Yay an updated picture

So happy!!!!!!  We got some update pictures of our little guy yesterday.

Right at 5:00 I got the e-mail.  It was the last thing I was expecting.  There was a note that said the following:

The second care package you sent to XXXX has been received at the XXX and his case worker, Ms K. has passed it on to him and his foster family. According to Ms. K., he enjoyed the lovely photo album you sent and played with it for a long time. She also said that XXXX is doing very well under his foster family’s love and affection. She wanted to thank you for sending the care package and she sent some photos as well (attached).

He is so cute!!!

I feel so very blessed.  He looks so happy and healthy and is getting big so quick.  I can't believe I am missing all this.  His hair has grown so much.

I'm not sure why I got an update.  It is not really the norm for our agency.  I think it just might have happened that a camera was at the right place at the right time but I'll take it.  John on the other hand told me it is probably because they saw our picture with him and they are happy we host a Korean student.....LOL he just might be right.

Modest Size Care Package????

When we received our referral there were instructions on sending a care package to the baby.  The sad part is we were only allowed to send him one package.  How can one possibly fit all the love they want to send for the next several months into one modest size box....you can but I did my best.

Here is the picture of the contents together.

The book below I made a long time ago so it was ready to send when his referral came.  I will post the link to the post I did on the book if interested board book

A few weeks ago Carrot and Banana went to build-a-bear and made a teddy bear to send.  Carrot recorded the words "I love you" in Korean in her voice.

His information said he was getting teeth so we send along a little Elmo toothbrush as well.

I also sent along a buffet of my crochet projects :)

A soft cuddly blanket I finished over the summer for the baby, an infinity scarf and another scarf for both foster mother and her 20 year old daughter.

A box of chocolates for Foster Dad and adult son, a USB port that ask if they take any pictures of our little guy if they would mind saving for us, and some Burt's bees for foster mother.

I had really not intended on putting any clothes with the package since I"m not sure of his size but it was too hard not to pick up a few.  He is 7 months now so I got 9 month onsies and 6-9 month outfits.  Hope he can wear them.

The instructions said we should send a letter to the foster mom so it was AWESOME to have John here to translate my letter for me.  I'm guess the Korean agency would have translated the letter I send but this felt more personal.    The letter is a little long but how do you send a letter to a woman who is loving and caring for your baby without it being long...IMPOSSIBLE.

....and off it went.  

I probably should have waited longer to send the package since we just were able to send that small gallon size ziplock package with a traveling mama but since the scarves and blankets went in the package I figured I needed to send ASAP.

It is hard that this is the last of the stuff I can send....but praying out wait to travel isn't terribly long.

The reality behind my happiness

I walk by our picture of our new little guy several times a day.  I smile and thank God for the beautiful boy He has blessed us with, but for some reason today I walked by an stopped in my tracks.

I grabbed his file to remind myself of some dates and the day this picture was taken was also the same day he was transferred from the baby reception center to his foster mother.

I grab his picture again and stared at him and realize, at that moment this picture was captured he does not know what LOVE feels like.   This is the first day he met his foster mother and until this day he had not known the love of a mother.  He has been cared for and cared for well but the feeling of love is not among his life experiences yet....and my heart began to hurt.

Our referral day was wonderful.   You see the face of your child that you have waited for so long.  There is so much paperwork to do and so many people to share the wonderful news of your new child and show them his beautiful picture the joy over shadows reality.

It hurts to look at the picture and imagine him not knowing love.  He is just sitting there clueless. How blessed those of us are that have never had to point to a period in our lives where we did NOT know the love a family.

I am thankful that my baby now knows the love of a family.  He has had the love of a foster mother for a little over a month now.  I am thankful that he will one day soon know my love FOREVER but wish it didn't have to be this way.

I am so glad God set the lonely in families and that so many who were once labeled an orphan find families and know that love..... but there so so many that never get this chance.

If you have ever been on the fence about growing your family through adoption please consider.  No child should ever have to be sitting in a room and not know the feeling of love....not when there are so many of us who can give it.

.....whatever you did for one of the least of these....you did for me.