I would Choose You

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Our love remains.....

We got this video on Friday from our agency. What a comfort it has been to us over the past few days. This was taken when Jan was in Korea (she is the lady you will see on the video). Although this is prior to the injury, we are comforted to see his smiling, drooling, and adorable face. Soon that little guy will be in our arms forever. Until we are holding him in our arms, we are going to rest knowing that our Abba Father is holding him securely in His.

Our friends, Melissa and Chris Cook set up a prayer vigil. If you would like to know more, you are welcome to visit www.lovingjude.blogspot.com

I am amazed at our wonderful friends.

We are honestly going through a tough time. We got word that Jude has third degree burns on his hand and wrist and will be having skin grafts on the 30th. That is Thursday in Korea, which is Wednesday here in the US (Korea is 15 hours ahead of us). We know that this procedure is painful and we are really concerned. We are hurting because our child is hurting and is thousands of miles away.

Would you please pray for Jude starting Wednesday afternoon and keep on going until we hear more information? I am not sure when the actual grafting is during the day, but if you pray ALL Day Wednesday and Thursday, that should cover it.

Specifically:

1. For Jude not to be experiencing pain

2. For his foster mother to be comforted, encouraged, and given strength.

3. For Eastern to get clear answers and direction

4. For every medical person that is going to be having their hand in Jude's recovery.

We are so blessed by all the prayers and support from our family, friends, our agency, Eastern, and our friends Jan, Duk, and Kimberly. So, so thankful for you all.

Deut. 33:12 "Let the beloved of the Lord rest securely in Him, for He shields them all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders."

Friday, October 24, 2008

Dang, this kid is cute!

We haven't heard an update on Jude's condition (post burn) yet but are hoping to hear soon. We are headed to our agency tomorrow to drop off some paperwork and hoping to get a little video of Jude when we arrive. I'll cry....seriously, ugly type cry. I'm so madly in love with him.

Good news: We did get a written update and the new pic of Jude (above....honestly, have you ever seen anything cuter?). In the new update it says he is

Turning his head toward sound, reaching for toys, and crawling (oh, yea...forgot to mention he is advanced :)...that's my opinion, any way), he eats about every 4 hours, wakes up twice in the night, and is an early riser (in Kersh timelines, at least). He is still sleeping with his foster mom (love, love, love her), and she describes him as happy and curious (umm..yep...apparently this was the cause of the accident, little toot). He weighs 16.5 pounds.

Hopefully more updates tomorrow....we'll keep you informed.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Prayers for my little one

We got a sad phone call today. Our friend at our agency called to tell us Jude had an accident at his foster home in Korea. Some scalding water splattered on him and he received second degree burns on his arm and chest. He is in the hospital now and will be for about 10-14 days. Poor little guy. We are madly in love with him and are hurting with him. I want very, very badly to hold him, comfort him, sing to him, whisper in his ear, caress his little face, tell him he is going to be okay and that mommy is right here. But, I can't. Better than that, though....I know he is in God's hand. Who better to be comforted by?

From the preliminary report he looks to be doing well and recovering. We don't anticipate any long term problems and are awaiting a few answers from our agency in Korea.

Things we are thankful for....

1. God is not surprised with this happening (he already knew and was already protecting Jude)

2. Jude is going to be okay

3. That little toot must be crawling (did I mention he is advanced for his age? :)....that appears to be how he got hurt....so, we are thankful that he is developing and it appears that he will be fitting right in with Creed's activity level

4. He is receiving fabulous medical care at a burn unit in a very, very modern and wonderful hospital

5. His foster mother has not left his side. Jan said that she has been there 24 hours a day. I love her so much. So, so, so much. Please say a blessing and a prayer over her, would you?

Thank you for your prayers. The verse I memorized last week sums it up....

Psalms 56:3 "When I am afraid I will trust in You. In God, whose Word I praise. In God I trust and will not be afraid."

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Panic....

This is Jude and his foster mother and his social worker in Korea. His social worker is most likely the one who gave him his name. Jude is holding one of the gifts that we sent him. He seems to like looking at the pics...looks like he is looking at Rinny in one of them!

Jude's Foster mother. We have prayed for her nearly every day for months and months....before Jude was even born. In addition, we pray for his birth mother, who we love with an amazing love that cannot be explained and that will last forever. I am so comforted by the way his foster mother looks in every photo. First of all (obviously) she is beautiful, but more than that she just looks so loving and she is smiling in every single photo we have been given of her. Jan (our case worker) said that his foster mother really, really loves him and that it is very obvious. She said that she really thinks it is a good thing that we are going to Korea so that we can meet her in person and that she can realize that we are a family who is going to love that little boy right back. Jude has no idea at this point in his life, but we hope in the future that he realizes that so,so,so,so many people have loved him dearly.

Okay, see....we got these absolutely adorable pics of Jude that I just HAD to share. Seriously, he is the cutest thing I have ever seen. At first, I was just shocked that he has two teeth!!!! I thought, how crazy?....my other kids didn't get teeth until like 12 months. This kid could be eating a steak when he gets home. After that, I started to think...hmm....that's kind of sad that he had to cut those teeth (that hurts!) without hims momma to help him through it. Then I started to think....yep, he's going to be home soon....then, I started to think "OH MY GOSH.....I gotta get ready for this kid to come home!!!!!" We gotta get some stuff done, what in the world am I doing blogging?...I gotta get busy. Off to look to see if the bedding I want is on sale yet and to do an online adoption course, I am serious.

Be praying for EP (Emmigration Permission), PP (passport), I-600 Approval, Visa, and TC (TRAVEL CLEARENCE!!!!!!)

Friday, October 17, 2008

Love em'

Love em'.....fun times with our buddies takin' a few pics and hangin' out. I love the pics at the top....How cute are these buddies? Creed loves Toda (can't ya' tell in the pic), probably because he throws him around. And, check out Tatum's face in pic number 5. This is generally how she feels about me when I pull out the camera (she's not one to fake it). However, she totally loves me when I put the camera away. You gotta admit, though....she did pretty good faking it for the camera for a few though!