Wednesday, December 8, 2010

it's actually happening. {oh, and my friends are awesomer than yours} ;)

i called the state department this afternoon; it was something i was nervous about doing because i didn't want to hear more bad news. i sucked it up, made the call, and to my utter shock and delight, after checking my info, the woman on the other line said,

"oh, he is so cute! and he had his visa interview today!"

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i immediately started blubbering (did you expect anything less??), said thank you, and hung up. thinking back, she probably thought i was crazy!

that was a few hours ago and i'm still shaking. i cannot believe this is actually happening!

a call from our agency director tonight confirmed what we heard from the state department and we were told that she will just need to call us with the official official travel call after they get the physical visa at the korean agency. but, we *will* be heading off to the motherland in a few days!
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OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG.

and do you know what the best part is? this amazing news came on the heels of a ridiculously amazing outpouring of love from family and friends. and i *know* it's no coincidence.

when i needed it the most, God provided just what i needed -- tangible evidence of how loved and cared for we are. *so* many friends emailed me out of the blue this week to check in how i was doing and encourage me. and though i didn't email most back because my heart and head were (and still are) so scattered, i was so blessed by their prayers and reaching out. other friends (and my awsome momma and sister) took me out for meals, coffee, and other needed distractions.

and, my blog friends (and i need to stop calling them that. at this point, i can securely say they're truly my *friends*!) stepped it up a notch, too.

my sweet friend, dana, has been emailing with me over the last few weeks and her latest emails have just been the sweetest, most uplifting emails ever. they literally put a smile on my face and in my inbox.

my empathetic friend, min, has been checking in with me daily, as we both waited to hear something about our children and when they'd be ready to travel. i can't wait to meet her in person in seoul.

my talented friend, kris, sent me an incredibly thoughtful and meaningful present for choi boy:
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she and my other friend, sue, started an etsy shop (kimchi keepsakes) and one of their products is this adorable buckwheat pillow. the best part is that kris picked the fabric to match choi boy's nursery bedding! you can absolutely bet that i cried when i saw it. ;) (pssst, there's a kimchi keepsakes giveaway happening here!)

my hilarious (and superstitious) friend, christine, had a dream last week about how when she was doing a photoshoot of piper at my house, i got our travel call! so, christine decided that since she could actually be here for a photoshoot, she would do the next best thing and edit a picture of piper for me:
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isn't that priceless? is it just me or does it look like that stink-eye has been enhanced? ;)

i am so humbled by and grateful for the incredible amount of love that has been poured out on our little family from *all* of you. never in my life did i think that *this* would come out of our adoption process. it blows me away. and it reminds me of how the Lord provides exactly what we need, when we need it, *even* if we think we need something else. all this waiting has been hard, and so many times i wondered why things were taking so long and complained. but it was all worth it. because today's news is made even sweeter by the fact that i know that there is much cheering happening all around the country for us.

and for that, i cannot thank you enough.

47 comments:

  1. Beyond great news! Congratulations!

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  2. So exciting!! I've been checking your blog regularly waiting to hear this great news! Congratulations!

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  3. Merry Christmas--you're getting the best Christmas present ever!!!!!!!!!!

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  4. YAY!!! Yay, yay, yay, yay!!!!

    (I still remember *every single detail* of the phone call telling me that James was coming home in a week. I got the phone call at work, with three friends around me. After I hung up the phone, I had to ask them two or three different times-- did that *really* just happen? I was in such shock, we had been waiting for so long--I thought maybe I'd just made it all up! :) But I hadn't...and a week later I was holding my baby boy in my arms).

    Yay!!!

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  5. YAY! Praise the Lord! Carson is coming home!

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  6. This is such awesome news, Grace!! I am so so happy for you and your family. I can't wait to hear more details about when you leave!!

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  7. And, again, I'm blubbering for you... Words can't even convey how happy and excited I am for you my friend. SO THRILLED! (Oh, and yes... the stink eye was enhanced. Of course!)

    EEEEEEEKKKKKK!!!! You're going to get YOUR BOY!!!!

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  8. i have been crying on and off all day from this dang PMS, so it's only fitting that i now have one more reason to shed some tears....HAPPY tears of course! words can not express how thrilled i am for you!!!! go get that baby boy of yours!!!!!

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  9. yeah! yeah! So so so happy for you...you have been through too long of a wait. can't wait to see you with choi boy in your arms!!!

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  10. yes - lots of cheering! Can't wait to see the pictures of you with your son. Yipee!!

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  11. Christmas is arriving early for the Choi family!!!!! Congratulations to all of you!!!!! I am crying with sheer happiness that you will be holding your boy SOOOOOOO soon!!!! Praise God!!!!!

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  12. Oh, this is the best news!!!! I am thrilled for you guys! I am praying for your trip and transition. I can't wait for you to have Choi boy in your arms!

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  13. Thrilled, over the moon, ecstatic - those are some of the words that describe how I am feeling for you. It is FINALLY your turn, Grace! I cannot WAIT until you are on that plane to Seoul. You know you BETTER be blogging from Korea, my friend, because we are going to be on pins and needles until we see that photo of you and Peter and Choi Boy together at last. I'm beyond happy for you guys!!!!

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  14. i'm still over the moon for you! your boy will be home for christmas!!!! i'm so, so happy for you!!!!!

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  15. Um, yeah, and P.S. - you are beautiful. Seriously love that photo of you on the phone with the State Dept.

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  16. I am beyond thrilled for you guys. God is good. Now go get that son of yours!!!

    Elizabeth D.

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  17. thank you, jesus!!! go get that beautiful son of yours!!!

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  18. It's time, it's time! This brings tears to my eyes. You FINALLY get to bring your son home. So many people have been rooting for you, Grace!!! Choi Boy is SO LOVED already and I think the whole world will be watching as you bring your son home! Congratulations on getting this news!!

    I want to add that you amaze me. It took a long time to get to this news, but you showed nothing but strength, grace, and humor during the wait. Choi Boy has one incredible mama.

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  19. I love Colleen's PMS comment. ha! And Kelly C's comment about how beautiful you are - couldn't agree more! I absolutely ADORE the photos of you and Peter... you are both positively GLOWING, and I love it. I'm sure you can't sleep tonight, and with good reason!
    So unbelievably excited for you to (finally!) meet, hold, and bring home YOUR SON. Too, too exciting!!!
    Can't wait to hear the details of your trip :)

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  20. I'm so happy for you!! Your post brought tears to my eyes, Grace. This is what you've been waiting for - your baby boy is coming home!! I remember this very moment, and I remember how excited and FREAKED OUT I was! Whoooohooo! Can't wait for that TC post!

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  21. I am SO SO SO SO SO SOOOOO excited for you! I'm glad you sucked it up and tried to get info somewhere else, doesn't always work, but when it does, it's awesome. I cannot wait to read about what happens next (um, I'm assuming you're gonna let us in on that, right?). Will be thinking of you in these coming days.

    It's so crazy how everything feels so theoretical as you go through all the paperwork, but with these latest developments it's about to get very real. :)

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  22. Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my goodness!!! I am so extremely happy and excited!!!
    CONGRATULATIONS! Hoping you get the official official TC tomorrow! :) Keep us posted!

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  23. this not only made my day, but my WEEK!!!!!!! i completely had goosebumps when i saw your note and could not be more thrilled! what an amazing, fabulous, wonderful day it must have been for the two of you!! you're meeting your son NEXT WEEK, can you believe it??!??! it's finally your turn, and oh, how sweet it will be!

    and, yeah, i second kelly's comment--could you really be any more beautiful!? sheesh. :O)

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  24. I am s-o-o-o-o excited for you and Peter!!! You have waited too long to hold choi boy in your arms! I love the picture of you two - you both look so happy! Congratulations!!!!!!!!

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  25. OMGOMGOMGOMG is right!!!! I am sooooooooo excited for you, this is amazing news! Hope travel is set up soon & choi boy is in your arms in no time!

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  26. WHOOOO HOOOOO, congratulations! Can't wait to see photos of you all together in Seoul.

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  27. GRACE!! This is AMAZING!!! Congratulations!! AH! God is good. :D :D

    PS. Last night at dinner with my friends, we talked about your blog again. One of my friends said, "Ahh, Tiffany's sister's blog" and then of course we couldn't resist. :) :)

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  28. Hoooray!!!! THIS is JUST what I've been wanting to see in my google reader!!! Congratulations Grace!!!!

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  29. You finally made it. I have never seen anyone wait with more grace (no pun intended). The wait is OVER! I was hoping that EP was issued and they just forgot to tell you!!!! Soon you will be in sweet Seoul holding your son! I cannot wait! I am looking forward to many playdates over the years.

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  30. SO incredibly happy for you! congratulations on bringing your baby home!!

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  31. YEAH!! COngratulations!!! FINALLY, your time has come!!!

    Dawn

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  32. Oh yay! I'm so excited for you guys! What an amazing Christmas gift.

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  33. SO AWESOME. I was crying to when you sent out the message. WOW... God does step in right when HE needs to. Have a fun and safe trip. Love on that beautiful boy.

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  34. Grace, I have been following your blog for months now and am so excited to read this! I can't wait to follow you to Korea while you pick up the best Christmas gift ever.

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  35. Grace and Peter, I am so incredibly happy for you guys! I am glad this moment is finally here for you! You are going to be amazing parents and Choi Boy is unbelievably lucky to have gotten you two! Travel safe, and I can't wait to meet him!

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  36. So very excited for you both! Can not wait to see pictures of you AND your son... Together finally!!!

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  37. That's fantastic news! Happy travels. :)

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  38. Hey! I just started following your blog a few days ago and was so happy to read your happy news! ;) We are waiting for our referral now from South Korea! Thank you for sharing your story. I will be exciting to follow along! Our adoption updates are posted at www.gettartstudio.com if you are interested. :)

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  39. yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  40. Oh thank God! I'm crying happy tears for you. So wonderful!!!

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  41. Hooray!!

    And thank you so much, Grace! I'm touched. :) I couldn't have made it this far without you, dear friend!

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  42. oh i'm so slow on the uptake haha. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. so stoked for you guys. so so so stoked.

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  43. I'm still catching up on old posts...but I can't resist to give another YAY!! here even if it is 'old news.'
    Kris is right...you were very classy and poised throughout this wait!! You deserve all the riches that travel call just brought to you!

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  44. so wonderful and happy and exciting!! Can't wait to hear about your travels and finally meet your baby! May God bless the next chapter in your life!

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why, hello there! do you have something to say? 'cause i'd so love to hear it!