Where has the time gone? It seemed like yesterday that we'd come home with our twin lovelies. And now, a brother! Norah loves to tell me the things that she will help baby Toby do, or what she can tell him NOT to do. Shayne likes to remind me that baby Toby will be smaller than her.

We got our referral in June, moved to a new house in November, then were notified that Toby's arrival home would be delayed by a few months because our agency hit it's quota on the number of emigration permits it could be issued.

Knowing that we'd pass his birthday without him home with us, I was prompted to slap together a well-loved package to mail to Korea. Daddy brought it to the post office. Despite his money pinching, he shelled out a whopping $48 in postage because he knew how important it was for mommy to give her new baby a birthday and Christmas surprise. I believe that deep down, he also wanted to send this to Toby (or Toey, as he likes to call him). Inside the package was a blue stuffed elephant (that I thought resembled him somewhat), a wooden Thomas train, two winter outfits (who says boys' clothes aren't cute!), and lotsa' socks. We also included a letter translated to Korean by my sister-in-law, Stephanie. It read:


Dear Seong-Bin,

Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas! We are anxiously waiting to finally meet you. Though we're a little disappointed that we can't celebrate your first birthday with you in our arms, we are pleased that you have a wonderful foster family to love you and take care of you until we are finally united. Your new given American name is Tobias (Toby), which means, God is Good. We know that our Good God has Perfect timing and knows best when to bring you home. We continually pray for you and your foster family, that His blessings be present in your home in Korea and that you know of His great love for you, even at this very young age.

We have enclosed a few things for you to enjoy. We've also included a picture of your family. As you can see, you have two older sisters! They have just turned 3 years old and they are really excited to finally meet their baby brother, Toby. They want to help take care of you and most of all, play with you!

We love you very much and pray that we will see you soon. Your Mommy, Daddy, sister Shayne and sister Norah

안녕 성빈아.

생일 축하하고, 즐거운 성탄절을 맞이하길 기원한다. 우리는 우리 성빈이를 만날날을 무척이나 기다리고 있고, 너의 첫번째 생일을 함께 보낼 수 없다는 소식에 너무너무 실망했었어. 하지만, 네가 우리와 함께 하는 날까지 보살펴주시는 분들과 즐겁고 행복한 시간을 보내기를 기도하고 있단다.

성빈아, 우리는 너의 영어이름을 토비아 (Tobias. 애칭으로 토비 (Toby)라고 부른단다)라고 했어. “하나님은 좋으신분이다”란 뜻이란다. 우리는 하나님이 네가 집으로 올 수 있는 때를 알고 계시고, 가장 완벽한 타이밍에 널 우리와 함께 할 수 있게 해주시리라는 걸 알고 있거든. 우리는 하나님께 비록 니가 비록 아직은 어린 나이지만 하나님이 널 얼마나 사랑하는지 네가 알기를 그리고 우리 성빈이가 함께하고 있는 분들과 그분들의 집에 하나님의 사랑과 축복이 가득하기를 계속 기도하고 있어.

성빈아, 우리가 널 위해 재미있는 걸 준비했어. 바로, 우리 가족 사진이란다. 사진에서 보면 알겠지만, 너에게는 두명의 누나가 있어! 누나들은 이제 3살이 되는데, 니가 온다는것에 너무너무 행복해 하고 있어. 그리고, 널 우리를 도와 함께 돌봐주고 싶어하고 있고.

너를 너무너무 사랑하고, 널 빨리 볼 수 있게 되길 기도할께.

너를 사랑하는 아빠, 엄마 그리고 누나 샤인과 노라



We were surprised and pleased to receive a picture of Toby smiling, holding contents of the package and sitting next to his foster mommy. When I received the email with the picture, the girls were napping...a good thing, as I quickly became a blubbering mess. I started to miss Toby in a way that I've never missed him before. The same way that I missed Shayne and Norah from the day we got their referral. My arms ached to hold him. I thought about him day and night. Paperwork couldn't get processed quickly enough. The nesting, though delayed this time, has begun.