Christmas in May!

That's right, it only took the agency 5 months to get Jaemin's Christmas presents from his foster family to the US.  I won't complain thought because a) we're lucky to correspond with his foster family and b) if they put getting those kiddos home first, that's okay too.

So, we got a Christmas card (and translation) written by Youn Su, Jaemin's foster sister.  The letters and emails from Youn Su are always so sweet.  They sent him a Jenga game (written in Hangul), a Hangul learning poster and a Pororo airplane toy.  They actually sent two Hangul learning posters, so the girls now have one hung in their bedroom and I wrote the letter sounds so they can start learning a little.

For those that aren't fluent in any Korean culture, Pororo, the penguin, is HUGE!  He's kind of like our Mickey Mouse, etc.  Jaemin loved his Pororo toy.  We turned it on and he started getting so excited and waving his hands.  He's almost worn the batteries out already. 

Youn Su, if you and your family are reading I truly hope you know how much your correspondence means to us and Jaemin.

To be 10 again.

UPDATE:  We did have a party, so here is Chase and his cake.

Maybe little brother's going to be an artist too?

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First, happy 10th birthday to my 2nd born.  He turned 10 at the top of the St. Louis Arch.  Seriously, the time of birth was while we were there.  Happy Birthday Chasie!

Second...I'm stinkin' tired.  I don't think these 4th graders were half as worn out as the parents probably were.  Thank goodness I was only in charge of my kid...he always behaves when we're out, so no worries.   But, I'm tired after roaming all day.  Whew!  Kaelin's already figuring out which field trip she wants me to take with her.

Here's a picture one of the moms took of us today.  Don't mind my hair...it was windy and we had no power this morning after my shower, so no dryer.

From the top of the arch.

I so admire Warren Buffett.

How can you not with the way he raised his family?  He built himself and managed to raise them all without spoiling.  That's a feat for a lot of parents of means...and sometimes no means.  I a big advocate for unspoiled children who learn the meaning and real value of money and that it really can't buy happiness.  While mostly we are frugal out of necessity, it's great tool to have and a great philosophy to live by.  Read the article on one of Warren's children here.  http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100510/lf_nm_life/us_books_buffett

Lisa

Korea mail coming!

Okay, I think I posted this a couple of months ago, but can't remember and am too tired and lazy to look.

I got an email from J's foster sister asking if we received the Christmas present they mailed us from Korea.  I have been so sad and completely worried because it's, well, May and we never got it.  Today, we got an email from the US agency.  They have it!  His foster family sent it to us through the Korean agency who finally sent it to our US agency and it's on it's way to my man right now.  I can't wait to see what's in it for him.  How exciting when my babies get Korea mail.  I LOVE it!

Lisa

Pictures from this weekend and connections

or disconnections?

I'll finish with some of the pictures from this weekend. We went to a Korean Children's Day celebration which was as awesome as usual and then spent the rest of the day at the zoo with friends. We always hang out with Jane and Jared when we're in town. Gotta love the energy of Mr. Jared.

So, today I took Ms. C to the pediatric nephrologist. While we were waiting we were writing on the chalk board in the room. She wanted to write everything in Korean. So I wrote all of our names in Korean and then she wrote them all. By the time the doctor walked in she had it all done. As soon as he walked in he says "well, she knows English and Korean". I was a little surprised that he recognized it. To most it probably looks like a lot of other languages' characters. He took to Chelsi and she to him right away. For now he said we're doing everything we can, but he took some blood just in case and is doing another u/s. He doesn't want to repeat the VCUG done in 2006, which is fine. So, we'll do a couple of other things he asked us to do and then f/u in a couple of months. He also gave us some info on how to help out with her eczema.

BTW, we also found out they found their replacement pediatric cardiologists...yes two. YAY! Looks like Cole will have a doctor and not have to do major travel to one.

Little Miss did so well when they took blood (she's never had to do that before) that we went out to eat afterward. It was past suppertime at home anyways. We just stopped at Wendy's real quick and a lady walked up to us and said how cute she was and that she could have another about her age. I didn't quite follow her and then she asked what province she was from. That's when it dawned on me. She thought she was Chinese. In her defense most of the Asian adopted children in this area are. Our kids are 3 out of probably 10 in a 40 mile radius. And what I mean by in her defense is that I don't just assume kids are Korean, usually assume Chinese, but never define it when asking because I really don't know. I told her she was Korean born and she just told me that she had a Chinese daughter and left. Oh well.

Okay, here are the pics from the weekend.  We so enjoy this every year.  We are treated so wonderful by this Korean church and we get to see so many other Korean adoptive families and well, the food....is AWESOME!

One room.....7 people.

Done with swimming, getting ready for bed.

Swimming at the hotel (our free night be the way...how great is that?).

Learning taekwondo at Children's Day.

Korean cooking.

 Mommy and Jae.

And our wonderful Korean church hosts.  I'd love to post the pics of the three little girls who sang a beautiful Mother's Day song, but since they're young I won't.

 Zoo time.

The extra little boy is Jared.

My budding photojournalist...National Geographic maybe.

 Don't they all have to try picking the gorilla's nose?

See

What is culture for me?

I find myself thinking about this more often as the days go by.  I'm just American.  I mean, American in itself is a sort of culture, but not the rich culture I see in others.  Some American families still celebrate their German, Irish, Indian, Jewish, etc. cultures.  I am mostly German with a mix of Irish, American-Indian, Swedish, French, English, etc. thrown in.  We have never celebrated a culture in this family.  My dad's family came over from England in the 1600s and married into Irish, American-Indian, etc.  My mom's German family came over in the 1800s.  Even my great grandmother still spoke some German.  My husband's grandmother’s still speaks some German, but neither of our families do anything to celebrate cultural heritage.  We're all completely Americanized; our culture has become a meld of our own born cultures and a million others that were brought here.  

I struggle with this whole concept.  It seems so many other ethnicities have such strong ties to their culture.  I forget how much I admire, respect and am a little jealous of this until we go to Children's Day at a Korean church.  The closeness within the church community and how they include adoptive families is one of the most beautiful things to see.  Watching the youth and adults interact while reenacting Korean traditions such as drumming, dance, cooking, writing and hearing them all still speak the language is just so beautiful.  I know you will hear some Americans complain when they hear someone speaking another language.  I've overheard Americans complain plenty.  But, these people speak, mostly, perfect English too.  Most are Americans too (which I think is sometimes forgotten or not acknowledged) but, they're able to conserve their children's Korean heritage and culture and keep it alive.  That's what I wish we had; a culture to keep alive.  So, while we cannot bring our children up with Korean culture because we're not Korean and fully capable of doing so I wish we could bring more of the culture into our family because it's the culture I do feel closest to.  I adore the values they have in their own society and how they are so wonderful with each other's children as well as their own.  You know the saying 'it takes a village'.  They are a wonderful village.  They represent what we used to be before our generations began changing to a me/selfish society of the wants and have nots.

I only wish we had a Korean community here so we could be more of a part of it.  Partially for my 3 youngest, but really all 7 of us could benefit.  I would love for all 5 of my children to be raised the way these kids are.  Korean culture, along with many others, are just so beautiful.  It's the way the elders are treated, preservation of what's important today and yesterday and always a sense of belonging.

Happy Mothers Day to

all the mothers that are already mothers and the mothers that want to be, whether through adoption, foster, step, or plain ole biology....and through this I include the birth mothers out there who lovingly made a choice for their children.

I have a VERY busy weekend planned and I don't foresee having time to post Sunday, so I thought I'd say it now because moms need to be reminded how wonderful they are and how much they change this world by being good moms.

I'm not a perfect mom.  Some days I'm probably not even a good mom.  But some days, just some days I'm an awesome mom and I attribute that to my upbringing and my friends and acquaintances through the years that have taught me to be better person and put my children first and sometimes my husband and I first.

When I was 19 my hopes of being a mom felt dashed.  I was told I had a translocation of chromosomes.  I didn't believe that my life long dream would ever come true.  Eventually, we lost our first daughter because of that translocation.  But now, almost 16 years later I have 5 children....5 awesomely great children.  I never expected to look at my kids and see 5 sets of brown eyes; 3 as dark as mine.  I never expected to see 5 round noses....3 that look just like mine.  I never expected to have 2 blondies and 3 black as night, haired kiddos; one with beautifully, natural, auburn highlights.  I never expected after being mocked when I was little and called China girl (solely for my dark eyes that squinted when I smiled) I would have 3 sets of those same eyes, but they look beautiful like that all the time even without smiling; but their eyes smile even more when their mouth does.  I never dreamed I would have 2 children that seem to be so athletically inclined like their dad.  I have 5 great kids that have pieces of both of us.  All 5 are our kids and each others sibling and companion and sometimes best friend.  2 sets of my children are biologically related to each other; while one is not, but no one can tell that.  They can't even tell that.

My kids are my kids and I'm blessed to have them and the life I never dreamed of 16 years ago.  I will always remember, through them, to take anything God hands me because it is He who had this wonderful plan for my life that I could have never imagined.

Lisa