Our time in Korea has been going by much more quickly that we ever imagined it would...we could not believe it was already Sunday. In just a couple days we'd be heading back home as a family of four.
Chapter 6: Falling into place
There is a big beautiful Gothic style Catholic Cathedral in Myeongdong (an area in the city known for shopping and banking). It was important to us that we attend Mass there while we were here in Seoul. It has been our faith that has led us and guided us on our adoption journey and it was therefore only fitting that we honor that faith here in the country that was giving us the most wonderful and precious gift - Leo. There are Masses multiple times a day, everyday, at this Cathedral. We chose to go on Sunday morning for the English language Mass. The reading and message of the day was about God's path for each of us...that we do not get to decide our path or journey, but that God shows us the way and guides us through. Often it is an unexpected path...but to have faith that it is the right path. I really don't think there could have been a more fitting message for the day.
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| Heading up the hill to Mass |
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| Inside the Cathedral |
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After Mass...going to get donuts a sucker |
After church we headed to one of the hundreds or maybe even thousands of coffee shops in Seoul It is seriously insane how many there are. We enjoyed some treats at Starbucks and then headed back "home".
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| Heading to a Starbucks in Myeongdong |
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| Ahh...cofee, apple juice and a blueberry muffin! |
Once back to the hotel the boys decided to chill out and I hit Insadong all by myself. And boy did I have fun and find exactly the things that I wanted. I was so, so, so happy with my finds that I seriously had tears swell up a few times. It is hard to explain the emotions that I felt - the pride to have found something so special and so personal from Leo's birth country that will be in our home forever, reminding us of this beautiful country. It's just plain awesome.
In our hotel room is a display case with these really cool decorative pottery pieces. I love them...and I had to have them. I looked for them everywhere we went...and finally, on my solo shopping journey, I found some!!! Mine are all packaged up in bubble wrap and tucked away in a suitcase, but here are the ones in our room.
I was also able to find a gallery that had stamp prints - some on scrolls and some framed. Each stamp told a story, poem, or saying. It was so hard to choose just one...but I purchased one that says "Joyful House" and cannot wait to hang it in our home!!
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| "Joyful House" |
After my shopping spree (there were other more "boring" purchases as well), I went and got Drew and Damon and we headed to the Stamp Shop. We had two stone stamps carved with Drew and Leo's names. Drew's says Drew in both English and Hangul; and Leo's says Leo in English and his Korean name in Hangul. It was emotional seeing their names permanently etched into stone and stamped in traditional red ink on the paper. We absolutely love the way these stamps turned out!! Each of the sheets that were done at the shop will be undoubtedly framed and put up in their rooms.
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| Adding the year, season, and carving to the side of the stone |
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| Using Leo's stamp |
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| Working on the stamps |
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| L and D's stamps - with "Happiness" and a Tiger for the year of the Tiger down the right side |
We had every intention of hitting the baseball game Sunday night...I even had the subway route all mapped out (we have not set foot on the subway while we've been here). But, it started to rain and rain hard as I was shopping so...no baseball game. As luck would have it, the weather did clear up (probably at the time of the first pitch) so we ended up getting out of the hotel room and going a walk where we stumbled upon a little drum festival. It was fun to watch the performance and Drew really enjoyed watching it with other kids around.
After the drummers we hit Baskin' Robins for Drew's daily calcium intake (Drew's flavor of the day was Rainbow Sherbet...is there calcium in that?!) and then headed back to the hotel for family movie night.
On our adoption journey, it's been easy to get caught up in the details and the waiting. Today was a day that reminded me of the big picture...about being on the right path at the right time, having faith and finding those special treasures and moments to keep focused on what's important - A Joyful House - a house full of love, happiness, and kindness. All the things we've experienced here in Korea.
Up next...Our last full day in Korea - including a playdate with Leo
5 comments:
I'll say it again.... you really need to write a book Sue! Another great installation of the Krekelberg journey! Love you guys!!!!
Great finds in Insadong! And I love that you stumbled upon a drum performance.
Every day just keeps getting better! I love your shopping finds (LOVE) and I love those chops!
I think the message at church was perfect. We had every intention of visiting the same cathedral on the morning we were going to pick up Max. I needed to connect spiritually with what was going on and also give thanks for what we were about to receive. However, that morning I was so wrought with anxiety I couldn't get myself out of the hotel room to attend mass. I regret that but such was my state of mind at the time.
On a less spiritual note but also really cool, I LOVE the pottery pieces you found!! I may need to search for that treasure on our next trip. We also got the Joyful House scroll. It just makes sense, doesn't it? LOVE the chops you got for Drew and Leo. Aren't the man and woman who make them so super nice??
Sounds like an excellent day. Your trip sounds wonderful, you're really getting a taste of Leo's birth country complete with lovely souveniers to take home with you. Thanks for all of the posts, it gives me hope for when it'll be my turn to go.
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