November 17, 2014 - Gotcha Day!!!
WE GOT LINCOLN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He is ours forever!!!
At 9:30AM, we walked into Holt office with so much excitement and some apprehension. We were FINALLY getting custody of our son! As we walked in, Lincoln and his foster parents were already waiting. His foster sister also joined them. She begged her parents to attend this meeting and go to school late. There were two other ladies, two deacons from their church that wanted to come along and say goodbye to Lincoln.
When we walked into the room, they were all seated with Lincoln on foster dad's lap. He was bashful at first again. Then the social worker went over some final paperwork and information. The foster parents brought some of Lincoln's clothes and toys we had sent him. They also brought some present - several pajamas. Holt also gave us a new set of han-bok (Korean traditional outfit), chop with his birth name, and a necklace with Korean ying-yang and his birth name engraved on the back. Then we handed them the gifts we brought. They did not open them in front of us, as it is Korean culture.
Afterwards, we all headed down to the clinic for the final checkup from the Holt doctor. The quick check up was rendered.
Lastly, it was time to say goodbyes. How do you adequately thank a woman who raised your child like her own for the last two years and nine months since he was 2 months old? She and I just hugged and cried and cried for some time. I was grateful beyond words. The family absolutely adored him! All I could say repeatedly was "Thank you...I'll never forget what you've done for my son." Then I held and hugged Lincoln's foster sister. She came out to see Lincoln one final time. She wept for what seemed like a long time as well. Chris and foster dad also shared an emotional hug and thank yous.
Finally, we somehow managed to separate. They went downstairs and we went upstairs to gather all of our belongings. Then the social worker escorted us to the cab on the street and exchanged our goodbyes and thank yous. During this whole time, Lincoln was rather calm. We were afraid that he would be upset. However, we think he knew what would happen. Again, the foster parents had prepared him for this day. Once we hopped into the taxi
to come back to our place, in a matter of a few minutes, he started calling us Umma and Appa (mommy and daddy in Korean). He
even posed for picture to gesture "I love you" in a heart shape with his arms.
Once we got to the apartment, Lincoln explored the whole place, going upstairs and then downstairs, up down, up down. Also, the transition so far has been whole lot smoother than we anticipated.
We've been playing with him non-stop for an hour now. We are still
looking for a "pause" button, but it's no where to be found.
(A few hours later...)
Thank you all for praying for this special event. Please keep us in your prayer as we have a visa interview tomorrow at the U.S. Embassy and as we bond with Lincoln for the rest of the week. Thank you, family and friends, for your love, support, and sheer excitement for our family. It still feels surreal. I feel like we are just babysitting and that we will return him to his parents later! Lincoln was like the energizer bunny for a couple of hours. Then suddenly middle of lunch, he said, "neh neh," stuck his fingers in his mouth, laid his head on my lap, and fell asleep! I think I now need a nap as well. I LOVE this kid!!!!
We were brave enough to venture out to Cheonggyecheon's Lantern Festival. We went totally unprepared - no stroller! And we learned right away that Lincoln LOVES to be carried. Thanks, foster dad! So, during the entire night, Chris carried him. The show was great and we really enjoyed it. Lincoln's favorite was Pororo and friends lanterns.
November 18, 2014 - Day 2
Here is an update about our first night: After a very active first day, we got ready for bed around 9:30. However, because Lincoln is so used to going to bed late like 10 or even 11, he was wide awake. He played by himself in the dark for a little while and then finally fell asleep. Then it happened. Around 4:30 am, Lincoln began wailing wanting to go "home." We had heard from many adoptive parents about it but to actually hear your child crying his heart out, it completely broke my heart. He just kept weeping. He did not want to be held or consoled. In feeling helpless, all I could do was to cry with him and to pray for the Lord, the only One who can truly comfort, to comfort my grieving and hurting son. After a few minutes of uncontrollable crying, he did eventually fall back asleep. He was so brave to keep it together during the day...and finally he was letting it all out. What I would do to quicken his grieving process!
(Later that day...) Another GREAT Day!
We went for our visa
interview and it last all but 5 minutes, if that. And it was issued in
less than an hour! So, not only is Lincoln legally ours, he can legally
go home with us! While waiting for our Visa to be issued, we were
waiting with four other families. Lincoln being the oldest, was
terribly bossy to all people, kids and adults. YIKES!!! 
Lincoln met some of his relatives today - his grandparents (Chris' parents) and Chris' cousin and her kids. He thoroughly enjoyed playing with his cousins as they were so good to him! They brought him a cake and sang to him. Lincoln loved being serenaded and blowing out the candles. Later on, when he woke up from his nap, he didn't cry at all. Actually, he's still sleeping. I am praying that he wakes up smiling in the morning. Btw, he's so much fun to be with! He cracks himself up as he is very easily entertained. He is also VERY active. We have busy days ahead of us. And we desperately need God's grace for physical strength to keep up with our toddler.
November 19, 2014 - Day 3Lincoln woke up completely normal! I am praying that those night fits are over, or at least until we get home where he has to accept yet another new and permanent set of environment. We attended a wonderful/FANCY puppet show (compliments to Chris' childhood friend and her production company). We were naturally concerned about Lincoln sitting through a 50 minute show. However, to our surprise, he sat up and was engrossed in the show pretty much the entire time. Also, there were over 100 other little toddlers from different day cares attending, and so naturally it was very loud in the theater. Although Lincoln would try to talk to us from time to time, he was also busy shushing those other kids around him with looks of disapproval. REALLY, Kid???
When we got home, he took a nap, and I napped with him.
It was a MUCH needed nap. I'm trying to adjust to the time change as well as being a brand new mommy to this
active little kid! For dinner, we met up with several of Chris' friends. One of the friends brought her second grade daughter. Lincoln was COMPLETELY smitten with this little girl. He giggled and laughed with her, patted her cheek, held hers hands (wouldn't hold mine all of a sudden!?!?!?), etc., etc. Seriously??? You are not even THREE yet, Kid!!! Although I was jealous by this behavior, I was also thankful for this friend's daughter. I can't imagine what dinner would have looked like had he not had a playmate!
November 20, 2014 - Day 4
We went to Chris' parents place as a family of three. They live a couple of hours from Seoul and so we took the train. Lincoln did great on the train. Then once we were at the grandparents' house, they just loved him and couldn't get enough of him. He is their first grandchild! We stayed for lunch and dinner and left to catch a train. November 21, 2014 - Day 5
We walked around Insadong today, one of my favorite places in Seoul. It was nice to be outdoors with Lincoln. Although it was chilly, we were ready for this weather and we were all well bundled up. Trying to take subway with a toddler in the stroller was an adventure. We quickly turned to cabs.
We met up with my cousin for dinner. Lincoln was a charmer, and she loved him right away. However, the dinner was a disaster. We went to a bar-b-q place where they grill the meat right in front of you at the table. Well, of course, Lincoln thought it was "his" job to flip meat and so he tried to touch the grill. Our poor waitress was so sweet and was very accommodating. She gave him a set of tongs for him to play around, but he then started grilling and dropped food and spilled water everywhere! It was so chaotic! Our LAST Update from Korea:
We are truly humbled and amazed by our Lord for blessing us with a FANTASTIC week in Korea. It was so much better than we could have ever imagined! Thank you for all your prayers. We leave for home tomorrow. We can't wait to go home - for Lincoln to meet Fenway and Eemo (my sister Jina) and to experience so many things for the first time. Unfortunately, that will also include DISCIPLINE! Lincoln is so cute and endearing. However, he is also terribly stubborn and strong-willed. He doesn't realize his momma is one of the most stubborn people he will ever meet! Lastly, we are on stanby for tomorrow. So we will probably leave Korea without a problem. However, we may have a super long layover in Detroit. We are unlikely to make our connecting flight as there are not very many seats available. So we are expecting to get on later flight and arrive either around 6 or 9pm. Please pray for Lincoln that he will enjoy/endure this long flight.
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My current favorite song:
"Never Once" by Matt Redman
Verse 1
Standing on this mountaintop
Looking just how far we've come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us
Verse 2
Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You've done
Knowing every victory
Is Your power in us
Pre-Chorus
Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say
Chorus
Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
Bridge
Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Carried by Your constant grace
Held within Your perfect peace
Never once, no, we never walk alone
Ending Chorus
Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
Every step we are breathing in Your grace
Evermore we'll be breathing out Your praise
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
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