Homecoming video 9 years!

I am so embarrassed that I have not posted since January. I have so much to share....Will's college decision, Easter etc.  But two days ago was Kate's "Special Day."

Kate and Dave and Will came home from China on April 4th 2007 so we consider that our forever family day.  I let Kate decide whether she wants to celebrate or not.  And some years we have done nothing.  Some years we go get ice cream or a mani pedi.  One year she wanted to go to tea at a hotel.

This year, Kate wanted to bake cupcakes for her friends at the gym.  And she wants to go to the Heritage Society (an historical museum type place) next weekend. We also ordered pizza (her choice) this weekend and Dave made Kate's favorites slow smoked ribs on the grill. It is always her call for what we do this day,

Kate had some practice testing at school so I could not sneak her out for any fun adventures but I did go have lunch with her yesterday.



We also baked red velvet cupcakes and brought them to the gym.



Will was goofing around in the background while Kate frosted the cupcakes.




And I know most of you have seen this but I have some new followers too so I thought I'd post it just in case.  Have some tissues. People tell me it makes them cry.


Untitled from Kim S on Vimeo.



Kate has been such an incredible blessing to our family.  She is truly an amazing little girl.  I know that all Moms say that but honestly everyone says it about Kate.  She has the most pure, kind and giving heart I have ever known.  She is really funny and makes our whole family laugh every day.  She is completely optimistic and always thinks the best of others.  Her brothers and Dad wrestle her around and give her a hard time but she never lets it get to her and just rolls with the punches.  She was a tough toddler (you can go back and see those posts when she was 2-3) but she is the easiest and sweetest little girl there is now. She is my buddy and I feel incredibly blessed and honored to be her Mom.

Four Years

This week marks four years since Kate joined our family.  Dave and Will got Kate on March 26, 2007 and she came home on April 4th.  We remember the day as our forever family day on April 4th.  We have vacillated over the years in how we should honor this day.  The main thing is we tell her how happy we are that she is our family and we thank God for bringing her to us. Kate loves to watch this video too and hear about her adoption story.

She is the most incredible blessing to our family.  She makes us laugh every day!  Every year, I post this video that I made about Kate's homecoming.  And then on Monday, I will probably post a letter to her and some photos.  Have a great weekend!

There is a typo in the video.  Dave and I were married in 1995 not 1997.  I made this on a PC and now have a MAC so I cannot fix it.  Also, in the video of Dave getting Kate, he is on the phone with me.  I could not go to China but I was on the phone when he got her:)

And yes, if you read my lips when we were looking at her referral photo for the first time (in the beginning) I said, "she is so fat!"  I was frankly shocked. I was so accustomed to seeing referral photos of skinny and sickly looking babies from China and Kate was so plump and healthy looking so I was very surprised. I am kind of embarrassed that those were the first words out of my mouth (I am so not perfect) but I feel incredibly blessed that she was so well cared for. 

Kate's Homecoming Video

I wish I had words but I don't. I was telling the boys that the best four days in my life have been the day I married their father, the day each of them was born and I got to hold them, and the day Kate came home. That is why this day is so special. It is a birthday of sorts. Words cannot describe the gift that Kate has been to our family. I am writing Kate a letter today and I will write one every year on this day. Our plans to celebrate this incredibly special day have been postponed due to Kate's illness but tomorrow (hopefully) we will share a special meal, cake and a special gift for Kate.

This video has been such a labor of love. I have been working on it for almost a year and have lost is due to computer crashes and freezes at least three or four times (one was last night). Now that it is complete, I am so glad I kept starting over.



I just noticed that I put the wrong year of our wedding in this video---we were married in 1995! I guess that is what you get when you do this so many times and are totally sleep deprived. It took forever to upload so I am not fixing it now!

I originally included Kate's first year home in this video but Dave advised me to split them up. It is a good thing he did because I could not have uploaded it otherwise. Thanks honey! I will post the other one in a few days.

We received VERY joyous news today! Dave's best friend from high school, Karen and her husband, Doug received their referral today for their daughter from China. They are very private so I cannot share their blog but we are absolutely thrilled for them. Congratulations--we love you and we cannot wait to see you next month! We will always share a very special day----your referral and our forever family day!

Home at last!

Harry being silly at almost midnight waiting for his little sister to arrive. I told him his eyes might stick that way!
My friend Shannon who came to welcome the gang home.


Me and my friend Amber. We are killing time waiting for the very delayed flight!


Harry's kindergarten class made this great banner to welcome home Baby Kate. Harry did all of the big writing. Thank you Mrs. Bear and Miss Kristi! The boy in the middle is one of Will's best friends (Logan). It was so nice of him to stay up late and come meet Will at the airport.


One last shot of Harry and Mom before the rest of the family arrive.



I see them coming off the plane but I am not allowed to run past that guard to get to my family.

Oh, I see my baby!

Here they are!

Hello, sweet angel!

Kate Emerson smiled immediately at Harry. She knows a good egg when she sees one.

The moment I have been waiting for. Kate let me hold her easily. She did not cry at all and she acted as though she has known me all of her life.

We are checking each other out. I LOVE what I see!

Checking out Harry again.

Harry's first stab at being a big brother. We were about to head to baggage claim and he stopped me and said, "Mom, can I hold her?"

Our family.

Last night was absolutely magical. The flight was very delayed so they did not get in until just minutes before midnight. Kate Emerson is such a calm, mellow and sweet baby. She was not overwhelmed at all. She let me hold her right away and she did not cry or reject me. She went easily into her car seat and babbled and ate a blueberry muffin for half the trip home. She slept for the second half. Everyone showered (after 30 hours of travel they needed it) and got ready for bed. I had the opportunity to give Kate a bottle (picture to come). We went to bed at about 3 a.m.. We thought Kate was not feeling well this morning so we went to the pediatrician. She has a 103.5 fever and an ear infection. Poor thing. We are all going on about 3 hours sleep but we are so thrilled. Thank you to everyone who has prayed for us and supported us on this journey. I cannot tell you the peace and joy that I am feeling right now. Thank you to Shannon, Janie and Amber for coming to the airport with me! I want to especially thank my "cyber-friends" from Yahoo and RQ. You all have been so supportive and you know exactly what I have been going through. My "real life" friends and family have been incredible too. I cannot wait to share Kate with each and everyone of you.

Love,

Kim

Sunshiny Day!

Darling Kate,

Today is the day I meet you. Today is the day I become your mommy in every sense of the word. Today, I get to see your smile, touch your skin, look at your sweet fingers and toes. I cannot wait to hear you laugh and see the light in your eyes. I cannot wait to give you a bottle, rock you and hold your hand. In a way, I have waited all of my life for this day. God planted the seed for you in my heart when I was just a little girl. Somehow I always I knew I would adopt a child. In fact, I talked to your Daddy about it before we were married. He wasn't so sure back then, but I knew this day would come.

God blessed us with two beautiful sons but I knew our family was not complete. He led us on a curvy road to you. First, I was misdiagnosed with an auto-immune disease that prompted doctors to suggest that I should not have any more pregnancies. Then, a domestic adoption was brought before us. That did not work out for many reasons, so we began looking at Russia and Korea. Eventually, we chose Korea. We did all of the paperwork and waited in line for about a year. Then, on Mother's Day weekend (2 years ago) we were informed that Korea changed their policy and we were no longer eligible for our request (a daughter). It turns out that I do not have that disease but had one thing gone differently, you would not be ours. God knew you were the one for our family and he put all of the twists and turns in our life to lead us to you.

I know that we will have a blessed life together. You have the most wonderful, patient, loving Dad. Your brothers have waited for you for 3 years too and they cannot wait to try to turn you into a tomboy (I won't let them). Kate, I know your Daddy has stolen your heart already but it better be ready to grow, because I plan to flood your heart with love.

Love,

Mom

I Can See Clearly Now
I can see clearly now, the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright (Bright), bright (Bright)
Sunshiny day
I think I can make it now, the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is the rainbow I've been praying for
It's gonna be a bright (Bright), bright (Bright)
Sunshiny day
Look all around, there's nothing but blue skies
Look straight ahead, nothing but blue skies
I can see clearly now, the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright (Bright), bright (Bright)
Sunshiny day

This song has been very symbolic for Dave and me. Ever since I met him we would hear this song just after a difficult time (his mother's death, Will's head surgery, Harry's illness, etc). Whenever he hears it and we are apart, he will call me and simply put the phone up to the speaker. It is sort of our theme song. The day after Dave and Will met Kate--I heard this song twice! A sign? Oh, I am quite certain.