Can I be so raw and real right about now? I haven't just sat down and spilled my heart in words in a very long time. It seemed too hard, that we were spilling so much into something that to be honest I could not see coming to completion. We started this journey 6 years ago. This feels like the longest pregnancy of all time. I have prayed for a child that I knew nothing about, I prayed for a birth mom that I knew nothing about, I prayed for a country that I knew nothing about. Y'all I KNEW NOTHING!! You know who knew all of this while I was praying, God. He knew my son, he knows his birth mom, he knew he was from China. I kept praying, I kept researching, I kept saving, I kept talking my poor husband's ear off about how adoption would not leave my heart it was ingrained in my every fiber.
We are less than a week from traveling to Beijing China where we will begin the 15 day journey that is bringing our Theo home. I am terrified if I'm being honest. America is not looked super highly upon by many right now so traveling abroad feels scary, we know no Chinese (although we got some good laughs practicing some phrases we hope to master before we arrive), we will be leaving our 3 kids and 2 pups for 15 days, we will be taking a 3 year old boy from all he knows. I find myself pouring out prayers to God in what can only seem like verbal vomit to his ears. I am so scared and heartbroken for my boy. I love him so much already, I think that happens after 6 years of praying for someone. He has had no time to prepare for this change, we are taking him away from all he knows and throwing him into a hotel room with 2 strangers, we are bringing him home to a new country where everything smells, sounds and looks different. The fear and uncertainty he must be getting ready to feel leaves me in tears and shreds my heart...I cannot imagine this being my little Garrett in his position but at last that is where we are, a 3 year old boy is about to come into a family and for that to happen there has to be great loss.
I cannot help but think we are on the brink of a lifetime experience that will put a permanent mark on the timeline of our life. There will always be before children, there will always be before this house, there will always be before China and there will always be after China. This last one is where all the work starts. Yes, we have put in 6 years of money, paper cuts, conference calls, training, home study's and sleepless nights getting to this point but the work starts AFTER China. This is where we as mom and dad, sister and brother, grandma and grandpa pour our hearts and soul into a little being that has no idea what those roles mean in a little one's life. We start the task of making up for lost time, we start the work that is healing the brokenness and restoring what has been lost.
We start sharing about a God who heals the broken hearted, who knows our whole story and loves us anyway, we start sharing this God with a little boy who needs him more than he needs us. I won't be able to give him all the answers when the time comes to hear about where he comes from, although over our 15 days in China I will do my best to get as many of those answers as I can. He will need to learn to trust a God that knows his whole story, he knows what was going through his mama's heart when they were separated or she decided to give him LIFE, he knows those first days and he was with him through it all.
My heart feels like it can hardly fit inside my chest as I write this. There is such a feeling of expectancy, almost that of that last week of pregnancy when ever twinge might be the moment. It's that feeling of not knowing the details but knowing that I will never be the same when he is placed in my arms!
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Saturday, January 21, 2017
Travel Approval!!
This week was a crazy good one in our adoption world. We were still trying to figure out if our Article 5 even every got picked up because most people said we would get an email saying it had been picked up well...we never got one. So here I am still thinking maybe it didn't get picked up....it's a holiday week so our agency was closed Monday BUT we got the call on Wednesday with fantastic news of TRAVEL APPROVAL.
We spent Thursday booking flights with an amazing friend who's dad offered up his Frequent Flier mile rewards to cover our flights...I don't think I can ever actually communicate with words what this means to our family.
So we are officially booked and leaving for China February 8th!!
** Photo from his Forever Family Celebration...we were able to order a care package to be sent to him that included a photo album, translated letter from us, stuffed panda, and a cake to celebrate with his orphanage/foster family friends. **
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Answers to All of the Questions we Received this Christmas
We have I800 Provisional Approval, we received our NVC Letter and were able to apply for Theo's DS260!!
Say What?!?!?!
As a member of this crazy International Adoption world I get those acronyms I know what that means in the grand scheme of our journey to our boy but I know a lot of you do not and I wish I could sit down with each one of you and explain how this whole process works and that although it's scary and expensive and sometimes unknown holding Theo's picture tight with the hope of him in my arms makes it worth while!
So here I am to answer a couple of the big questions I've been asked over this holiday season of gatherings.
1) When will you travel?
We hope February! Chinese New Year is January 28 and that is a big deal in Theo's country so things slow down a bit as people take off to celebrate. We don't know what that will do to our travel approval dates but I am anticipating a bit of a delay. We are currently waiting for Article 5 pick up, that means our agency has a contact that picks up this document from the Consulate and takes it to the CCCWA (China Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption) This is scheduled to happen next Thursday January 12, after that is delivered it's roughly 4-6 weeks until we receive our TA (Travel Approval). Once we get TA our agency calls to discuss travel dates and we start booking flights while they put together our in country package based on our appointment schedules in country (this includes in country hotels for 3 cities, guides to help us navigate our adoption appointments and other needs in country).
2) How long will you be in China?
We will be in China for 2 weeks probably 12-15 days depending on appointments and since he is 3 we have to wait for an additional test to be read before we can leave. We spend the first 2 days in Beijing site seeing, making friends with our travel group and getting used to the time change before we pick up Theo. (Some might not understand this but to us it is important to try and get as acclimated and caught up on the time change and cultural norms before we pick him up as it is going to be such a whirlwind for him and we can't be running on fumes...that will come later in the trip) We then travel to his location, Guiyang City in Guizhou, where we will immediately meet him and he will be with us for the remainder of our trip. We stay there for roughly 4-5 days to complete the adoption in his province. We then travel to Guangzhou where we spend the remainder of our time completing the adoption process there where the US Embassy is located. We will be reunited with our travel group here and get to meet all of their children as well. It will be nice to have a bit of a support system and some friends while we spend the last week or so completing all the necessary steps to travel home.
3) Does he speak English?
No :) We will be preparing some flash cards/ laminated feelings, needs, communication sheets to help us along the way.
4) How much is this costing you? How much do you have left?
We desire to be an open book in this process, at the same time we don't want to sound woe is me and declare how much we are needing to raise to get over to him. So I will post this here and that is where it will remain. The total cost of this adoption will range from $25,000-$30,000. Now don't let that freak you out, we are not paying for a child we are paying for the process and the people who are helping us get to him, the people who have translated our documents, who have written our home study, who are coordinating logistics with orphanage and government entities on our behalf!
We saved for YEARS before we finally applied with our agency, we depleted that account when we sent our dossier to Africa basically starting the China process from scratch. Luckily we received some program credit when we transferred over which was such a life saver! We got through the whole first half of this process on juggling money already in savings and checking and by putting away gift money and the such during the process. Now we are in the travel portion and it's a BIG chunk of the whole cost and to be honest it's a bit overwhelming. We have roughly $15,000 more to pay in the next month/month and a half. This includes our in country travel package, airfare and the last big program fee that is paid while we are at one of our adoption appointments in China. We have just under $5,000 raised through our Lifesong matching grant/story page donations. This will go directly to our agency for our in country package and we have a grant that is under review today!
If you feel lead please use the Lifesong link on the sidebar of this page to donate directly to our adoption account (it is tax deductible), that will be sent directly to our agency after this week in preparation for our TA notice!!! If you cannot give we totally understand will you please pray? Pray for the board that is reviewing our grant application today, please pray for our Theo and for our kiddos as we prepare to become a family of 6!!
THEO WE ARE COMING FOR YOU!!!!
Say What?!?!?!
As a member of this crazy International Adoption world I get those acronyms I know what that means in the grand scheme of our journey to our boy but I know a lot of you do not and I wish I could sit down with each one of you and explain how this whole process works and that although it's scary and expensive and sometimes unknown holding Theo's picture tight with the hope of him in my arms makes it worth while!
So here I am to answer a couple of the big questions I've been asked over this holiday season of gatherings.
1) When will you travel?
We hope February! Chinese New Year is January 28 and that is a big deal in Theo's country so things slow down a bit as people take off to celebrate. We don't know what that will do to our travel approval dates but I am anticipating a bit of a delay. We are currently waiting for Article 5 pick up, that means our agency has a contact that picks up this document from the Consulate and takes it to the CCCWA (China Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption) This is scheduled to happen next Thursday January 12, after that is delivered it's roughly 4-6 weeks until we receive our TA (Travel Approval). Once we get TA our agency calls to discuss travel dates and we start booking flights while they put together our in country package based on our appointment schedules in country (this includes in country hotels for 3 cities, guides to help us navigate our adoption appointments and other needs in country).
2) How long will you be in China?
We will be in China for 2 weeks probably 12-15 days depending on appointments and since he is 3 we have to wait for an additional test to be read before we can leave. We spend the first 2 days in Beijing site seeing, making friends with our travel group and getting used to the time change before we pick up Theo. (Some might not understand this but to us it is important to try and get as acclimated and caught up on the time change and cultural norms before we pick him up as it is going to be such a whirlwind for him and we can't be running on fumes...that will come later in the trip) We then travel to his location, Guiyang City in Guizhou, where we will immediately meet him and he will be with us for the remainder of our trip. We stay there for roughly 4-5 days to complete the adoption in his province. We then travel to Guangzhou where we spend the remainder of our time completing the adoption process there where the US Embassy is located. We will be reunited with our travel group here and get to meet all of their children as well. It will be nice to have a bit of a support system and some friends while we spend the last week or so completing all the necessary steps to travel home.
3) Does he speak English?
No :) We will be preparing some flash cards/ laminated feelings, needs, communication sheets to help us along the way.
4) How much is this costing you? How much do you have left?
We desire to be an open book in this process, at the same time we don't want to sound woe is me and declare how much we are needing to raise to get over to him. So I will post this here and that is where it will remain. The total cost of this adoption will range from $25,000-$30,000. Now don't let that freak you out, we are not paying for a child we are paying for the process and the people who are helping us get to him, the people who have translated our documents, who have written our home study, who are coordinating logistics with orphanage and government entities on our behalf!
We saved for YEARS before we finally applied with our agency, we depleted that account when we sent our dossier to Africa basically starting the China process from scratch. Luckily we received some program credit when we transferred over which was such a life saver! We got through the whole first half of this process on juggling money already in savings and checking and by putting away gift money and the such during the process. Now we are in the travel portion and it's a BIG chunk of the whole cost and to be honest it's a bit overwhelming. We have roughly $15,000 more to pay in the next month/month and a half. This includes our in country travel package, airfare and the last big program fee that is paid while we are at one of our adoption appointments in China. We have just under $5,000 raised through our Lifesong matching grant/story page donations. This will go directly to our agency for our in country package and we have a grant that is under review today!
If you feel lead please use the Lifesong link on the sidebar of this page to donate directly to our adoption account (it is tax deductible), that will be sent directly to our agency after this week in preparation for our TA notice!!! If you cannot give we totally understand will you please pray? Pray for the board that is reviewing our grant application today, please pray for our Theo and for our kiddos as we prepare to become a family of 6!!
THEO WE ARE COMING FOR YOU!!!!
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Theo Q.
We have a son!
Referral Received - Nov. 16
LOI - Nov. 22
LOA - Nov. 29
I800 Mailed - Dec. 2
It moved fast from Referral Review and we anticipate it to keep moving pretty fast. We are hopeful to be in China by February to pick up our son, Theo! I am currently between states of elation and panic. Our daughter also broke her arm 4 days after we accepted our referral, requiring surgery to put 3 pins in her elbow at a Children's Hospital that our insurance at the time did not accept. (we had signed up for our new insurance in anticipation of Theo coming home but it did not go into effect til the 1st of the month) So we are feeling pretty panicky but I am just in constant prayer that God will create a way and fund what he calls us to and that is to be the best parents, providing the best care we can to our children, here under our roof and over seas waiting for us. We have applied for 3 grants, received 1 matching grant (see last post if you wish to know more or donate), I am still selling Noonday Collection and we are trying to get creative with what we have.
Would you please join us in prayer as we continue to prepare for travel, all the paperwork and obtaining the correct documents and obviously the big money obstacle. He is so precious and we cannot wait to meet him and hug him and love him. Will you pray for his heart as I know he has already been through so much in his short 3 years of life. Kiddos belong in families and this one belongs in ours!
Referral Received - Nov. 16
LOI - Nov. 22
LOA - Nov. 29
I800 Mailed - Dec. 2
It moved fast from Referral Review and we anticipate it to keep moving pretty fast. We are hopeful to be in China by February to pick up our son, Theo! I am currently between states of elation and panic. Our daughter also broke her arm 4 days after we accepted our referral, requiring surgery to put 3 pins in her elbow at a Children's Hospital that our insurance at the time did not accept. (we had signed up for our new insurance in anticipation of Theo coming home but it did not go into effect til the 1st of the month) So we are feeling pretty panicky but I am just in constant prayer that God will create a way and fund what he calls us to and that is to be the best parents, providing the best care we can to our children, here under our roof and over seas waiting for us. We have applied for 3 grants, received 1 matching grant (see last post if you wish to know more or donate), I am still selling Noonday Collection and we are trying to get creative with what we have.
Would you please join us in prayer as we continue to prepare for travel, all the paperwork and obtaining the correct documents and obviously the big money obstacle. He is so precious and we cannot wait to meet him and hug him and love him. Will you pray for his heart as I know he has already been through so much in his short 3 years of life. Kiddos belong in families and this one belongs in ours!
Noonday Website - allisonheinekamp.noondaycollection.com
Thursday, October 13, 2016
Matching Grant!!
We are thrilled to announce we received a matching grant through Lifesong funded by Hands of Hope here in Indiana!
You can donate through our story page with Lifesong and your gift will be matched! This doubles everyone's gift and they have given us up to $3,000. What a blessing this is and it's an opportunity for your gift to be tax deductible as well.
See below to donate now and please feel free to ask any questions. Today marks 1 month since our LID...we were anticipating 1-3 months from LID but in the world of adoption there is no real way to know how long we could wait. As always if you are not in a place to donate we appreciate your prayers more than we can say, pray that we see his face soon, that he is in good health and for his heart as his world will be completely turned upside down.
Lifesong is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. Individual donations of $50 or more and yearly donations totaling $250 or more will receive a tax-deductible receipt. Receipts for donations under $50 will gladly be sent upon request.
You can donate through our story page with Lifesong and your gift will be matched! This doubles everyone's gift and they have given us up to $3,000. What a blessing this is and it's an opportunity for your gift to be tax deductible as well.
See below to donate now and please feel free to ask any questions. Today marks 1 month since our LID...we were anticipating 1-3 months from LID but in the world of adoption there is no real way to know how long we could wait. As always if you are not in a place to donate we appreciate your prayers more than we can say, pray that we see his face soon, that he is in good health and for his heart as his world will be completely turned upside down.
Lifesong is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. Individual donations of $50 or more and yearly donations totaling $250 or more will receive a tax-deductible receipt. Receipts for donations under $50 will gladly be sent upon request.
Thursday, September 15, 2016
LID
9/13/2016 -- Log In Date!!!
We are officially logged in with the CCCWA ... this means my ringer is turned up and we could receive a referral at anytime. My emotions are all over the chart. I cannot wait to see his face but I keep soaking up every single moment with my little crew especially my one on one moments with Colbie. I get her all to myself for an hour and a half 3 days a week and we run errands, take walks, or just hang out in our playroom. It's a sweet time that I want to enjoy to the fullest because the two of them will be very close in age and I know my attention will be stretched.
So keep us in your prayers as we prepare our hearts and home for a new little one as well as his little heart as all he has ever known will change so fully and suddenly when we swoop in as complete strangers.
Monday, August 15, 2016
I-800 Approval Letter & Authentication
We are so excited that we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel that is dossier preparation. It's been 4 months of putting paperwork together and getting it through the right channels (Notarization, Certification and Authentication) We got 12 of the 13 documents back that needed to be Authenticated from the Chinese Consulate in Chicago! We received our I-800 Letter of Approval only 5 days after fingerprints...unheard of. That letter is the last piece of paper we have been waiting on to complete our dossier.
Our timeline at this point to submission to our agency is probably 2 weeks since we are currently waiting for our I-800 to come back to us from Chicago!!
Thank you all for your prayers and support during this time...this pregnancy is going to look and feel a whole lot different then my other 3!
Our timeline at this point to submission to our agency is probably 2 weeks since we are currently waiting for our I-800 to come back to us from Chicago!!
Thank you all for your prayers and support during this time...this pregnancy is going to look and feel a whole lot different then my other 3!
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