K82 - 1453

This post is dedicated to my birth mother & any other mother who has given up their baby for adoption.

The recent controversy regarding CBS & the Tim Tebow commercial has opened a part of my heart that I normally like to keep to myself. If you don't know anything about this, then click here. I don't share the intimate details regarding my adoption....mostly because I completely forget that I am even adopted and it feels like I'm talking about other people. Talking about the specifics of my story makes it real....which then makes me overly emotional....and I don't like myself in that state.

I finally decided that I would share some of MY adoption story as it pertains to a topic for which I am truly passionate about. I dug through my old adoption papers....and thanks to a scanner, I can share them with you.


The Story of K82-1453 Begins

I was left on a doorstep outside a the CheChon Orphanage on October 10th, 1981. I was just over 11 weeks old. This snippet states that I was "in good health & weighed 11 pounds & was 22 inches."


CheChon (or Jecheon) is about 3 hours Southeast of Seoul



A Christmas Card sent to me after my arrival in the States.
Jane White was the founder & heart of that orphanage.



Don't Mess With me....or so my papers state.
"Is very demanding. Wants to be held the minute an adult walks into the room. However, when she is with the other children she is very happy and content. Is a real fighter with the other children her age. Is very seldom the loser. I would like her placed in a Christian home in the U.S."

(This is the reason why I was placed in a home with 3 older brothers)


K82-1453 (My Case Number)
The very first picture given to my parents from the orphanage.
I carry it with me in my wallet. It is very precious to me.
Yes, I look a bit crossed eyed.



A Letter from Jane White (November 9, 1982)
"...Nam Hee is a doll - am sure you already know this. She is really a lover. Just loves to be held and cuddled. She has a real good appetite. Has been on jr. foods & drinks from a cup. In the last few days she has started to walk all over the place. She is usually happy & content - however when she is hungry she wants to eat now. Not interested in waiting a minute. Sometimes even refusing cookies..."



The other picture of me from the orphanage (I only have 2)



The purpose of this post is to say Thank You. Thank you to my birth mother for choosing life for ME. Thank you for selflessly choosing to carry MY life in your womb for 9 months and then painfully labor & deliver MY body to the world. Thank you for allowing MY life be the exception...for allowing ME the opportunity to laugh, cry, sing, learn, play, fall in love, live in a country where I can speak & worship freely, experience the joys of having my own family...and to taste cookies.

I do not take my life for granted. I do not know the reason why I was left on a doorstep. But I do know that I honor my birth mother's decision to keep my life by living my life to its fullest.

I know the counter arguments.....trust me, I have heard all of them. My birth WAS the counter argument. Social, economic, & physical factors can make a mother's decision to keep her baby seem impossible. I get it. I am posting this because this topic hits me at a very deep and personal level. As an adoptee, I will always be an a passionate advocate of choosing life....because it was my birth mother's decision that brought me here. I can not ignore the course of my life....from doorstep abandonee to happily married wife & mother of 2 with another on the way.

A Few Pictures From My Childhood

Cover Girl Rach
That's my brother Matt changing my diaper.
Not a glorious cover, but it's my small claim to fame.


Calendar Girl Rach!
Miss October...HOT!



Beach Babe
I would spend hours laying in the warm sand.



I always liked to swing.....but especially loved to jump off!



Climbing Trees
I was a super tom-boy & LOVED to climb trees.



Who could imagine the miracles that would happen from being placed on a humble Korean doorstep.
Adoption is ALWAYS an option.

And finally...the letter from the Judge, Randall Hekman
February 3, 1984
Not sure the Kent County Juvenile Court would be allowed to release such letters these days...it's a shame.



"My Dear Child....
You didn't choose the
Place or the
Time of your
Beginning when, in
Darkness,
God's fingers
Patiently and
Lovingly and
Skillfully wove a
Rich tapestry of Life called
You.

Nor did you choose the
Home of your
Growth from child to
Adult, where
God will use
Us to
Food and clothe and hug and
Train and model and console and
Encourage and rebuke and most of all
Love.

And, through it, we all will grow.
'Til nuggets of refined
Gold and precious
Gems of beauty shine from our inner
Lives to give
Glory to the One
Who patiently and
Lovingly ever lives to
Finish His work in us."

Snapshots

It's a tea party & you're invited.



Sofia slept in old lady sponge curlers.
The result is her favorite super curls.



This was the day Sofia picked out all her clothes.
I suppose the theme was pink.
Her socks & underwear are hot pink as well.
I do a full load of pink laundry every other day.



I upgraded Stella to french braids!
I can't believe that she just sits for me.



Uncle Josh sent the girls Christmas presents!
Sofia got a digital camera. Her expression says it all.
She LOVES it. I'll post some of her pictures later.



Stella got a cool bath toy & a princess crown.
She wears the earrings to church.
Her reaction was similar to Sofia's.



Dinner earlier this week - Chef Salad
Umm....it's "healthy" if there's a few pieces of lettuce underneath, right?
Bippity Boppity Bacon!


Do I ever take pictures that are NOT in our kitchen?

Snapshots

First braids of her life.



This past fall Sofia started making her own dot-to-dot masterpieces.
I followed this very easy to read dot-to-dot sketch.
See below for the final picture.



Pizza night.
Stella is really starting to enjoy cooking & baking.



Uncle Mike visited from Colorado and took the girls sledding.
I think he had just as much fun.



My youngest nephew Sammy.
Snug as a bug.



Sometimes the dots just give away the picture.

Snapshots

This is how my girls transfer after they fall asleep at Nona's house.
Stella = WIDE awake, singing, talking, giggling
Sofia = Never wakes up....not even once.



Kindergarten Art
We did Christmas Chains, Trees, & Wreaths





Why is it that my girls give me a good smile in the ugliest locations?



Watching daddy play indoor.
My kids are the ones who leave all the gross prints.
Go #3!



Christmas sweaters from Aunt Nick & Uncle Matt
I LOVE them!!



Arm + Oven = Rachel Is An Idiot



7 Christmas parties & 5 birthday parties from the 12th - 30th
Neighbor Madelyn's 5th birthday at Chucky Cheese.

It was an exhausting month.



The Sheldon family birthday celebration.
6 December birthdays!



Christmas morning on the steps.
This is a new tradition for me.
We always opened gifts on Christmas Eve.



Sofia wishes for a puppy every coin she throws in the wish pond.
Soooo.....goldfish will have to do.

Names are Brownie, Squirt, Grape, Alina, Dorothy & Pizza



Birthday gift from Pop Pop (Grandpa Feyen)
Bathtub painting set



This is an ice/snow fort a few blocks down on Boston.
I was "creepy lady" who took pictures.


Complete with slide, tunnels, rooms, etc. Awesome.



Sledding at Mulick Park on Friday.






Stella's favorite movie (now) is Barbie & the Diamond Castle.
She will wear her princess Alexa dress ALL day.



I am awesome at washing my dirty laundry.
I am NOT awesome at folding clean laundry.



I believe we have a sock ness monster.
Ha ha ha...get it? "SOCK ness?" I'm a nerd.
But really....where do they all go? Is this just my household?