14 Months

Months

 Things ARE moving in the Korean program and I would say things might even be starting to speed up just a bit in both in timelines and referrals numbers.  I am almost scared to say that hoping another issue does not creep in to make a set back.

In the past month and a half I would say we have seen SWS start to issue more referrals.  Finally in August it seemed to hit our agency and they had 3 referrals in that one month where in past months maybe one referral if that would come in.

August brought our agencies is first families court dates and they travel to Korea to meet their babies with returns this month to complete the adoption.  There was also a new court date issued this month and several people are praying their child's emigration permits will be approved.

Overall very positive.  I am still trying to persuade myself that our referral will not come until early 2014  but am secretly holding out hope we get it in the next few months which will in fact make it harder for me if we don't.  

Like a 3 year old

Ps. 40:1  I waited patiently for the Lord

Blogging emotions today :(  After all what did I start this blog for....to document our adoption.  Ok it is defiantly morphed into documenting our life - an on-line photo album I suppose.  But documenting the adoption is in fact going to come with a lot of emotions. 

Today is one of those days.  It has been a strange day actually where my emotions have gone from one end of the spectrum to the other.  One minute I found myself folding laundry and feeling so happy and blessed to be able to be home with my kids and not working outside the home and then I walked over to my computer.  

I read the words I have been dreading that someone who had a HSTK after us got their referrals after only waiting a small handful of months.  I got this pit in my stomach and I am having a hard time getting it to go away. 

I knew it was bound to happen.  I know that our agency does not go in order per-say, I know that God has the perfect baby picked our for our family, I know that God also has the right timing for our family. So why do I feel sad....  

I guess inside we all have that sinful nature just like you see in a 3 year old......NO IT WAS MY TURN!(actually it wouldn't even be my turn there are a few others waiting longer than me)

One day I am going to get our referral and see that sweet little face of the baby I know is out there.  I am going to look at the big picture and realize God had it all in control.  

I am probably going to sit in amazement at how God timed this all out just perfect for our family....but today I feel like a three year old on the inside stomping my feet with a sour expression on my face saying...NO IT IS MY TURN!  

So I turned to HIM and HE Says....Wait patiently on the Lord.

He reminded me that.....

Often blessings cannot be received until we go through the trial of waiting

John is back

We are super happy to have John back from Korea.  He got back last Friday and it has been a flurry of activity since but we are happy to be back to a family of 5 at the dinner table.....and as you can see from the picture they kids were beyond excited.  

This will be his last year with us but he is looking at some colleges within just a few hours from here so hoping he will be with us for breaks and holidays beyond this year.  It will be hard to say goodbye to him after he has lived with us for 3 years.

The crazy blanket

 It just might be that I have officially gone crazy.  I have been doing really good lately with not being impatient waiting for our referral.  I have adapted the mindset that we will not get our referral until the new year.  So I don't understand why....... I just won't let myself finish this blanket?

Completely crazy I know.  I learned to crochet last fall to help pass the time and I made our new little guy this blanket

It took me so long and I worked so hard on it I was hesitant to send it off in our first care package to him in case we might not get it back so I decided to make another blanket that we could send to him and I could tell the foster mother I wanted her to keep it for future babies she has in her care.

Great idea!   I started the blanket and it is almost done after only 2 months (I guess my skills are improving).  I probably only have about 30 minutes left to finish it and for some reason I keep postponing it.  I will do a few stitches here and there and then set it down.

I finally realized I was doing this and pondered the reason a little....I guess I would prefer to have to rush and finish it off so I can send it to him than finish and have it sitting here looking at me for months on end.

Yup I'm crazy!

School days

I'm having a hard time believing my little guy is in middle school.  There is a quote, "adoption is not for the faint of heart" well let me tell YA watching your kids grow up is almost just as hard and right now I'm doing both.  

So far so good no tears have been shed but almost.

  The downfall of the daycare business is my kids are so excited when they come home and eager to tell me all about there day but unfortunately I have about 6 more kids also eager to tell me about there day and I know I miss out on those moments and information.  I guess you have to take the good with the bad.  I am glad I'm here for them at the end of the day but wish I could give them my full attention.   One good thing I am looking forward to most with middle school is Banana gets home almost and hour before the elementary kids and with only the two little ones here who may not even be up from nap yet I will get to have a change to hear about his day. 

 It was awesome to see Carrot run off to the bus eager to go to school.  It only took all of Kindergarten and half of 1st for her to get there.  Thank goodness she got established before her brother went off to middle school.  She was full of confidence today and did not need her brother.  It makes you happy and sad all at the same time.....darn now I'm crying.

Caught the tail end in this picture of my sweet blowing me a kiss.   

So blessed to have to happy, healthy, and easy going kids......I wonder if this third is going to give me a run for my money!

Beach trip Day 3

Our last and final day was probably my favorite of our trip.  

We woke almost too late but did catch the sun on the rise.

Still sleepy but wanted to pose

We packed and headed a few shore towns down to one of my favorites to spend the day biking and exploring the town

After biking the promenade by the beach we headed to one of our favorite breakfast places

 I just love the vintage feeling of this town

Passing a little time waiting for breakfast

This time I told Carrot I was picking breakfast so we got some blueberry pancakes.

Back on our bikes for the long trek to the light house

We made it and the weather was just so perfect.  

Jeff suggested we go up the light house this trip

Before the 199 stair climb

After the 199 stair climb....not too bad

 Going down is sooooo much easier

Being silly in a fake library front next to the shops

To finish our trip we decided to forgo some of our drive and take the ferry a part of the way home.

This is much better than driving

It was a fun memorable vacation.  Feeling a bit sad our summer is almost over.