The Journey to Kennedy

Signing off and moving on

It was a year ago that I began this blog. My what a difference a year makes! Kennedy has been home 8 months on the 27th. 8 months. I was looking at her today thinking "she has been here always."That is what it feels like. God in His amazing grace once again blessed us with an awesome child. I have been blessed to give birth and to adopt. Let me tell you something your heart knows no difference. They are yours.
The purpose of this blog was to let those who have prayed for us, supported us and loved us be involved with the adoption of Kennedy. I did have another purpose for this blog. I hoped that if someone was reading Kennedy's story and had felt lead to adopt but they were afraid or the money thing was stopping they would see that stepping out in faith is a wonderful thing. If God is speaking to your heart, maybe not even about adoption, and you need to step out in faith just do it! He will be with you and not leave your side and you will be blessed beyond all understanding.
The journey TO Kennedy is over, but the journey With Kennedy has just begun.
My new blog is:
beyondblessed.blogspot.com
Hey you really didn't think I was going to quit blogging did you? :)

Girls just want to have fun!

Camps are always fun. My girls have the priveledge of going to Guatemala Weekend, Eastern Europe Weekend, Vietnam Day, China Heritage Camp, Korea Heritage Camp and India Heritage Camp. It is kind of like going around the world without leaving Tulsa!

Of course we love Vietnam Day and Korea Heritage Camp the best! Kennedy did great at all the camps. This girl just goes with the flow.

This past week we went to a party for Thomas (our lawyer from Vietnam) at a friends house. They had a pool with a slide and there goes Kennedy with her water wings off the slide into the water! She loves jumping in the water and swimming under water. She is a fish! Thomas could not beleive it. By the way for those of you adopting from VN, Thomas said it is much hotter here.

School has started and Kennedy starts pre school in a couple of weeks. She is so excited. She has her backpack and Dora lunch bag ready!

Kennedyisms

This is Kennedy's "grrrr"face. Yes she scares us, amazes us and blesses us with every breath we take. She is so smart it is scary! I watch her when she is watching tv and she mimicks everything. Last night she was walking up to me with her arms apart and shoulder's hunch saying "mom, whats da big deal?" huh? That is another thing she does. She starts or ends every conversation I have with her with "mom". Ok mom, allright mom, I will mom. Oh and she has learned how to tattle and she makes a mean face when she does.
But she does also have a language all her own.
RV-arbys
I am- I ham!
Butt-budducks
truck- we won't go there it isn't nice
love-wuv
nose-notes
Spiderman-my man
dang it.. dang it. no clue

These are just a few of her words.
She was born by the ocean and it shows. This child has no fear of water and today she just started dog paddling in the pool!
Of course it goes without saying that we love seeing her progress and feeling comfortable with us but a part of me wants to tell her " don't lose all of what you had" Every night I tell her the first words I spoke to her in Vietnam... "Ma ewns Oanh so much (loves) and she repeats it back every single time. It is hard to believe in a couple of weeks she has been home 6 months. The progress she has made is amazing. I know I will never be able to thank God enough for this child. I have great kids and I have to wonder what I ever did in my life to deserve these 6 wonderful blessings. Thank you God!

Reflections

Vietnam Family Day was awesome! It was so wonderful to finally meet families whose journeys we have followed. It was a day where new friends were made and old friends from the orphanages were reunited. A great moment for me was when I turned around and saw Casey Munn! Our daughters were buddies in the orphanage in Ninh Thuan. We had been wanting to get them together. Casey hadn't planned on coming but decided at the last minute to make the 5 hour trip one way and then drive back later on. When Kennedy and Olivia saw each other the expressions on their little faces was one of disbelief. It was a wonderful moment.
For all of you who came I personally want to thank you. Some came from as far as South Dakota and I believe Indiana! Others from Missouri, Arkansas and Texas. What a wonderful statement you made to your children today. Even though the afternoon was for just a few hours you showed them they were worth it! It is this type of commitment to your children that will help them grow up to be strong individuals who are proud of their heritage.
I hope your day was as blessed as ours!
Enjoy the pictures on the post below.