As I type this, we are sitting in the international terminal in Atlanta waiting to board our flight to Seoul this afternoon. I can hardly believe it, but we are on our way back to Korea to bring home our son! Everything feels completely surreal…
We found out a week ago today that we had received final approval and could return to Korea to bring Jackson home. Our social worker asked if we wanted to leave right away or if we needed some time. I immediately responded that we wanted to leave as soon as possible, and so she gave us a visa date of June 27th. Jeremy rushed to book flights, our hotel and set up all the details of our trip. Within just a few hours we were all set.
This week we have packed and prepared. Last night Jeremy and I went to the gym together like we have so many times before over the past couple of years, and then Jeremy surprised me with Fujiyama for dinner. As we sat on the floor of our little home eating Japanese and watching the Braves game like any regular night, I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic. It’s the end of a chapter, and the start of a new one. Like any good book, we can’t wait to turn the page, but we can’t help but reflect on and rejoice over everything that has already been written. The story the Lord is writing just keeps getting better.
So, this is what our next few days will look like:
Saturday, June 24 – We will arrive in Korea around 4:45 pm (2:45 am Alabama time). We will get to our hotel, check in, and get some rest.
Sunday, June 25 – We will spend time unpacking, buying groceries, baby proofing our hotel room, and doing any last minute sightseeing.
Monday, June 26 – Jackson’s Gotcha Day! We will take custody of Jackson at 11:00 am (9:00 pm Sunday night in Alabama)
Tuesday, June 27 – We will go for Jackson’s visa interview at 1:00 pm ( 11:00 pm Monday night in Alabama).
Wednesday, June 28 – We will rest, continue to settle in as a family of three, and then visit with Jeremy’s sister who is going to fly over from Japan for the day.
Thursday, June 29 – We come home! We will leave Seoul around 6:30 pm (4:30 am Alabama time) and arrive back in Birmingham around 11:30 pm.
It is going to be a busy and exciting couple of days!
We are so thankful for all of the support we have received throughout this process. Your prayers and encouragement have meant the world to us. We again ask for your prayers during this trip. While it is so exciting for us, Jackson’s little world is about to be turned completely upside down. Please pray with us that the Lord will comfort and heal his heart and that he will begin to bond and attatch to us. Please pray that he will allow us to hold him and comfort him as he grieves the loss of everything he has ever known. Please pray that Jeremy and I will offer one another so much grace during this time of great transition. Please pray that there will be no issues or delays with his paperwork and that we will receive his visa on Tuesday. Finally, please pray for us as we begin the long journey home. Please pray that our sweet boy will rest and not be afraid during our flights.
This is only the beginning, and we cannot wait to experience what the Lord has in store for such exciting times ahead!
One Way From Seoul 