We're OUTTA HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Got the call today - leaving tomorrow, don't have time for more because I have to get my house in order. YEAH!!!!!!!!! We're going to have our computer and will be able to give updates as we're there. That's the plan, at least.

Just Waiting for a Phone Call

So here's the deal. Right now, Lewis is getting his Visa appointment and his medical apointment set up. Once those are set up, Korea will call and tell Bethany we are cleared for travel. Usually families are traveling or about to travel before or during those appointments. In which case we would not get the medical update on Lewis until we get to Korea.

Korea will call and say that it wants us there on a certain date. That is the date we can meet Lewis and talk to his foster mother that day. The next day we can go sightseeing (Lewis will be at his foster mother's house). The day after that Lewis will be ours to take home and we may travel back the next day. Apparently you usually can't travel back the day you get your child, but honestly, I'm not sure I'd want to. I don't mind waiting until the next day to travel.

It is true that we get only 5-10 days notice. So theoretically we could get a call tomorrow and Korea could say that they want us there next Thursday.

Pray that he comes soon. I'm getting a titch anxious.

Latest from the Case Worker:

You should be in good shape for a couple of weeks... but I would guess November travel : )

What the Case Worker Said...

My case worker rocks! She emailed me back already (it' slike 9 at night!!) Here's what she wrote. Don't ask me what it means, I'm not entirely sure, but I think they were holding off on getting Lewis' well baby visit until we got this paper. I was getting a lot of information about him before, but it has stopped in the last month, so I think it's because they were waiting. He has to have a medical clearance for his Visa. Here's what she wrote:

"YEAH!!!!!! you are getting very close now :) THey will be able to schedule Lewis's visa and medical appt and then you will get permission to travel. Great great news! Your fingerprints should be o.k. : ) "

Also, I had forgotten to post this picture of Lewis, so here it is! Our family friends, Leslie Kim and her daughter, Erica, got these books for him!! One is of the Old Testament and one is of the New Testament in Korean! Such cute books! I wasn't sure if his foster mother was a Christian or not, so I had asked for a few children's books that she would feel compelled to read to him, and if she wasn't a Christian, she maybe could find Christ in those books. It is likely she's a Christian, but I wasn't sure. If she is, then she at least knows that we are and maybe that will give her some peace about Lewis coming to us! Win-Win situation.

WE GOT THE LETTER!

So here is what our letter says, what it means....that's a different story. I'm not sure what is next, I think my case worker will get back to me this week, so I'll write more later:

"The visa petition you filed has been approved. The beneficiary for whom you filed has been given the appropriate classification. Note the approval gives no assurance that the beneficiary will automatically be found eligible for visa issuance, admission to the United States, or adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident status. Whether the beneficiary gets a visa is decided only when an application is made to a consular officer. Your petition to classify the beneficiary as an immediate relative of a United States citizen has been forwarded to the United States Consulate through the National Visa Center. This completes all action by the USCIS on the petition. The United States Consulate, which is part of the Department of State, will contact the beneficiary and give instructions about getting a visa. Questions about getting a visa should be made to the United States Consulate. Remarks: ALL APPROVED VISA PETITIONS ARE SENT THROUGH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE NATIONAL VISA CENTER, FURTHER INQUIRIES SHOULD BE MADE THERE."

This is funny, and I just noticed it: the name of the Field Office Director is "Jack Y. Lin." Interesting.

Since people keep asking....

So here's the deal: We are waiting on our government (specifically ICE) to give us the "ok" on our fingerprints. That will come in the mail. By the way, since I've been married, Todd's the mail guy. I just never go out to get it. However, in the last week or so I've been very anxious to get the mail. I even waited all day yesterday until I realized it was a bloody holiday! Embarrassing because I checked it a few times. See? This is why I don't get the mail - I never know when it's going to come. Anyway, once the paper comes, I call Bethany Christian Services, and tell them I got the paper. I also then mail the paper. Meanwhile they call Korea and tell them that the US Government approved everything. Korea begins working on a date for us to travel. Bethany receives the paper I mailed and wires it to Korea. Korea receives the paper and tells us our son is ready. Once I get the paper, things shouldn't move slowly, it's just our government taking its sweet time, but I understand they're busy...although they apparently had yesterday off!

On my toes while I wait

So Audrey certainly keeps me on my toes. I was in GAP today looking for pants for Lewis, and I couldn't decide on a hat and mitten set. It was $20 which was ridiculous, but it was sooooooooooo cute. I couldn't decide on the 6-12 months or the 12-18 months. My better half would take the Dutch route and get the 12-18 months - even if it would look stupid now. However, I tend to go the "satisfy the now," more often than not. He needs a hat now, so let's get him a hat that will fit now - not next year. Apparently I was talking to myself and hemming and hawing out loud. Audrey said, "Just suck it up!"