Fingerprint Appointment Set, Nesting, and Shopping

Last Monday we received our fingerprint appointment letter from USCIS. Our appointment isn't until 8/20. We were hoping it would be sooner, but we're just glad it is scheduled and that our paperwork didn't get lost. Tim and I will go to the closest immigration office, which is in Fort Smith, to get our fingerprints done. After our fingerprints clear, our paperwork (Form I-600) will be approved and sent to the National Visa Center and then sent to the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. At this point, we will be getting REALLY close to being able to travel for HJ. I have been researching the timelines on an adoption forum for others who are using the adoption agency in Korea that HJ is with. From the date their I-600 was approved to the date of the official travel call was anywhere from 10 - 35 days. So, it's looking like we'll be traveling in September or October!

It's really hit me in the past few weeks that this is real, and that another little boy will join our family soon. I went into nesting mode and cleaned out the closet in the room that DW and HJ will share, and I've gone crazy making lists of everything that needs to be done before we travel. So far, the closet is organized, HJ's clothes are hung up and folded, the toys are more organized, I am about to purchase a sit and stand double stroller from Craigslist, and I've started typing instructions for caring for DW and our dogs while we're in Korea.

My next task is to finish (or rather start!) gift shopping. We are supposed to take gifts with us to Korea for the foster family, the adoption social worker, and others that we may meet. The difficult part is finding items that are made in the U.S. This weekend, my parents visited, and we took a trip to Terra Studios, which is a local glass and pottery shop. They are known for making glass "bluebirds of happiness." These bluebirds are given to commemorate marriage, birthdays, and other occasions. We watched the artist make a single bluebird, and it was amazing how easy he made it look. I bought this one for HJ's foster mom to represent the love and happiness she and HJ have shared during their time together.

The studio grounds were very unique, and I wish I would've taken more pictures. We didn't stay too long since it was soooooooo hot! There were sculptures, a gazebo with hundreds of glass bluebirds attached to it, a gazebo with large, pottery beads, a little pond with a fountain, a walking trail, a little log cabin, murals, etc.

Notice in DW's hand, there is a blue, glass coin. He carried it with him to dinner, and then to church today, and he's sleeping with it in his hand right now!