Baby Box Blessings!

This is a repost from my dear friend Karen.  Please consider what you might be able to contribute to this wonderful ministry in Korea.

But these children--they're helpless; they're voiceless. Who's going to speak for them? --"The Drop Box," a soon-to-be-released documentary about South Korea's only Baby Box

Let's bless The Baby Box ministry this Christmas!  

A fellow adoptive mom recently mentioned wanting to do something with her children to help them learn about giving. She also mentioned wanting to reach out to children in South Korea (because, like many in her adoption circles, her own children were born there). So the idea of blessing the Baby Box ministry came up--but how? After much discussion, it was determined that shipping gifts from the U.S. would be quite costly, as shipping could cost as much as--if not more than--the gifts themselves. When all is said and done, what would help Jusarang Church and the Baby Box outreach the most would be financial gifts. So we are holding a fundraiser for The Baby Box/Jusarang Church. It will run through Sunday, December 9.

How do we involve the children? 

You can involve the children as much as you would like! Have your child(ren) decorate a box or other receptacle to collect donations. Feel free to use the "Baby Box Blessings" logo that was created by another fellow adoptive mother just for this fundrasier. The children can earn money by doing household chores or other age-appropriate work. They also could, with parents' help, sell some of their toys or clothes. They can even just ask friends and family for a donation. Be creative! Help your child set a goal--it could be as little as $5 or $10 or as much as $100 or $1000.

Where does the money go? 

We have created a ChipIn account to collect all the money that is donated for the Baby Box/Jusarang Church. We have been in contact with Jusarang regarding this fundraiser--and the fine folks there are most thankful for any help. It has been determined that getting the final total of funds to the church via PayPal will be the most efficient way to transfer the money. So once the donations are all collected using ChipIn/PayPal, we will then transfer, via PayPal, the money directly to Jusarang Church. This is a simple, grassroots effort, so unfortunately at this time donations will not be tax-deductible. Also, via the PayPal site, a small fee of 0.5% to 2% (depends on destination) will be charged for international transactions when fully funded with bank account or PayPal balance.

Questions?
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! If we don't have the answer, we will to our best to find someone who does. We are working with Jusarang Church in South Korea and want to work in a way that is financially responsible and also timely and helpful for the children who are giving and for those who are receiving. Thank you so much for any help and participation with this project.

About The Baby Box
The Baby Box is a ministry of Jusarang Church in Seoul, South Korea. Started in 2009 by the Rev. Jongrak Lee of Jusarang, The Baby Box is a literal box built into the side of the church. Pastor Lee is committed to taking in, via The Baby Box, any baby who might otherwise be abandoned on the streets. Many of the babies who have been left in The Baby Box have special needs. In the few months since South Korea's new adoption laws have been in place--thus making adoptions no longer anonymous--Pastor Lee has seen an increase in the number of babies who are left in The Baby Box.

For more information, please see:
http://vimeo.com/41412962

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/07/us-korea-babies-idUSBRE89602U20121007

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/19/world/la-fg-south-korea-orphans-20110620

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. --Proverbs 31:8-9

http://thebabybox.chipin.com/the-baby-box-jusarang-church

A Box. For Babies.

This is a repost from my friend Karen Lim.  She was able to visit Korea in the fall and personally learn about the ministry of the Baby Box.  
A Box. For Babies.

The church sits in a hilly neighborhood on the outskirts of Seoul. It is a church that, much like other places of worship in South Korea and around the world, announces its presence with a steeple, a cross, and signs out front. The building itself is covered in colorful, child friendly paintings of flowers, hearts and butterflies. But there is something that sits this place apart from other buildings in the neighborhood--and from every house of worship in all of Korea.

You see, on the left side of the church, up some concrete stairs, you will find a box. You might not notice it from the street, save for the signage with arrows to direct you up the steps. This box is metal, and it is built right into the building--much like a drop box you might see at the library or the post office.

 

This box, however, is not for borrowed books or birthday cards. It is for babies. Yes, tiny humans who otherwise might be abandoned on the streets of South Korea. For these children and for the people who leave them here, this box is a haven, a safe place, an island in a sea of very complicated circumstances in a society that idolizes perceived perfection and shames single parenthood.

 

It is called The Baby Box, and the Rev. Jongrak Lee built it three years ago as a place for babies to safely and anonymously be left--an alternative to abandoning infants on the street and in other public places. The children are placed in the box by mothers or other family members who--for whatever reason--feel they cannot care for the children themselves. The box is labeled "Baby Box," written phonetically in Hangul. Below that are the words "Jesus love you" (sic), and just above the box reads Psalm 27:10: "Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me" (NIV).

 

The Baby Box ministry at Jusarang Church started in 2009 after Pastor Lee and his wife (pictured above, in a photo of a photo) received a phone call that someone had left a baby in front of their home in the middle of the night. Out of concern for abandoned children being exposed to the elements and other dangers, Pastor Lee started researching safer alternatives, Mrs. Lee explained recently at the home they share with the 20 children in their care. An Internet search brought information about a similar box that exists in the Czech Republic, and Pastor Lee eventually started designing a baby box for their church in Seoul.

The box itself is opened from the outside--for a deposit--via a handle that is turned and a door that is pulled downward. The inside of the box, which is about the size of an old-school 16-inch television, features a light, a blanket that is replaced regularly, and another door that opens from inside the building. An alarm alerts the Lees or church volunteers when a baby has arrived.

Since Korea's new adoption laws were made effective--just a few months ago--the Lees have seen a significant increase in the number of babies left in The Baby Box. For example, Mrs. Lee said, before they may only have received around two or three babies per month. Now, however, the number is more like 15 or 20. Previously, most babies arrived under the disguise of night. Now they are being left during the day as well. 

Some additional photos:

 

Jusarang Church and Orphanage is located in Nangok, a hilly, working-class neighborhood in Seoul.

Pastor Lee greets guests as he prepares to leave for a church meeting, October 11, 2012.

Mrs. Lee demonstrates how the box is opened from outside.

 

Purple arrows point the way to The Baby Box.

Written in orange Hangul on the window above The Baby Box reads: "If you are unable to care for your baby with special needs or if you are an unmarried mother, please do not abandon your baby. Use the handle to open the box below and place the baby inside."

Inside the box is a simple request: "Please be sure to leave the correct birth date!"

_______

Note: This entry serves as an introductory piece about The Baby Box. In the coming days, I hope to share more about Pastor and Mrs. Lee's family and ministry as well as our visit with them and how we can help. Thank you for any interest.

For more information:http://33foramoment.blogspot.com/2012/11/links-to-more-information-about-baby.html

Mmm!

I think Beau enjoyed his first Frosty! 

One Little Monkey Jumping on the Bed

Vaseline

Yes, I know that is a strange title of post!!! But there might be some other mommas of kiddos with eczema that find this helpful!

When Beau came home he had several patches of eczema on his skin.  These were also noted in his well baby checks from Korea.

We started using Aveeno Eczema therapy body wash and lotion, and were able to get it cleared up pretty well.  We also used another product...triple paste...I think, on the worst areas.

Well, now that it is cold and the heat is on, Beau's itchy dry skin has returned with a vengeance.  The lotion just wasn't cutting it.  The thing is, when Beau has an itchy face, he scratches it.  No matter how short I keep his nails, he would often wake up with scratches on his face from where he was trying to scratch his dry skin.

So, one night I decided to try vaseline.  That's right! Maybe I am late to the party and lots of other moms already use this, but it seems to be working.  I apply vaseline to his problem areas...cheeks, temples, neck, behind his ears, etc...twice a day, once before nap and once before bed.  I still use the aveeno lotion on his body.  Now it might be beginners luck but so far it is working.  He has not woken up with scratches since we started and it seems to be relieving his dry skin.

Do you have a child with eczema?  What have you found that works best?

Little Ears and Little Hearts

I have to say that we have had a very positive experience being a multi-racial family.  Yes, Beau does get a lot of attention when we are out and about and we get occasional comments and questions, for the most part it has always been really positive.  Also, we live in a very diverse part of the country.  Families come in all colors, shapes, and sizes here in Atlanta so it is not like we really "stand out."

Today was the first day that I had to really start thinking about how I would protect little Beau's ears and heart if comments were made in front of him that might not build up his spirit.  Although Beau's expressive language skills are still a bit behind his peers, he is very smart and understands everything that is said.

Today we were in a cute little monogramming shop that I love.  A lady there looked at Beau and then told her co-worker, "I always wanted one of those."  As she said the word "those" she used her fingers to make her eyes look slanted.

I am not one to be easily offended and honestly I wasn't offended.  She was obviously making a reference to Beau being Asian and I guess she wanted an Asian child.  I am really good at taking things with a grain of salt and I knew she wasn't deliberately trying to be offensive.

The thing is, as Beau gets older he is going to understand these comments and gestures.  Hopefully people will have enough of a filter that they would not say something like that in front of a school aged child that would obviously understand.

We want Beau to know he is adopted and be proud of his 2 heritages.  His race will always be Asian.  He is fully Korean and was born to 2 Korean parents, even if by law he is now a Korean American.  Beau looks at his homecoming pictures all the time and we talk about how that is when he came home from Korea.  Obviously he doesn't quite get it now, but we never ever keep it a secret.  He will know he is adopted and we will try to instill in him a strong sense of self.

We will never be able to protect Beau from crazy hurtful things that some people might say, but hopefully we will teach him how to respond in love and hopefully he will have enough self-confidence to brush off disrespectful comments.  But I always hope that people are mindful of what they say in front of children and how it might impact their little hearts.  Let's be in the business of building up little hearts, not tearing them down.

The Details

Raleigh and I are so excited to be welcoming a little one into the family in May.  Our official due date is May 8th.

We are 15 1/2 weeks along and doing well!  I felt absolutely fantastic the first 6 weeks or so, and then the morning sickness kicked in.  It was more like all day sickness.  I was nauseaus all day long and threw up a few times a day.  It was so bad I had to take towels and a change of clothes with me in the car in case I got sick.  At our first appointment, at 8 weeks, they mentioned that they offer a prescription if it didn't get better.  Well it wasn't getting any better by our 12 week appointment so I got the medicine, zofran.  Let me just say it works great!  I don't want to be too dramatic here, but it gave me my life back!

I could actually start planning meals again, cooking, eating, etc without being completely sick.  Yay! So now zofran and I are best friends.  It is totally safe for the baby and I take one pill each morning.  That seems to do the trick, even though technically you can take one every 6 hours.

I have to give a huge shout out to Raleigh for everything he did during those 6 or so weeks when I was really sick.  He did everything! I did what I could to manage through the day with Beau, but by the time he got home each night he completely took over.  He took care of dinner, cleaning the kitchen, laundry, everything!

At our last appointment the baby's heartbeat was 156 and I had gained 4 pounds.  At our 16 week appointment next week we will just hear the heartbeat again.  At our 20 week appointment in December we will get our second ultrasound and hopefully they will be able to determine if it is a boy or girl!  Obviously we would be thrilled either way!!!

It has made me even more acutely aware of the sacrifice Beau's birth mother made.  To carry a child for 9 months is an act of love and bonding and I have no doubt that she loved Beau from the moment she laid eyes on him.  Not only that but she cared for him for his first 2 weeks of life.  The pain of saying goodbye to her son must have been excruciating, even if she was at peace with her decision to make an adoption plan.

So, that's it for now! We are doing great and enjoying everyday as a family of 3!

Big News!

We are thrilled to announce that little Beau is going to be a BIG BROTHER!!! His little brother or sister will be here in May!

Bed Head

Lunch Date

Have you heard this?

I just heard this new Audio Adrenaline song on the radio for the first time today.  Have you heard it?  The video was filmed in Haiti and I recognized the beautiful landscape immediately! I traveled to Haiti a few times in high school and it is a beautiful country with beautiful people!

Our Little Musician

Happy Election Day

Beau enjoyed his first election day even though it was rainy and cold! We were in and out in under 10 minutes! 

Celebrating Beau's New Baby Cousin

We are thrilled to announce that Beau is going to have a new baby cousin!

That's right, Brandon and Stacey are having a sweet baby girl in February! We are so happy for them and cannot wait to squeeze and kiss that sweet baby.

A few weekends ago, I was blessed to be able to throw a shower to celebrate Stacey!

These photos are straight from my camera, but I will post the really good ones that Brandon took later.

 One of Stacey's co-workers and the wife of a co-worker. 

 So many beautiful gifts! 

 Stacey and her mom Kathy. 

 Two more of the lovely guests! 

 This one turned out dark but it was the dessert and wish table.  Each guest wrote a wish or prayer for the baby and hung it on the wish tree.  The amazing paper garland is courtesy of my talented friend Dana. 

 Our best attempt at a group shot.  The shower was held at Dodiyo's in Homewood, Al.  

Congrats Brandon and Stacey! We cannot wait to meet Beau's new cousin in February! 

Happy Belated Halloween

 That's the cutest little puppy tail I have ever seen! 

 Trying to act camera shy! 

 Beau's very first trick-or-treating experience!  He chose a sucker out of the pot!  

(Last year he dressed up, but didn't go door to door.)

 Moving onto another house! 

 Trying a piece of chocolate! mmmm!

 Loving the candy! 

Candy is great! 

And yes, he needs a haircut! His hair grows like a weed! Seriously I think it needs a trim once a week!