checking in

Well I DO have a blog don't I? But I sure haven't been blogging..settling back into the school routine has been a little hairy! Seoul-mama is trying to line some projects up to fill her time. It seems that having my little one in school full-time has left me feeling a wee-bit like 'what do I do now??' So I'm being good to myself and trying to enjoy my time without wasting my time..
At any rate, this should be a fun weekend as Seoul-mama and some friends are heading to the Women of Faith conference. Steven Curtis Chapman is performing and speaking and I can't wait to hear what he has to say. Should be a fun time of friends, laughing and faith building..can't wait!

Happy Weekend!

Korean Fun Fact

We're off playing in the mountains of Tennessee this weekend but here is your long-overdue Korean fun fact!

Did you know that the world's strongest woman lives in Korea?

Did you also know that this woman is also the One millionth child sponsor for Compassion International?

Here's her story!

http://http://blog.compassion.com/lifted-up/

Cinnamon Roll Friday

Every Friday we end the week with Cinnamon Roll Friday!
Here is our first one of the school year!!
I'm so thankful that school is going well for both Seoul-girl and
Seoul-boy..
"kindergarten ROCKS" (or at least that's what I was told this morning..)

On the adoption front, we mailed our I-600A paperwork earlier this week. In plain english, that's our paperwork for U.S. Immigration. We'll be fingerprinted with Homeland Security, hopefully within a couple of weeks, and they will 'clear' us to adopt internationally.

We start our ten hours of adoption training this month, too. We get to learn about 'everything you always wanted to know about International adoption but were afraid to ask or didn't know you probably should'. It should be interesting!

This Seoul-family is taking a little road trip to the mountains of Tennessee with family this weekend. I hope you all have a very restful and enjoyable one!

First Day of School Part 2

It was Seoul-boy's turn today! The big K...first day of KINDERGARTEN! Excuse me, but who stole the previous 6 years?! Because I KNOW they didn't just go by that fast...
Seoul-boy woke up excited so that is a good sign! He and his sister wore matching uniforms today..I know she will do a great job looking out for him! Enjoy the pictures of our morning..it sure is extra quiet in the house today..


Our annual pictures taken in the same spot..



getting a hug from big sis...love the matching uniforms!


Acting a little too cool for a hug from mama..that's ok..


posing with dad


Daddy walking him to the classroom on campus at HCA


proud of his nametag


getting some instruction from Mrs. Meyer, his teacher


getting right to work on his coloring sheet


One last hug! (for Mama's sake!)

This Seoul-mama is still standing upright...but a little teary-eyed. I'm confident he is going to have a GREAT year with lots of exciting adventures, but boy, it sure is hard letting them go sometimes..that's our job- to raise them up so ultimately they can stand on their own and succeed without us. But no one ever said that would not pull at the heartstrings!
Seoul-boy, we love you so much and are so proud of you! Enjoy this new adventure called 'SCHOOL'...God has alot in store for you and your sister!!

First Day of School

Always exciting..always a little stressful..always bitter-sweet...always special..




We've taken the same shots in the same spots for years..even for preschool photos! She was so excited today!!



Seoul-boy's first day is next Monday but he was so excited for Seoul-girl he decided to show his school spirit, too!

Have a great year, Seoul-girl! We love you bunches!!!

Home

A couple of nights ago we were invited to a very special event at the airport. Our friends, who are also adopting from South Korea were finally receiving their baby son after 17 months of

waiting.

As my husband and I watched, a precious, wide-eyed baby boy was escorted off a United Airlines plane by a sweet lady and just like that their family expanded. Right before our eyes.

We couldn't hold back the tears- tears of joy, tears of awe, tears of gratitude. And I couldn't help but think about their journey..we didn't know these friends when they first started this process. We knew 'of' their decision to adopt but hadn't connected personally yet. I can only imagine that during those 17 months they had emotions similar to what we are experiencing now as we climb each hurdle and complete each step of the process.

At times he was just an idea or dream in their hearts. Maybe their baby felt so close some days and so far away during others. Sometimes abstract. Sometimes wanted home so badly it hurt.

Waiting is hard.

Our friendship began right around the time they received their referral and we remember looking at a snapshot of a dark-haired angel. He was a real boy. A real orphan half-way around the world and he was now their son. He now had a family that wanted him to come here.

To come home!

In the past few months, we have discovered that they are just as passionate about orphan care and advocacy as we are. And we have connected on a friendship level outside of the adoption..make no mistake, God places people in your lives at just the right time.

These friends are well-timed.

And so we watched a mother lovingly cradle her new son and beam from ear to ear. She had commented she didn't know how she would react but it was obvious that she was in love at first sight.

We watched a father whisper tender words in his son's ear that only he and his son will know.

We watched a sweet, spunky 4 year old bow up with pride and run over and ask us ' do you just LOVE my baby brother?'

We watched a Korean escort cry when it was her turn to say goodbye to the baby she had cared for the past 24 hours, over an ocean and across a country. She had done her small but large part in completing this adoption story.

We watched a very private, very tender moment in a family's life played out in this very public place. Something that God has been weaving together for a long, long time only to be revealed in His time, exactly the way He had scripted it.

Although they received the bigger gift last night, our friends gave us a gift, as well. We witnessed God actively at work in those moments and I don't think we will ever forget it. And to know that God has this plan in store for our family..a journey similar to theirs but different and unique..is completely humbling.

We are honored to play a part in His story.

I have had a thought continue to rattle around in my brain since experiencing this last night...clearly we can relate to them because we are anticipating our own baby. But- I wonder if more people could watch something like this, could stop long enough to open their hearts to a child becoming part of a family...if more people at the airport, even could have paused their hurried pace long enough and been awed right along with us, how many less orphans in the world would there be?

Orphans aren't an idea you hear about on the news, read about on the internet, they aren't a hazy, abstract thought.

They're real.

And Jesus wants us to reach out to them in some way to care for them. And for us, and for this family..to welcome them home. So they won't have to carry that title around anymore. So they can become sons and daughters.

Our dear friends, thank you so much for inviting us to be there. We are so very, very grateful and so happy for you!

arriving at the airport..family of 3 for a few more minutes..



Waiting for the flight..



With their social worker and friend..(she's our social worker, too!)



The moment before they see him



He's here! They are waiting to hold him..



Finally in mama's arms!



And now a family of four!

Want to read more of their story? Go to http://www.jasonyounglive.com/

Relief and thanks

Our caseworker, Laura, called us yesterday with wonderful news! Korea reviewed our homestudy and will allow us to proceed in the adoption process!! Thank you so much for all of your prayers- they were felt. The power of prayer works!! Seoul-daddy and I both agreed, this situation COMPLETELY solidified in our hearts and minds that we are following God's will by adopting our next child. We are 100% emotionally invested now...and we are so excited!
So what's next? Our homestudy is now in Korea. That means we get to 'officially' start the long wait process for a referral of a child. This will most likely take 10-12 months, acording to the newest wait times. But we're willing and ready! In the meantime, last night we were sent paperwork to start our Immigration Clearance. This is called I-600A approval. Basically, this is the U.S. saying we are ok to adopt from a foreign country, specifically Korea. More fingerprints and forms. This will take about three months total to get this clearance but it's necessary for us to complete the adoption. This will then go to the American Embassy in South Korea who will send it to the Korean government. We will also begin our adoption training this fall. Our agency requires 10 hours of this and we'll get to learn all about attachment and things like that.
We have been broken and humbled during the last week but we always knew God had a plan. He never left us..
And talk about timing! We received all of this news on the very day we were to go and watch our friends, who are also adopting from Korea, receive their baby at the airport! I plan to blog about this later this week but can I JUST SAY, I'm awed by our God and the way He works. It's been a good week indeed.