Another big step done

We found out today that Hudson has Emmigration Permission. Normally, this is the last thing to be granted before travel clearance. But, our whole process for him has been backwards since he was a waiting child and we weren't at all in the adoption process when we found him, so it only makes sense that this is too! The only 2 steps left are the BIG ones. When the US immigration office clears us, they will send notice to Korea. When Korea gets this notice, they will apply for Hudson's passport. This could all take a few weeks to a few months, you just never can tell. I did go ahead and buy several gifts for workers at Eastern Social Welfare Society in Korea. I need to get busy on some nice gifts for his foster family and for Abby's foster mother(we will be meeting up with her as well).
Could you guys pray hard for a few things? I tried fasting today. I'm such a weenie!! I fasted from when I got up at 5:20 until 2:15. I was at work and began to quiver and had the most horrible headache. Oh, I'm so ashamed of how indulged I am. Anyway, the Lord knows my heart. We need a few miracles. I'll be vague, but could you join us in praying for Mike's ankle to be healed, money for our plane tickets to Korea, and one more decision our family has to make that doesn't really need any details. Thanks everyone! You are wonderful and I wait in anticipation of what/how/when/where our God Almighty reveals himself in and through our prayers!!

LWB Cleft Healing Homes

Watch how special needs orphaned children in China receive wonderful help through Love Without Boundaries

Lakehouse 09

Every year my parents rent a lake house for everyone in our family to converge upon. We are spending a few days floating on dolphins, innertubes, whales, alligators, and the largest float you have ever seen! It is currently being called "the island" and has seats for 6, 2 built in coolers, an anchor, a little loading dock type place, and hole in the middle to jump in. It is ridiculous! Dillon has orange fingernails and 3 play tatooes at the moment. Hey, what happens at the lake, stays at the lake right???!!
Updates? Dillon lost his first 2 teeth last week. He looks adorable of course. Abby is swimming like a fish and fishing like a pro. Carter is being a teenager on vacation-complete with headphones and cell phone. He's gotten up at 5:45 am the last 2 mornings to fish. Our adoption-well, just waiting. No news right now. Praying for the Lord to place a love for our family in sweet Hudson's heart.

Three months ago today....

The social work committe met and gave us the green light to adopt Seong Cheol!! We had actually been looking and praying over his information since Friday February 20th and told Dillon International that yes, we wanted him on March 1. We were jumping into something so much huger(I know,that isn't a word!!) than ourselves. It made no sense at all in human terms for us to pursue the little fella with chubby cheeks and a comb over ;) BUT, we all agree with the words of Isaiah that God's ways are not our ways and God's thoughts are not our thoughts--His ways and thoughts are higher than ours!! Yippee to God for orchestrating this fun, amazing, nonsensical, glorious journey for us. Come home soon dear Hudson!

FAQ's

There are several FAQ's in previous posts if you want to read through them. I try to address the questions/comments we hear over and over on this blog every few weeks.

1. If you've already said you want to adopt him, why is it taking so long to get him?
I wish wish it was as easy as saying "yes" and then you are off to get the child. Adoption is very regulated(contrary to some weird and scary stories you may hear otherwise). We had to do mounds of paperwork for our adoption application, then have local fingerprints and homestudy(really a family study). These things are very important because they screen potential families and provide a lot of opportunities to ask questions and become educated about adoption/attachment/race issues that may or may not develop. Then, after all of that is scrutinized by licensed social workers, the government clearance starts. The US wants to make sure that children who are legally relinquished for adoption are brought in the country. As unbelievable as it may sound, there are a few unethical people out there! We have to apply with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services to bring in an orphaned child. We have to have fingerprints that are cleared nationally through the FBI. On the Korean side, Eastern Social Welfare Society is applying for Hudson's passport, Emmigration Permission and Visa. So, when all of those things come together, we get a blessed phone call granting travel clearance. At that point, we will jump into action and buy plane tickets. When we got Abby's travel clearance, we left the very next morning!! Right now, we are thinking late July is when we will get our munchkin!

2. What do you mean by "Waiting Child"? Most of the time, families fill out all the required paperwork and then wait on a list for a match with a child-called a referral. This takes many months for a child that matches the family to be born, and then at the age when he/she is allowed to be adopted. Waiting children are ones who for some variety of reasons(medical problem, older age-it is hard for a child over the age of 3 to be placed in a family, developmental problem, background issue like history of birthparent with mental illness or substance abuse). These children are ready for adoption, they just need a family to say YES! Many times the issue that caused the child to be waiting is correctable or easily managed here in the US. If you'd like to see some waiting children, go to www.rainbowkids.com. It is a photolisting of over 400 waiting children around the world.

Heart looks great

Good news from Korea. Hudson had a soft heart murmur documented by the pediatrician at the Babies Home. He had a follow up echocardiogram this spring. We got word yesterday that it is normal!! We werent worried about it. Dillon had the same thing and by 14months of age, it was gone. But, still, it is nice to see the words "normal" when it comes to your baby's heart :)

Good things happening

We got our fingerprint appointment letter from USCIS(immigration office in Dallas) today!!!!!! Man, I've been so anxious to get that. Basically, nothing can really happen until our fingerprints are cleared. The appt. is next Friday(June 12th). Now, even though it is computerized, the actual clearance could take many weeks. I'm really really trying to keep my perspective here, but it is hard!

Pray our sweet little man home.