One Year Ago

We started our second adoption process December 1, 2006. Our paperwork had delays, our caseworker was new and S.L.O.W., we moved, updated our home study, etc. Even before we were officially "waiting" with our agency, they told us we were the only family on the list. Unless you've had the distinct torture of being the only family on the list for long months, then you can't fully understand how hard it is to know that your call might come any second. . . . or maybe not for months. Your heart jumps every time the phone rings. There were lots of discussions about changing agencies between Brian and I and even between our caseworkers. There were changes in the Korea process and referrals were just not coming in. Just ask us - we'd been the only ones on the list for months! In fact, in mid-October our caseworker told us that she just didn't have any prospects and thought that we would be waiting for another 6-9 months. I came into work on Monday morning, October 22, 2007, and replied to her email telling her that we had discussed our options and decided that we were going to stick it out and that it was all in God's timing. Which is why, when my phone rang at approximately 9:15 (only an hour after I sent the email), for the first time in months, my heart didn't leap when I saw that it was a long-distance call. . . . until I heard the words I weren't sure would ever come. She said, "Melissa, I think I might have a little girl for your family." The rest, of course, is history.

Brian was student teaching and didn't have his phone turned on. My parents were out of town and didn't have a cell phone signal. My youngest sister was with my parents and also unavailable. My friend Russell whose office is right next to mine was on his honeymoon. My friend Tina was in a meeting. My friend Kathy was teaching a class. Our pediatrician was at a conference. I remember dialing phone numbers over and over and never reaching anyone.

Thank goodness the email from our agency came quickly and I was able to read through the information about a little girl named Shin SaRang who was born September 26, 2006. Honestly, once I saw her picture, there was no hesitation. She was just ours. I remember talking to my friend Kathy (the first person I was able to get ahold of and tell) and just marveling that in a matter of seconds we went from a family of 3 to a family of 4.

I was finally able to talk to Brian and then he had to wait until the end of the day before he could even look at her picture and read the information. We didn't say anything to Camden or the rest of our family and friends just yet. I was making a trip to Oklahoma to surprise Becky for her birthday and wanted to surprise her with a new niece. Some of Brian's extended family was coming into town that same weekend so we wanted to surprise them in person as well. It was so hard to make it almost 2 weeks without telling anyone! When we did finally tell Camden, by the way, it was fairly anti-climatic. He was fairly uninterested!

I cannot believe that it's been an entire year since we first saw Rory's face. Time has just FLOWN by. Well, the 4.5 months we waited for her to come home didn't fly by, but the 7.5 months she has been home have gone by so quickly. We are so blessed to have her as our daughter.

Here is the first picture we saw of her.
And here are pictures from this week. Yes, her sunglasses are on backwards - it's her own personal fashion statement.