Adoption Update

The title of this post is deceiving.  We don't really have an update... we are still waiting, which seems to be the theme of this adoption.  Here's the recap of what has happened so far in our adoption journey -

* From the time we brought Lilly home from China, Liam started praying for his brother.  He has been convinced that we were not done adopting and that God had a brother for him.

* In October of 2017 we met with Bethany Christian Services and said we were ready to adopt again.  By the time we drove home from Indianapolis, we had decided that we were going to adopt from South Korea.  We then started the Homestudy process.

* In March of 2018 our Homestudy was completed and sent to South Korea.  We started the wait of being matched with a child.  We worked on our I-600A paperwork, which was completed in May.

* In July of 2018 we accepted a referral.  Our son was born on 12.31.17.  We then started receiving his clinic paperwork each time he went in to the doctor and pictures.  Our Dossier was sent to South Korea in August.  Next started the LONGEST wait (190 days to be exact). 

* In February of 2019 we were submitted to the Korean Ministry for review (called EP Submission).  They only allow a certain number of adoptive couples to enter this phase every year.  We were also told that this phase can take between 4-12 weeks.  As of today, we have waited 70 days!  We are praying we hear we have been approved soon.

What's next? -
After we receive EP Approval we will be submitted to Court.  We will then wait again for a court case number, judge assignment, and a court date.  We have been told that couples "typically" travel to Korea for court 8-12 weeks after EP Approval.  

Trip 1 will be the court trip and will last 7 days.  We will get to meet our son and his foster mother and ask her questions.  We then have our court appointment.

Trip 2 (about 4 weeks later) will be our custody trip.  We will go to get our son, have his Visa appointment and then come home.

It's looking like those two trips "could" happen this summer.  We are getting weary with the wait.  Please pray that we hear news soon, that the last stages move smoothly and quickly and that our son's heart is being prepared to meet us.

Liam's 9th Birthday

Liam wanted to have a Mario Odyssey themed party this year for his birthday.  It was fun to put this party together.  Liam took Mario themed cupcakes in to school.  He had a friend party on Friday night.  Then we had a family party on Saturday for lunch.  We had Mario's pasta bar complete with star power garlic bread, piraña plant fruit, flower power veggies, and Luigi lemonade.  It was a full weekend, but a lot of fun!

We let Liam open his presents from us on his actual birthday.

Lilly made Liam some things out of paper.  Her homemade card was also cute.

Cupcakes for school & friend party

craft for friend party

Liam asked me to make his cake the Odyssey.  I had to google what that was.