For almost 2 years we have been talking with the kids about the possibility of adding another child to our family. After we completed our home study for the adoption and worked through piles of paperwork, Justin and I decided to wait to tell people, including the kids, until we had a referral. We were expected to have a referral within 6-8 months and be traveling 4-6 months after referral acceptance. Well, we are 16 months into this journey and still do not have a referral. After the emails we received last week from our local agency and our international agency, we can expect that our child is alive and being taken care of by a foster family somewhere in Korea. We are just waiting to find out who he/she is.
Ben and Cami both excited over the news of a new sister or brother
Ian gives a thumbs up for the new sibling but a thumbs down for not getting him/her right now!
Justin and I decided it was time to tell our family and friends and especially our kids. We sent special Valentine's Day cards to our parents and siblings. This journey started out as something we thought would be predictable, but have learned that despite being through this adoption journey 3 times, nothing is predictable. After church and an afternoon birthday party, we told the kids they could choose a restaurant to go to for dinner. We should have thought that through as their number 1 and 2 choices were the Korean restaurants in Madison, which are both closed on Sundays. Their next choice was Chili's. We told them and they were so excited! It is hard to explain to them the steps necessary to bring their sibling home.
We are thankful that God prepared them to be open to a sibling. We pray for them as we continue this journey since we feel it will have an impact on the kids, especially Ben and Cami, as we receive the call, wait for travel, and go to Korea. Our last trip was over 4 years ago when Ben was only 4 and Cami was 3. This time they will have a better understanding that we are going to the country of their birth. They will see the hospital they were born in, see the nursery where they spent their first few days, and see their foster mothers/families again.
It will be a life changing journey in so many ways. We started our family over 8 years ago and as we added to our family, we traveled and grew as a family. This trip will be easier in the sense of travel without bottles, diapers, car seats, etc (until our flight back). This time our kids will remember so much more.
For now, we wait and pray and pray and wait as we have for the last 16 months.
We ask for prayers of protection for our child. We pray for continued patience for us as we anxiously await knowing who our child is and preparing to become a family of 6.
