Monday, January 18, 2010

Patience is a virtue...

... that I've never possessed.

In nine days our family will celebrate Rubin's Referral Day. I can not believe it's been an entire year since I first saw his face.

In celebration, I've been working on my first i*Movie for the past several days. And while I know that our actual anniversary isn't until next week, I'm finished and I can't wait to share it.

Warning: It's lengthy. Just about 15 minutes long. And if you teared up during my marathon video, you'll definitely want to have some tissue on hand for this.

Rubin,
Mama is looking forward to another year
full of your beautiful face.
Since my first glimpse,
I haven't been able to stop looking.
And each and every time,
you take my breath away.

16 comments:

Angie K. said...

ok, so I am not a crier. but this i cried for. really really beautiful, em.

Michelle said...

You warned me. I didn't think I would cry but I sobbed. Congrats on your beautiful family Emily! Thanks for sharing.

sue said...

you were right. my eyes are no longer dry :). so, so special.

i loved the picture of you in the elevator holding your camera. i can see and feel your anticipation for meeting Rubin. i also love the fence climbing pictures - so, so sweet! makes me even more excited to have 2 boys someday!

Christine @ 12,450miles said...

Beautiful... just beautiful. I have no words... but lots and lots of hugs for you my friend.

Elizabeth Frick said...

sigh... so adorable! i love the outfit he's in on your Family Day!

Dena said...

Love it...just perfect :)

Yvonne said...

It's awesome. Wonderful. Perfect. Rubin, all of you, and the video. I got chills because we sat on those benches in Korea, we walked that crosswalk many, many times, we know that elevator to the 7th floor, we have many of those Korean bottles...I felt like I was walking with you, feeling with you. The love you have for Rubin and the blessing he is on your life is so clear in this video - what a gift for him to have. And how sweet that my kids showed up in it too! Loved it, loved it. Thank you for sharing. Happy referral anniversary - how has it only been one year?!

erin said...

Thought I could make it without crying but completely failed. Just seeing the light in Rubin's eyes with his new family and how he's grown is truly amazing. Theo helping him over the fence was one of the sweetest things I have ever seen. So beautiful. Congratulations.

Yvonne said...

I was telling Paul about this video so we watched it together. He loved it too. And I realized that Daniel and Rubin had the same social worker at SWS. One more thing that they both share, which I think is pretty cool.

Sue said...

wonderful job with the video...what a beautiful family! thank you so much for sharing ~ it sure helps me picture what I am waiting for!

Rach@In His Hands said...

Sniff. Sniff. That was SO perfectly beautiful.

Kris said...

I had been waiting for a chance to sit down and watch this video. Xavier and I just finished it. I loved it and so did X - he watched the whole thing! I had held it together until the very end when the song says "you and I" and it goes to the beautiful picture of you two...the tears came. There are so many parts of this video I love, too many to name here.

Krista said...

Ok - I'm not going to watch it at work. Last time I did people looked at me wondering why the crazy librarian is crying. :) Will check it out later. Wow - a year passes so quickly! We are working on our 1 year home video too.

Krista said...

Couldn't resist - I started watching it. So beautiful. I had to stop though, the crazy librarian started tearing up (and I had no sound - I'm sure I will be crying like a baby when I finish it tonight). It was wonderful though looking at the sights and thinking - oh we were there - I remember that street... I can't wait to go back!

CatherineD said...

Oh my goodness. So much cuteness! Daniel almost made it through the whole thing. He was giggling, pointing and squealing at the monitor.

I absolutely LOVED it. We have the MobileMe gallery, too. I have to figure out how to post videos on my blog.

Oh, I have so many favorites! I especially loved the pics of the boys all together, climbing the fence (oh, no wonder you run marathons! you need all your strength to keep up with your boys!), looking under their legs, at the playground... oh, I have a perma-smile now.

I loved your choice of music, too.

Becca said...

Oh you KNOW I cried!
The first song?!? Such a great choice.
This was wonderful Emily.
What a great thing to look back on, to remember this exciting time in your lives.
So so So special.

Our Adoption Timeline

  • December 23, 2009- Adoption Finalized.
  • May 7th, 2009- Family circle complete in Madison.
  • May 6th, 2009- Mama's got Rubin in Seoul.
  • May 4th, 2009- meet Rubin
  • April 23rd, 2009- Visa Interview
  • April 22nd, 2009- TRAVEL CALL!!
  • April 14th, 2009- Packet 3
  • April 7th, 2009- NVC out
  • April 1st 2009 (no foolin')- I171 received
  • March 9th, 2009- I171H received
  • February 27th, 2009- progress report from SWS
  • February 24th, 2009- Fingerprinted at USIS
  • February 19, 2009-Rubin's legals arrive in state.
  • February 16, 2009- mailed referral acceptance.
  • February 12, 2009- received referral paperwork.
  • January 29, 2009- verbally accepted referral
  • January 27, 2009- received unofficial referral.
  • January 20, 2009- I600A received and filed with the Dept. of Homeland Security
  • January 16, 2009- submitted I600A
  • January 12, 2009- homestudy document complete.
  • January 12, 2009-received Foster Home Licensing
  • December 22, 2008- A.I.A.A. director approves application, establishes our file, and requests our homestudy documents from J.D.
  • December 5, 2008- submitted Foster Licensing application.
  • November 25, 2008- A.I.A.A. accepted official application.
  • November 15, 2008- submitted formal application to A.I.A.A.
  • November 13, 2008- final homestudy meeting.
  • November 12, 2008- autobiographies completed.
  • October 30, 2008- second homestudy meeting.
  • October 22, 2008- received formal application from A.I.A.A.
  • October 14, 2008- first homestudy meeting.
  • October 1, 2008- submitted pre-application to Americans for International Adoption and Aid
  • September 25, 2008- submitted application packet to Adoption Advocates, Inc.
  • September 18, 2008- first meeting with social worker (J.D.)
  • August 2008- decided to adopt

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