Fun with "Tay-Mem" and Cross

This past few weeks we have been able to hang out lots with our buddies, Cross and Tatum. We have had so much fun. This last week they even came to our house for a bit. Creed was so excited to show them our new playhouse (that isn't really done yet). 

Notice the last pic: Creed has to figure out this whole idea that little babies sometimes don't do things exactly the way he says to!!! This was good practice. 

Side note: I am way behind on blogging (sorry, Rachel!) and so I hopefully will be purging and overwhelming you with lots of new blogs soon!

Great end to a great weekend

On Sunday after church some new friends dropped by. This is Joy and Harrison and they are such incredibly sweet people. They have been saving dollar bills and change for awhile, it seems to help us bring baby "k" home. I knew Joy and have only talked to her briefly at church a few times. How incredible that someone would think of us in this way? 

The thing is, this family; Joy, Joe, Harrison, and Clara know what we are going through. Clara is adopted from China. You can view her story here: www.journeytoclara.com

What a great story. It is amazing to see how many people, some who we know very well, some who we know a little, and some that we don't know at all who are taking on OUR calling as their own. Standing amazed.

Joe, Joy, Harrison and Clara are starting a ministry to help families who are in the adoption process. They hope to be able to help financially for some adoptive families. 

Their ministries name is "A brother's love" because Harrison (their little guy) is the one who first had it on his heart to adopt a little sister. 

God is good. 

Amazing

I have the most amazing friends. My small group at church took it upon themselves to do everything they could to get our baby "k" home. This weekend they threw us the most marvelous garage sale. Seriously, I have never seen anything like it. People came together (some who I barely know...some who I don't even know....and some dear, dear friends) like I have never seen people rally behind something. You wouldn't believe it. People gave their best things, things that they could have sold at consignment or on ebay and bought THEMSELVES some fabulous things with the money. Instead, they chose to take upon our calling and make it their own. I am utterly struck in a way that I have never been struck by God's presence and calling for people to show love. Thank you, Lord. He knew I really need some supernatural reminding of His power...isn't HE so loving? (even when we are undeserving)

Thank you, friends...just doesn't sound adequate. Thank you, Lord. I praise you.

My friends raised $2,245 for our adoption. Honestly, it is such a blessing to have the money. That really isn't all that is so amazing. Just such confirmation of God's goodness to lay it on other people's heart. Okay, as I am typing this....another miracle!!!!!

My friend, who hosted the gsale said that her mom wanted to do something to help us as well (mind you, we don't know her). She has LOTS of points with an airline for frequent flyers that she would like to donate. Just called the airline and checked on how many points it would be to go to Seoul.....her mom donated enough for an ENTIRE TICKET to Seoul!!!!!!!

ADDENDUM: Just got off the phone with our friend who said that the host of the gsale called her and told her about the incredible moving of God....she said that she had LOTS of airline points (with the same AIRLINE!!!!) and would like to donate those as well. 

We HAVE OUR TICKETS FOR BOTH OF US AND BABY!!!!!!!! Plus, cash for our stay in Korea as well as for gifts, etc. 

This weekend, we have the funds to travel to Korea, hold our child in our arms and bring them HOME forever. 

I love you, Lord. Standing amazed in your presence. 

Things we are CONFIDENT in....

Phillipians 1:6 "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Lots of emotions today....Feeling very similar to how I felt before Creed was born, but still different. 

Micah reminded me of how confident we are in this (last night at around 1 am during my minor emotional breakdown)

Things we are confident in: (Confidence level)

God is good (100%)

We are going to have a child from South Korea (100%)

The child we get will be the child God intended us to have (100%)

We will KNOW that it is OUR child (100%)

The referral will come on this date:_______ (we have NO idea)

God has proven His provision over and over in our lives and especially through this process. God is good. 

Thanks for your prayers. 

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