Comfort

I feel as if we are getting close to being introduced to our child for the first time. Micah says it is kind of like when Paul says "the end is very near." Meaning, it could be super soon and it could be awhile yet. I do know that we are closer today than we were this time last week. Please keep praying. Pray that our child will be presented to us in God's perfect timing, that our baby is being loved, and that we can be patient as we wait. 

I long to hold baby "k" soon (getting kind of tired of calling our child baby "k" and him/her and she/he). 

Some verses that I got off of a friends blog, who is waiting to bring her baby boy home from Ethiopia. 

Ps. 119:50

"My comfort in my suffering is this: your promise preserves my life."

Habakkuk 2:3 

"This vision is for a future time. It describes the end and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed."

Fourth

We are now, un-officially (it will be official when we get our referral) a Korean-American Family, so in celebration Rinn has the Korean Flag and Creed the AmericanFourth of July Party at Church....it was a blast

Reesey and Momma...notice the face tatsCreed and his buddy, Lilly

Creed and buddy, Marshall....I think they could get in major trouble really soon
Creed and buddy, Emma....she may be able to help keep them out of trouble in the futureReesey was a little confused on who's birthday it is on the fourth....as the fireworks were going off she said "Is it God's birthday?"

Baby K Update

Okay...it's getting closer and closer. One of our friends, Donna, just got her referral for her new daughter! (we are just waiting for Emily, YoungHe, and Deanna to get their babies). We are so pumped for her. We are one step closer. My sister-in-law described it like when you are in labor and you keep going to the hospital and they keep sending you home and saying "Not yet, go home and wait a little while longer!" It is totally like that, we just don't know when it is coming. Could be tomorrow, could be 2 months, could be longer. Any of these options is way faster than what we were thinking just a few months ago. We are trying to remain calm, not get too uptight, and not hold our breath. We'll let you know as soon as we can when we know anything.

In the meantime, here is our "to do" list for what we need/want to get done before baby "k" comes home

1. Lose 20 lbs (yeah, it's superficial, but still...)

2. Finish our online adoption courses

3. Finish our final book we are required to read plus a book that Micah's sister recommended, 20 Things that Adopted Children wish their parents knew

4. Organize my house

5. Get all the baby stuff out of storage and find a place in our house for it (this will be a miracle!  We live in 1100 square feet!)

6. Sort through baby clothes

7. Uh...decide on a name for our child (we are getting close, I think)

8. Go on a little trip with our little family to have some bonding time

9. Get our kiddos ready to be a big brother to two siblings, and a big sis for the first time

10. Get gifts for our trip to Korea for all the people who have helped our child be loved during our time away from them (if you know me, you know that I want this to be perfect, creative, different types of gifts than the usual)

11. Learn some of the Korean language

12. Figure out the plan for our homecoming...will we have all our loved ones at the airport? or will we meet at a larger location that will be our homecoming versus everyone meeting in

 baggage claim at the airport

13. Get our taxes done (yes, 2007.....we filed an extension, it's a sick thing that we do EVERY year because we are NEVER on the ball)

14. Start baby "k"'s life book. It is kind of like a scrapbook, journaling their lives. We already have a lot of stuff for baby "k"'s life book!(and we don't even know who they are yet)

Okay, I may be adding to this list as I think of more things. Let me know if you think of anything that I need to add to the list.

Love to you all!

Sunny

Our Blessings (Revealed)

Okay....some of the MAJOR blessings revealed. 

We have lots, way to many to list! Here are a few biggies that have come recently. 

1. Sky (my sis) celebrating 3 years and about 2 1/2 of those years of no cancer...she is a survivor. Sky has brain cancer...doing super duper well. She is my hero. This is her pic with my mom at a celebration lunch. Praise to the Lord.

2. While at this luncheon with my sis, my bro and sis in law came over to see our fam. Micah and the kids were outside swimming in the blow up pool. Paul and Ang stopped by after church...chatting and hanging out. As they were leaving they handed something to Micah. He looked, it was KEYS TO OUR NEW VAN!!!!!  Paul and Ang said they had really felt God leading them to give us the van. They prayed about it and said "yes."  See, there are several things that amaze me about this. Paul and Ang are awesome, incredibly awesome. They aren't millionares, however, so this is a big sacrifice for them. Their gift blew us away. We feel like it is just such a blessing because A. We really needed a new vehicle (it was going to be hard to fit baby number 3 in my 94 buick lesabre that has 160,000 miles on it and a broken seat belt in the back. B.This is such an investment on the part of Paul and Ang and there family and we feel it is just them joining us in our calling to adopt. Praise the Lord (x2)

Here's us with our new van....let me just say it is BY FAR the best vehicle I have ever owned. Hands down.

3. So, number three....It has been truly amazing to see how people that we love, our family, our friends, and people who we don't even know have given us gifts to help fund our adoption. Some have given $7, some $50, Some $184, Some $1000, and some even more, and any variation in between. 

A few weeks ago Micah got a call from someone on our church staff. He asked if I was around and to get me on the speaker phone because he had some news for us. When I got to the phone he announced that he had a blessing for us. Someone was (anonymously) wanting to give a LARGE amount for the remainder of the money needed for our referral. Amazing. We had been wondering how God was going to come through so quickly, since the time is approaching more quickly than expected. I was speechless. Amazed. AweStruck. God is so good. Immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine. 

This gift is in addition to another anonymous gift given right when we needed it several months back. Another anonymous donation that we desperately needed to do our homestudy and pay our formal application fee. 

These gifts are in addition to other gifts people who are precious to us have given over the last several months. It has been an amazing journey to see. When we started this process, we knew that WE were called to adopt. No doubt. But, to see OTHER people take on OUR CALLING as their own is really indescribable. To all of our blessings, those of you who are sacrificing for us and for our baby a world away, thank you. We love you. (you know who you are.wink.wink)

Word to anyone considering adoption or any other calling from God. I was nervous, REAL nervous about how "we" were going to fund this adoption. We started the process having no idea how it was going to happen. Now, knowing what I know, just a few months later I want to scream it from the mountaintops- What God calls you to do, HE will provide. No question. Please, take the first step. Do your part, work hard, and then turn it over. 

God is so good. 

Great news on the adoption front. SEVERAL people have received their referrals in May. micah and I are really, REALLY getting close to knowing who our child is. It is so amazing to me. it has gone so much quicker than we expected. Honestly, it is possible that we could have a referral in a month or two and be going to Korea to bring our baby home in October-ish! Can you say "wow?"

We are incredibly thankful for the many, many blessings God has given us through others during this time. It has truly been amazing to see God work in the lives of our friends/family on behalf of US!!

We would like to offer these t-shirts to you as a way that you can help us in the process of bringing baby home. We are using it for funds for our final big payment and for travel costs to travel to bring out child home to their forever family. We would so much appreciate your help. 

They are amazing shirts...but, we also know that you are doing this out of love for us so, thank you. 

The Facts:

These t's are super cool and will be printed on the very trendy "American Apparel" t-shirts\You can view these t's on http:/store.americanapparel.net/2001w.html#1

The adult shirts are on a cranberry which is a nice brick red

The child sizes have a little bit of a different color, but are still red

These shirts run a little small (especially the kids' sizes, so you may want to check out the size chart

Thank you all so very very much. We are blessed.

BE(LOVE)D T SHIRT

SMLXL2XLKids 2Kids 4Kids 6Kids 8Kids 10Kids 12

God is so good

I can't wait to tell you all that God is doing in our lives with our call to adopt. God is amazingly good. WAY more than we could ask or imagine. There are a few things that have happened lately that are utterly and completely the hand of Our God in our lives. Amazingly blessed. We will share more in the next few days but for now we are praising God. 

No referral....don't worrry! As soon as we get that we will let you know. But, now that is ALL we are waiting for!  Come on, baby "K"....we are ready for you to be introduced to us!

Campbell/Landry are 4!!

Yes, Campbell/Landry are four!  That is not right. It seems like a few months ago that we were all praying for them to arrive safely. We were shocked when Sky was wheeled out of the OR with both babies in her arms and taking them back to the room with her. They were so incredibly cute now and are still. 

By the way: Campbell and Landry are two different people. My kids just still get them a little mixed up :)

Love you, girls!