It'll take some time, but this precious boy will one day be running around the yard, and our house will become his home and we will get to be his family. It will happen.
Thanks for stopping by - lots more to come!
Though I haven't been blogging,
God has continued to teach us so so much! There is so much to share!
Prayer Requests:
- Praise the Lord - Benjamin's paperwork will be moving forward this summer as his Emigration Permission is submitted. Please pray the adoption process speeds up for all the waiting children and waiting families involved. Please pray Batch 1 of Emigration Permissions will be submitted asap, and that the preparation of Batch 2 is swift and able to be submitted very soon. Please pray Benjamin will be home for Christmas.
- Praise the Lord for peace on the Korean peninsula!
- Praise the Lord the Korean adoption process is back up and running!
- Continued patience and humble hearts for our family as we trust in the Lord for the timing of our family coming together.
- Please pray for financial provision regarding our travel expenses and the two trips we will be taking to meet then pick up our son.
- Please pray for our family as we prepare to come together as a family of 5 and that God will prepare our hearts for what's ahead, as we will get to know our son and he gets to know us.
We pray God will bless all of YOU for the kindness, provision and love you have shown our son and our family!
