Sentence of the day- Ancestry

We were in line at BJ's, this afternoon, and Katy overheard the cashier one lane over talking to her customer. The cashier said, "...Well, I'm Korean, so...."

Immediately, Katy very loudly said, "Hey, Mom! We're related to her!"

Hahahahah- that made me laugh! I had no idea that Katy even understood that she was part Korean! The things that girl picks up on....

Sentence of the Day- Adoption

Yesterday, the subject of adoption came up in conversation with Katy. I was struggling to explain (in words that she would understand) that I am adopted and that in turn, is part of Katy's own heritage. I told her that I didn't grow in Grandma Tinkey's tummy and that I came over on a plane from South Korea to become Grandma and Pop-Pop Tinkey's daughter. I told her that I even though I didn't look like my parents that some families come together through adoption. Katy's response was, "Well, you and Grandma do have the same hair color (black)!"

Asian American Festival

Katy checks out the literature on visiting Korea while dressed in her authentic Korean Hanbok, thanks to friend Abigail Carlisle!

Did you know that May is Asian American Awareness month, Katy? Well, it is! Every year in Huntersville, a neighboring town, they have a big Asian American festival complete with Asian food, activities, booths and Dragon boat races. We went and had a good time taking in the sights- I never knew so many Asians lived in the Charlotte area but they all seemed to be out for the festival! We even got to eat some yummy Korean food which you gobbled right up!

I forgot to take my camera to the festival but did manage to take the picture above, after we got back home.

Time Warp

Mommy with Grandma Tinkey, right off the plane at JFK airport, May 6, 1983

Katy, wearing the same outfit, December 29, 2010

As many of the readers to this blog may know, I was adopted from South Korea when I was two and a half years old. At the time, I was told that I was the size of an average American one year old at 22 lbs. So, I thought it would be fun to take a picture of you, Katy, in the outfit that I wore on the plane, on the way over from South Korea. Of course, you are wearing it a year and a half early, thanks to good nutrition!

Adoption Anniversary

Twenty-seven years ago, at age two and a half, I arrived at JFK airport from Seoul, South Korea to be adopted by my parents- your grandparents, Katy- Jim and Linda Tinkey. Every year growing up, we celebrated this date- May 6- as a kind of adoption "birthday." This year is extra special because we have you, Katy. By watching you grow we are allowed a tiny glimpse of the two and a half years we missed. I'm glad that I was adopted by my parents because I was allowed to have a life that I might not have had in Korea. So, thank you Mom and Dad for your love, support and faith! :-)

Birth Mother

Being pregnant with you, Katy, has taught me so much about the sacrifices and discomforts my own birth mother made in her decision to birth me and then put me up for adoption. Seven straight weeks of morning sickness (morning, noon and night!), eczema flare-ups all over my face and body with no treatment because all medicines were harmful to you, seeing numbers on the scale that I've never seen before, many sleepless nights... it's a physical, emotional, hormonal roller coaster! You and I will never know this woman who endured nine months of pregnancy and all the symptoms and labor that go along with it, but we are forever indebted for her choice for life- mine and ultimately, your life.