Summer Vacation

We have been home for a while now but I am beyond thankful for the opportunity to take our kids to the beach. Like I mentioned before it wouldn't have been possible without my parents taking us along with them. We drove separately (in a rented mini van...i eat every word I ever said about never being a mini van mom...cannot wait for my own!)

We went to Gulf Shores, where we have been numerous times as well as on our honeymoon. We love it there, it's so clean, great restaurants and shops. Our condo was right on the beach and for the most part our kids slept and did great. We had on instance of lydia falling off the bed :( We had one stomach bug that put this mama out of commission for a whole day...oh yeah and did I mention Garrett didn't love the beach...he didn't really even like it until later in the week. 

Lydia, was a fish, we could not get her out of the waves and when she came in she crashed hard for naps. She rode her little boogy board and still talks about the "face washers" the waves that go up over your head and get in your face. I so enjoyed watching her play with her dad and mine out in the water. 

It was so nice just to have a break in routine and life for a week. 

Recital Ups and Downs and a Final Bow

Lydia had her last recital...at least for now unless she tells us she wants to dance again. I could tell towards the end of the year, well really half way through that she just wasn't into it but we had already ordered costumes and we want to instill in our children that we don't quit half way through, that we finish what we start.

She did not go out on stage for the tap dance (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse) at rehearsal so I was so happy when she actually walked on stage during recital, however, she instantly turned her back to the crowd and cried. My heart broke but I told her how great she did just walking out on stage.

Our Honey Bee Dance was a different story, that girl rocked the dance, she did so well! She was the cutest darn honey bee and I was beaming with pride backstage as I watched. This girl is just full of surprises and keeps us on our toes!!

Summer

Today is my girl's last day of Preschool (well 2 Day 3's preschool) She is a big 4 year old now and has her first year of school behind her. She has grown so much in size, confidence, social skills and even the faith that I see forming in her.

We have a fun summer planned with vacation only a week or so away where we will take both kids to the ocean for the first time! I am thrilled and this could not be possible without my family taking us all along. We are renting a mini van (yes I am so pumped to drive a mini van for a week) I am on a mini van loving kick, I want one so bad and can't wait until the day we can make it happen. Oh the joys of automatic doors and accessible third row seating.

Here is part of our summer bucket list, what fun it will be to cross these things off!

Vacation
Zoo Visits
Make our hill into a slip and slide
Camp - backyard and the real deal
Hang lights on our deck or in our screened porch
Summer reading program
Pool Days...lots of them
Swim Lessons for Lydia
Try gardening (already planted)
Submit our dossier


Here is to a great summer to come, my first full summer with our new schedule and I am ready to enjoy it with my kiddos.

Fundraising

So this whole adoption thing is so crazy and way bigger than us and way bigger than the child we will bring home. It's making us step out in faith and truly live the gospel unlike anything we have ever done before. For us right now this is our big YES to God. Fundraising is tricky because on one hand it can be so effective in alleviating a huge burden of this whole process which is the enormous cost but it can also be messy and uncomfortable.

People often ask me why it costs so much and when I lay it all out and explain where the money goes throughout the whole process it begins to make sense. (please feel free to ask me about it if you are curious and I will at some point post about this as well for those who are considering or interested in this whole adoption process)

I truly believe we are meant to share this story of adoption that we are living right now and part of that is allowing others who feel led to walk with us participate through fundraising options but at the same time I totally get and understand feeling like you just can't give. I Get It, you will not hurt my feelings, I have read, heard first hand and battled myself with the whole gamut on responses to fundraising and that is why we thought about it & feel we have found a good balance for us and what we are comfortable with.

We plan on doing a few fundraisers throughout this process but most importantly we will be pinching our pennies on this end and getting creative with what we already have. We have also started a list of places to apply for grants. Here is our plan at this point and one opportunity that was presented to us and we will be starting now (#4 below).

1- Garage Sale
2 - T-shirt fundraiser because who doesn't love a T-shirt!
3 - Noonday trunk show - mostly because I have been dying to have one and now I have a reason to :)
4- Chosen Marathon in Tampa FL

The Chosen Marathon is one that was brought to our attention because a friend of mine who is amazing and runs races on a normal basis is running this marathon in November in Tampa, FL. Yes, I live in Indiana but we have a good friend who lives in the area and I actually have quite a few other connections there as well so we decided to go ahead apply and sign up as an adoptive family team. The Chosen Marathon uses the ABBA Fund as their accountability partner and we have applied through them.

So if you are a runner (or not a runner) there is a 1/2 Marathon, Full Marathon, Kid Fun Run and Sleepwalker (for those who want to register as part of our team but won't be running) Prices go up for registration towards the end of June so check it out now. When you register online we are in the drop down options under TEAM...chose "Heinekamp Family Adopts" .... VISIT HERE to register.

Happy Rainy Wednesday and just because I didn't post on Mothers Day or share any photos yet, here is one of me and my little ones on Sunday. So grateful for the blessing they are in my life!! I mean seriously, Garrett's goldy locks and Lydia's smile...I just won the frickin kid lottery!!

Home Study...Check!

Well our home study meetings are complete!! We had 3 total, one long meeting in our home and two outside of the home. We really enjoy our time with our social worker and appreciate all the advice and thought provoking conversation she has created between Matt and I.

During the Home Study process we basically had to complete all items for our dossier as well, so we are almost done compiling those items, I have our family photo pages left and we still need to have our notary come over and notarize all of our personal documents but then that part is done. Now we just wait, which seems to be the story of the adoption process at this point in time for us. We will wait to have our home study written for review, we will then wait for USCIS to assign us a fingerprint appointment, then we will wait for them to send us our approval and then we will enter the long wait after our dossier is sent to Ethiopia.

Patience is not a well known trait in my family, it is something that I know the Lord will be refining in me through this process. I know he wants to work on this aspect of my life and he wants me to rely on him in all my weaknesses and this will be one of them. The one thing that helps is that we are aware of the wait time, we are aware it could continue to increase. I have been preparing my heart for this for 3 years but in the end I doubt it will truly matter.

I know God has a plan for us in this journey, one that is even bigger than what we see or imagine right now. 

Just Like That...She is 4

Lydia,

My crazy spunky beautiful and incredibly smart girl...how is it that I can remember every single second of our first days with you, lazy mornings snuggling, late nights pacing, first smiles/coos/laughter; you brought along the wonder, the insane love I never knew I had inside me, and the life changing moments that made me a mom. It brought one of the most faith building and hard moments in my life as well... It was worth every single second, you are worth every single second!

You are constantly asking about your surroundings and why things are the way they are. You are so smart and funny. You make us laugh constantly. You still have these beautiful dimples and bright blue eyes. You are still off the charts tall and have long dark beautiful hair (must be from your Aunt Laura).

You love to sing Let It Go at the top of your lungs, you still enjoy a good Luke Bryan jam session. You tell horrible knock knock jokes that we laugh at anyway, you love your school friends and your family so fiercely. Your favorite movies are Lion King, Frozen, 101 Dalmatians, Monster Inc., and Lady and the Tramp. Your favorite book is Digs Dog Dig, The Hiccupoptamus, Chimpansneeze and the Corduroy Halloween. We read devotionals every night and pray, you also ask for good dream ideas, so list off what you are loving these days and who you want to be in your dreams.

You took your first trip without mommy and daddy this year to Virginia with mamaw, papaw and Aunt Laura. You did so great and never got weepy or sad although we all missed you like crazy here I know you were such a gift to those you visited. You got to see the farm where mommy spent a lot of time as a kid and you got to see where papaw grew up and walked to his school.

You are so easy to forgive, you have taught me so much in this season about swallowing my pride and asking for forgiveness when I screw up because lets face it... I do it alot and you are so easy to forgive and tell me that I am such a great mom and you know what kid...you are such a great kid, I hope you always know that. I hope you always know how much your are loved, how proud of you we are and how much joy you bring us.

You are such a great big sister and have started to form such a great bond with  your brother, you two must have your own language because we have no idea what he is saying half the time but you guys just play and play like that is not an issue. I hope you always watch out for each other.

Thank you my sweet girl for this gift of being your mother, it is a joy beyond words!! I love you forever and ever Amen!

Love,
Mommy

Easter...Joyful...Beautiful

This Easter was pretty perfect. The weather was beautiful, blue skies, blooming flowers and green grass. It was warm enough to shed the church sweaters, put on shorts and run in the grass barefoot. My kiddos got bubbles, lots of candy and vacation themed bags from mamaw. We showed up to church on time in our Sunday best, hair done, put together and made it through the hour service with A+ report cards, full hearts and growling tummies. We ate breakfast at Bob Evans with a crowd that seems to get bigger every year...they are all onto our secret. My kiddos hunted for eggs, took a million wagon rides and came home sweaty dirty messes. Success.