On December 5, just one month after we sent our home study to Korea, we got the call that we had been given a referral. Just a few days before that, I sent an email to our agency asking when we might hear something. The response was "shouldn't be long now, wink wink" which nearly drove me crazy. ;) Turns out wink wink meant she already knew but couldn't tell us yet. :)
The next day, we met with our local agency to get a huge packet of information, more paperwork, and pictures of our boy. We wish we could share them but we are not allowed to post identifying information online until his adoption is complete. HE IS ADORABLE! We can share that he is 1 year old, he is healthy, and he looks happy in his foster home. He even looks a little like Zach in one picture, which is such fun!
We fell in love immediately! Zach commented that it feels real now :) he was the one that said "let's go get the crib!"
So the past few weeks have been very busy. That first week we had to get the file to our doctor to make sure there were no medical surprises. We contacted the local International Adoption Clinic, but never heard back :( but that's ok, we weren't going to turn him down. We had a HUGE pile of paperwork to do, with about 30 pages requiring a notary seal. We got fingerprinted at the USCIS (immigration) office and actually just received the permission to adopt today! The BIG task of that week was that the agency fee AND the overseas fee (totaling $25,000) were due with the referral paperwork. Talk about a leap of faith!!!
We were so blessed in the timing of it all. With the silent auction just the weekend before the referral, it's hard not to see Gods hand working to create the perfect timing in this process. He is definitely the Author of this story.
We were able to combine donations and our savings, and ended up getting a much smaller loan than we thought we would need. That in itself was a huge blessing. We still have not heard from Lifesong, so if we receive a loan or grant from them, that will help us pay back this loan immediately, then all loans can be paid off when we get our tax credit after the adoption is finalized.
The majority of the cost has been paid and now we work to replenish our bank account ;), as well as save up for traveling to Korea (possibly twice) and my maternity leave.
The time frame we have been given is 4-6 months before we travel but that is just an estimate. We would travel next week if we got the call! So once again, we WAIT, knowing who he is and praying constantly for Gods protection over him, his continued development, his foster mom, his birth parents- that they will have peace in this situation, and for us, as we learn to be patient.
It's amazing how much we love him :)
We say this constantly but we really are so grateful for God's blessings in this journey and the wonderful people He has brought to support us. What a wonderful Christmas gift!
