Dear Friends and Family,
We are happy and grateful to announce that we have made it safety to Korea. We left Atlanta flew over Chicago then through Alaska. Our plane flew through the International Date Line and we then landed in Korea. Looking on the plane map, we are surrounded by places like Tokyo, Bangkok and Taipei. For all those of you who have been praying for my ears, I am happy to report I have had very little problems just pain the last 10 minutes of the flight but I knew I would be getting off so it was bearable. God really does answer prayers. Before I got on the plane in Atlanta, I divinely came across some ear plugs marked for children. The package claimed they would help with inner ear discomfort while changing altitude in airplanes. Needless to say, I felt lead to buy a pair. They really helped, I think it would have been worse without them. But please keep me in your prayers.
We were on Korean Airlines. Will had read that all the stewardesses were Korean, and dressed exactly alike along with hair and makeup. Well, he was right. We saw a group of them walk into the airport. Wearing their hair in a ballet type bun with the coolest hair clip you have ever seen. I wear hair clips so I especially loved it. They also wore very tailored pencil like skirts, a crisp white buttoned up shirt along with some type of vest and a white scarf around their necks. They looked very elegant and refined. Make up perfect and the skirts are probably size 0. Think about A Korean Jacklyn Kennedy and you get the picture. Each part of the uniforms were unique to each lady. Essentially the same style but different colors of pale pink, ivory cream and Tiffany blue. I told my girls that they must have a picture with those Korean Barbie dolls. What an Instagram that would make! Well, I know I went on about the stewardesses but it’s a very long flight so what else do I have to do.
After we boarded, a very large, beautiful plane, we walked through first class which had pale Tiffany blue covered seats. Notice I said walked through but our seats were great too. We were each then given a packet which contained a small toothbrush and mini-toothpaste as well as white paper like bedroom shoes. Then they gave us honey roasted peanuts which had been refrigerated along with a juice or soda. Don’t ask me why but those peanuts tasted better cold! I just thought wow this trip is off to an exciting start.
To make it even better, we keep running across the cutest little 3 year old Asian girls. We keep saying, do you think Rosie is her size? One little girl in particular had on a Hello kitty t- shirt. We had bought Rosie a few Hello Kitty things. So we thought that was neat. Hello Kitty is big in Beijing. Google Hello Kitty store in Beijing and see what you get. Google Hello Kitty international airplane and you can see the crews outfits. There’s a big store we wanted Will to take us too, but he wants to go to the Great Wall instead ?.?
A few hours later, dinner was served. No hamburgers, no pizza, no chicken fingers just a taste of authentic Korean food. Even the packaging was written in Korean, it was soo neat. We have pictures to prove it. When I ordered, the stewardess said something about a great soup that was really popular in Korea and that I would like it. So Will and I both got it. Come to find out it was seaweed soup and it smelled just like seaweed soup. We had that along with a stirfry that was good. It came with a tube of hot paste and pack of sesame seed oil that you were suppose to season it with. The sides were honeydew and cantaloupe as well as some type of spiced pickles papa would have loved! No worries momas we ate light! Needless to say I was happy I bought those nutterbutters along with earplugs at the airport!
A few hours later, the stewardesses start passing out white hot wash clothes with a hint of lavender for us to wash our hands and faces. Then they passed out your choice of orange juice, pineapple juice or water. No lie I promise I am not making this up! And all the while I still haven’t used the toothbrush I was given earlier. Did I mention their make-up and hair are still perfect? Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for me. The girls and I agree that we think Korean airlines is the cruise ship of airlines. The logo on the napkin is true, caring about you. I don’t know the last time I was cared for this much. I was worried about nothing..the bigger the plane the less you feel the bumps. God has been so faithful! It’s been an adventure and we haven’t even landed on foreign soil yet. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
By the way when we got on the plane, Will had an empty seat next to him and did throughout the trip. I told him it was symbolic because it was Rosie’s seat and it wouldn’t be empty on the way home. He smiled and agreed. Speaking of Rosie, keep praying for her. That she won’t be scared when she meets us. I can only imagine what she will think when she sees four, tall Americans.
We did bring her a Panda backpack. Panda’s are popular in China and it was on sale at Claire’s, so we got it several months ago anticipating the trip. Will’s nurse Hisae gave her a cute coloring book and crayons. It’s in the panda bag with my secret weapon. That’s right a La La Loopsie doll that Emma insisted on getting Rosie. She said all little girls like La La Loopsie and she’s right! I thought it would also be great for Rosie to practice her L sound. As she calls for La La then we can move to Le Le then lo Lo and you get the picture. It’s not just a doll it’s a speech therapy session!!!
In the Panda bag we also have a small, artificial,blue bird. We will call him Birdie and we have been told Rosie Kate loves nature, so he will be perfect.
Last Sunday when we went to Target, we bought Rosie two pair of Hello Kitty pajamas and a Hello Kitty toothbrush and toothpaste. What more could a girl need? Well,while in Target, Emma asked Will if she could get some band aids. He said no until he saw they were, you guessed it, Hello Kitty bandaids for Rosie. Then he said, yes. Earlier, I asked what more could a girl need? Well a girl, the girl we are going to get, that one needs a family. And when Will said yes to those bandaids, I saw some more strong symbolism. Not only did he say, Yes to the bandaids for Rosie but he said yes to fixing the biggest hurt a girl could ever have. The hurt of not having a family. For that Yes, I will love him forever!!! And I know she will too!!
The bottom line is….a coloring book, a pair of new pajamas and a panda book bag are great, but nothing’s going to beat having a family!
Watch out Rosie Kate, hear we come…..next stop Beijing and then Changsha City to meet you! (with the book bag and all).
We love you all! Thanks for your prayers and support!! I will keep you posted!!!
We love you all!!
Tricia, Will, Anna and Emma
P.S. I have a feeling those pajamas are going to fit perfectly!!!!
Tricia Cooper