March..

March has been a pretty slow month at LL. There have been no boy referrals....which means we have not moved up on the list. LL announced earlier this month that they will be merging with another agency. This has us, and most families we talk with, feeling pretty uneasy. The reason being.... there are so many unknowns with this merger. How will this effect our "spot" on the list? How will this increase our wait time and what else will change? Money obligations, etc.?
I called the director of the International Program at LL to try and get some answers. But, there really wasn't much, "legally", she could share with us at that time. So, really we are just waiting until the final announcement is made to see what implications this will have on us. She did say one thing that sticks out in my mind. I asked her how this will effect our spot on the list and her response...."It's a good thing you are where you are and that you are already on a list"....Hmmm? Not sure what to think about that but, we'll just have to wait and see. Kirk and I just have to keep reminding ourselves that what was meant to happen will happen. Once you think you have everything figured out with the International Adoption Process....It will change ;)

A Huge positive....Our SW has finished our Home Study and sent it into DCFS...One more thing to check off the list.

DCFS License

We received our DCFS license in the mail on Thursday. Since it seems like our journey has been a little slow lately, this was a nice reminder that things are still moving along.

I just finished reading I Wish for you a Beautiful Life: Letters from the Korean Birth Mothers of Ae Ran Won to Their Children. Our SW recommended this book to me a number of times but, really encouraged me to read it after our last meeting. I made some comments to her about how I can't even imagine the pain a birthmother feels knowing she will give up her baby. This book is a collection of letters written by birthmothers to the children they gave up for adoption. Many of the letters explain why the mother chose adoption and the life she hopes for her child. Some of the letters give some background leading up to the decision and some even speak specifically as to why the birth mother chose International adoption over domestic adoption.

Although, some of the cultural stigmas have changed since this book was published and it was very sad; I am SO glad I read it. It was almost like I was meant to read this book at this point in time. I’ve been thinking a lot lately that if referral timeframes stay on track (which as we all know, this could change at any time) our son has already been brought into the world and is just waiting to be placed with his forever family....our family.