Dear Jin-Sook,
I am so grateful for your letter as it feels like an eternity while waiting to hear from you. I can’t wait until we can finally be together and in person.
How are you and the rest of the family? I so want to give all of you a big hug and talk to each of you as there is so much I have missed over the last twenty-four years.
Your last letter really touched me and taught me more about Um-Ma and the wonderful woman she is for the family. I can see why you respect her so much as she deserves all of the love and support you each have to offer. Her hard work and concern for my loneliness while visiting makes me love her even more than I already do. I am so touched that she is worried about my time in Korea and I am happy to tell you that I will be visiting with my husband, daughter and parents. They are so excited to meet all of you, as we share something so beautiful. You are part of their family too.
Like all of you, the language barrier will be difficult. But I have faith that if the miracle of finding each other is possible, our hearts will lead us in understanding. I know very few words in Korean but plan to learn at least some before our visit. We have decided to go to Kwangju around August 31st and stay until September 5th. We will then travel from Kwangju to Seoul and stay there until September 8th. We haven’t made any reservations for these dates but hope to make a decision very soon.
I am eager to meet my other siblings and family members. How many do you think I will be able to see when I come to visit? I can’t wait for my daughter to meet her cousins. We will all be making some very special memories.
I know we are anxious about the reunion but it will be such a wonderful time that I don’t want to worry too much about what may or may not happen. I feel a very reassuring peace that we will all be prepared and able to handle what is to come.
I love you, my sweet sister and await your next letter.
With all my love,
Hyo-Eun
*****
My Dearest Um-Ma,
I am still in shock that it will be only four short months before I get to hug you and tell you how much I love you. I know that you work very hard and have a busy schedule, but I hope I will be able to spend time with you as I have been waiting for this reunion for so long.
I received some pictures from Jin-Sook a few days ago and the photo of you in your hanbok is stunning. Many of my friends and family think that I look most like you. I hope they are right because it has always been my secret dream to find you and actually look like you. I get that same warm feeling when I look at my own daughter and see a resemblance. It is a connection I hold very dear as she is the first person that I have been able to share that experience with.
I am so eager for our reunion as I have so many questions for you, but most of all I just want to be with you. I can only imagine how difficult it has been to hold such feelings hidden in your heart all of these years and I want you to know that even from all the way across the world, you are continuously in my thoughts and prayers.
I am blessed for this upcoming opportunity to finally be with you after you have sacrificed so much, not only for me but for all of your other children. I am also looking forward to the opportunity I have to introduce you to my mom. You will love her as much as I do. Even though you don’t know each other, she has always spoken of you in a sacred and loving way. We are all blessed because of the sacrifice you made 24 years ago.
I would love to see more photos of my birth family and learn about everyone, especially my father. I am sad that I won’t get to meet him but know that his spirit will be with us when we are together.
Um-Ma, I am not sure why but I have this strong feeling that you are concerned about our reunion. If this is true, you have no need to worry. We have made it so far to be together again and everything will be alright.
I love you and look forward to your next letter.
Your daughter,
Hyo-Eun
sobbing reading the beautiful loving letters you sent. they are lovely.
ReplyDeletebeautiful post Kacie ... now I have to go check my make-up :) We are excited for you to be able to go to Korea to meet your family.
ReplyDeleteLoved reading this. Absolutely loved it. You have a gift for words, that's for sure! Wow! You are handling this with so much love.
ReplyDeleteOn Saturday Noah was sending a text to his birthmom to wish her a happy birthmother's day and he asked me if all kids that are adopted love their birthmoms. I'm going to tell him about your story. I think he would love to hear all this...