Last Childless Birthday!

Okay, I think I can safely say that this is going to be my last childless Birthday!!! To celebrate, my sweet hunny and I went away a couple days last week to Myrtle Beach! We had a lot of fun getting away and taking a break from work. (Well, Bryan still had to work, so it was more of a break for me.) I probably shouldn't have done it because I'm so behind on my orders, but I just couldn't say no. ;) I try so hard to take in all this alone time I get to spend with Bryan because I know in a few more months those times will few and far between and I will miss these days. But I can't help but think about how great it would be to have our little one with us! The beach, lazy river, feeding fish, carnivals... I mean they are all just meant to enjoy with kids! But we did manage to have fun just the two of us. ;) We finished up the weekend with a outdoor movie at a park in Charleston, and it was a perfect end to a perfect weekend. Thanks hunny! Here's some pictures...

Me and My Hunny

Charleston Harbor

Sunset Movie at the Pier

Our balcony in our room!

Crazy Carp in Myrtle Beach!

Of course, I have to mention my other birthday present from Bry!

This necklace says "Mom" in Korean! It is an understatement how much I love this! Every single time I see it, it reminds me to think and pray for our baby half way across the world. It is the best gift! Can't wait to show it to our little one when we finally meet! :)

Waiting for Referral!

As of September 20, 2010, we are officially waiting for our referral! Our agency told us last Monday that they have sent our dossier and home study to South Korea! A referral, for those of you who may not know, is when the Korean agency matches us with an orphan and we may receive the following information about the child: photos, medical, social, developmental, and any other background information. We then would have the choice to accept or deny that referral based on that information, within a certain amount of time.

So, how long do we have to wait? Well, that is really unknown. Our agency has told us to expect anywhere between 6 to 8 months! But...another source, a friend that is adopting from Korea from the same agency, said that she got her referral in 4 ½ months! She also told me that her sources (people who have adopted from our agency) have told her that if this is your first child, then you get priority in a faster referral, a that is why they got theirs so quickly! Well, I don't know how much of this will be true for us, but I sure like the way it sounds! ;) So, good news is that we might get an early referral, bad news is we have less time to raise the money we need to accept it! At referral, we are going to need to pay $2500 again to our agency, plus $16,540 for our international fees!!! That number blows me away every time I see it because I have NO idea how we are going to raise it! But...I know that God does! Really, this is the main reason I do this blog. To have record of what God has done and will do, so that one day I can show my child and others all He did for this to happen and to bring Him glory through it!

So, just so you know, the next few months are going to be a full force effort to FUND RAISE! We want to try to raise as much as we can before the beginning of the year, so if we do receive an early referral, we will be ready. Please pray for us, and ask God for a miracle in providing all the funds we need for this adoption! Ask Him to help us use this time efficiently as we apply for grants and fund raise, and for Him to prepare our hearts for parenthood while we wait. If you have any ideas or interested in helping us in anyway, please feel free to contact us. We are incredibly thankful for everyone who follows our journey and has helped us so far in the process! We love you all!

Flowers from my hubby to honor the occasion...

I-600A Approved!

Been waiting a long time to read these words...

"It has been determined that you are able to furnish proper care to an orphan(s) as defined in Section 101 (B) (1) (F) of the Immigration and Nationality Act."

We received this faster than we thought! Praise God! Next step...our agency sends all our approved paperwork and home study to South Korea! Yay!

We remembered the thumbs up this time...