Easter 2012

Well, another Easter has come and went and as I watched all the kids egg hunting I realized that Jacob will be here to hunt next year.  Even though he is not here yet, I do have a basket waiting for him.  Easter is always so much fun at our house.  We boiled and decorated eggs and had our 3rd annual egg hunt on Good Friday for our friends (which has grown to 27+ kids).  We also made sure to discuss the real reason for the season with a cute snack craft the parents could do with their kids - Jesus' resurrection from the grave (can see a picture below):

Resurrection Snack/Craft (half donut is the grave, the vanilla wafer is the stone rolled away, and the graham cracker is the ground)

Most of our egg hunters - weather was great!

 

Easter was fun, but I can't wait to get Jacob home so he can enjoy all the fun his brother and sister are having.  His older brother started soccer and is having a blast while his sister is getting ready for her 2nd dance recital.  His sister is preparing to graduate Pre-K and will be entering Kindergarten in the fall while his brother will be entering Pre-K.  I know God knows when Jacob should arrive and I am starting to see that is the case.  Recently we had some issues with our daughter due to her allergy medication.  It had changed her personality.  It was a difficult time and I can't imagine having Jacob home and him dealing with grieving and also dealing with her issues at the same time (so thankful God made it clear that the medicine was not a good thing for our child and that I was paying attention to her change from the medicine).  We have took her off the medicine and she is herself again - so glad to see her smiling happy self again (we just have snotty nose - but that is better than an unhappy worried child).

I know God knows what He is doing and we trust Jacob is in good hands and well taken care of while we cannot care for him.  I do pray daily that he stays safe and sound and will arrive home soon.  I can't lie - it is scary at times when you see the recent events in Korea, but I pray God will surround Jacob and his foster family with protection and good health and also my husband and I when we do travel to pick Jacob up.  We would like to ask you to also join us in praying for Jacob arriving at a time when we don't have to worry about taking our other children out of school and for a means for them to stay here at our house (we believe we do have people setup for this, but continue to pray for this provision).  We are so thankful for all prayers and I love to have this blog to record my thoughts through this journey. 

The Boys' Room and More...

So, I finished the blanket for Jacob's bed.  It is too cute!  I stitched around each and every Lightning McQueen on that blanket.  The final product is below on his future bed next to my other son's Thomas themed bed.

I also got everything together today for Jacob's next care package.  The last item I was waiting on was an English/Korean version on "Guess How Much I Love You?"  We have always loved that book in this house and I thought it would be a great tool to help connect to Jacob once he is home (his foster mom can read the one I am sending and then we can read it together when he is home).

I am always excited to get new pictures of Jacob and today was even better.  We got 20 month old pictures of him pointing out his body parts and also sitting in a chair.  The funniest one is of him in a hat.  He does not look happy to be in the hat (just like my other son), but he looks great.  I love that his rash is gone - just check out the picture.  This is such a praise (his skin looks great).

Blanket for Jacob

After hearing that Jacob likes cars, I decided I knew exactly what type of blanket I would create for him.  I am a sewer/quilter and love making baby blankets for others and stuff for our family.  So, I was holding off until I knew what he likes.  I really want his blanket to be something he will feel secure with - like my Mason is with his Thomas blanket or my daughter is with her custom Princess quilt for her full bed.  I can't wait to start and finish so I can share the pictures.  The top is characters from the Cars movie with a backing of black and white finish line checks.  So, so cute!!! 
I know I talked earlier in this blog of moving the boys to the bigger guest/playroom and moving that room to the existing boys bedroom.  We will do this down the road, but after careful consideration, I believe it will be in their best interest to keep things as is for now.  Especially since our plan is to stay in that guest/playroom when Jacob arrives home until he is comfortable with his new bed and room.
So, hopefully next post will be a picture of his new blanket, bedroom, and the next care package (that would be care package #4).  So, time ticks on - at least 6 months or sooner before Jacob's arrival (so excited)!!!

Another update!!! :-)

We received another update the other day that was very encouraging.  It detailed how they don't know exactly what Jacob had (which is a bummer, but are going to monitor him).  I was very happy to hear that there has not been any new spots and he has grown to 31.5 inches and weighs 24.2 lbs (apparently he is hitting a growth spurt). 
I was very very happy to read that he got his care package we sent back at the end of Jan.  His foster mom reported that she was liked that we sent him a car because he loves cars (that would have been the fire truck - if he loves cars, I can't wait till he gets the next care package we are getting ready to send).  Mason picked him out a little silver car plus a Cars sippy cup - the cool thing is that was before we knew he liked cars. It is sooo cool to hear what he likes and that him and my son share the same interest.  He will love his new room it is decorated in Cars characters (including the curtains).
We are waiting on pictures they are going to send of him getting his gifts - can't wait to post them.  I have been patiently waiting for pictures of him with his care package items.  This is such an answer to what might seem like a minor prayer, but it comforts me that he is getting his care packages and learning who we are.  That package had a book we made of the time since we knew he was our son to Jan. (pictures and all of us speaking - so he can learn our voices and see our faces).
On a last note, I did talk to the placing agency today to see what the hold on EPs did to our projected travel date (if anything).  She told me we are still on target for August to September.  That was such a blessing to hear, but we are still praying we will travel before our other kids start school!  As I have said before, I rest in the fact that Jacob will arrive when he is suppose too.  Continue to pray for our little guy - we can't wait to get him home!

New Pictures

We just got an email with Jacob's 19 Month pictures.  Yes, these are a little late getting here (he turned 19 months on Feb 26), but I couldn't be happier than to see Jacob's smiling face.  As you can see, he is doing very well and is a happy boy (feels so good to see a smiling picture of my little guy).  We are waiting patiently on getting our little guy home (hopefully it won't be too long now)!

Great news!

Exit permits are being issued again!!!  Hopefully our travel will either remain the same or move on up (God can do anything - I pray everyday we'll travel before school starts for our other 2 children in the fall).  Anyway, we are so excited to see that Korea is starting to issue these very important documents again.  For now we wait and see when we'll get a travel call.
I am working on Jacob's 4th care package in the meantime.  This time I believe we'll send some more pictures, books, snacks, and maybe even a sippy cup (we'll see what I can come up with).  I do know I am going to have to send a new picture of me and his sister (we are getting our hair cut very soon).  I am also trying to get as much experience as I can with taking care of 3 children.  Adding a 3rd to our crew has been interesting, but also not very hard (I've heard people say that but I didn't know what they meant until I've had 3 to care for - it is really not all that different).  Now don't get me wrong, Jacob will have issues that other children do not (like leaving all he knows and understands - including his language).  Overall though, it has been encouraging to me (this Mommy cannot wait to hold and care for Jacob).  I will be so overjoyed to have all my children here with me.

Keeping busy

Okay - so I am getting a little nervous now about Jacob's exact date on coming home (especially while we wait to see when the exit permits will start up for this year).  To keep me occupied, I've been enjoying every minute with my family.  Just signed my youngest up for 3 and 4 year old soccer, signed my daughter up for swim lessons, and trying to plan a fun economical vacation (hopefully on a beach - not sure which one yet).  On top of that I stay busy with the local library board and am helping to plan our church's upcoming ladies' retreat.  Anyway, that's what is keeping me going.  Apparently busy is good for me - it doesn't allow my mind to wonder or worry.  As a family, we are loving playing board games and reading stories before bed (amazing how turning off the TV has encouraged some great family bonding time).  We are really having some great times these days and I am loving every minute of it (we are making some wonderful memories and I pray our children will remember these times as they grow).  We can't wait to add Jacob and we pray he will arrive soon.