The Family Grows!

We ended our time in Korea by spending the day with Joshua’s foster family, which was a great experience for all of us and a reminder of the power of family.  Today, we began a new chapter as we prepared ourselves for welcoming the newest member of our family - Hannah Grace LingJun!

After arriving in China yesterday afternoon, we were quickly greeted with a sudden spike in temperature and humidity from what we had in Korea.  It was in the mid-70 degrees when we got off the plane, and we were hot!  Once we met up with our shuttle driver, we were taken to our hotel, met our guide who is assisting us with our adoption process in-country, and got settled into our room.  Not too long later, Nathan and Eric took a quick walk down the street to look for some local restaurants and see what they could find.  Oddly enough, English signs and menus aren't as common here as they are in other parts of the world, and neither Eric or Nathan have had much experience with learning Chinese or even putting up a good attempt at it!  After stumbling around and staring at picture menus and looking pretty confused at what they were actually ordering (and confusing those who were trying to help them), they managed to find some Japanese food and brought it back to the hotel for everyone to taste.  It was pretty good, and filled our stomachs for the night.  Weary from our day of travel, we went to bed with the thought that this was our last sleep before meeting Hannah.  (This was also the last night of her sleeping in an orphanage.  What was she thinking?  How was she feeling? Oh the thoughts running through our minds before you fall asleep....)

In the morning, we were treated to an amazing breakfast buffet here at the hotel that included a combination of traditional Chinese and American breakfast items, such as fresh rolls and pastries, fruit, and a host of other options for everyone to choose from.  The kids were (naturally) quite excited about this, and to realize this is the first of many morning breakfasts here.  Not to be outdone, Eric found a lot of excitement in the two high quality espresso coffee machines that were (ahem) “conveniently located” near our table, and took one for the team by being the first to try out how it worked.  A few tweaks on the coffee are being explored for the future, but it did not disappoint!

We met up with two other adoptive families from the States that are with our agency and are also meeting their kids today.  Together, we went to exchange money at the bank with our guide, and also received some other essential information and details about what the day would have in store.

After a quick lunch break, we all hoped into a van and went to the Provincial Affairs office where we would verify some necessary paperwork and meet Hannah for the first time.  It was a rainy day here in Guangzhou, but that didn’t stop the Groezinger’s from the excitement of being able to meet and hold Hannah for the first time!

While we were waiting in the main meeting area of the Provincial Affairs office, we witnessed other families meeting their child for the first time.  We anxiously waited our turn, and quickly moved into the position where we were told to stand and wait.  With cameras and videos going, we looked up and Hannah came walking around the corner from another room with her orphanage worker right beside her.  Dressed in a pretty grey dress with shiny black dress shoes and white tights, it was a magical moment of joy, excitement, and overwhelming emotion!  She was HERE!  She walked over to us without any fear or hesitation, and welcomed us by letting us hold her, give her hugs, and tell her who we were and how much we loved her.  We then introduced her to the kids, and had a few moments together there in the middle of the room as we celebrated us becoming a family of six...for the very first time.

Although she was initially a bit shy and quiet, it didn’t take long until we could see her demeanor open a bit more…and the smiles began…and couldn’t stop.  And then....a little giggle.  And another.  And more smiles.  Soon enough, we were beginning to see her little heart open up and reveal her gentle, sweet personality that we immediately fell in love with and enjoyed.  While we were all smitten by and busy playing with her, we also had the chance to ask her social worker and nanny from the orphanage a number of questions about her daily habits, food and sleep patterns, and overall care that will help us understand how we can better care for her going forward.

Shortly after the other families met and spent time with their social workers, we loaded up in the van and came back to the hotel to spend time together and finish a few paperwork items that will be processed tomorrow.  The rest of the evening was ours to enjoy and bond together as a family.

So many thoughts and feelings flowing through our hearts and minds today that it is hard to put them fully into words, but we hope this gives a small glimpse into this amazing, life-changing, forever-family day we had.  As we wrap up the end of our first day together, we're learning that she is a curious little girl who likes to explore, eat well, and play with her siblings!  We can’t wait to learn more about her personality in the days to come and continue to love her and care for her needs.  And those giggles and smiles?  Yep - we've seen a lot more of those too.

Many of you have been a part of this journey with us, through your words of encouragement, prayers, or financial support, and we are truly thankful and blessed for your part in the process of bringing Hannah home into our family.  It is humbling for us to know that there are many praying and supporting us and Hannah half-way around the world.  We don’t take that for granted!  From the bottom of our hearts - thank you.

Stay tuned for more - our time in China is only beginning, and we couldn’t think of a better way to do it.  Welcome to the family, Hannah Grace LingJun!  We love you!

Our first meeting!

The sisters are finally together!

First family selfie!

Family

Family.  Such a powerful word.

5 years ago our family expanded from four to five, as a result of adopting Joshua from South Korea. We were grateful for the nurture and love he received from his foster family during those first two years of his life before he joined our family.  As was evident from our meeting with them earlier this week, they continue to love and cherish Joshua and were overjoyed with us coming to visit them here.

Our meeting last Thursday was with his foster mom and dad, but he also had three adult foster sisters (and one brother-in-law) that also loved and cared for him.  They weren’t able to visit with us Thursday so they invited us to join their entire family for the day on Saturday, including lunch, dinner, and some fun activities together at a home they rented just outside the city of Seoul.

Appa (dad) picked us up in the morning and we drove for a little over an hour. It was fun to see a bit of the area outside of the city and get away from the hustle of the traffic and people.

Once we arrived, and as the other foster sisters and their families arrived (with two new little ones we hadn't met last time we were here!), hugs, smiles, and lots of pictures were being exchanged!  In many ways, it seemed like the whole family was back together again - 5 years later.

Since it was a beautiful day outside, Appa was busy grilling up a variety of food on the grill, including some Korean BBQ pork, fish, shrimp, and some Galbi, while Umma (mom) was inside preparing appetizers and many delicious sides and finishing the other preparations for lunch.

Once lunch was ready, we enjoyed an incredible meal together, with all the traditional Korean food and flavors that Appa and Umma had prepared for us! They were very gracious and patient with us while we tried them all and learned how to eat them! Appa even complimented Nathan on how well he could use chopsticks!

We enjoyed catching up with the rest of the family, played a little soccer after lunch, and took a lot more pictures - including a new family photo with ALL of us in it!  We had a GREAT time!

Joshua meeting one of his other foster sister's little boy for the first time!

Joshua playing a little soccer with one of his foster sisters

The new family photo! = )

After lunch was cleared we all loaded into their cars and headed to an area known for their traditional Korean pottery. We walked inside a pottery shop that offered customers the chance to make and paint their own piece of pottery. The foster sisters invited each of us to pick out a piece of pottery to create, and everyone enjoyed trying our hand at the pottery wheel and later with the paintbrush. We left our pieces there to be glazed and put in the kiln, and they will be shipped to us later. After a quick stop for some coffee and smoothies, we all headed back to the house for some fun and to prepare for the main meal.

Once again, Appa and Umma were busy preparing a wonderful variety of food for us to enjoy together - fresh salad, clam soup, fresh tuna on rice (sushi), seasoned cooked tuna, and some shrimp!  Appa is a wonderful cook, and loves to show his hospitality through providing his family with great meals and making sure everyone has enough to eat!

We exchanged gifts, had dessert, and also celebrated Joshua’s return with a special cake they had made with the phrase “ I ❤️ you” written on it with candles. It was a special way to end an extraordinary day!

Joshua gave Umma a pair of shoes he wore as a baby, to see if they would fit the little baby

Joshua with all three of his foster sisters and new baby

Joshua YoonSeo with Appa

 It is hard to believe it has been five years since Joshua came home; his foster family was very excited and thankful to see him again.  And Joshua was just as excited and thankful to see them!  We also learned new stories about him as a baby and new funny memories of their time together with Joshua YoonSeo.

Although we have maintained a connection with Joshua’s foster family, this visit helped us get to know them on a more personal level, and we all enjoyed it! 

Which brings us back to the word “family”.  Although we are separated by other countries, bodies of water, and many time zones, we all realized the connection we have with one another and the time we could spend together. As they shared near the end of the evening: “We are together”.

We couldn’t agree more. Because after all, that’s what family is all about - being together.  And we were.  It was special for each one of us.  Shortly after we left them, Joshua asked Jill,

"When can we visit them again?"  Jill explained that we don't know but we definitely hope to someday.  And he replied,

"Next time can we stay for a month or 12 weeks?"

We wrap up our time in Korea with a full heart, thankful for the chance to return here, show Joshua part of his home country, and visit with his foster family again.

But, as one journey comes to an end, another one is about to begin.....

A Walk Into History & A Hike Up The Tower!

Our day today kicked off with a visit to the Gyeongbokgung Palace - a historical and well known royal palace that was the home of the Joseon dynasty.  This expansive palace was built back in 1395, shortly after the capital of Korea was moved to Seoul.  This location and palace became the heart of the city and a significant icon that has been restored and maintained today.  While we were there, we saw some traditional musicians and changing of the guard ceremony, and many Koreans wearing traditional dress and clothes.  It was a beautiful day to explore and walk around the area, taking in the ornate architecture and design of the Palace and seeing a bit of how the rulers of this time period lived.

After a visit to the Palace, we jumped back onto the subway and headed over to Insa-dong, an area of the city that has a number of shops that offer traditional souvenirs and food stands to enjoy.  While we did a little shopping, we also found the exact spot where we took a picture of Joshua playing in the water five years ago (his favorite activity).  He thought it was really funny, so how could we resist recreating the scene and taking an updated picture?

Then....and now!

We had some downtime in the afternoon and took a few naps (still recovering from jet lag and short nights of sleep!), then headed back out to enjoy a beautiful evening in Seoul.  We first visited Namsan Park, where they have recreated a traditional Korean village with homes, and spent some time walking through the area and seeing how unique and different their homes and living areas were compared to ours!

After we left the Village, we took a bus up to the N Seoul Tower, beautifully lit up on one of the highest points in Seoul.  After getting off the bus, we had to hike up part of the side of the mountain to fully enjoy the amazing view of " Seoul at night".  The Seoul Tower is also the area where the "Locks of Love" are located, and we showed Joshua where we put our family lock on to highlight our forever family day and unending family love for one another.  Then, we took the opportunity to go up to the Seoul Tower observation deck (1,200 ft up) and enjoy a 360 degree view of the city.  It was a beautiful night to see the lights of the city and enjoy the views!  The girls even had an "extra bonus view" when they went to the bathroom - glass walls that looked out onto the city!  (Can someone say "privacy?!")

The N Seoul Tower - lit up with white, blue, and red (the colors of Korea)

Overlooking the bustling city of Seoul

Privacy please!

After taking 8 subway rides, 2 bus rides, and walking over 15,000 steps for the day, we were ready for bed when we came back!  Here's to a good night of sleep and looking forward to another exciting day tomorrow with Joshua's foster family!

Outside the front door of Joshua's adoption agency!

Joshua looooves his noodles!

...and his freshly prepared gimbap!

Day 1 in Seoul: Babies, Reunions, & Remebrances

Our first full day in Seoul found us with little time to sit and reflect on our travels thus far, but instead took us to a variety of new experiences for all of us!

Prior to our meeting with Joshua's foster parents, we asked about being able to visit the Baby Room here at the adoption agency.  Many babies begin their journey to adoption here for the first few months of their lives, and are then placed in a foster family until an adoption is complete.  This was true for Joshua as well, and so we were able to visit this area of the agency and see all the babies the nursing staff are caring for and help him visualize where he was for a short time before living with his Umma & Appa in their home.  In total, there were approximately 30-40 babies that Eastern is caring for at this time, and all were below the age of 1 year old.  We weren't able to hold or rock any babies (like Jill had been able to do last time), but seeing them was a powerful reminder of these precious little lives and their need for a loving, healthy home to be raised in.

Despite us looking like masked bandits, we wore these face masks to prevent spreading any germs while in the Baby Room!

We then met with Joshua's foster parents and had a great visit.  They were so excited to see Joshua again, and very pleased to see how he had grown.  Our time with them was filled with joy, smiles, hugs, and "catching up" about what Joshua has learned and how he has changed over the past five years since they had seen him last.  They asked about his favorite foods, what he likes to play with, hobbies, etc.  They were also very pleased to see Nathan and Brooke and how much they had changed since last time!  Although our language wasn't the same, they had invited a younger cousin to be with us that could help translate our conversations and interaction.  She was a blessing, and we enjoyed getting to know her also.

A Joyous Reunion! = )

Near the end of our time with them, they invited us to join them for lunch at a Korean restaurant where they ordered Joshua's favorite Korean food for all of us to enjoy (bulgogi).  When we arrived, we were directed into a private dining area room where our meal was freshly prepared and shared among all of us.  We continued our conversation with them, asking questions and sharing updates with one another, all while enjoying a wonderful traditional Korean meal - complete with multiple courses, salads, soups, kimchi, tea, and of course, freshly cooked bulgogi!  Joshua sat between his Umma & Appa on one side of the table (smiling and enjoying his time with them!), and they enjoyed being able to help him enjoy his favorite Korean dish!  Lots of smiles and fun at this lunch!

After lunch, we returned to our guest house and later went out to explore the Korean War Memorial, which reflects and remembers the Korean War and the significant sacrifice made by those who served in it - both Koreans and the many armed forces from around the world who assisted in this war.  Although we arrived a bit too late to visit the exhibits inside, we toured the grounds and took in some of the statues, monuments, and military equipment (ships, planes, etc) that were there.  We did get to go inside the Children's Museum (connected to the Korean War Memorial), where they described and talked about the war from a children's perspective with some interactive and hands on activities.  This sparked a little teaching time with the kids, as we talked through some of what happened and the impact it had on those living here.  What a humbling and powerful reminder of those who fought and sacrificed much for Korea.

"Korean War Memorial" (in Korean)

After a quick subway ride back to our guest house, and a light dinner (since we were still full from our lunch!), it was off to bed to prepare for our next full day of adventures and excitement tomorrow!

(This photo needs no caption!)

Up, Up, and Away!

Not looking too bad for a 4:30am hotel departure, eh?

After starting our adoption process back in June, 2017, the day has finally come for us to begin the physical journey to bring our daughter home!  Many of you have been praying, supporting, and following along on this journey with us, and we're excited to share with you some of the details of our trip as it unfolds!

We arrived safe and sound in Seoul, Korea earlier this afternoon, after spending approximately 17 hours flying!  The kids did great on the trip, but naturally, we're all a bit tired and ready to catch up on sleep that we lost somewhere along the way.

Met a few friends here in the airport in Seoul!

Our weather has been perfect - sunny and warm in the mid-60 degrees.  A perfect evening to enjoy being outside!  By far the biggest highlight of the day was to see Joshua's initial reaction to being in Korea as soon as we came up out of the subway station.  His responses of "awesome!" "wow!" and "so cool!", quickly followed by "can I take some pictures?!" stole the show!  You couldn't ask for a bigger smile on his face than the one he had on at that moment!

Joshua's "first look" at the bustling city of Seoul.

We arrived at the Korean adoption agency we worked with when we came to bring Joshua home five years ago, and it felt good to be back.  They have guest rooms available in their building for families that come and visit, so we were able to reserve a room again for our stay (ironically, the same room we were in when we picked up Joshua!).  Oh the memories!

After a good night of sleep tonight, we have the opportunity tomorrow to visit with Joshua's foster parents and then explore Seoul a bit on our own!  We can't wait!

Thanks for praying for us - and please don't stop! = )

The biggest smile of the day goes to....

Both Hands

Throughout the process of our adoption, this verse from James 1:27 has come up as both a challenge and reminder to us of how we as believers are called to care for those who are widows and orphans.  Unfortunately, our culture and world often tries to keep us focused on our own needs, desires, and goals, and overlook others who have needs - such as widows and orphans.

As we are preparing to welcome an orphan into our family, we are also challenged to remember the other half of this verse - the widow, and consider how we can care for them as well.

Enter the Both Hands Organization.

Years ago we discovered the Both Hands organization and loved it’s simple philosophy of helping fulfill this Biblical mandate of caring for both a widow and an orphan.  Taking it’s belief and mission directly from this verse of Scripture, Both Hands seeks to tangibly help a widow AND financially support a family who is adopting an orphan.

This video gives a great overview of the vision and history of Both Hands, as told by their founder, JT Olson:



Developed and founded by an orphan himself, the approach of Both Hands is simple: an adoptive family identifies a local widow in their community who is in need of some home repair work, clean up, or upkeep on their home.  The adoptive family recruits a team of volunteers who commit to helping at a day long service project on this widow’s home, while also helping recruit sponsors who will financially sponsor them for this day of service.  All the financial proceeds that are given go directly to help the adoptive family offset the various costs associated with adopting an orphan.

In short, a team of people offers both of their hands:  one hand to help the widow;  one hand to help the orphan.

The widow is blessed with a team of volunteers who clean, rake, repair, and restore her home for a day; the orphan is blessed with entering into a family who will love and cherish them; the adoptive family is blessed by receiving financial support for the adoption; and the volunteer team is blessed by being a part of the widow and orphan’s life story!

We would like to invite you to be a part of our Both Hands Project as we seek to help a widow AND our daughter!

On April 21, our volunteer team will be serving Ms. Cheryl, a widow who lost her husband 24 years ago.  She has lived in her home here in Cedar Rapids since 1979, but had significant damage to it from the major flood of 2008, that she is still recovering from.  We will be helping with a variety of outdoor projects including landscaping, painting, garbage/trash removal, and cleaning parts of her home.

As we serve her in this tangible way, would you consider helping financially sponsor us for this day of service?  100% of all gifts received will go directly toward meeting our adoption expenses, and help us bring Hannah Grace into our family.  Our total adoption expenses to bring Hannah home are approximately $40,000, so all donations toward this project are greatly appreciated!

Your gift is 100% tax-deductible, and no administrative costs or overhead is taken out by Lifesong for Orphans or Both Hands for this project! (if giving via credit card, there is a small fee, due to it being processed by a 3rd party vendor)

We have also been blessed with a matching grant from a gracious donor, so every gift that is donated will be matched up to $1,500.

We also greatly value your prayer support as we serve Ms. Cheryl through this project, and as we transition Hannah into our family!

You can get more information about our project, including a link to donate online by clicking the Both Hands logo below:

You can also mail a donation by making checks payable to:

Lifesong for Orphans
Groezinger Account #7379
PO Box 40
Gridley, IL 61744

Please write on memo line:  Groezinger Account #7379

Thank you so much for your partnership with us in our adoption, and helping use both of YOUR hands to help a widow and an orphan!

P.S.  This video is an example of what a Both Hands Project looks like - thanks for your help in being a part of ours!

Grace

 A few of you have picked up from some of the pictures and comments we’ve posted that we have chosen to name our new daughter Hannah Grace LingJun!  As names can hold such deep meaning and significance, we wanted to share a bit of meaning behind her name.

Since being on this adoption journey for the past year, the theme of grace has become very evident to both of us, and one that we felt very strongly about.  Not only have we been reminded of our own need for God’s grace in our lives so we could be redeemed and adopted into God’s family (Eph. 2:8-9), but we also regularly sought God for his direction, grace, and favor throughout our adoption as He led and guided us each step of the (sometimes challenging!) way.  As we look back on this journey, we have unquestionably seen His grace demonstrated toward us, and feel thankful and blessed for the little girl he has prepared to be in our family.

As we began to discuss American name ideas for our daughter, we quickly decided that we wanted to reflect this theme of grace in her name, as a way to remember and give testimony to the Lord.  It didn’t take long until the name “Hannah”, which also means “favor” or “grace”, became part of our discussion, and we both felt a peace about moving forward with Hannah being her first name and combining that with “Grace” as part of her middle name.

We were also encouraged when we discovered that her given Chinese name, LingJun, means “spirit, soul” (Ling) and “truth” (Jun).  With a desire to honor her Chinese heritage and background, we knew we would keep this as part of her name as well.

And so it is:  Hannah Grace LingJun Groezinger.

But now, as we prepare to welcome our daughter into our family, we continue to pray that God’s grace and favor will be on her (for her health, growth, and relationship with God), but also with us as we seek to raise, care, and lead her in the days and years ahead.

We are also praying that she would know the truth of God’s unconditional love for her and choose to receive and accept the free gift of grace available to her through Jesus.  Not only that, but we pray that her spirit (Ling) would reflect the truth (Jun) of this grace in her life and be evident to others who know her and see her.

“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,” 2 Timothy 2:1

Would you join us in praying the same for her?

May this video remind us of the power and evidence of God’s grace!