Care Package

Now that we have sent in our official acceptance paperwork, we can send a care package to Korea for Bates.

Here is what we sent.


Included in this package:
A monster stuff animal and rattle.
Just a taste of the monsters to come!

A taggie blanket.

Bates' D'D made him this taggie blanket. She actually made two of them. We were told not to expect to get anything we send to Korea back. Most of the time the foster family keeps the clothing and things for future foster children. So D'D made two blankets, one we are sending to Korea and one to keep here so he will have one when he gets home. We slept with this blanket in our bed for a few nights, so hopefully it will smell like home!

An outfit.
A cute stripe outfit. He will look so cute in it. Hope it fits!


Aveeno baby wash and lotion.
We plan to use Aveeno wash and lotion, so we are sending some to Korea. Hopefully when he gets home, he will feel comfortable being surrounded by smells he recognizes.

Two photo books.
I made a flip book on snapfish and also got a kids soft book and filled it with our pictures. Hopefully his foster mom will show him our pictures and point out his Umma and Appa!




And two disposable camera.
Hopefully his foster mom and dad will take lots of pictures of our boy for us!

And look, I fit it all in this box! Yes, even the stuffed animal monster fit. It was tight, but I did it!


Little note, after I got it all packed up in this FedEx box and took myself to FedEx and filled out like a million forms, they were going to charge me $115 to send the box to Korea! Um, no thanks!

I took myself to the good ole post office and off the package went for only $40!

Under the tree

Under the tree are some gifts for a very special little boy.

Bates is getting some toys: blocks and cars, a veggie tales dvd, and his first Bible.
I love the little Bible and can't wait to read the stories to him at bedtime!


So, there are some gifts under the tree for a little boy who we can't wait to have home!
Merry Christmas, sweet boy! Mom and Dad love you!

Let's Learn about Korea: Hanbok

Hanbok litteraly means "Korean clothing". A Hanbok is worn as semi-formal or formal wear during traditional festivals and celebrations.

A traditional Hanbok consists of:
jeogori, a blouse shirt or a jacket
chima, a wrap-around skirt, for women
or baji, baggy pants, for men

Hanboks are typically made out of bright colored silk for children, and somewhat subdued fabric for adults.



You would wear your hanbok to any semi-formal, or formal occasions, including a child's first birthday, weddings, and funerals.

There are all kinds of fun accessories that go with a hanbok, including some fun headgear!



We plan on purchasing a couple hanboks for Bates in Korea for him as he grows up. We also will have him dedicated at our church in his hanbok!

USCIS, round two

I took our "Request for Evidence for I-600a Approval" letter to Kim our social worker today.

She already got the addendum done and it's back in the mail to the USCIS.

Round two.... let's pass this time!

another ornament

Bates has his first ornament on our upstairs tree, but I also decided to start another tradition too.

Our downstairs tree is all silver and glass ornaments.

I decided we would frame a picture of each of our children every year and add that to our big family tree.

So here is Bates' ornament on the big silver tree.

I decided to use his referral picture, rather than his more updated picture since that is his referral picture. The first picture we saw of our son; the picture we fell in love with!

a BOOO birthday present from the government

So I was hoping for I-600a approval today, wishful thinking- and NO SUCH LUCK!

However, in our mailbox was a letter from USCIS.

It was a "Request for Evidence" for I-600a approval. Kim, our social worker, warned me this would be possible, and even probable, but still! AGHHHH!

So get this, this is what they want.

As part of our home study we were asked a bunch of questions "Have you ever been committed any crimes? Have you ever been convicted of child abuse? etc etc"

In our home study report, Kim wrote something to the effect of:

Mary Leigh and Nick have never committed any crimes.... etc, etc.

They are requesting an addendum to our home study where Kim puts our answers verbatim, and in quotes, instead of a summary statement.

So basically they want.
When asked is she has committed any fellonies, Mary Leigh replied "No."

SERIOUSLY!??!?!?
Your tax dollars at work, folks. Not to mention a bad birthday present!

So prayer warriors, get on it. This little hold up will cost us a few weeks. A few weeks I don't want to wait!

I think my answer for the committing crime needs to change cause if they don't get on it and approve us, I might hurt someone!

Pray pray pray!

it's Monday in Korea

Right now, Sunday night, is Monday morning in Korea.

So it's tomorrow there. And tomorrow here is my birthday, so right now in Korea it's my birthday!

Bates, it's your mommie's birthday, so if you could get them a move on, that would make me happy!