Here is a pic of the us with Hae Eun's foster parents...they are such SPECIAL people!
This is Rusty at a Korean BBQ place we ate at today.
Did you really think we would come this far and not take a picture of the famous RED CHAIR? Too cute!
Hello everyone!
Wow! Today has been WONDERFUL and we are zapped emotionally. We met with Hae Eun and her foster mother and father this morning and exchanged gifts. They gave us a photo album FULL of pictures of Hae Eun "growing up" in different places all around Seoul and with all the members of her foster family. It is PRICELESS! The foster mom also took Hae Eun to have her pictures made professionally a couple of times and gave us a matted collage of one shoot, and then some 5 x 7s of another. When we saw her pull out the pictures and open the photo album this morning, tears began FLOWING! What a precious gift. They also gave us a beautiful white dress w/matching headband for Mia to wear for her first birthday (they wear both the traditional Hanbok and also a fancy dress for all of the celebrations). Let's see, they also gave us Korean gifts for Rusty and I, some fun accessories for Mia, and also a gift for Huston. We thought the foster mom was going to make hanboks for Huston and Hae Eun...but that info was confused in translation, the birthfamily actually gave us the hanboks (more details later).
After the gift exchange, the birthmother, grandmother and aunt arrived for our meeting. Rusty and I had already cried a MILLION tears, but the tears continued to flow throughout this meeting, too. Hae Eun's birthmother is so little (5'1", I believe) and looks SO young. We cried, talked and cried some more for over an hour. They kept thanking us for giving Hae Eun a loving, Christian home and were thankful for the peace that meeting us gave them. They brought hanboks for Hae Eun and Huston...they are beautiful, a beautiful jewelry box for me with a handwritten note from the birthmother inside, some beautiful decorative Korean tassels and a Korean fan. The conversations were wonderful and you could definately see God's hand in the meeting and this whole process...from even before we knew of Hae Eun and her family. The meeting is something we will ALWAYS remember and cherish. We have all agreed to remain in contact via mail and eventually e-mail (after some healing time, etc.).
We are now sitting in our room looking at ALL of the stuff we have to fit into our luggage for our trip home...this is going to take some CREATIVE packing. :o) We are having dinner tonight with the Australian couple we told you about in an earlier blog. Then we will come back to the room and get everything ready to go.
The Eastern driver picks us up at 8:00 am and takes us to Eastern for a blessing ceremony with the foster family, Hae Eun, the founder of Eastern and our social worker. This will be another special time for us. We then will go to the airport and start making our way through customs, immigration, etc. Please pray that all of that process goes smoothly and quickly both here in Seoul and at DFW...we don't want to miss a flight home. Also pray for Hae Eun and for us on the flight home. I am expecting A LOT of work, A LOT of tears, and probably A LOT of sweat carrying around my big girl for the 13 hour flight from Seoul to DFW. :o)
We love y'all and appreciate your support and prayers. We have to admit we are a bit addicted to this blog now and may have to post some fun stuff once we are home. :o)
Blessings from Seoul!
Rusty, Patty & Hae Eun (Mia)
8 comments:
Praise God! I am so glad that the meeting went well. What a special gift to have pictures of your baby to bring home with you.
I can not believe that this week is drawing to a close. It has gone so fast (I am sure ya'll are glad of that). Our thoughts and prayers remain with you as you prepare to and travel home and also with the birth and foster family as this process is drawing to a close for them. I can not imagine all of the emotions they are both feeling.
We can not wait to see the three of you back home with Huston as a family.
Be safe!
Love - Stu, Amy, Kimber, and Jayden
I am so glad the meeting went well. God has always promised us He will be with us, and this is a great example of that promise. What a blessing the foster family is to all of those sweet babies they love that pass through their home. I am glad it went well with the birth mother and even more glad you are coming home tomorrow. Can't wait to see you and to meet Mia. Will be praying for safe travel and smooth walking through customs, immigration, etc.
Love you all,
MiMi & family
"For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord" and oh what special plans He had laid out for your precious family. God is so GOOD and we thank Him for all the blessings He has poured on your family. We have seen His hand at work with Huston and now again with Mia! We are looking forward to see what He has in store next. So glad the meetings went well and that you will soon be on your way home. Get ready for lots of hugs and kisses from everyone here.
We love you!
Nana & Anpaw
Oh Patty what precious people they seem to be...I am so glad to hear the meeting went well and ya'll were able to sit and visit with everyone. That is something you will always hold dear in your heart!
We will be praying for you guys as you travel home tomorrow and we can't wait to see you.. Be safe!
P.S love the bandana- too cute :)
Heather
I can not believe we will get to meet Mia TOMORROW...this week has really flown by, especially with all of your updates. You have turned me into a "blog junkie". You're right, you can't stop bloggin now, i think we have all become addicted to this. Anyway, I can't wait to see you holding your precious Mia. I love you, friend. Layne (the baby class misses you...)
Congratulations!! We are so excited that you are on your way home with your precious daughter. What a great experience with the foster parents and birthmom!! The pictures sound wonderful and what a great surprise to get them!! We can't wait to meet Mia!! We'll be praying for your safety and sanity on the trip back!!
OOOHHH! I can't wait for ya'll to come home..but I love looking for the update on the blog too. I am so happy that the meeting went well and so glad you have some very special memories to last a lifetime. I wish you could just wrap this whole week up in a pretty package to open and share with Mia when she's older. We can't wait to see her and to give her a BIG Texas squeeze!! We'll pray for safe travels....see you at the airport!!!!!
LOVE YOU!!
The Kings
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