Waiting.....and Gift-Buying!

This is the part of adoption that's wonderful and hard at the same time (actually, most parts are like that)! We're simply waiting for movement as far as Liam's Emigration Permit (EP) goes. Once he is submitted for an EP and then approved for one, things go very quickly and we can expect our travel call very soon! I might have shared this earlier, but I'm hoping we'll be submitted in May or June or an EP, approved in July, hopefully traveling in August (or it could be September, for all I know).

In the meantime, I bought a few things for gifts recently! It's customary that when you go to pick up your child, you give gifts to the foster family, Holt staff, etc. We don't view this as an obligation - we WANT to honor these precious people with gifts of thanks! I'm still putting together a list of who I need to buy for, but I know that Liam is living with his foster mother and father, as well as a foster brother and sister (they're adults).

First, I printed out a list of gift ideas from the Holt forum. This was a HUGE help, because it was already compiled all in one place! I kind of highlighted or starred the ones I thought would be good, and I went to TJ Maxx. I was able to get two ties and dress socks for Liam's foster father, and slippers, spa/bath mitts, lotion, and a scarf for the foster mother. I bought a name-brand purse and scarf for the foster sister. I went to Bath and Body Works and got some trial-size lotions and body washes for the Holt workers (they're mostly all women, and they work at the Reception Center). I'm going to gather a few more things for their gift basket, and I'll need to get something for Liam's doctor and the main Social Worker at Holt Korea. I still need to pick up some things for the foster brother and add a few things here a there. I'll definitely go back to TJ Maxx, simply because they have name-brand items at value prices. I'm planning on getting gift bags and tissue and bringing them with me in the suitcase. I'm going to wrap everything once we're in Korea, because customs at the airport will look through your wrapped bags.

It has been SO fun to shop for the foster family and Holt workers so far! I love feeling like I'm preparing for travel and making progress. Also, if anyone else is adopting and looking for advice, I have found it to be very helpful to start shopping NOW and not wait until we're close to Travel Call or have just gotten Travel Call. I know how hectic those days will be when we're trying to make last minute plans, so anything that can be done ahead of time, I'm going to do!

Anyway, that's what I've been up to. I emailed one of our Holt workers and asked for an official word about the EP situation, and how they'll keep us informed about all of that. I also requested new pictures of Liam. I know it probably won't happen, but I always think it's worth a try!!

It's so incredible to think that hopefully by the end of this summer, we will be bringing Liam home or getting VERY close. I am just so ready to hug my little man and tell him how much I love him!

Adoption Resources I Love

My friend Nikki requested that I do a post with all of the resources, websites, etc. that have helped me (and Kurt) in our experience of adopting Liam. I think it's a great idea! I'm going to also put this post as a "page" in my menu bar so that it can be easily found for others. I'll be able to add to it as I think of/find more helpful things.

Books

-Hands-down, best book about adoption is Adopted for Life by Russell Moore. We read this book at the VERY beginning of our adoption journey, and I believe God used this especially in Kurt's life to show him our calling of adoption.

-Another book that I've used for reference is Successful Adoption: A Guide for Christian Families by Natalie Gillespie. This reads more like a reference book, and tends to be pretty general. However, it is thorough. It does a good job of outlining the differences in domestic and international adoption, and gives a lot of good personal stories from Christian couples and families.

-Mary Beth Chapman's book, "Choosing to SEE" is a wonderful book chronicling her life as well as adoption. It was a quick read, and so encouraging! It really personalizes adoption.

Websites

-I've said from the very beginning that God used the blog world to call me to adoption. Without a doubt, it was the catalyst for Him totally opening my heart to this. The most important tip I can give is to find a blogroll (a list of blogs) that apply to the country that you're interested in. This is the best way to get personal stories about agencies, experiences, questions about the process, etc. I browsed through literally hundreds of blogs, found a few that stood out to me, and emailed them. I'm still friends with several of those bloggers today! Here are a few lists:

• Korea
• China
• Ethiopia

-You'll want to find comprehensive sites that are specific to your country. For instance, this website has been helpful for our Korean adoption. Simply search for "Korea adoption," etc. and you'll find a lot of resources. Keep in mind that not all of them will be from a Christian perspective. However, I've found a lot of sites helpful for miscellaneous information, like cultural questions about Korea, etc.

-Our agency, Holt International, has a forum that anyone can browse and use, regardless of your agency. Since Holt is the oldest adoption agency, it has a HUGE forum with a ton of users. WORD TO THE WISE: If you're not familiar with how message boards work (I wasn't), you will be terrified at first. Not because of the people; just figuring out how the whole thing works. I have found this to be a wonderful resource, mainly for packing lists, trip tips, directions around Korea, etc. You benefit from there being so many people on the boards, and you really gain a lot from their wisdom. I usually ask really specific questions to friends via email or facebook, and not on the message boards.

-Facebook has been a wonderful resource and support group for me! I'm part of a private adoption group on Facebook. I was invited by a friend (that I met through blogging!), and all of us have adopted or are adopting from Korea. I'm actually one of the only ones using Holt as an agency, but these girls have been wonderful! We compare notes, encourage each other, and speak the same language. I encourage you to either start a Facebook group, or really seek one out. It's nice to be able to ask questions on an intimate level, whereas the forums can get really big and overwhelming. I often feel like I'm a VERY TINY fish in a HUGE ocean there.

There's more I'll add when I get the chance, but this is a good start! I hope these thoughts are helpful everyone adopting or THINKING about adopting!

NVC IN and OUT!!

Oh, the ups and downs of adopting! I had tried calling the National Visa Center last week to check and see if they had received Liam's case yet. The person I talked to asked me for my case number, which I didn't have. I only had a RECEIPT number (a SIM number, for those wondering). He was able to look up our case with that number, but he said it hadn't made it there yet.

So I waited over the weekend and called today. First of all, I waited 20 minutes for an operator. Once she answered, she immediately had a chip on her shoulder for who knows what reason. I was polite and nice, but then the more she talked to me irritably, I started to be a little firmer in my tone. I started to read my SIM number, and she interrupted me: "Ma'am, PLEASE don't give me that number. I need your CASE number." I calmly explained that I didn't have one. She then asked me for Kurt's social security number, because the petition was in his name. I didn't have it written down and handy, and she was just furious with me by then. This is when I got firm. I told her that the operator I spoke with last week had no problem looking up our case by the SIM number. She made it very clear that she was reluctant to do this, but did it anyway. She came back on the phone and said, "Well, this must be a new system. Usually numbers begin with a different prefix, so this must be new. Anyway, your case left our office on May 12."

Ummmm.....thank you for that exciting news!!?!?! She said it so blandly that I had to ask, "So this means we're logged out?" Yes, apparently it does. I asked her, "Just for my records, could you let me know when we were logged in?" Silence, then her answer: "Ma'am, I just informed you of your status and gave you your SEO number. You already have your information." I was floored. I said, "I am aware that you gave me my information, but just for my personal records, I'd like to know." She looked it up (May 10) and then we GLADLY parted ways! I don't know if it didn't show up in the system when I called last week, but we were logged into NVC on May 10 and were logged out May 12!

What does this mean? Well, our case was sent to the Embassy in Seoul. This is where we will await Liam's Emigration Permit (EP), which is traditionally the hold up with our agency right now. Liam will have to have his "interview" (just an appearance), physical, and a few other things before travel call. Yet again, I'm trying to make an educated guess on travel, but no one can help until we have an EP.

Regardless, this means that we're at the end of the process and it should only be a relatively short wait from here on out. God is in control, and we are SO thankful for this movement in our journey! Praise the LORD!

I-600 APPROVED!

I called the NBC today to check on the status of our case. The last several times I've called, they've put me through to our officer, but she NEVER answers her phone. I had left 2-3 messages asking for her to call me back (which is what she implies she will do), but that never happened. So when I called today, I was going to just tell the person that answered the phone to look at their computer and tell me what it said! The girl who answered the phone didn't even ask to put me through to our officer. She just said "Well, it looks like you were officially approved on May 2nd!" AAAAHHHH!! I was so excited!

Now our case will go to the National Visa Center, and then everything will be forwarded to the Embassy in South Korea (from what I can tell). There will still be a wait for Liam's emigration permit, but you NEVER know with adoption. You have to prepare for anything! Thankfully this part of the process seems to go smoothly for most people; it's just hard to wait for that EP approval. I am SO grateful to have jumped the hurdle of getting our I-600 approved! Wow.

Keep praying that things go smoothly and that God's favor continues to be on our adoption case!

A new picture of Liam!

I am so thrilled to show you a new picture of our sweet baby boy! I received the email yesterday, and I can't stop looking at it. He is absolutely beautiful, and it makes me ache for him even more. He is pictured with who we believe is his foster mother (although I can't show her face), and our sweet boy with his care package that we sent. So amazing. Here he is!

We love you, Liam! We are coming as fast as we can!