Yes, I Am A Maniac! Packing For Korea

So, I know this is months early but I want to make sure I pack everything that I want to take. If I do it now rather than in a rush I have plenty of time to make sure I got everything.
This is stuff for Isabella that we are taking to Korea with us. For clothing I am taking a couple pair of Gymboree Pajamas because they are cute and I think they will be comfortable, especially for the long flight home.

A Blanket From Grandma

My mom made this for Isabella Eun Jin. We are going to take it to Korea with us.

My Baby Bird-Isabella Eun Jin

Mommy's Little Bird
I found this at the gift shop at work. It is perfect! In the photo with Isabella and her foster mom, Isabella reminds me of a little bird perched on her foster mom's lap. I found a cute pink scrap book for her that also has little mommy and baby birds on it. She is my baby bird. I can't wait to hold her.

Jackson With Isabella's Photo And Gift

Brother And Sisters!

Finally Able To Get Blogger To Post Video! Isabella!!!

Joelee's Gift For Isabella

Jackson's Gift For Isabella

Like Clockwork??? And Are You Kidding Me?

A few phrases I feel like saying at times. So I called AAC today to get verification of the legals/I600 being submitted. After being shuffled around and explaining a few times the situation, I was told that Joni misspoke when she told me that they had submitted our I600 form. It was really only submitted two days ago. TWO DAYS...Really, thats nice. NO wonder I haven't received the approval yet. So new time line suggests that I600 submitted WITH baby's legals on May 19, 2009.

Baby's Legals

Today we received copies of our baby's legals from AAC. Included is a birth certificate and some paper work about Kim, Jin Sook being the guardian for our baby and that he approves the process for looking for adoptive parents for Eun Jin.
Does this mean we are getting somewhere? I do not know...

A Life's Work-The Retirement of Dr. Kim Duk Whang

Dr. Kim Duk Whang and Eastern Social Welfare Society
-Upon Dr. Kim’s Retirement

Kim Hye Kyung(Director of Sponsorship and Post-adoption Department)

“Take care of orphanages and single mothers”

Dr. Kim Duk Whang kept this phrase deep inside his mind when he founded Eastern Social Welfare Society in early 1970. At that time, there were only few people out there to take care of the orphans and unwed mothers. Most of the Koreans were interested in how they could be better off in the industrializing society and did not care about abandoned babies. It was Dr. Kim Duk Whang who took action for those children in need. In an interview with EBS, he recalled, “In those days, people abandoned babies in plastic bags, in the streets, etc. Thus I decided to do something for these babies.” He believed every life was given by God, thus everyone is so precious.

“I love to help others. After I retired from Ministry of Health and Welfare, I started to help orphans and churches,” said Dr. Kim asked about the reason he started welfare organization. Dr. Kim was almost sixty years old when he started ESWS. In the age when most people get retired, he started something, something very precious.

He first tried domestic adoption, however, he had to meet a lot of obstacles. In the early 70s, adopting a baby was regarded as shameful in Korea. Koreans had no rooms in their hearts for children without a family. In 1970s, many people believed that those children deserve orphanage. Simply put, just feeding and providing accommodation was enough for orphans.

“Some people from orphanages may have a good life. However, it is better to grow up in a family. They will have more opportunities and more education. If they stayed in an orphanage in Korea, who would educate them in college and graduate school?” recalled Dr. Kim.

I presume, at first, he started adoption from the caring heart for the little babies. When he first started adoption, he had a dream that someday these little angels grew up to be loved in a family, live safely, reach their potential and be a contributing member in this world. And after thirty years, his all wishes and dreams for those children became real. Before he retired from ESWS, it was one of his biggest joys to meet and talk with adult adoptees who grew up wonderfully. His prayers were answered.

Moreover, God gave him much more than he prayed

Among the babies who came to the care of ESWS, some had disability. Sometimes, it is too severe to find parents to adopt them. For these children, Dr. Kim founded an institution, special school and other facilities and extended service area. Under Dr. Kim’s strong leadership, ESWS came to reach out hands for all levels people in need from babies to senior citizens. Now, ESWS plays a significant role in the improvement of Korea’s social welfare.

However, it was not always easy to do such things. In early 1980s, when they decided to build Eastern Child Welfare Center in Pyongtaek, they had to face severe opposition by neighbors. The residents did not want the neighbors with disabilities. They asserted that living with them will threaten their safety. They demonstrated against building the Center almost every day.

Nevertheless, deep inside his heart, Dr. Kim had a faith that children, though they have disabilities, should live in better circumstances and be given education. Persuading native residents and Pyongtaek city officials, at last, in 1985, Eastern Child Welfare Center was established.

Now it serves as the main social welfare center in the community. Thanks to the center, a lot of disabled children of the community can get a quality education, and children from disrupted families can live in a shelter and a lot of members of the community get the benefit from the Center. In about 25 years, it turned out his decision not only changed the lives of clients, but also upgraded the level of welfare in Pyongtaek city.

Besides that, he did so many things that change the lives of the needy people and, ultimately, the history of social welfare in Korea.

He was a very strong and faithful person, but for children, he was just a warm-hearted grandfather. He did not pass by a baby who was waiting for his or her turn at the Love the Children clinic without holding it. And he didn’t forget to express gratitude to the foster mothers of the baby. The mothers were consoled for their hard work by his encouragement. Whenever he visited Pyongtaek, he would be surrounded by children there, because he was always all smiles on his face. He was just a grandfather to all the children at ESWS.

Every staff at ESWS knows how Dr. Kim always prayed for each baby who was adopted. Until his health allowed, he would go to the mountain every dawn to pray for the well being of the babies and adoptees. He felt really sorry that people in Korea could not take all of them and had to send them overseas. And he prayed that each baby could be happy and healthy.

Many people will remember him as an enthusiastic social welfare professional. However, he was an influential historian as well, who specializes Korean history of northern territory. He wrote a lot of books on history and religion like “Manchurian dictionary”, “History of Manchuria”, “Our nation, our history”, “History of Korean religion”, “History of Korean philosophy”, “Research on Ethics of Ancient Korea”, “” etc. He was so sad that we lost Manchurian area where our ancestors lived for a long time. He wrote these series of books wishing that many Korean people should not forget the love and interest on that area.

His passion, love and energy enabled him to work for people in need and to study history in depth. We all thank God for allowing him with health so that he could do those things such wonderfully. We see “God” in every decision he made, and in every action he took. In an interview with a TV show about ESWS, Dr. Kim said, ”It has been God’s choice, surely, God’s choice. There were several crucial moments in my life when I was almost dead. However, he spared my life all the time. Now I think it was because he wanted to use me for people in need.”

Until now the history of ESWS has been equivalent to Dr. Kim’s life. Though he is retired now, his vision, passion and faith will be deeply inscribed in the soul of each staff. And we pray God will use us as a passage of blessings as He did to Dr. Kim.

***These photos and article come from this site*** http://www.eastern.or.kr/

Checking In

Well, I emailed the Immigration people this morning. Hopefully they will respond and let us know if they are working our I600. I had the impression that it would be less than two weeks since we did the I600A and already we are over two weeks...Gotta love the paper chase.

She's Not A Doll

Information for friends and family.
Isabella Eun Jin is adorable.
She has lots of cute clothes, tons of pretty hair bows and a bunch of fun toys.
This said she is not a doll.
When we bring her home we will not be passing her around.
She will most likely be grieving the loss of the life she has known since birth.
In order for her to bond with us we will have to spend alot of time holding, comforting and loving her.
She needs to learn that we will be there to take care of her and love her.
For the first few months we will only be allowing immediate family to hold her.
That includes, me-the mom, my husband-the dad, Joelee-the big sister and Jackson-the big brother.
I know that everyone is excited to see her and hold her but we must do what is best for her.
Isabella's safety is a great concern.
We do not want her to be comfortable going to just anyone.
If we do not set the proper attachment boundaries early on she will not learn healty appropriate relationships.
It is for our daughter's safety that we request that you respect our wishes.
When she has been home for awhile and has adjusted to her new life we will begin to "share" her.

A Different Perspective
Immense Loss; Walk a Mile in Baby’s Booties

Imagine for a moment…

You have met the person you've dreamed about all your life. He has every quality that you desire in a spouse. You plan for the wedding, enjoying every free moment with your fiancée. You love his touch, his smell, the way he looks into your eyes. For the first time in your life, you understand what is meant by "soul mate," for this person understands you in a way that no one else does. Your heart beats in rhythm with his. Your emotions are intimately tied to his every joy, his every sorrow.

The wedding comes. It is a happy celebration, but the best part is that you are finally the wife of this wonderful man. You fall asleep that night, exhausted from the day's events, but relaxed and joyful in the knowledge that you are next to the person who loves you more than anyone in the world…the person who will be with you for the rest of your life.

The next morning you wake up, nestled in your partner's arms. You open your eyes and immediately look for his face.

But IT'S NOT HIM! You are in the arms of another man. You recoil in horror. Who is this man? Where is your beloved?

You ask questions of the new man, but it quickly becomes apparent that he doesn't understand you. You search every room in the house, calling and calling for your husband. The new guy follows you around, trying to hug you, pat you on the back,...even trying to stroke your arm, acting like everything is okay.

But you know that nothing is okay. Your beloved is gone. Where is he? Will he return? When? What has happened to him?

Weeks pass. You cry and cry over the loss of your beloved. Sometimes you ache silently, in shock over what has happened. The new guy tries to comfort you. You appreciate his attempts, but he doesn't speak your language-either verbally or emotionally. He doesn't seem to realize the terrible thing that has happened...that your sweetheart is gone.

You find it difficult to sleep. The new guy tries to comfort you at bedtime with soft words and gentle touches, but you avoid him, preferring to sleep alone, away from him and any intimate words or contact.

Months later, you still ache for your beloved, but gradually you are learning to trust this new guy. He's finally learned that you like your coffee black, not doctored up with cream and sugar. Although you still don't understand his bedtime songs, you like the lilt of his voice and take some comfort in it.

More time passes. One morning, you wake up to find a full suitcase sitting next to the front door. You try to ask him about it, but he just takes you by the hand and leads you to the car. You drive and drive and drive. Nothing is familiar. Where are you? Where is he taking you?

You pull up to a large building. He leads you to an elevator and up to a room filled with people. Many are crying. Some are ecstatic with joy. You are confused. And worried.

The man leads you over to the corner. Another man opens his arms and sweeps you up in an embrace. He rubs your back and kisses your cheeks, obviously thrilled to see you.

You are anything but thrilled to see him. Who in the world is he? Where is your beloved? You reach for the man who brought you, but he just smiles (although he seems to be tearing up, which concerns you), pats you on the back, and puts your hand in the hands of the new guy. The new guy picks up your suitcase and leads you to the door. The familiar face starts openly crying, waving and waving as the elevator doors close on you and the new guy.

The new guy drives you to an airport and you follow him, not knowing what else to do. Sometimes you cry, but then the new guy tries to make you smile, so you grin back, wanting to "get along." You board a plane. The flight is long. You sleep a lot, wanting to mentally escape from the situation.

Hours later, the plane touches down. The new guy is very excited and leads you into the airport where dozens of people are there to greet you. Light bulbs flash as your photo is taken again and again. The new guy takes you to another guy who hugs you. Who is this one? You smile at him. Then you are taken to another man who pats your back and kisses your cheek. Then yet another fellow gives you a big hug and messes your hair.

Finally, someone (which guy is this?) pulls you into his arms with the biggest hug you've ever had. He kisses you all over your cheeks and croons to you in some language you've never heard before.

He leads you to a car and drives you to another location. Everything here looks different. The climate is not what you're used to. The smells are strange. Nothing tastes familiar, except for the black coffee. You wonder if someone told him that you like your coffee black.

You find it nearly impossible to sleep. Sometimes you lie in bed for hours, staring into the blackness, furious with your husband for leaving you, yet aching from the loss. The new guy checks on you. He seems concerned and tries to comfort you with soft words and a mug of warm milk. You turn away, pretending to go to asleep.

People come to the house. You can feel the anxiety start to bubble over as you look into the faces of all the new people. You tightly grasp the new guy's hand. He pulls you closer. People smile and nudge one other, marveling at how quickly you've fallen in love. Strangers reach for you, wanting to be a part of the happiness.

Each time a man hugs you, you wonder if he will be the one to take you away. Just in case, you keep your suitcase packed and ready. Although the man at this house is nice and you're hanging on for dear life, you've learned from experience that men come and go, so you just wait in expectation for the next one to come along.

Each morning, the new guy hands you a cup of coffee and looks at you expectantly. A couple of times the pain and anger for your husband is so great that you lash out, sending hot coffee across the room, causing the new guy to yelp in pain. He just looks at you, bewildered. But most of the time you calmly take the cup. You give him a smile. And wait. And wait. And wait.

--Written by Cynthia Hockman-Chupp, analogy courtesy of Dr. Kali Miller

My Husband's New Car Seat

I bought my husband a new car seat today for Isabella. I'm sure he will be thrilled!

Car Seat

I found a cute, good car seat online today so I bought it. I figure I gotta have one, might as well get it now.

A Little Step Forward! Hooray!

Today we got our approval letter for our I600A, the approval form is the I-171H. Now they will process our I600. Hopefully that goes fast without a hitch.

I600A/I600 Mess Still Waiting

You would think that with as many adoptions are done that this process would be easy and clear...Not so. Today I received an email stating that my "file" will be reviewed tomorrow-if nothing comes up...What? And also talked with AAC who said they mailed the I600 on April 20th. They received confirmation that it was signed for, but I thought it was supposed to be submitted after I600A approval...Guess I will wait for tomorrow and hope that nothing comes up that would keep my file from being reviewed.
Hopefully it will be smooth sailing from here.
Also the package we sent to AAC for Isabella Eun Jin is still there at the office...Maybe it will go this week? I guess AAC is going again on either the 17 or 19 of May so that is the latest that it will go...
I need to get Isabella Eun Jin's Build A Bear packaged up and sent so that she will get that as well.