Today is the Day!

Today is the day we meet our daughter. I am so nervous and excited! Her flight is running about 10 minutes early. There are so many things running through my head. I am sure I forgotten something for Noah or Hannah. I wonder if I will recognize her. I just have so many questions and to think in just a few hours I will know everything. I feel so blessed that all our parents are getting to share this special day with us. My greatest fear when we began Noah's adoption process was that he wouldn't be loved as if he was a biological child. Wow, I am amazed everyday how our family, friends, and community have loved and taken Noah in. We are a truly blessed family to be so loved. The next post I make the Cook family will officially be a family of four! Please pray for the remainder of Hannah's flight, our trip to Detroit, and the adjustment stages we are all going to be going through.

God is an Awesome God!

I am not sure if I could say that yesterday morning, but as I was laying Noah down to sleep last night I suddenly realized God had answered a long prayer request of ours. He gave Uncle Jerry eternal peace. What a wonderful feeling to know Jerry doesn't have to suffer any longer. I received the call from my mom a little after I posted yesterday's blog "A Bittersweet Day" how I didn't know what a true bittersweet day it would be. Jerry had a very peaceful passing and even though I wanted to have Hannah home to share with him, God's timing is perfect and he needed Jerry home. I never want to forget the fighter that Jerry was. There are many lessons to learn from this brace man. When he was first diagnosed with the colon cancer in August of 2002 I never dreamed that we would be blessed with his life for five more years. He has touched so many people's lives and is truly an inspiration to me. Now, he is in his eternal home and I know he is rooting us all on.

A Bittersweet Day

Even though I haven't set my alarm for the past few days and I have been going to bed much lately, I have been waking up right around 5:30 a.m. Is God preparing my body for not much sleep in the next coming day? I love my quiet time in the house in the morning. I have this feeling that in the next few days there may not be much quiet time or who knows at what hours in the day our quiet times will come?

I should be ecstatic that my countdown reads 0 days and 18 hours, but I am feeling something quite different. Today if it hasn't happened already will be dropped back off at KSS and she will say goodbye to her foster family. I can't imagine what she is thinking? How can you explain a nine month old that everything will be okay and all this going on will result in a very good thing. We are so thankful for the love and care Hannah's foster family provided while she was in their care. The foster family will always hold a special place in our hearts. Then, the escort will come to complete the last of the paperwork and take Hannah to the airport. Tonight at 10:00 p.m. our time they will leave Seoul and fly to Tokyo. From Tokyo they will fly into Detroit on Northwest Flight #26. They are scheduled to land at 1:40 p.m. What a long flight!

So, today, I do not feel much excitement, I feel concern, sadness, and worry that Hannah will handle the transition with ease. I pray that Hannah finds peace and comfort as she is out in the arms of her escort to be brought to her mom and dad who have been waiting for so long to hold her.

Now at 10:00 p.m. I will probably feel excitement. She will be in the air making her journey to us. I remember almost two year ago watching on the computer, tracking the same flight, only on June 7/8, 2005. What a feeling to see this little dot representing the flight that is carrying some very special cargo! Yes, tonight at 10:00 p.m. I will feel excitement for so many things.

In Memory...

Our family lost a dear mom, grandma, great-grandma, and great-great-grandma a week ago. Grandma was 103 years old and up to a month ago she was doing so well. I will never forget our last real visit how she asked if we had gotten our little girl yet. That means she knew me and she knew that we were anticipating the arrival of our Hannah. Noah and I had prayed nightly for Grandma's time to go be with her heavenly Father. Grandma was ready, but selfishly I just wanted her to hold on to Hannah's arrival. I didn't get my selfish wish, but Grandma gave me a gift for Hannah that is priceless. The day after Grandma passed, my mom brought over an Easter gift that means so much to me. Not only did she get me a pink outfit I will be wearing to Hannah's arrival, but in the bag was a beautiful pink, white, and green baby blanket Grandma had made for Hannah at 102 years old. Hannah will never meet Grandma in person, but her mom will tell her all about her and she will know from her blanket that she held a special place in Grandma's heart.

Hannah is Coming Home!!!!

We received our call today! Hannah is coming home on Wednesday, April 18th at 1:40 p.m. to Detroit. We are all so excited for her to finally be coming home! There are four other babies coming home on that flight! We are praying we hear soon that one of the babies traveling with Hannah is Josie, a little girl that was born a day apart from Hannah. They both spent the first six months of their lives together at Korean Social Services. Stay tuned for Gotcha Day pictures! It won't be long now!
We ask that join us in praying for her continued health and safety and for her foster family as they prepare Hannah to come home to her forever family!