Where to begin?

The last 72 hours have been filled with so much that I'm not sure where to begin this post. We arrived home Saturday evening to a yard full of neighbors and friends. I felt a bit like a celebrity! (We have had so much support and encouragement along this journey.)

I think I'll start with where I left off...we arrived at SWS around 1:00 to receive custody. I was so excited for this day--the culmination of a 2 year emotional roller coaster. I knew that this was going to be a highly emotional time for Carson and his foster mom. I wasn't so expectant of the emotional side for my family. While Carson had his final physical, our case worker allowed us to visit the baby reception center. We saw some of the smallest newborns I had ever seen!

I can't begin to explain the emotions I felt as we stood at that window. My heart literally felt like it was breaking. So. many. babies. Their bottles were propped up by blankets because they had no mommy to hold and rock them while they ate. There is simply too many of them. One orphan is too many. I honestly think for the first time my sons were really understanding the magnitude of this crisis. The look on their faces showed that clearly.

We then moved over to the older baby room. This was the room where Carson lived from about 3 to 5 months of age. In the far crib was the most angelic little face that just stared at us through the glass. Heart breaking. These sweet, chubby babies are no ones' son or daughter.

Please understand that I am not talking negatively about the Korean adoption system. I think it is phenomenal . Carson's care was outstanding. It is just the plain, sad truth that there are orphans. Children are not expensive; lifestyle choices, abundant wants and comforts are. We toss around the big, 163 million orphan number, but here we stood in the presence of 30 or more orphans and my heart hurt.

We then returned to the SWS office where Carson's foster mom was saying good bye. I immediately started to cry. This woman has poured love into my sweet son for the past 8 months. She knows everything about him. As she held Carson and cried, I hugged her. I told her thank you over and over. Here is the second brave women giving away my son. The first, his birth mom, I won't likely be able to thank. But this one, I hugged and cried. With fumbling hands, we were able to strap Carson to my chest, only to look up and see many more crying faces. My family and many strangers all crying together. The only one not crying was Carson--which was a good thing. Maybe he knew that would do me in! We began our walk back to the hotel:

Once at the hotel, Carson did great. He was wild and happy.

He slept and ate well. He certainly favored Tim but when Tim wasn't in the room he was fine with me. He loved the attention from Ethan and Ben. It was great to have them there!

Apparently Looney Tunes can bridge the gap between cultures and brothers. :)

The next morning we set out on our 24 hr. amazing race to home. One hour bus ride to the airport, 14hr. flight, 4 hr. drive home with check-ins, shuttles, immigration and customs mixed in. All three boys were troopers.

Carson did relatively well on the flight. Thankfully, for us, there were several real screamers that took most of the heat from the other passengers and made Carson look good. :) After a long wait in immigration our newest American was ready to head home!

An all-American McDonald's french fry to celebrate!

I know there are so many details and thoughts that I have left out...I am racing against Carson's nap time. I'm sure he is to wake any minute and will need much attention. My next post will be our arrival home--meeting the sisters!! Who I think after the fun first half hour, pushed our already fragile boy over the edge. We ended Sat. night with a huge meltdown but have gotten progressively better.

I am so happy to be off the adoption process roller coaster and on to building our life as a family of 7. And, Carson, you are a champ and loved more than you'll ever know!

Our New Journey Begins...

Walking back to our hotel with our newest family member.

Our hearts are so full.

Thanks to all who have prayed, supported and followed our journey.

"Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts."

1 Chron. 16:8

The sights and sounds of Seoul

Yesterday we spent the day out and about in Seoul. It was so great to have our friend, EunChung, with us again. We definitely explored more having her with us, than we would of on our own. I found the complex subway and bus lines to be very intimidating. We started with a taxi ride to a traditional Korean market.

We weren't out of the cab for more than literally two minutes when a lady came up and remarked on how handsome the boys were. She said she thought Ethan looked like a young Donald Trump and Benjamin like the father George Bush.

It was very funny! We couldn't wait to get back to the hotel and show Ethan a picture of Donald Trump. (We think it is his hair. :)

The above picture was taken when we first started down the market street and below was about 2 hrs later...my advice: start early. It got crazy crowded!

EunChung treated us to another wonderful meal.

The food, although a bit spicy for me, was delicious. I enjoyed almost all of it...except for maybe what I found on my plate in this picture:

I think it might have been this:

I was the only one who said, "No thank you" to the squid. I just couldn't do it.

After lunch we headed to a Palace. It was a beautiful day to walk the grounds and learn some Korean history.

It is difficult to pick only a handful of pictures because we have hundreds. The city is truly amazing. And although I am far from a city girl, Seoul, South Korea, just like Chongquing, China, will always hold a very special place in my heart.

Our second visit.

We were so happy that SWS suggested we come for a second visit before receiving custody Thursday afternoon. This time we just went to the office and had a little while to play in one of their small playrooms. Carson's foster mom graciously offered to wait outside the room. I know this is hard on her. Carson did great. He cried a few times but we were able to distract him and he quickly cheered up.

One of my favorite moments was when Carson came around the corner to the room where we were waiting. Do you think he remembered his daddy?

Their encounter was priceless!

Just hanging with the boys. I think he is going to love being a little brother.

I know that Thursday will be hard on him but I am feeling much better about how he will do. He is just smitten with Ethan and Ben. Maybe Tim and I will leave them to babysit and have a night out on the Korean town? :)

We spent the rest of the day with a friend of Tim's from graduate school. She moved back to Seoul when she finished her schooling. We were so happy to spend time with her. She is super sweet (brought us a silver spoon and chopstick set). She was also extremely helpful when ordering food.

The adventurous eater award goes to these two:

We are planning on meeting back up with her tomorrow to visit some local, traditional Korean markets. We won't see Carson at all on Wed. as it is election day and the offices are closed. We'll return to SWS on Thursday afternoon to receive custody. In the meantime, we are spending as much time as we can site seeing and shopping.

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...