The Journey to Kennedy

Signing off and moving on

2007-08-26T22:16:00.000-05:00

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!

2007-08-10T19:55:00.000-05:00

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

2007-07-08T22:35:00.000-05:00

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

2007-06-23T22:31:00.001-05:00

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.

Vietnam Family Day 2007

2007-06-23T22:26:00.001-05:00

Kennedys first vacation

2007-06-21T23:20:00.001-05:00

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-06-10T21:19:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday Kennedy!

2007-06-08T13:17:00.000-05:00

Our sweet girl is 3 years old today! What a doll! You've come a long way baby!

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-06-04T21:58:00.001-05:00

Asian Festival

2007-06-02T18:20:00.000-05:00

Today started off with a visit to the Asain Festival in Tulsa. We took Kennedy's picture with some of the young Vietnamese dancers. They were so sweet and beautiful. It actually made me miss Vietnam. Anytime Kennedy hears vietnamese music she gets really still and then after a few minutes gets so excited. Well she was fascinated with the dancing!
I feel so blessed be a multicultural family. It truly opens up your world.

The Bayers having fun

2007-05-28T18:41:00.001-05:00

Four months ago today

2007-05-27T21:19:00.001-05:00

God blessed us with Kennedy. Four months has gone by way to fast. Our son Michael brought stuff over and we had a cook out to celebrate. She has made one of the smoothest adjustments. Her english gets better everyday, she is so outgoing and sweet and the love we give her is returned 1,000 times. Sometimes I look at her and still can't beleive she is ours.
She often refers to herself in the first person and up until a couple of weeks ago she rarely would say Kennedy it was always Oanh. Oanh's mama, Oanh's daddy, Oanh's Jordan and on and on.
I look at this picture and think back to a little over a year ago when we told our family we were adopting again. Our son Cody pictured above with Kennedy was upset with us and thought we had lost our minds. He even took a couple of days to come see her after we came home. But it took like 2 minutes and he was in love! He picks her up and takes her on errands or to his house. He is a waiter at On The Border and trust me everyone knows Kennedy. We have a lunch date every Wednesday. The whole staff dotes on her and Cody just beams with pride. Even our oldest son Michael thought we were a little off our rocker but once he met her he fell for her. Now Dustin and our daughters Jordan and Cameron were all for the adoption.
She is such a gift from God. We can't imagine our lives without her. She is ours to love and spoil forever!

September 4th 2007

2007-05-20T17:01:00.000-05:00

September 4th, 2007 is the day my baby boy leaves home and heads for boot camp. May 19th, 2007 he signed on to become a Marine. He is my hero. I thought adoption put you through a ton of emotions! Knowing your son is going to be a Marine is hard on this moms heart. I am proud, scared but at peace, I want to ring his neck and hug it at the same time! He is doing what he wants to do. More important he is doing what he feels he was meant to do. So when you think of Dustin and all of our men and women who have made a choice to fight not only for our freedom but for the freedom of others please lift them up in prayer.

Where does the time go?

2007-05-05T22:18:00.000-05:00

It can't be May. Where does the time go? May 12th my baby boy Dustin turns 18 and on the 17th he graduates from High School, then the Marines. Talk about a lot of different emotions! I am happy, sad, elated, terrified and I have this ache in my heart that will not go away. I found this picture of him and his cousin. They look like brother and sister. This is how he is always smiling and having fun. I brought him on on Mothers Day. I remember on the ride home thinking "wow I am mom to three boys, cool."
I thought my family was complete. Not only does life go by to quick there are a lot of different roads you take along the way.

So to my Dustin. You are an awesome son and a Mothers Day gift no one will ever be able to top! I am so honored God chose you to be my son. As you go down lives many roads all I can say is" Keep God first always and enjoy the ride babe, its awesome!" I love you...Mom

Thank you mommy!

2007-04-15T21:41:00.000-05:00

Kennedy now understands the meaning of thank you. She thanks me for everything, even after we pray! Thank you mommy...I must hear that at least 20 times a day! The ice cream cone she is eating, at least five times I heard...thank you mommy. Prayer and thank you. I wish more of us thought like Kennedy.

Thank you Kennedy!

The Crew

2007-03-31T20:47:00.000-05:00

May I introduce our crew.

Starting in the back row Dustin 17, soon to be class of 2007 and plans on joining the Marines :(
Second row left: Cody 21, going to college and if he doesn't change his mind he wants to major in sports medicine. Next our neice Dani 18(she lives with us) she works as a technical support person for Alocora. Then there is Jordan 12, 6th grade and she wants to be a teacher. The oldest of the crew Michael 29, he works for a company which requires him to travel all over the US he sets up Lowes, Sears and Kmarts. On the first row Cameron who is 8 her goal right now is to master her already great double dutch jumproping. Then on her big brothers lap is Kennedy. By the look on her face she is probably thinking "what have I gotten myself into?!" The only two missing are our two precious grandkids.

My husband and I went out on a date last night. After 2 hours we were ready to go get our kids! What can we say, we love our kids and this is our life! We wouldn't change a thing.

2 months ago today

2007-03-27T20:29:00.000-05:00

Two months ago today I arrived home with our daughter Kennedy Grace. Her transition has been perfect! We have not had one issue. She is a doll baby for sure. Her personality comes out a little more each day. She is very funny and makes the funniest faces I have ever seen on a two year old! She tells us that she loves us and gives the best hugs & kisses. She loves the nursery at church and loves other children. When I first met her I said "Ma yoon Oanh" (sp?) which means Ma loves Oanh. The first time I said it she repeated it back and still repeats it every time I say it to her. She melts my heart. God has been very good to us and this little girl is one more blessing He has chosen for us.
Happy two month "Gotcha Day" Kennedy Grace. You are loved!

Sisters

2007-03-21T21:23:00.000-05:00

There is something to be said about sisters. I am the oldest of five girls so I know what I am talking about. I was watching my daughters the other day. They are so beautiful and special in their own way.
Jordan is quiet, shy and very smart. You can tell she is the oldest because she "mothers" her younger sisters. She loves to help me cook, is eager to help any of us and loves to talk about Korea and how one day she may go back to teach. Either way teaching and missions are something she is planning for her future. She has always been and "old soul" and continues to amaze us. For being such a quiet one she is one to be reckoned with on the soccer field. An awesome defender. Did I mention she was recoginized as a "Principals Scholar?"
Now Ms. Cameron, she is a character! This child who came to us at 15 months old was not suppose to walk and possibly be developmently delayed. Are you kidding me?! Besides being highly intellegent, she is witty and funny and so loving. People love to here about her "cameronisims" She crack everyone up and can she give you a look, ouch. She loves life and everything it has to offer. She has a beautiful voice and is a DIVA and proud of it. I look at her and can't beleive this is the little girl we brought home who couldn't even sit up. In Camerons words "look at me now mom!"
Kennedy has been a suprise to say the least. We thougth there would be at least one issue. This child is amazing! We can't sit at the dinner table with out this precious child making sure we all bow our heads to say prayer. Today I put in a cd I picked up in Vietnam. The minute she heard the woman start singing her eyes lit up, she smiled so big and started speaking in vietnamese! Then she picked up the cd and said "Oahns" and smiled and just kept looking at the womans picture. It is sad in a way. I hate to see her lose that part of her. She thinks about Ninh Thuan. When I show her pictures she gets kind of a faraway look in her eyes and gets quiet.
She is so sensitve, smart and loveable. But if you make her mad, watch out!
My three sons love these girls so much! They are so proud of them and very protective. If they have their way the girls will never date! They would do anything for them. Mike and I are so blessed.

She is so awesome!

2007-03-18T21:51:00.000-05:00

Today we bought Kennedy her first bed. She has slept with me since the first night I had her and and she sometimes sleeps with her sisters. Anyway we are changing rooms around and she will know share a room with Cameron. We bought her bed and told her it was hers and around 8:00 she was saying night night! This child has absolutley no issues. She is so confident and loving, happy and just plain awesome. Tonight she finally got to meet her oldest brother for the first time because he works out of town. We had been showing her his picture. When she saw him it was like they were old buddies and his heart just melted when she said "hi Michael." She has only been home for about 6 weeks but it seems she has been with us for a life time. Mike and I had not planned on adopting again and came so close to not following the path God laid before us. We are so happy we stepped out in faith. What a sweet blessing we have in MightyOne!

Now we know!

2007-03-13T22:38:00.000-05:00

The mystery is solved! Where would a sweet little girl learn to drink cereal from a bowl? HER BIG BROTHER thats who! No kidding we were eating cereal for breakfast one morning and Kennedy picks up her bowl and starts drinking the milk! It seems her and bubby had a few meals together and he taught her in his words "the real way to eat cereal." Never a dull moment.

Kennedy & Kien & Gotcha Day!

2007-03-10T19:01:00.000-06:00

This is Kennedy & Kien at a recent play date. Kennedy & Kien were in Ninh Thuan orphange. They hung around together and came home together. I am so happy our families live just a few miles from one another. Kennedy & Kien are very close. No one says "Oanh" (Kennedy's VN name) like Kien. I starts at the toes and comes out in a small roar. He tells Kennedy what to do and she mothers him. Today is the two month anniversary that Kennedy was placed in my arms. Gotcha Day! We celebrate it as "Gotcha Day." Somewhere someone criteqed this term to death until they could find something wrong with it. THEY decided it could harm or insult the children and damage their self esteem. They also compared it to swatting a mesquito. Ok..... I told my 12 year old daughter that and she rolled her eyes and said "Why do people do that? I think of it like I am falling safely into your arms and you or daddy saying Gotcha!" Then she asked that we not change it. Cameron agreed. I promise we are not changing it.

No matter what you call it, Gotcha Day, Anniversary Day, Forever Family Day, it is a great day to celebrate!

YO MOM!

2007-02-24T20:48:00.000-06:00

Let me introduce the posse, starting from the left; Kool Kennedy, Jazzy Jordan and Chillin Cameron. in the front. Leave them alone for a few minutes and this is what happens!
They crack me up and are so much fun. You gotta love em!

Happy New Year!

2007-02-19T22:17:00.000-06:00

Lunar New Year that is! The year of the Boar.

Here is a picture of 1/2 our family at Dillons Lunar New Year dinner. We had a good time and all the children from all the different countries were so beautiful. It always melts my heart. Kennedy did so well. She continues to amaze us everyday.

Goodbye my friend

2007-02-19T03:09:00.000-06:00

Yesterday we lost a dear friend. In respect for the families privacy I will not print his name. Many who read this blog will know who I am speaking of. In honor of my friend I would like to say a few words about him.
He was a good guy with a big heart. He was the strong silent type. He was kind. He didn't speak often but when he did speak it needed to be said. He was a great husband and awesome dad.
A few months ago we were doing prayer request in our sunday school class. My friend requested prayer for a couple of his friends first, then came his prayer request for himself, he had been diagnosed with cancer. This was how he was, others first, then himself. When he made this announcement in class we were devestated. We cried, he cried and we hugged him and prayed for him. Of course our prayer was for healing, but God had other plans for my friend. He is not hurting anymore. He is with his Lord and Savior whom he loved very much.
We will see him again someday in heaven, but for now we are left on earth with our broken hearts yet knowing he is where God wants him to be.
My husband and I feel very honored to have know this wonderful, kind man. Him and his wife helped us in our journey to Kennedy in many ways. They were both so excited for us. I wish he could have seen her.
Goodby my friend until we meet in heaven.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! amen. 2 Peter 3:18

Three precious gifts

2007-02-16T19:55:00.000-06:00

Wow. I am looking at this picture and thinking my oldest daughter Jordan will be 12 on Monday and Cameron will be 8 on Wednesday. Before we know it Kennedy will be off to school!
Where did the time go?
Somewhere in two countries there are three birhtmothers who made a choice, probably the hardest choice they would ever have to make. They chose to give their daughters life and then let them go because they loved them that much.
As I look at our beautiful daughters I would give anything if I could tell each of their birthmothers "Thank you" because of your sacrifice and unselfishness we are so very blessed.
I would want them to know how madly, deeply and unconditionally we love these three treasures. I would tell them they have three wonderful big brothers who will never, ever let them date! A dad who when he looks at them you can literally see his heart melt. And I would hug them and say "you sweet angels, thank you for my daughters. my treasures." I will raise them to be strong christians who love God, strong women who will know that when the world starts to fall down around them that God is there, always. I would let them know that they are each loved by two mothers. The one that gave them life and the other who taught them to love life."

Our grandkids

2007-02-13T22:19:00.000-06:00

Ok I can't help myself I have to brag about my grandkids. Our grandaughter Amiya is 31/2 & our grandson Jaylon is 5. They are very excited & proud of their Aunt Kennedy who is as you know 2 1/2 . They are so funny and precious. I told both of them that they didn't have to call Kennedy aunt Kennedy. They both looked at me like I had lost my mind. "Hello gramma she is OUR aunt." So I stand corrected. They spent this past weekend with us. We went to church and my grandson was telling everyone "this is my aunt Kennedy and she is from a different world!" You gotta love it. If you ever the watch the Disney channel there is a show called "This is Daniel Cook " Jaylon looks exactly like him. Same facial expressions, they could pass for twins. They are both so much fun and we are so blessed that God chose them to be our grandchildren.

My asian angels

2007-02-05T20:17:00.000-06:00

Aren't they beautiful? They are so precious.
3 daughters+2 countries= 1 family!

When love takes you in

2007-02-04T17:30:00.000-06:00

Steven Curtis Chapman has a song about adoption and one line says "When love takes you in everything changes." Oh how true.

When God laid adoption on my heart again a couple of years ago I was terrified. My thoughts were I am to old, we can't afford another adoption, no room at the inn, blah, blah, blah. My husband just said no! But God kept after my heart and I kept after my husband. As God continued to work on my heart I knew without a doubt there was a little girl somewhere out there waiting for us. A year ago this month my husband said "Babe lets go for it. " A few evenings later I am at our excercise group at church laying on the ground doing situps and I look up and I see Jesus smiling at me holding this precious little girl. See this picture of Mike and Kennedy? Except for the fact Mike isn't Jesus, this is the exact vision I saw. He had revealed our daughter to me. She was in Vietnam and now she is home. Our precious Kennedy Grace. My sister took this picutre and thought it was blurry but I thought it was perfect. Kennedy has taken us in. All of us and those who have met her are madly in love. Yes love has taken us in and everything has changed. Someone asked me today if this was it. We have no clue that is up to God. Someone asked my sister why didn't we adopt in America? Simple that is not where God lead us. He knew long ago before we existed how our children would come to us , through birth and adoption He had it all planned. We just had to be faithful. What blessings we would have missed had we not listened to His plans for our lives. I marvel as I watch this little girl she hasn't missed a beat since she came home. I do have one concern, she is potty trained, walks, feeds herself she is a very independent little lady. But if her dad, brothers and sisters don't stop carrying her everywhere and feeding her I am afraid she will revert! As I sit back and watch my crew watch the Super Bowl I can't help but wonder what in the world I ever did to deserve such blessings.

Preparing for Oklahoma

2007-01-30T19:56:00.000-06:00

This is Kennedy in Hanoi. I was trying to prepare her for the cold weather she would encounter in Oklahoma. This picture says it all. She is cool. Very cool.

Welcome to America!

2007-01-29T05:20:00.000-06:00

We made it! Whoever coined the phrase "there's no place like home " knew what they were talking about. With that said "Welcome to America Kennedy Grace Bayer!"
This child can not be more perfect. Not one tear the whole way home! That includes 6 hours at the airport in Hanoi waiting standby for a flight, 5 hour standby in Seoul and racing through Dallas to make another flight! And when we got home she walked up to everyone like she knew them all her life. She already has her daddy, brothers and sisters wrapped around her little finger. My husband Mike is so funny, he said at the airpot mind you " If they were all this easy and potty trained we could do this again!" Ha Ha Mike! Very funny. Our son Cody who is 21 and wasn't for this adoption at all is in love. He asked me if he could take her to show his friends! had to say no on that one but maybe later. Our son Dustin stayed home on a Saturday night (unheard of when your 17) and then wanted to take her to his Sunday school class! Again no on that request. What is really sweet is my daughters Jordan and Cameron 11 & 7 or also known as "Kennedys other mothers" smother her with so much attention it is to precious. I think Kennedy must think they are Vietnamese because when she is around them she just talks and talks to them as much as a 2 1/2 year old can in vietnamese. They just shake thier heads and smile. Our oldest Michael is out of town and has not met her yet.
She is already sleeping all night and we went to church yesterday and again she was awesome. As soon as I find my camera I will post some pictures.
So let me tell you how God got us home. Miracle after miracle. First as you know we flew standby which means you wait to see if seats are availble. The week before the group I travled with was told there were no tickets out, everything was booked until Feb 1st. So I went on Orbitz and wrote down every single flight we could take from Haoni to Seoul, I was thinking "ok, one country at a time." Well my husband emailed me on Thursday before we left about a flight that left at 1 am from Hanoi to Seoul. Now I never saw that flight at all when I pulled flights up. Michelle and Tony who traveled with us also never were told about the flight, but all of the sudden this flight appears...looks good, get to the ticked counter as we have waited 6 hours and someone at AA in America had put infant on Kennedys standby ticket instead of child so I had to buy her a $520 ticket to Seoul! At least I had the money and we got on the flight, this mystery flight. We arrived in Seoul, went to Korean Air to get on the standby list of a overbooked flight and same thing... I have to buy a child ticket $1500 one way to Dallas! I don't have the money and they will not budge, I get a lump in my throat the size of Texas and my mother in law whips out her credit card and says give us a ticket. Now since me and her are flying standby I ask if we will be able to get on if we buy Kennedy a ticket. Right then 5 hours before the flight they give us our boarding pass which isn't done when you are flying standby until the last minute! We get on the flight and we realize we had gotten the last 3 seats they had! You could not have squeezed one more person on that plane!
Then we get to Dallas and just make our connecting flight! Oh and all the flights were smooooth! Know one will every convince me that God does not answer prayers! Everyone was praying for us and He answered! Oh one more thing. I thought how are we going to pay my mother in law back? Well God answered that one also!
So I give God all the glory! How to people live without God in their lives is a mystery to me!
Know we begin our new life with Mighty One! More post and pictures to come. I need to go find my camera!

Last post from Vietnam

2007-01-24T21:49:00.000-06:00

I hope. This afternoon we go for our visa interview and tomorrow they said we could pick them up. With that said anything can happen but hopefully we will be heading to the airport Friday afternoon.
As this part of the journey comes to an end I marvel at God and His perfect timing. He knew Kennedy was waiting on us. And though it was hard looking at her picture for nine months He knew when the perfect time was for us to travel. She was ready for us at this time. Somehow in ways we can't explain only that it was God the money came together, the crew at home survived without me and I was able to experience this wonderful country.
We know Gods timing is perfect but we still want immediate results. Then after our prayers are answered we look back in awe at His perfect timing. I hope someday I learn to enjoy the wait.
With that said and if it is His will we will be home sometime Saturday afternoon.
Your prayers, warm thoughts and best wishes have been felt and appreciated so much. Good bye Vietnam.

A gleam of hope

2007-01-22T05:02:00.000-06:00

I have been praying and I know my family and friends have also that we will get a flight out by the weekend. Well today Brad (traveling dad) went and to see if he could exchange his tickets from next Monday to this Friday when we are suppose to get our visa, and he got them! This is the small gleam of hope we needed. So tommorow I am going to see if we have a chance of getting on the same flight. That means we would get home Saturday! I would very much appreciate your prayers.
We have no doubt Gods timing is perfect and we will get home. I am just so anxious to get Kennedy home and to see my husband and children. I am a pretty tough cookie but this cookie is ready to crumble from missing them so badly.
Tomorrow night we go see the water puppets. Both Kennedy and Kien are feeling a little bit under the weather right now, so any other adventures we will play by ear.
I would love to sight see more but that may not be in the cards this trip. I came here to bring my daughter home and that is my main focus. She is a remarkable little girl and is doing better than I ever imagined.
Thanks to everyone for your sweet comments. They mean the world to me and I look forward to reading them.
Ms. Kennedy is waking up from her nap so I will post later.

Hello Hanoi

2007-01-20T07:59:00.000-06:00

What a difference. It is hard to beleive we are still in Vietnam. Hanoi is totally different from Ho Chi Minh City. Tonnie you are right it has more of a cosmopolitan feel to it and it is much cooler here. The hotel is great. We have a balcony that overlooks this beautiful street. Only draw back is we have to walk up 4 flights of stairs to our room!
Kennedy gets more precious everyday. Yesterday she came up to me, touched my cheek and said "Oanh youn ma" the spelling is wrong but she was saying "Oahn loves mama." I say this to every day, Ma youn Oanh" and she just smiles. She is so smart. I was showing her pictures of Olivia and she smiled from ear to ear and said her VN name! So tonight she was sitting there and starting naming the names of the four boys she knew at Ninh Thuan. We played with them when we were there. It was kind of bitter sweet. I wonder what her little mind was thinking.
She is so loving and funny. And she did great on the airplane ride. She even tried to buckle my seatbelt.
I can't wait to get her home! Only thing is we went to dinner at a missionaires house the other day and they had a dog the size of a peanut and it terrified her. I hate to see what happens when she sees our dog, he is huge!
Well it has been a very long day. I need some sleep

Good Bye Saigon

2007-01-19T07:29:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow we leave Saigon for Hanoi. It has been incredible here. The people and their culture is amazing. We have been treated like royalty everywhere we go except when we cross the street then you are own your own. It will be bitter sweet. It feelslike home at the Kim Do. Everyone here knows us and they know we are leaving tomorrow and they are sad. We had a farewell dinner tonight with the Dillon staff and we all got kind of teary eyed. They are so incredible! I may work for Dillon but I don't beleive you could find anyone anywhere like the staff here in Vietnam. The are amazing and I will miss them terribly.
Recomendation when you are here go to the new Pizza Hut at the Diamond Department Store on the 4th floor. I would love to get this kind of service at a 5 star restaurant in Oklahoma! I promised Tuan or Tony as we called him that I would tell all of our families about them. They were great! So here is to Tony and the staff at Pizza Hut for making some weary travelers feel at home.
Please continue to pray for us as we travel. Tickets are hard to find. God has been good to us and I have no doubt He will get us home soon.

A little delay

2007-01-18T02:42:00.000-06:00

Thomas just called and said we will not have an appointment with for the interview until next Thursday. That is the day we planned on leaving for home. So with that in mind we will suck it up and go with the flow. We are going to go ahead and fly to Hanoi Saturday. We are all ready for a change of scenery. There is Gods grace in all of this. I believe the embassy is only open Mon-Wed. The fact that we have an appointment on Thursday is a miracle, they made an exception for us and we will possibley be able to pick up our visa friday and fly out. So with that said we are asking for prayer. Myself, Kennedy and my mother n law are flying stand by and word is that flights are booked trying to get out So we need some prayer for that also.
I miss my family so much and I need to get home.

This girl we call Mighty One

2007-01-16T08:26:00.000-06:00

Mighty One never ceases to amaze me. She loves to eat, loves the ac, loves baths, loves ice cream, she feeds herself (insist on it) and is potty trained, now take away her cherrios and she is a force to reckon with! Her vice is her bottle at nap time. I wouldn't take it from her right now for anything in the world. We will work on that when we get home.
Tonight I heard her singing in Vietnamese, so I grabbed my cam and recorded her. It was so beautiful. Then earlier she looked at me and lifted her arms and I picked her up, she put her head on my chest so I rocked back and forth with her humming and she fell asleep. It was so awesome. She is learning words. The vietnamese who watch her eat or talk tell me she if very kind and smart. Like I didn't know that?!
How in the world do you thank God for a gift such as Mighty One? Thank you seems so inadequate. But we are thankful and grateful and I know God knows this.
Thank you God for my precious gifts, Mike, Michael, Cody, Dustin, Jordan, Cameron, Kennedy, Jaylon & Amiya.

What ice storm?

2007-01-14T09:21:00.000-06:00

Hey if your going to Vietnam go in January the weather is perfect! Even Ninh Thuan was nice.
Hmmm.... I can't come home until the ice storm in Tulsa is GONE!

2007-01-14T07:32:00.000-06:00

A girl just wants to have fun!

2007-01-13T08:38:00.000-06:00

Mighty One on the beach in Ninh Thuan.
I told Mike she loves to shop and he said "great I have to get a third job." My poor Mike he would if he had to. When he saw her on the web cam he grinned from ear to ear.
Kennedy is doing well. I took her to the big market today and that is when we finally had a melt down. To much stimuli to soon. Once she went back to the room
she was fine. She is such a blessing and a smile that would melt your heart.

Introducing

2007-01-12T07:45:00.000-06:00

Mighty One, Kennedy Grace Bayer! This is after the G&R ceremony. She was not happy at all because they had put a diaper on her. So after it came off we have been smiles ever since. She is perfect and beautiful and a complete joy! Hey the girl loves to shop. We went to the mall and she says "Ma" and points and smile. She has me wrapped around her little finger. She is tiny! Her daddy, sisters and brothers were able to see her tonight via web cam. She blew them kisses.
I have so much more I want to tell everyone on but it is late and my battery is low so I will post more tomorrow. We did a lot of the paper work today and can you beleive it, the American Embassy is closed Monday for Martin Luther King Day! Oh well. We are trying to experience this beautiful country and take advantage of our free time. Thanks to all of you for your prayers it is going great.

What a day!

2007-01-10T08:17:00.000-06:00

I can't beleive this beautiful child God has blessed us with. If you say her name in V.N. it is pronounced My T one ....Mighty one. She already calls me Ma which is mom in VN. She has a smile that will light up the world and smart!!! Oh my gosh, unbeleivalbe! She is incredible. I am trying to load a picture but of course I will have to wait until I get back to Ho Chi Minh. It isn't working here. Heather your right this hotel in Ninh Thuan is unbeleivable! I told Jynger I am not sure I want to come home. I feel like a queen. As if this day could not be more perfect, Thomas arranged a birthday party for me with all the G&R staff and most of the staff from the orphanage. Something like 30 people were there. It was incredible! I received 2 long stem bouqete of the most beautiful flowers and a gift. I felt like Ms. America. Oh and a cake that was gorgeous! We found out it was also Phoungs birthday, she is part of the Dillon Staff here. Kennedy loved it. Her nanny was here and held her the whole time. Well I need to get Mighty One to bed. I will try to post pictures later.

Tommorow is the big day!

2007-01-07T20:10:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow I meet Kennedy! I am so excited. It is about an 7 hour trip. I can not wait to see this beautiful child God has chosen for our family. We are truly blessed. We live at 6:00 am Tuesday which would be 5:00 pm Monday night for my crew back in Oklahoma and Texas.
What a wonderful week this will be Monday my awesome grandson Jaylon turns 5, Tuesday I meet Kennedy, Wednesday she becomes ours and Thursday I have a birthday. I could not ask for a better gift. Jaylon I love you so much and I wish I could be there for your birthday but I promise I will bring you a great present from Vietnam. Give Amiya a hug and kiss for me.
I may get brave today and get on a motorcyle!!!
So the next time I post I will have Ms. Kennedy with me!

Good Morning Vietnam!

2007-01-05T22:25:00.000-06:00

We made it! We arrived at midnight and besides being a little tired it is beautiful and wonderful! It is Saturday around 11:27 am here. We already went out to see if we could cross the streets and we made it!
I can't beleive I am here. You wait and wait and then...well your here. It is sureal.
In four days I will finally get to meet, touch,hug, hold, kiss sweet Kennedy Grace (well if she will let me!) I can't wait.
Thank you to all of our family and friends And MY CO-WORKERS who are my family/friends who have prayed for us on our Journey to Kennedy. Your love and prayers mean so much.
I brought my sons laptop, and it doesn't work in my room :( I have a webcam so I could see my family. We have skype and I came down here to the business room and used their computer. I could see my beautiful crew but they could not see me. So if anyone out there has some advice let me know.
I feel a nap coming on.

Last time before I go!

2007-01-02T11:20:00.000-06:00

This will be my last post before I leave for Vietnam. I am ready to go but I am going to miss my family very much. We did get skype and webcams so we can actually talk and see each other, so hopefully that will make missing them a little easier.
Six days until I meet our angel Kennedy Grace. It seems surreal. I can't wait to hold this precious gift from God in my arms!
Please pray for safe travel there and back. That everything runs smoothly over there so we can come home sooner. And please pray for my husband and children while I am gone.
One more thing. I have an awesome husband. A lot of women would not be able to leave there homes and families for a couple of days let alone three weeks and know the house would still be standing when they came home. I am priveledged and honored to say I can! Also knowing my church family and good friends will be there for them also helps.
Thank you God for all of these blessings.

He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in him,whose thoughts turn often to the Lord! Isaiah 26:3

How many times can you pack?!

2006-12-27T20:43:00.000-06:00

Eight days until we leave for Vietnam! and fourteen days until our sweet girl is in my arms!!
I pack and repack, I need it, I don't need it, I have everything, I don't have everything! Good grief I drive myself nuts! One good thing, it sure keeps me busy!
Tonight we had dinner with one of the couples we are traveling with. I like them alot! I beleive God puts people together for a reason. It was like we had known each other for years. It is great because they live in Tulsa and thier son is in the same province as our daughter so we will stay close. There is another couple traveling and they live back east and are adopting from another province. Except for the time we travel to our provinces we will be together the whole trip!
I do hate leaving my family for a possible three weeks, but it is a small sacrifice to make.
Thank you God for all your sweet blessings!

WE HAVE A DATE!!!!

2006-12-18T14:59:00.000-06:00

January 10, 2007 Ms. Kennedy will be ours! One day before my birthday! We are thrilled beyond words! Thank you Jesus for being faithful even when I wasn't.
Ok I need to breath.... that is better.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 107:1

Where is the phone call?

2006-12-14T14:05:00.000-06:00

RING PHONE RING!!!!!
Ok this is bad, I am driving myself nuts waiting to here we have a G&R date!

VISA!

2006-12-04T17:44:00.000-06:00

My VISA came today! Whoo hoo! I am officially ready to travel! Come on phone ring!

Dreams

2006-12-03T21:12:00.000-06:00

Last night I had a dream about Kennedy. I can't remember all of the dream but I do remember I was in Vietnam and I was holding her and she looked at me and said " I want my bottle mama." Of course in my dream I was amazed at how good her english was! :) So I have to think about what the dream means.
The night before Katie told me the good news about our paper work my sister had dreamed that I would receive news about Kennedy and travel. She was close!
I dream a lot and several of my dreams have had a profound message or meaning and it always had something to do with what was going on in my life.I can't wait to see if this dream means anything.

Very Unexpected Good News!

2006-11-22T19:49:00.000-06:00

What a day! We only had to work half a day today. Some of us were working on a mailing. In walks Katie my case worker and she said "Elaine I have some good new for you." My heart stopped. I was thinking she was going to tell me our paperwork is in Hanoi. NOPE! Been there done that! It is all back in the province and we should here about our G&R in 3 weeks!! What a wonderful very unexpected suprise! She made my day.
I think I am still in shock. Tomorrow while my family celebrates Thanksgiving I am going to add yet one more blessing to the list!
Thank you God!

Angels in our Midst

2006-11-20T13:28:00.000-06:00

Do you believe in angels? I do. We know angels can be seen or unseen, they can come in any form. They can bring us good news from a distant land. Today I needed some good news and there in my email box were the words "KENNEDY!"
My angels Mike and Casey who I have never met are in Vietnam to bring home their daughter Olivia who is Kennedy's friend. Why are they angels? Because they have gone above and beyond to reach out to Kennedy, kissing her, holding her hugging her. They have told her she is loved and we will be there soon to bring her home. They took the time to email me knowing it would mean everything to me.
Yes, I believe in angels.

Needing & Wanting

2006-11-12T20:10:00.000-06:00

I have this overwhelming desire to get things done before I travel. Once I started making my to do list I realized how much there is to do! ARGH! Oh well it will keep me busy, I guess that is the point.
Take a trip with me to my fantasy world... We would have a bigger house with tons more room, new furniture in our new house, a car that would quit breaking down and money so I could be a full time stay at home mom. Yep that is my fantasy. Then reality hits. The house is to small, my furniture is falling apart, the car constantly needs work and I will have to work at least part time. BUT in this house is so much love, and on this furniture I have sat with my husband and made plans for our future and sat and shared joys and sorrows with my children and in this car I have had some of my best prayers and because I work it has opened doors for me. So if I had a choice between my fantasy and reality, well I would take reality any day!

Its Getting Harder

2006-11-09T21:02:00.000-06:00

Well the wait is getting harder. At the beginning of all this we thought Kennedy would be home by Thanksgiving or at least Christmas. I think with the holidays approaching it just makes the wait almost unbearable. I know she will be home when God is ready for her to come home...I just want her home now.
On the bright side I had a message today to call Olivia's mom (Olivia is Kennedy's buddy at the orphanage) anyway her and her husband are leaving next week for Vietnam to bring their precious Olivia home and she wanted to know if I would like to send something for Kennedy. That is so sweet. She is going to see how big Kennedy is and what size clothes and shoes she wears and get some pictures. Hopefully she will be able to give Kennedy a big hug from her mama & daddy.
And who knows maybe a miracle will happen and she will be home before the end of the year or I will at least travel.

My Blessings!

2006-11-03T14:10:00.000-06:00

My blessings! Three handsome sons, three beautiful daughters {Jordan is holding Kennedy's picture), and a precious grandson and grandaughter.
I can be having the worse day and I look at them and they help me remember how good God is.
People ask me if there is any difference in the love I feel for my birth children and my adopted children. NOT AT ALL! I love them all the same; uncondtionally! Each one is somone special. Each one is God's perfect creation. If anyone ever doubts that there is a God just look in the eye's of a child. How ever God plans for you to create your family.. through birth, adoption or both, one or ten, remember it is all wonderful!

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him.
1 Samuel 1:27

Bummer but it will be ok!

2006-11-03T13:49:00.000-06:00

Got word from Shaohannah's Hope today that they turned down our request for a grant. Its a bummer but it will be ok!
We kind of expected it. We know God will take care of every step of this adoption in His timing, not ours.
My daughter Jordan who is 11 years old, was born in S.Korea and introduced us to the world of adoption in 1995. She sent me an email a couple of weeks ago, below is the scripture that she sent in her email. The whole email was wonderful. She reminded me that God is in control. She is wise beyond her years. We should listen to our children. God speaks through them often.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6

What will she think?

2006-11-02T21:33:00.000-06:00

Some of Kennedy's friends will be leaving the orphanage this month. Their parents got the long awaited call that it was time to go and bring their children home. I am so happy for them. I love reading their emails about the "call." You can almost hear them. I wonder what Kennedy will think when she looks around and her friends are no longer there. Will she go looking for them? Can she ask someone, as well as a two year old can where they are? Will she cry?
I wish there was a way I could let her know that it won't be much longer until we get the "call" and it will be her turn.
This makes me think of all the children left behind everyday. They must think "maybe next time it will be me." I wish there was a way I could tell every child on this earth who does not have a home or a family that there is someone who loves them. He gave them life and He loves them very much.
This is the beginning of National Adoption Month. My prayer is that someday every child on this planet will have a family to love them and that their new family will tell them about God our Father, everyones Father.

The Smile

2006-10-19T22:20:00.000-05:00

The smile! We have been waiting for this smile for months and it was so worth it!
It can light up a room. This picture made our week! Kennedy is patiently waiting in Vietnam for her mama and grandma to come and get her. Daddy is going to stay home and hold down the fort. Soon sweet girl, we will bring you home forever.

In His time

2006-10-11T14:05:00.000-05:00

We finally have a log in date, October 11. This means Hanoi has approved our paperwork and now they will request Kennedy's paperwork. The next news we get will be for travel! Hopefully that will be in January (or sooner:) and who knows I may be celebrating my birthday in Vietnam!
This week has taught me so many things. Gods wisdom and His perfect timing, His forgiveness, the fact you can not be all things to all people and that He gave us a very wise daughter. Oh yes and to be quiet and listen
I prayed for a miracle today and He provided.

A Bump In The Road

2006-09-29T22:29:00.000-05:00

I found out this week we probably will not travel until January or maybe even February! I was shocked! You would think I would be more prepared. In the previous post I was concerned about traveling during Christmas, now I would give anything to travel during Christmans! After getting over the initial shock and dissapointment and shedding a few tears I remembered God is in control of this journey, not me. He knows when Kennedy is coming home. It is just so hard. With each tick of the clock she is growing up and we are missing out.
The bright part of the week was going to the airport and being there for the arrival of Sarah and Avi Joy, two beautiful angels from Vietnam and also from the same orphanage as Kennedy! I also was able to meet Luke a handome little guy who came home from Vietnam last month and also from the same orphanage! They were so beautiful, these three treasures from Vietnam.
In a few months our baby girl will be home, forever.

Did I tell you I hate waiting?

2006-09-14T14:37:00.000-05:00

The hardest part of the adoption process has to be the wait. The paperwork is finished,you have a picture of this precious child that God has chosen for you, the gifts have been received and now all you can to do is wait. I read the wonderful blogs of friends who are in Vietnam to bring home their children. Some have seen our daughter, maybe held her. I want that in the worse way. Many have taken pictures of her, THANK YOU!
I want to hold her, hug her and love her. I want to look in those beautiful dark eyes and say "I love you."
Deep down in the depths of my soul I know one thing for sure; God is the only one who knows when she will come home and that His timing is perfect.
A friend sent me the most beautiful prayer on waiting. It is a long prayer and if I had to pick one part from it that spoke volumes to my heart it would be this:

Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true, but oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you.
So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see that the greatest gift is to truly know me.
And though My answers seem terribly late, My most precious answer of all is still..."Wait."

Updates and Paperwork

2006-08-28T13:31:00.000-05:00

Jynger is back and we have wonderful pictures. She has video which she let me look at and all I can say is Kennedy is gorgeous and precious and I want to go get her right now! She loves books and Jynger said she is on target and very content.
The big news now is the paperwork is leaving for Vietnam today! Now for the hard part, waiting to hear those three special words, "You can travel!"

Thankful

2006-08-15T15:20:00.000-05:00

Do you ever have days where you are just so thankful that it is almost overwhelming? You know the feeling. You would love to find every person that has ever helped you at any point in your life and say "Thank you." I think about how God has blessed me and my family in ways that you can't explain you just know without a doubt you are blessed.
Today I had an anxious moment about how in the world we are going to come up with the rest of the money we need for this adoption. There I go again taking control away from God. Have you ever noticed how when you take matters into your own hands things don't work out like you would want them to, but let God have control and everything works out just right.
Anyway I received a phone call that reminded me to give God back the control and I was fine after that.
Kennedy Grace Bayer, what an unexpected blessing. I have to remember God knew all along she was our child and He will provide everything we need to get her home.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

The waiting game

2006-08-14T12:03:00.000-05:00

This is our third adoption and you would think by now I would be use to the wait. Reality is it never gets easier. You have a child that you want to bring home, you hurry up with all the paper work and then you wait. I have to keep reminding myself that in Gods perfect time she will come home. In the mean time we stay busy getting things ready for the arrival of our precious Kennedy.
Friends from our church are having a baby shower for us, that is always fun. A friend has given me some cute clothes so my daughters and I "oooh and aaah " over those. I have been doing the baby registering. I have bought a few things not many. Did I mention I hate waiting?
The first families are in Vietnam receiving their children. We wait to read updates on their blogs so we can for a moment live vicariously through them.
My youngest daughter does not understand why we have to wait so long. She wants "babygirl" home now! So do I sweet heart, so do I.

How it Began

2006-08-11T20:51:00.000-05:00

I decided to start a blog on our journey to our daughter Kennedy Grace in Vietnam, so family and friend alike could stay updated. It has happened so fast, yet it's been a long journey. Make sense? Let me explain.
My name is Elaine and I am married to Mike the greatest husband, father, son, friend ever! Mike adopted Michael 29 my son from my first marriage, we had Cody 20 and Dustin 17. Being the oldest of five girls I loved being mom to three boys. I became a Christian in 1991 along with my oldest son. My dear husband had been wanting to adopt a daughter and it wasn't until I became a Christian that I also felt this was Gods plan for our lives. Mike went to L.A. to receive our beautiful 3 month old Korean angel Jordan the day before Fathers Day 1995. Five years later Mike went to Korea to bring home our daughter Cameron another beautiful Korean angel who was 14 months old. I was on cloud nine! In 2001 God spoke to my heart about adoption. All I knew for sure was that He was going to put me to work! I had found my passion.
A couple of years ago I felt God had laid adoption on my heart again. I wanted to make sure it wasn't the "the mommy ache" and I was trying to pray it away!
For my husband it was a flat NO! By this time we had two precious grandchildren.
No matter how hard I prayed that nudge in my heart would not go away.
In February of this year Mike surprised me by saying he was ready to take the step of faith and adopt again. We started the process for China but I could not get going on the paperwork. On April 3rd, I emailed the Director of Vietnam program at the agency I work at and asked her if they had any girls available over the age of one. She said yes. She had a referall in mind. So on April 4th our anniversary I surprised my husband with a picture of our daughter 2 years old from Vietnam. He was shocked but very happy! So here I am getting ready to be a mom again!
I often wonder what I ever did in my life to deserve to be so blessed? I just can not see how life can get any better than this.
If all goes well I will be traveling with my wonderul mother in law sometime later this year to receive our beautiful angel, while dad holds down the fort at home. With one in college, one starting his senior year, one starting middle school and one in second grade we really don't think its fair to lay that on someone not use to our crazy life. To us its normal to others .....not so much!
What amazes me the most about all of our adoptions is the fact that we never had the money to adopt! Who has $20,000 laying around? But when you step out in faith God will take care of you. Every single time we have ever had to write a check for any of our adoptions the money has been there. Most of the time we couldn't tell you where it came from, but it was there. So as we step out in faith once more we are trusting God to provide. I say this because the saddest thing is to know a family would love to adopt but the money part scares them. Please if you read this and that is the case, take that step of faith and watch the miracles begin.