The Referral Day Continued

After Raleigh and I shared our wonderful news with all of our parents, we got in the car and headed to Nashville to see my parents. We had already planned this little mini-vacation, and it worked out perfectly.

We met my parents at J Alexander's in Franklin for a celebration dinner. My dear cousins Kaitlin and Erica joined us, as well as Erica's awesome fiance Matt.

We have a son!!

My mom and dad...love them!

Erica and Matt

Kaitlin and Erica

Erica, Kaitlin and Matt surprised us with a sweet baby gift!

Our son is already so loved!!!

It's a Boy!

God is so faithful and we are so thrilled to announce that WE HAVE A SON!!!! He is 8 months old today and waiting for us in South Korea! We are so excited!! We hope to have him home by his first birthday at the end of June, but the timeline is completely out of our hands.

Since this is a way for us to write down our memories, here is the story of his referral. Get a cup of coffee, prop your feet up, and enjoy reading how God brought our sweet son into our family.

Friday, February 4th was a normal day at work. Raleigh and I knew that the Holt offices in Korea were closed, due to Lunar New Year, so we were not expecting any type of adoption news.

While my students (I teach kindergarten) were out of the classroom, I quickly checked my email and saw an email from Bethany (our agency). I quickly opened the email and saw that is was the pictures of 4 sweet little kiddos with "special needs." Raleigh and I were in the "standard/non-special needs" program, but sometimes our agency will send information about kiddos if they think they will be "hard to place" or if there is not a family open to their specific special needs.

I was very shocked since it was Lunar New Year, and we were not expecting any news.

I immediately called Raleigh and asked him if we should request their files to review. He agreed and I sent an email to our agency requesting the files of all four boys.

I must say that requesting the files is a very emotional process. We requested the file of a precious little girl last year and eventually felt God telling us that she was not ours so we did not move forward. However, after praying over the face of a child and reading details about the child's history, it is hard not to become "attached" even when you know the child is not your own. This sweet little girl is now home with her family! :)

So...back to the story.

A social worker from our agency sent the files back to me almost immediately. I decided to finish the day at school and wait until I was home to open the files.

Once home, I started reading each file and praying for God's wisdom. I immediately felt drawn to one sweet kiddo. Once Raleigh got home, we sat down together and read the files.

We both knew that night (a Friday) that we wanted to have a few medical professionals review one of the files, because he was just tugging on our hearts.

First, we emailed an international adoption pediatrician that I heard about on an adoption forum. She reviewed the file and called us for a phone consultation Saturday afternoon.

Also, my sweet friend Shea helped us get a recommendation for a pediatric nephrologist at Emory. We emailed him, introduced ourselves and asked if he would be willing to review the child's file. He also agreed (on a Sunday:) and we had the very detailed wriiten report by Monday morning.

We also had a pediatric nephrologist in Alabama review the file. Prior to joining the "corporate" world, Raleigh was a child life therapist at UAB hospital in Birmingham. He has quite a bit of experience working with children in hospital settings. He spent many summers organizing and volunteering at Camp Bridges in Alabama. This is a camp that promotes quality of life for children who have had an organ transplant. So one of Raleigh's good friends from his days at UAB is a leading pediatric nephrologist.

Basically, all three doctors came to the same conclusion. Our son has a blockage in his left ureter, causing too much urine to stay in his left kidney before it drains down to his bladder. This has caused his left kidney to lose much of its function. From what they can tell, the right kidney is functioning at 100%. They all suggested surgery to remove the blockage in the ureter. Removing the blockage may help the left kidney to regain some of the function that it has lost.

After receiving these reports, we prayed and prayed!! Both sets of our parents also prayed for us that we would have peace about whether or not to move forward.

Raleigh and I felt complete peace about moving forward, so on Tuesday, February 8th we sent an email to our agency telling them that we would like to be considered as parents for this little boy.

Families had until Friday, February 11th to make a decision about moving forward on any of the four little boys. So...then we waited.

We knew that the "committee" was going to select a family for this little guy sometime the following week, but we did not know what day. I kept my phone with me at all times. Monday of the following week was Valentine's Day and I kept praying and hoping we would hear an answer about whether or not we were chosen, but we heard nothing.

Tuesday...nothing. Wednesday....nothing. Thursday...nothing.

Friday, February 18th I had the day off of school. Raleigh and I had planned a while back to visit my parents in Nashville that weekend. Raleigh went to work for a lunch meeting and was planning to be home by 2:00. I finished packing for our weekend trip and then decided to head to the mall. Since we had not heard anything all week, I knew there would be a decision and I just couldn't sit around the house and wait.

I went to the mall and was buying a pair of jeans for Raleigh. I had on one my shirts from 147 Million Orphans and one of their Uganda bead necklaces. The lady working at the store, was so intrigued by my shirt and wanted to know all about the organization. I shared my heart for adoption and gave her the website so that she could read more about it the purpose of 147 Million Orphans. Then she noticed my necklace and I told her the story about how the necklaces are made by widows in Uganda and they sell the necklaces to support their families. She loved the necklace and I gave it to her. It was no big deal to me because I love the necklaces and buy multiples at a time. However, the lady seemed deeply touched and she said it was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for her.

Just about this time, I was about to pay for Raleigh's new jeans and my phone rang. My heart jumped (just as it had every.single.time my phone rang during the week). I looked to see the called ID and it said Bethany, our agency. I put Raleigh's jeans down on a table and walked out in the the mall. It was the director of our agency and several social workers. I started crying immediately before they ever told me whether or not we had been chosen.

Then, I head the awesome news....the "committee" had chosen us!! Oh my! God is so faithful!! What God has planned, He will see through to completion! God's heart is for the orphan and He will set the lonely in families.

I immediately called Raleigh and told him that we had a son! Then I called my parents. We called Raleigh's parents once Raleigh was home from work.

So it is with great thankfulness to God that I introduce our son....

Nursery Idea

Have you ever visited Sugarboo Designs? They have lots of neat things that I think have so much character. I particularly love their photo boxes. When Raleigh and I started our adoption process, I remember seeing one of the photo boxes in a nursery picture posted on a blog.

Don't you think this would be so great in a nursery? And the best part....the frame comes in a variety of colors so you can choose a color that matches the feel of your space.

What's in a number?

What's in a number? A lot if it represents something dear to your heart.

Today marks 18 months of officially waiting for our referral, meaning the time since our home study was approved. If you have ever waited for something for many months, you know that many emotions are associated with the wait.

We actually completed our preliminary application with Bethany on October 4, 2008. We were approved and placed on a waiting list on October 7, 2008. This was a list of people wanting to begin the program. Each year,our agency is given a "quota" of how many families can begin adopting from Korea. When we were put on this first list, we were told to be prepared because we would probably not make the 2009 quota. We were number 17 on the list and our agency was expecting a quota near 7. For us to make the quota, about 10 families ahead of us would need to "dropout" of the waiting list.

One of many miracles... On February 26, 2009 we made the 2009 quota and were officially in the Korea program.

Over the next few months, we gathered and completed lots of paperwork. We had our fingerprints taken at USCIS. (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) We met with our social worker several times for interviews and she came to our house for a home visit.

On July 30, 2009 our home study was approved and we were placed on a list of families waiting for referrals. We were told our wait would be about 12 months. We were expecting a referral in the summer or fall of 2010.

Well, today is January 30, 2011 and we are still waiting to see our little treasure's face.

Some days I wait patiently and know that Raleigh and I should enjoy the time we have now as a couple.

Some days I am angry that we are still waiting.

Some days I am overwhelmed with sadness that we are still waiting.

Some days I wonder if we will ever be matched with our child.

Not a day goes by that I don't think and dream of our sweet baby.

I know that the Lord is in control and the He determines the timing of all things, including this adoption. But my human heart, longs for my phone to ring today. The Lord has always been faithful to me, and I know He wouldn't have led us to this place just to leave us.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Please move mountains for us and the other 2009 families that are still waiting for referrals. I know that You are in charge.. not our adoption agency, not Holt in Korea, not our social worker, not the director of our agency. You Lord are in control. Grant me your peace and patience as we continue to wait. Be with the families ahead of us that have been waiting even longer than us. I pray that for your glory, referrals start coming in quickly so that our babies are orphans no more. Your Word says that love is patient. I love our sweet child so much, even though I have never seen his or her face. Please help me wait with patience.
Amen.


1 Corinthians 13
1If I speak in the tonguesa of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,b but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

The Crib

When Raleigh and I started our adoption process, we agreed that we would not purchase any furniture for the nursery until we had our referral. Well, that was when we had been told our wait would be 12 months from HSTK (home study to Korea) to referral. Sunday, January 30 will mark 18 months of waiting. So...we've changed our minds.

I found a crib and dresser/changing table that I loved and it was a great price so we decided to go ahead and make the purchase! We had to rent a truck from Home Depot. It was quite an adventure!

The dresser is still sitting downstairs in Raleigh's office because it is so heavy and I couldn't help Raleigh lift it. :)

Snow Day #4

On Thursday, we decided to stay inside and make yummy tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Yum! We spiced up our grilled cheese a bit by adding sliced green apples.


Shakertown Tomato Soup (recipe from Raleigh's mom)

1 small onion chopped fine
1/2 cup celery chopped fine
2 Tbs butter
1 10.5 oz can of tomato soup
1 soup can of water
1 tsp italian seasoning
i Tbs lemon juice
2 tsp sugar
salt and pepper to taste
sour cream for topping

Saute onions and celery in butter for about 5 minutes. Do not brown. Add all other ingredients and simmer about 5 minutes. Top with sour cream! Enjoy!

Snow Day #3

I am really enjoying these extra days off of work! It is amazing what a few inches of snow and ice can do to a city!

The snow really hasn't melted at all in our neighborhood. The temperature stayed below freezing today, but the sun was out most of the day. We thought the sun might help some things melt, but I guess it was just too cold!!

I'm looking forward to one more snow day tomorrow! I'm just like a kid...when they start announcing school closings I am glued to the tv. I guess that is just part of being a teacher.

Snow Day #2

Today we ventured out on foot to check our streets. They are still pretty icy. Some areas are pure snow, other areas ice, and some areas were slushy.

Raleigh made a snowball, but there is so much ice mixed with the snow, it would really hurt to have a snowball fight with this stuff.

We decided to clear our driveway a little bit in case I have school tomorrow. The temperatures are supposed to drop tonight, so anything that is slushy now will freeze again.

Snow Day

Simple, Perfect Enchiladas by The Pioneer Woman

Have you visited The Pioneer Woman site? If not, go check it out. She writes blogs about food, her life on the ranch, her kiddos, and more.

I love using her recipes because she walks you through step by step with pictures. This Christmas, one of my gifts from Raleigh's mom was The Pioneer Woman Cooks, Recipes From An Accidental Country Girl. The funny thing is that I actually gave the cookbook to her too! Funny!



A few nights ago Raleigh and I made enchiladas from the cookbook. As predicted, they were delicious. We did make a substitution for for the ground beef, since I don't eat meat. We used refried beans instead of the beef.


I can't wait to try another recipe!

Happy 2011!

We had a great time ringing in the new year in Nashville! I know that 2011 is going to be full of wonderful blessings!!

17

Today marks 17 months of officially waiting for our referral. Our home study was approved July 30, 2009. We are praying for an early 2011 referral.

Christmas Blessings

Raleigh and I have had a wonderful Christmas with our families. It is always a blessing to spend time with those we love.

We started our Christmas celebration at my sister's house.



Next, we went to my uncle's house. My mom is one of 6 siblings and we all still get together each year the Saturday before Christms. It is always fun to spend time with my aunts, uncles, and cousins. Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures there.

Here are a few pictures from my parents' house, although all of these presents were taken to the other Christmas celebrations that I previously mentioned.




After celebrating with my family, Raleigh and I came to Colorado to spend time with his family.

A Winter Wonderland

We are in Colorado for Christmas this year. Yesterday we woke up to a beautiful winter wonderland. It didn't really snow, but there was ice covering all of the trees.

An Early Christmas Gift

Raleigh and I are enjoying the Christmas season, celebrating with our families. Each year, we alternate spending Christmas with my parents in Nashville and Raleigh's parents in Colorado. This is our year for Colorado, but Raleigh knew that the gift he had bought for me was much too large to take on the plane or to have shipped. So...I got to open it early while we were still in Nashville at my parents' house.

I really had absolutely no idea what could possibly be in the large box, because I really didn't ask for anything.

I was so surprised and excited when I unwrapped the gift. I will let the pictures tell the rest of the story.

A Painting Giveaway from Kendall Boggs

I love the beautiful angel paintings by Kendall Boggs. She is having a giveaway on her blog. Hop on over and check it out!

The Nursery Chair

Since Raleigh and I started the adoption process, I have known that I would love to have a big, comfy chair for the nursery. When I look for nursery ideas, I always look at the gliders and rockers and dream of one day holding our baby in the chair.

Well, the day after Thanksgiving, my mom and I were out shopping and found the perfect chair. It is called the Storybook Glider. I just love it!! My parents were sooo generous to purchase the chair and ottoman for us.

Raleigh and I went back to the store today to pick out the fabric. I went with something pretty simple- 100% cotton fabric in the color oatmeal. Since we don't know if our little treasure will be a boy or girl, I wanted to choose a fabric that would easily fit a room for either gender.

They are ordering the chair Monday. I think I would like to find some type of cool basket to keep beside the chair. I think it would be neat to keep seasonal books in the basket for bedtime reading. And if you are wondering, I don't think it is ever too early to read to your baby. Children learn so much about reading by listening to others read with fluency and expression. Regardless of our baby's age when he or she comes home from Korea, I plan to read to him or her everyday. :)

16...

Just wanted to drop by and say that today marks 16 months of officially waiting for our referral. Each month brings us one month closer to seeing our little treasure's sweet face for the first time!

Thanksgiving Rewind

Raleigh and I had a fabulous week celebrating Thanksgiving. We are so blessed because this year both sets of our families were able to celebrate the holiday together.

Wednesday night we went to a hockey game...the Atlanta Thrashers vs. the Detroit Red Wings. Raleigh's dad (and the rest of the family too) is a huge Red Wings fan, so we all sported our red. Unfortunately, the Red Wings lost the game, but it was a fun way to kick off the holiday weekend.