You Gotta Have FAITH....

In this roller coaster journey called adoption we have come to know that you gotta have faith....the kind of blind, raise your hands to the heavens and just submit to whatever comes, kind of faith. The kind that any normal human would find so so difficult....and yet when your adopting, that is exactly what you are asked to do. Let go of all control and have FAITH that it will all work out the way its supposed to in the end. That the timing you'd like is not always the timing that will come.......through it all FAITH will get you through.

Several weeks ago another batch of EP's were submitted........to our knowledge we were not among them. Initially we were sad, but taking a step back we realized that this entire wait is out of our control....we have done all we can do and now its up to others to do their part to unite us as a family. I have made a conscious effort to be a more graceful, patient waiter. And have FAITH that Jaelah Yun-jeong will come home when she's supposed to. Don't get me wrong....this wait is torturous, and is definately not easier the second time around. There are some good days and some really really tough days.

So....what's a girl to do when she's just relying on FAITH....well put her focus on more "important" things............

Like buying hairbows for Jaelah from another adoptive momma's store online....so so cute.

Like searching for the perfect gifts for the foster family that has taken care of your girlie for all this time.

Like shopping for gifts for all the staff that have worked endlessly in Korea to bring us together as a family.

Like picking up things here and there...like rice cereal, desatin, hand sanitizer, preemie clothes, baby clothes, baby cream etc to donate to Holt for all the other babies waiting on FAITH for their families to come for them.

(If any of you would like to pick up any of these items for donation feel free and we'll bring them along when we travel).

So...we're walking the end of this journey on FAITH alone............we may stumble a time or two, but we know in the end...when we become a family of 4....all of this...each and every tear, each and every sleepless night, each and every question will be answered....because it will turn out EXACTLY how its meant to be.......full of FAITH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What's She Doing????............

I find myself wondering this often throughout the day........

When I give Jae-min a tubby at night, she's just starting to wake up and start her day.

When I lay my head on my pillow, she's probably having breakfast.

When I'm seeing the sunset, she's seeing the sun rise.

When I'm waking up ready for the day, she's snuggling with her Omma before bed.

I can't stop wondering...what's she doing.....

When we went to the aquarium with some friends....what was she doing?

When we took the train into the city to celebrate Jae-min's family day....what was she doing?
When we talk about her, dream about her, and get ready for her....what's she doing?
What's she doing halfway around the world? We're getting ready (slowly), making lists....packing lists, sightseeing lists, trip lists, lists of what she'll need, lists of what we need, more lists of what she'll need (who knew the 2nd child needed so much stuff), lists, lists, lists.

We're just going about our daily lives, getting ready for the big change thats coming..............but we can't stop wondering through it all............what's she doing?????????????????

Surprise.........New Photos!!!!!

On Friday we opened up our email to a HUGE surprise!!!!!!!!!!!! Two new photos of our sweet girl!!!!!!!

Just look at her...she looks like she wants to get into some mischief. It looks like a very small smirky smile that was coming our way. She's just teasing us, she'll show us those pearly whites when we get her home!!!
She looks so much older in this second picture. She's still got those chubby cheeks and she's wearing her pink fashion pants again!!! She may have gotten a haircut, as it looks like its in a little bob now....not sure. Oh I could just EAT HER UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was such a great surprise. We didn't think we'd get new pics so soon after our care package pic last month, but we'll take it.

We need her home like now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We love you Jaelah Yun-jeong. You keep getting cuter and sweeter each day....we'll be there as soon as we can.

Happy 2nd Family Day!!!!

Two years ago today we were handed a little 9 month old baby, in a land far away. We were complete strangers, but looking back there was a connection in our hearts already. Two years ago today, in an office and on a curb, I became a mother and Joe became a dad.
Two years ago today Jae-min's Omma said goodbye with such grace and tenderness. She was peaceful and knew we were his family, as she said numerous times when we sat with her. Her tender touch, her smile, and her embrace said it all. My heart still breaks remembering looking out of the back window of the cab, watching her waving, and then beginning to cry.

Two years ago today we wandered the streets of Seoul with our son to get pictures for him of him in his homeland. We were overwhelmed, ecstatic, scared, and full of hope. Hope for what the future would hold. We were thrown head first into this parenting thing. We were up all night with a grieving baby, and then were required to fly halfway back around the world with all eyes watching.
Jae-min has grown into a confident, happy, well adjusted little boy in these past two years. He is the light of our lives and definately a mamma's boy through and through. The past two years have all not been easy. But nothing in life that's worth it ever is
Happy 2nd Family Day Jae-min Francis!!!!!!!!!!!! You made me a mommy and I hope and pray every day that I make you proud. Can't wait to see you become a big brother. Love you with all my heart baby boy!!!!!!!!!!!

NVC In/Out!!!

We received a letter in the mail from the NVC (National Visa Center) that they have logged our I600 in and out of their system on 3/2, and now it is being cabled to the embassy in Seoul. This paperwork will sit and wait at the embassy for Yun-jeong's EP (or exit permit) to be issued. At that time these documents will meet up at the embassy and then the rest of the process will take place. Exciting that a document of ours is now in Seoul!!! It will wait and wait for that elusive EP to someday meet and get this show on the road.

Everything on the US side is now complete. Unfortunately with the EP quota of last year running out in Oct, there are still many families in front of us waiting for EP submission and approvals. We are praying that we get submitted sooooooooon, because after submittal theres still a wait for approval, and then a bit of wait to travel after that. We're trying to stay positive and enjoy the time with Jae-min and each other. But gosh, some days are tough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On a side note.....Jaelah's furniture arrived this weekend and is sitting in the boxes in our family room. We were originally quoted a 8-12 week wait, and it came in in 4. Wish the entire adoption process would work like that Haha We're working on moving rooms around and cleaning things out. I can't help but drag my feet a little because, like with Jae-min, there's a very small part of me that gets nervous this really won't happen. Come on EP...........make this mamma relax!!!!!

2 Years Ago........

These 2 people......

Boarded this big blue plane............

With all these bags......

For the trip of a LIFETIME!!!!

I vividly still remember the feelings of that day. The excitement, the fear, the overwhelming joy, and the sheer terror all rolled into one. We had NO idea of what lay ahead. We were flying by the seat of our pants. I was scared to death to be on a plane for that amount of time, to live in another country for a whole week, and most of all to meet our son and become his mother!!! I also remember that it was one of the BEST experiences of our lives. Boarding that plane I let go of everything I had ever known, and became a mother. I remember crying on take off and landing in Seoul to know that we had made it. WE HAD MADE IT TOGETHER!!!! And the next week of our lives would forever change us....we would fall in love with a land, a people, and our son. Who knew that a simple plane ride could take you to another life???? A new life, and everything you had ever known before is gone.

And in a few short months we will board a similar blue plane

and travel to that same far away land

and see those same beautiful people

and meet our DAUGHTER for the very first time!!!!

Being a mother has shown me that I would travel to the ends of the earth for our children. I would sit on that blue plane for 1,000 hours if it took me to them. We are so looking forward to our journey again. When I landed in Korea 2 years ago, never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would be returning just 2 years later. Never would I have dreamed that I was looking forward to being on that plane again. But I am.....because that is how we'll get to our girl!!!!!!!!!!!!

13 Months.....

Our sweet Yun-jeong turned 13 months old today!!! It's bittersweet to be half a world away and to know your baby is growing and thriving without you. We know that each day that passes brings us closer to bringing her home.....but its still so hard. Because each day that passes is strengthening her bond with her foster family, making her transition into our family that much harder.

We're preparing our home and our hearts for what is to come. We're also preparing emotionally to use our attachment parenting techniques to help her with the transition. Due to her age and huge bond with her foster family (she has been with them since last March, so over a year by the time we can bring her home), we know that those techniques will be crucial in her bond and attachment with us. We are preparing to meet her each and every need quickly and show her that she can trust us. We are preparing to be the only ones to hold her, comfort her, and care for her initially to show her who her parents are. We are even preparing and learning some comforting phrases in Korean to help her with the transition. Because at 13 months old (and older) these techniques will be essential for bonding and attachment. She will be walking and independent and we need to sort of stifle that independence initially so that she is forced to depend on us. We are preparing for all this, but it is still hard. It will be so hard to watch her try to navigate her new life. We know that these attachment techniques are necessary (and not popular), but as parents we will do what is in the best interest for our child. We will comfort her every time she cries, carry her as much as possible, and be the only ones to hold and care for her until that attachment is formed.

And we have living, breathing proof that these techniques work!!! After attachment parenting with Jae-min we have a happy, secure little boy with a strong bond and attachment to his parents. Yun-jeong's age will make these techniques even more crucial. But we're preparing our hearts to be strong to handle all that is to come!!!