The long wait

Not much to report right now except this mama is going crazy. For the past few months, we have been anxiously awaiting an update from Korea. We were supposed to get a DVD weeks ago but it didn't turn out and now we have to wait for another. 

We specifically asked about how big he is and if he is walking and talking. Still no idea! It would also be nice to know his size so we can shop a little. I've been having a good time at the clearance rack ;) 

I have posted on Facebook about my suspicions on when we will travel, so I should probably explain that.  I follow a blog, MPAK, located at mpakusa.blogspot.com.  It's a great resource about what's going on in Korea and with other adoptive parents around the world. It seems like most of us are bursting to know how others are doing so we can be encouraged and know SOMETHING is happening. 

My hope is that our court date will be in July and that we will travel back in August to bring Jonah home. This is all a guess based on what others have said on the blog.  Our EP (Emigration Permit, which is permission for the child to leave the country) paperwork was submitted in January, so we are waiting on approval for that. 

Based on the blog:

- several EPs submitted in December were approved from Feb-April.

- one couple from Denmark had their EP approved April 17, heard about it in May. a few weeks later they got a court date, though they were never notified of being submitted to the courts. Their court date is in late June.

- one US family just found out that theirs was submitted to the court in feb and they are awaiting their court date. 

- another family in a different welfare system (there are 3-we are with SWS) was submitted after us and have already receive their EP approval and court date.

Apparently there is no rhyme or reason. 

There was an abuse case in which a little boy was killed after being adopted by an American man in the NSA. This had a huge impact on the whole Korean international adoption process. Before that happened, people were generally waiting 3 months for EP approval, then getting a court date within 4-6 weeks. 

There is a judge who recently said he tries to keep the court phase to 3 months. 

So my hope is that we will get EP approval any day, get a court date in July, and go back a month later for Jonah.  Again this is just a guess, but it helps me to keep my head from exploding over the unknown. A guess gives me hope.  A big empty nothing makes me feel crazy. 

So that's where we are :). 

Waiting on The Lord... psalm 27