Often divine moments look like inconveniences on the front end—Erwin Raphael McManus
Two years ago tonight, Mike and I read an email that our adoption agency, Dillon International, sent out. There was a 15months old baby boy in Seoul Korea who needed a family. When I read it, my heart beat really fast. He sounded like a perfect match for our family. Of course, it was nuts. We had 3 kids, I work, Mike's job is demanding, our youngest was in kindergarten, has some special needs, but was becoming more self-sufficient. A toddler thrown in would certainly be challenging. Then there's the money issue.We had nowhere near what we would need to start from scratch adopting internationally, not to mention daycare costs. It would certainly set us way back in retirement type goals.
But alas, the little boy was ours. God doesn't care about all the logical reasons not to do something a little nuts. That week was so so so stressful , as we prayed and perused over his referral and medical papers. He had some medical and background risks. Yet, in my heart I knew he was perfect. We really couldn't discuss with people what we were considering. We begged God to make it super clear what His will was--yes or no. 10 days later, I called our social worker at Dillon and said YES. It was an amazing journey and God provided faithfully. We got a very generous grant from the Dillon Building Families Fund and many people donated to our adoption journey(even people we'd never met) we hope to continue to donate generously back so that other families can have their dreams come true.
The past 2 years have been pretty wild and really sweet watching him flourish and our hearts fall in love with the chubby cheeked boy we stared at in pictures, but didn't know.
I found this picture on my old phone. We are sitting in the airport in Korea. He was a terrified little man not understanding anything that was happening.(side note, oh my, I'm looking so wrinkled, anybody recommend a good anti-wrinkle cream?)
Hudson has adjusted great. He is so unlike our other kids. He is loud, rough and tumble, drinks his sippy with a vengenance and makes a loud "ahhh" sound when the last drop is gone. He is totally obsessed with Thomas the Tank and knows all the engines names. He loves church nursery, can skip, sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Happy Birthday. He naps 2 hours everyday--but when he's awake--it's 90mph! At night time when we put him to bed he says "I love you too, I love you best" in his sing-songy voice.
In honor of Hudson Lee, I encourage all of you to JUMP IN! If God has presented a crazy opportunity that doesn't make sense on paper--JUMP IN!!
What an incredible gift he was and continues to be for our entire family!
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