Our first meeting

We set out yesterday morning for our Korean agency's office. We were scheduled to travel to Carson's foster family's home. We were all so excited and nervous!

This was taken in the parking garage while waiting to be let into the family's apartment. It was a very nice building with a playground across the street. I just pictured Carson playing there. When we entered the apartment, Carson was just standing at the door with his foster mom. He cried a little bit. We took our shoes off--thankful for the boys' new, no holes, socks--and sat on the floor. She quickly served us strawberries, kimbap, and orange juice.

Carson was very busy and into the entire tray. He was so cute giving us strawberries and his foster mom was so very welcoming and friendly.

He continued to warm up to us and started playing. He has such a little personality. I think he might be a bit of a wild boy like Ben! :)

I could contain myself no longer and had to kiss him.

I was so happy that he didn't even flinch. He looked up at me and grabbed onto my necklace. I whispered in his ear, "You are my son." I have longed to claim him. Those are words that he has never heard before. He is 15 months old and has never been called son. And in that moment--just like with Lindsey--I understood so much more of my own adoption in the Lord. I simply longed to call him son. I wanted him to know he has a family. He is wanted, loved, cherished and worth every hard moment of waiting. He will never be alone.

This momma will always proudly claim him as her own!

(Note the curls on my baby boy!! :)

This lion was a stuffed animal that we took turns sleeping with before sending in his care package. He picked it up like a baby and patted its bottom. His foster mom said it was his favorite snuggle toy--isn't that awesome?

The boys loved how he would just plop down right on them. I was so proud of how Ethan and Ben interacted with him. There are many miraculous moments in adoption and watching my two oldest with my youngest was one of those. The Lord completely prepared their hearts.

After about an hour, they walked us back down to meet our driver. We snapped one quick family picture.

The look on Tim's face says it all.

We're in Seoul.

This was our last picture of a family of 6 taken right before we left to get on this torture-ous machine:

Yikes! That was a very long flight.

But we are here now and will get to go to Carson's foster family's home later this morning.

We would appreciate your prayers as we begin to transition. I know the changes ahead can, and very well might, be hard on all of us. Thank you for continuing to follow our journey...

Glorious TC

And he is coming home!

Next post from Seoul, Korea...

Still here...

We were extremely hopeful that we would have received a phone call this morning allowing us to travel. But it didn't come. We do know that our son is completely through all of his visa and interview appearances. I must admit that by 11:00 this morning I was feeling a bit deflated. I know I'm kind of preaching to the choir here, but the wait is so hard.

It is nice to feel a bit ahead of schedule with preparedness. We worked all week on getting things ready for our little man so we would be set to leave this weekend. Instead, we are planning on getting some yard work done and enjoying as much as we can of our, hopefully, last weekend of being a family of 6.

Ben has been a huge help in preparing a special spot for his new brother and roommate. :)

(Proudly showing the crib sheet and blanket he picked out for C. last month)

(I though this was so cute of Ben to hang C's hoodie next to his.)

I've got my eye on our TC guesses. I think there is only two that are still in the running (Apr2 and Apr4).

Have a great weekend.

Adopt on!

Changes...

"I will not change the world. Jesus will do that. I can, however, let Him use me to change the world for one person."

~Katie Davis

(Lucy, Carson and Lindsey drawn by Lucy)

Today, I am overwhelmed with the reality that my son's world and mine are getting ready to change. I think this quote goes both ways. I know sweet, little C and his story have already changed me and I am so thankful for the privilege to be his momma!

Baby Photography

This blog is no stranger to Lindsey's photography. We get such a kick out of reviewing the pictures on our camera after she has had it. See some of her self portraits here.

The other day she asked for the camera to take pictures of her babies. I couldn't stop smiling as I looked through the pictures. I think you'll see why:

And her sweet baby brother right in the mix. We are SO ready for him to come home.

Whereabouts revealed...

We spent the long weekend celebrating this guy's birthday:

And where were we? Allie guessed it! (and Anne, too, just a few seconds late. :) We were at Virginia Beach, VA. It is my dad's choice of traditional location to celebrate.

The weekend went by much too quickly and I forgot to take pictures of most of it! I did manage to grab my camera for this one.

And for one right before we left because I thought it was blog worthy to show how we roll...

We pack it all, even the toaster oven! (Used to cook chicken nuggets for Lucille on our traditional pizza night.) When wheeling the luggage cart into the elevator, someone said to Tim, "Whoa, how long are you staying?". Ha!

We are hoping to hear news of travel within the next two weeks...funny how you wait and wait and wait and then panic that it could be so close and there is so much to do! I'll share more this week on our preparations.