Are we showing yet? It's not in her belly, it's on our faces!

Many of the announcements are being opened in the homes of our families and a few friends today!  My Aunt Mary and Uncle Kim were the first to call with congratulations and questions!  It was surprisingly special to me that our first call was from them.  They are my God-parents and were instrumental in my life after my mom's accident (along with many other aunts and uncles!).  Then, my Uncle Jay called G's house while I was there and sent a congrats through the phone.  Then, my former student from Southeast sent me a text full of excitement.  I sent a text to a very dear friend who I seldom see or talk to telling her to check her mail today.  I have yet to hear back from her.  When Chris and I got engaged she predicted that we would be with child in the first two years.  She even marked it on her work calendar so when the day came she would know if she was right or not!  So, I know she'll be excited.

I am thrilled with our pictures that were done by Esprit Jolie Photography, but I am not pleased with Vista Print's inability to correctly complete our order.  Twice they sent the tiny cards you hold in your hand, both times they were to be 5x7s so the country and chalk board pictures would be intelligible.  So, do as my Aunt Mary did and you will (maybe) see that the card reads, "We are Seoul searching!"  and the back has a red heart around Seoul, Korea.  Hopefully that helps.

We are announcing to our church tomorrow, only a few people know as of now.  I'm anxious to see how it goes over.  Currently, there is not an active member of our church who has adopted internationally.  We'll see how it goes, I know it won't go badly...it's just a new thing.

Chris' family already knows.  His mom's siblings know because Luke has an inability to keep secrets apparently (we'll blame it on his excitement, he was actually the VERY first person who knew).  His Arkansas family knows because when we called to tell his dad he was soooooo excited we figured he could share his excitement with others, too!

So there it is, we are out of the closet with the adoption!  We are not yet announcing on Facebook.  That will come tomorrow after church, so if you could, please refrain from exciting posts until tomorrow afternoon!

Chris and Connie

It's kind of like the first trimester...

Our homestudy was yesterday.  What a milestone!  You could compare it to the first trimester of a pregnancy, maybe.  For three months we've been secretly knowing of our situation, afraid to tell others because if something went wrong with the application or homestudy...for example, our income wasn't what they wanted, our home didn't meet their standards, they thought we and our families were too crazy!  Our first meeting was pushed back from March 5th to the 7th because our social worker was sick (ya, that's right...the social worker has a social worker...it's a first for me! :)).  Then our in-home homestudy was changed from the 12th to the 14th because Chris was sooooo sick.  Fever, earache, sore throat, cough, the works.  He thought he was dying, I just thought if he was he should do it more quietly.  This was probably a blessing in disguise though.  As many of you know, there is always a project in our house...and there are always 5 unfinished projects.  Now, I'm not blaming Chris for all of this, oh no!  It's also Luke's fault too because he moved to Columbia for an internship in Jeff City with our State Rep...so selfish!  We had an unfinished bathroom, no smoke detectors, no bedframe, our upstairs/attic was in complete disarray, the hallway needed touch up paint (finding the paint was a disaster!!!), on and on and on.  With the help of the two most handsome and handy guys I know it was all completed by 9:30am and our SW showed up at 9:40am!  If Luke hadn't come home and Chris wouldn't have been sick (he worked a little during the near-death illness) our SW may have walked into mayhem.  The homestudy went great and she only gave our home a quick once over glance(what?!?!)  and it was in it's best shape to date!  Oh well, the milestone is achieved and now we will wait roughly three weeks for the homestudy to be approved in the states and by the team in Korea.  After that, we wait for a referral of a child.  He will be 6 months old when we get the referral, so chances are, we have a living, breathing, beautiful baby just recently born in Korea!  So you could say, we're parents!  But, we'll wait to have that celebration.

A few other things: 

Chris landed in China this morning (they are 13 hours ahead of us in the central US)...the first thing he said in his text to me was "We just landed, when we go to Korea, we are flying first class."  I'm so glad he went on this trip...aside from the intent of the trip, it's great that he knows what we need before it happens! 

I ordered our announcement cards today.  I nearly had a breakdown beacuse I couldn't find a website to print double-sided flat announcements.  Then my awesome cousin saved me!  She's kind of like wonder woman.  :)

I told my sister today :)  It was great.  I told her I was going to print some pictures and wanted to know what she thought of them.  I handed her my phone with the announcement on it...it took her a moment but then she nearly flipped out with joy.  I thought it was good timing because she's had a rough week and I love her too much to let her have a totally bad week.  Tomorrow, I tell my grandparents (who I secretly refer to as G and have since the 9th grade, but I don't think they know it! <snicker, snicker>). 

Thanks for the support!
Chris and Connie

An accidental secret slip-up...

For a few days Chris went to Louiville, KY for a youth leader's conference:: Can I just say, these are much needed for all pastors!  He came back refreshed and inspired, which is HUGE!!!  Anyways, while at the conference I was running through Wal-Mart for the third time, trying to get the right size window shade for our bedroom, A: I took down the handmade one because I wanted a blind back and B: I wanted our house to look normal for the home visit.  While at Wal-mart our equally rushed neighbor stopped to say hi.  Well, he just recently had a baby and has been MIA for a few weeks...his poor Bella (dog) has been lonely so I go over and talk to and pet her from time to time.  He goes on to say rennovating and finishing his home so baby and mamma can move in is stressful.  Insert my statement, "I know what you mean."  The intended meaning of this statement is, "I know what you mean rennos and remodels suck...no matter the reason."  He heard, "We're having a baby!"  Automatically, his huge eyes jumped to my stomach, my face, my stomach, followed by a "REALLY?!!"  I was in a pickle.  I scanned for nearby ears and he leaned in towards me, "We're adopting," I said.  With a huge smile, arms in the air, then stretched to me, then in the air, wide eyes and so much excitement, he said what I've been dying to hear and have heard from no one..."That's amazing, congratulations.  Tell me all about it!  ...but quickly, we're out of diapers!" :)

Innocent mistake, but divine timing.  I was really needing an outside positive reaction.  Our friends we asked to write our referrals knew it wasn't known information so they never asked anything for the longest time and our parents were happy but not overtly excited like my neighbor...maybe they expected such a thing from us?  I guess we do keep them on their toes with our crazy trips, crazy ideas, and fun adventures.  Just wait until we tell them we're moving to AFRICA!!!


GOTCHA!  :)

How it all began

Chris and I have always known that we were going to adopt.  I would say, even before we were married.  We've known in our hearts that we were not going to be the couple who said they'd like to do it and never do.  No.  We were serious.  You see, someone's life is more valuable then an empty statement.  Now, that's not to put down those who have made that statement and don't really intend to adopt.  That's just our heart and how we feel.  So...as usual, we were at a concert in early January (2012) and I had already scanned the table for the next bebe we would sponsor through Holt International.  We've sponsored a child nearly every year of our marriage.  When I asked Chris in the middle of what could have been the loudest song, "Do you want to go pick out our next child to sponsor?"  He looked at me and asked, "Why don't we go ahead and adopt this year?"  And that was it.  With a simple shrug and "Why not?" it was done.  No major fireworks, no deep discussion, just our burden hearts and the fly-by-the-seat-of-you-pants lifestyle we embrace.  Now, of course we prayed, and continue to pray about this decision.  That very week we completed the online application to Holt and made our first payment.  Then...then, my friends, came the paperwork. 

We believe that all believers in Christ are adopted.  He adopted us into his family.  We are not His blood related children, not biological heir to His throne.  No, no.  We are adopted.  Once you realize that, I mean, you totally get that, how can you not adopt?!  He chose us, how much more Christ-like can we be outside of adoption?  Of course, there's a variety of opinions and thoughts about that rhetorical question...but it hit us like a brick wall.  It will you to...check out Adopted for Life.  It's $10 on your nook or iPad and is worth 100 times more than that.  Get it, read it, then get it.  Maybe it will motivate you to adoption or assist in an adoption process.  Maybe it will help you understand who you are in the Lord.  Heck, maybe it will just be a good read...but read it.  It's amazing.

Chris and Connie