Happy Family Day....

The day had finally arrived...the day we would become a family.  I remember walking into Holt and seeing Jae-min in the lobby in the arms of his very biggest fan....the lovely nurse.  Then I remember her handing him to me and from that moment on I've never let him go.

I remember walking upstairs to the meeting room again with his Omma and taking more pictures and gathering all his belongings.  I remember her talking to me in Korean and somehow I knew just by the tone of her voice and the love in her eyes exactly what she was saying.  And I remember seeing the necklace we had given her on our meeting day hanging proudly around her neck.

I remember his Omma stroking his cheeks as we stood on the streets of Seoul, whispering into his ears.  I remember her hugging me so tightly and then getting into a cab with this little bundle.  I remember the door shutting and the silence...and looking back to see his beautiful Omma waving both hands as we drove away.

I remember the looks as we walked through the hotel and the words of congrats from total strangers in Korean.  I remember taking Jae-min out that day into the streets of Seoul to take pictures of him and us in his homeland.  And then I remember the TEARS....the night full of tears, fear, and grief.  And all I could do was hold that little boy and snuggle him close and cry right along with him.
It amazes me to have watched this little boy grow and change over the last four years.  It amazes me to think back to that very first family day and to remember that little baby so so so afraid.  And to remember how our relationship formed and how he began to trust and how he began to love....us....

And it amazes me each and every day to see glimpses of that boy now in this one, in this bigger boy with the same exact heart, the same exact smile, and the same exact spirit as that very first day.

We loved you the moment you were placed in our arms.  But that love has grown each and every day since. You are the PERFECT fit for us and know that God truly chose you to be ours.  We love you our sunshine!!!  Happy Family Day.

And there you were.....

It has been 4 years since those doors opened in a room a world away....4 years since the son we had longed for and loved from afar became REAL.  4 years since we sat in a little room feeling like we were going to throw up when suddenly just like that a door opened and our lives stood still.

I vividly remember every single second of that meeting.  Every single second of the nerves, the fear, the laughter, and the tears.  I remember sitting there and unexpectedly Jae-min's Omma handing me our son....

I remember how he smelled, how he felt, how he looked at me and smiled.  I remember the feeling of those blue pants he was wearing and reading his shirt that said "happy".  I remember the kerchief tied around his little neck to catch the drool.  I remember handing him back to his Omma and with the sweetest words in Korean she began to speak to him.  And I remember him lighting up so big as she sang to him and thinking "I hope someday he lights up like that with me".

I remember a room full of joy, full of such happiness that we felt we could conquer the world.

I remember walking downstairs with him and watching him light up the room.  I remember everyone he came in contact with smiling and loving on our boy.
And then I remember having to say goodbye....to hand him back to his Omma for just a few more days.  I remember leaving Holt with empty arms, but a full heart.  I remember feeling like I was walking on air!!!!  Because on this day 4 years ago we touched and loved on our son....and this was just the beginning.....

February

Mr. February....you are always so short and so sweet with your red and pink and your house full of hearts.  This year you were extra busy around here....and extra snowy too.  

You inserted alittle bit of your sense of humor.  You decided to bring some snow along...and not just little bits of snow, but a BLIZZARD!!!!!

You laughed at us as we were buried in sooo much snow, with no electricity for days.  And then you watched as we took advantage of what you had to offer and took to the street with our neighbors and went sledding, and sledding, and sledding till our fingers and toes were numb.

And then along came your most special day.....the day of love arrived.  We made Valentine boxes

And heart crafts, and heart muffins, and heart garlands to hang from the curtain rods.  We exchanged cards with our friends and received tatoos that we all adorned for much of your lovely month.

You watched on as we celebrated the Lunar New Year without much fanfare because of the snow....but we celebrated none the less.
You allowed us a special date with a special little boy at his very first trip to the bowling alley....and boy was he thrilled!!!!

And here he is showing us how many he knocked down.  And you never made fun of me Mr. February when that little first timer beat the pants off of me.

You laughed at this momma as you cancelled school numerous times and watched as I frantically came up with ideas to keep Jae-min happy and busy....here we are painting snow....for hours and hours!!!!

We loved each and every magical winter wonderland moment you provided.  I've always said snow is one of my most favoite things!!!!