Final home study visit

Our final home study visit is complete!  I forgot to ask our social worker permission to post this so I will just block her out ;)

 It feels so wonderful to have crossed that milestone.  One step closer to HSTK (home study to Korea).  HSTK is when all of these months of work are compiled and sent to Korea so we can begin our official count down.

The visit went well.  The sw ask the kid if they were excited about the adoption and the things they would look forward to doing with their new brother or sister which prompted a quick reply from Banana saying, " wait a minute I thought we were getting a brother" LOL.  I reminded him that there was a very small possibility that it could be a girl and we moved forward.  The kids then showed her their rooms and the rest of the house.

The SW did ask if the deer hanging in our basement was in fact a deer. She had a bit of a look of horror on her face and ask J if "he did that". It was pretty amusing. I think when listing the J's hobbies I put fishing and golf since he has not had as much time for hunting lately so maybe she was just surprised.

She then interviewed our two international students and finished off us.

All in all it went very well although she did deliver some pretty disappointing news that the timing of the finalization of the home study would allow for sufficient time to send our I-600A application (next step) in time to get fingerprint appointments for the boys before they return to Korea for the summer.  This would mean a significant delay.

So some investigating I did :) which I will save for another post........

Why The Apple Pie?

Our final home study interview (the home visit) is scheduled for tomorrow.  At first this was scheduled for the first week of April and the social worker called me the Friday night before and with short notice I was ok with things not being perfect.

Since the visit was rescheduled to this week and I had a nice long rainy Sunday things are "almost perfect" right down to the apple pie I made this moring to serve our social worker.  I know that things don't need to be perfect.   I have heard everyone say  "oh they don't look that close at the house - don't worry about it", and we really like our social worker and I truly "feel" it does not need to be perfect.

This morning while I was making "my speciality" homemade apple pie and I was spending so much extra time on the crust, slicing the apples just so,  and preparing the crumb  topping in nice fine crumbs instead of my normal rush rush rush lumpy sugar clumps - I kept questioning WHY THE APPLE PIE?

Why did I feel the need to make my "best" dessert.  I fully understand it didn't matter.  It takes some time to make apple pie from scratch and I kept pondering that thought - why the apple pie.

I only make apple pie on occasion because it takes so very long but I like to make it for my family because they all love it and they know how long it takes me to make it and I make it because I love them.

As the pie was baking I realized I wasn't spending the time making everything perfect for the social worker but it was out of love for my new baby.  I want it to be perfect for him because I love him already.  I love this little person who has only been a wish in my heart for the past 10 years while I have prayed my husband would come around to the adoption idea.

So why the apple pie?  It is for you my little boy who I can't wait to meet and I hardly know how I am going to put in the long months upcoming waiting for your referral and then to meet you but you are worth the apple pie.

My homestudy interview was almost like a date :)

We took the long 2 hour drive again for my personal home study interview.  J came along so I would not need to drive home alone in the dark.  My interview went well - I think.  I always struggle with those questions like describe yourself in 3 words :)

We finished up sooner than we expected and called home to check on the kids who were already both asleep.  Since we had not eaten dinner and the adoption agency is on the outskirts of the city we decided to try one of the many restaurants we saw close by. 

We walked down the street and narrowed it down to a Japanese place, a Louisiana style restaurant and this little Italian restaurant that we choose and I'm glad we did.  It was completely adorable inside.  Murals on the walls and twinkle lights made it really cozy. 

It was after 8:00p.m. so it was not really crowded but there were two other couples.  One probably recently married and all excited talking about their life and another older couple who must have been on a first date.  It was so funny and I was thankful for my husband and how we are at the place in our lives were we are comfortable with our relationship could just relax and eat our dinner.

We enjoyed our time alone together and had a nice little dinner....next step.  Home visit on Thursday.

Found my Globe

I saw this globe in a local antique store a few weeks back but there was no price on it.  I ask the shop owner who called the owner of the globe and she said it was $55 dollars but if I paid cash it would be 20%off.  I decided to hold off and wait to get the extra off.  I went back to the store last Sunday after church and there was a price tag on it for $70.  I was about to walk out but decided to ask about it since I was given a different  price before. 

I woman called me back and said that the owner would sell it to me for the lower price so I ended up getting it for $42 instead :)  It always pays to ask.

Projects!

I have been wanting to sort of journal our adoption journey in our house so I have started this project.  I found this card holder on-line and thought it would be perfect so I ordered it for Jeff to give to me as a birthday present LOL

 I am planning to add different pictures and dates along the journey

 I want to get an entry way table to go under this but this will do for now. There is an old vintage world globe at a local antiques store I want to pick up for below or eventually on my new table top.

 I silhouette of Korea with a Bible verse inside.

This was a fun little project and I will update with more pictures as it progresses. 

Sa-lang Hae (I love you) J!

Today J took the long journey for his individual interview.  He is so busy and I know he did not really have the time to take off work for this. He has been so supportive in this home study process. 
J has certainly had his worries in the past about how we would afford this adoption and I sort of expected him to hem-and-haw a little with all these expenses and steps this home study has required but he has been great.  He has had to spend hours gathering financial information, spending nice Saturday's getting fingerprinted,  writing his autobiography, writing checks :) and he has done these without complaining at all (for the most part).

He even came home today and was talking about some reading we will need to do to prepare for this new little person.  He is totally in this now and I don't just feel like he is doing this for me.  I know this adoption has meant giving up a lot of potential "fun items" he had hoped to purchase. I know this adoption is such a time commitment along with the commitment to parent again and the time that takes.

Thank you J for the sacrifices you make for God, for me, and for our children - present and future.

I love you!