Journey to Kristen

The story of our adoption of our new daughter, Kristen. We are so excited to be welcoming her home from South Korea! Check back for updates and to hear all about our travel and Kristen arriving home at last!

Friday, July 06, 2007

AMSA Reunion



I just wanted to (finally) tell you a little more about the reunion that we attended in FL. There is a group of parents of children that lived at the same place Kristen lived in Korea that are on an email list and one of the moms has organized a reunion for several years. Last year we had planned to attend, but Kristen wasn't home in time. It was devastating at the time! This year, we were so excited to be able to go.

Many of the moms there met Kristen before we did and knew about her. They were praying for her and for her family before we even saw her picture for the first time. I consider them her "aunties" and they were excited to see her again. I am glad that Kristen had been home a year and we were able to explain and hopefully she was able to understand that we were just visiting. I was so afraid she would think she was being returned or something.

It was truly amazing to see all these kids swimming and playing together in the pool, running around and eating together again. Except this time, there was more to them, if that makes sense. I can't explain the difference that having a family, having their own special people, and belonging makes to a child. But, you can see it whenyou see them.

This year, there were several visitors that attended from SWS, the agency that runs AMSA in Korea. They also brought an official from the Korean government. The official actually asked Peg (works at a placing agency in the US) what we fed our children because they were so happy and healthy. She had the perfect opportunity to answer that this is what happens when a child has a family and is loved!

Probably the highlight of the reunion was an evening spent at a local Korean church. This church did not have any connection to AMSA, but they had felt a calling to adopted children from South Korea. They connected with the mom from our list, and a relationship has blossomed. Several members of their church have visited AMSA, and they had a donation for them, as well. I don't know what I expected when we arrived, but to say that we were overwhelmed by their love and generosity would be a total understatement. They had hanboks for all the moms to wear, and a woman did everyones hair in traditional Korea styles. There were Korean crafts, a Hangul lesson, Tae Kwon Do demonstration with participation, a wonderful meal - individual bi bim bap for everyone! - and so much more. They had even made a DVD of two guys cooking several Korean dishes...and had a copy for each family! At the end, they sang songs with the children and one of their pastors spoke. Each table of guests had teenage or college age Koreans sitting with us. They had bags and beach balls with Korean names on them and it was so cool to have people read the Korean names and call Kristen and Daniel by them!

Many of the children there have been home for 2-3 years longer than Kristen, so I am not sure how many of them she remembered. I am pretty sure she recognized several of the younger children who came home this past year. She looked at them, and then me like "wow! what are they doing here!"

We are seeing a huge leap in Kristen's speech so far this summer. All of a sudden, she has things to say that we aren't MAKING her say. If she has a thought, she will tell us. That sounds so little, but is such a huge step! Last night the children had a babysitter, and she had put Kristen and Daniel to bed, but they were still awake. When I went in to say good-night, Kristen started telling me about how she had ice cream but she couldn't get it opened, and Hannah helped her. She is putting sentences and thoughts together! I think she knows she is doing better, I make sure to tell her how proud I am when she uses her words. She will grin and say that it makes me happy - yes, Kristen, my heart is full of joy!

We also see her soft, compassionate heart more and more. When I have a tearful, hormonal moment, she is always there to rub my arm and kiss me. She also loves to help and I know she will be a great baby helper.

We still have a long way to go, but we are celebrating each step, no matter how small.



Dinner at the Korean church - yummy!


With the head of SWS and another SWS worker (and Daniel as SpiderMan)



The family in Korean dress!


We love Peg and Jill!


Friends reunited!

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