More Baby Steps...

THANKFUL FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, and WHAT OUR FUTURE HOLDS

We made some adoption progress during the Thanksgiving Holiday!

1. We finished Kalyn's VISA application...
2. We finished preparing Kalyn's room to share with big brother...
3. We are beginning to think about packing our bags...
4. We are brushing up on the agency's travel meeting and travel guide...
5. We have purchase the last few gift items we will take to China for Kalyn's nannies, our travel guides, and the orphanage director(s).
6. We continue to apply for more adoption grants...

The next few weeks will go by fast and over the next few months we will see GOD's work as he his plan for our family unfolds.

** No exact travel dates yet, but as soon as we hear from China and are given the golden ticket we will be on a jet plane!!!!

Please pray for Kalyn to remain healthy as he waits for us, efficiency in the last bit of paperwork preparation, favor in the hearts of adoption grantors, and patience for our family (especially anxious momma).

The brothers will share a room --- BROTHERS FOREVER!
The Puzzle Fundraiser brings the most memorable PANDA décor and centerpiece for the room

Just a little personalization

 

Our Panda Puzzle Fundraiser Update! The Panda puzzle has 1,000 pieces. Through many fundraisers we were able to label each of the 1,000 pieces with the initials of those who donated. More than $10,000 has been raised to HELP BRING KALYN HOME!

 

Thank you to those who have given their time, talents, and financial gifts during the last year:

 

Garage Sales

T-Shirt Sales

Adoption Sunday Luncheon & Bake Sale

Selling Garden Veggies

Tupperware Fundraiser

Premier Jewelry Show

AdoptTogether

4 Ever Families Foundation

Aluminum Can Recycling

Thrivent Financial

 

 

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Phillipians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Kalyn, just a blink of an eye and we will be there!

A Father's Perspective: What is ADOPTION?

Written by Daddy

     As I set here this evening observing my wife and children react to adoption stories I began to ponder: What is Adoption?  If you are like my wife while reading the first sentence you are probably thinking: Whoa this dude is off his rocker that ship has already sailed!  But I would ask that you entertain my thoughts. 

    To help set the stage I will give you a little perspective of what has happened through our journey.  Last October Krista came home from a Women’s Retreat not professing the Gospel but professing that we should adopt.  Blew my mind, I know.  Not sure how we go from Jesus to adopt in one weekend but after 12 years of marriage when the wife says jump you say “How high!”  Then the application, then choosing International or domestic, then the country/location, then learning that we had to switch countries due to some minor issues, and then homework.  All that was in the first month or two of the adoption process.  Next we started the “Home Study,” waited for the “Home Study” to be finished and submitted, translated, and began the Immigration/Homeland Security checks.  Then a long wait, letter of intent for Kalyn, long wait, China saying yes and now a short wait on Immigration and Visas.  In the next few days, weeks, months we should be completing Article 5 (another unknown adoption term), TA (travel Approval), booking flights, “traveling on a Jet Plane,” Gotcha day, few other things then back home.  As you can see quite a long ordeal as some would say.  The short version is that Jesus spoke to Krista at a Women’s retreat through a social worker named Sharon, then a lot of papers were filled out and many months went by only to have a son find us so we can travel to bring him home. 
   
    WOW, what a story…. Right.  What I so happened to leave out is the “What is Adoption” part.  Adoption is a whole lot of paperwork and wait but most importantly it is one, two, three or more people experiencing every range of EMOTION one can think of.  This EMOTION can be split in two categories: “the WIFE” and then “the Husband.”  So here it goes, I hope I have her emotional perspective correct.

    “the WIFE:”  This journey began with a renewed excitement: exuberance, exhilaration, delightment, and a jubilation of what was to come.  Then came the nerves, the nervousness that ensued when having to tell her husband of the plan.  Then defense mechanisms started to kick in but were suddenly halted by confusion.  The confusion of what her husband had just said.  Could he have lost his mind, not heard her or was he giving an honest answer.  He does of course like to Josh around when serious matters are discussed.  Next came months of frustrations, mountains of paperwork, the feeling of being afraid, the “What if’s,” the excitement, tears of frustration, tears of joy, exhaustion and even anger at times.  I believe these emotions came in waves since October of 2013.  At times the kids and I would utter “I love you” under our breaths to see what kind of response we would get.  This allowed us time to run if needed.  Through this journey she has been the rock to get us through each mountain of paper work and the glue to keep us together.  Women have an unique way of going through each emotion often some emotions all at the same time and my wife is no different.  Even though God mentions that he fashioned Eve from Adam’s rib I am not sure men can even come close to our beautiful counter parts in the Emotion department. 

Daddy's READY!

      “the Husband:”  My wife often makes claims that I am so emotionless during this whole process but I could argue otherwise.  As a Father we go through a vast range of emotions such as happy, mad, frustrated, and indifferent.  All joking aside we as men do go through a vast array of emotions but we often do not express them openly.  I can remember back the day we gave birth to our first son, Jeremiah, let’s say that day was filled with so many emotions.  As I write this the emotions begin to flow over me.  That day was filled with exhaustion, excitement, being scared when they said “Emergency C-Section,” helplessness (I could not help my wife, there was nothing I could do to fix it), and then the moment when he arrived.  WOW as a father there is nothing more AWESOME then when your child is born.  I could not hold back the tears.  A father’s love, that’s when I understood how much our father GOD loves us.  As with each new pregnancy and child a new set of emotions passes through a father.  Karah was the first “Princess” that stole her father’s heart and continues to tug at it.  I would often ask myself how I could have enough love for another child after Jeremiah.  I never really knew or understand the answer to that question until Karah was born.  I asked myself the same question when Jennah was on the way.  Along with the question of how I could love two daughters as much as just one.  Then Jennah was born while in the middle of achieving my dream of becoming a Veterinarian.  She gave me the drive and determination to complete my dream. 

 

 How could you not love something as cute as my “Love Bug.” While this process has been different it has yet again brought up more questions and emotions.  Love is not a question I know and truly feel that Kalyn is my SON.  Each day my love for him grows stronger and stronger.  As this process progresses new questions arise for me as I would suspect for many other fathers.  How can I provide for this child and how can I protect him/her from adversity or do I embrace adversity.  These questions evoke fear for many of us husbands/fathers.  We often judge our abilities by how we provide for our families.  Since it is beyond my understanding to have known the answers to these questions I must allow GOD to provide for my family and me.  Each will bring about new hurdles and I will rely on GOD to give me strength to face it. 

    To wrap things up: What is Adoption?  It is the ability for one, two, three or more people to allow EMOTIONS to enter their life and pour out LOVE toward another human being.  What is Adoption without EMOTIONS and LOVE….. it’s all just a pile of papers.  As  I wrap this up I am reminded of a couple things.  First of all God loved us so much that he gave his one and only son to die for our sins.  This is powerful, and shows us that there is an eternal bond between a father and his son/children.  Also I am reminded of the song “Jesus Loves Me.”  Every parent at one time or another has sung it to their children.  The first stanza goes something like this:   
                    

Jesus loves me this I know

For the bible tells me so

Little ones to him belong

They are weak but he is strong!

As the song states we are his children, we are weak but we must rely on him for strength.  I could not endure this adoption process without GOD being on my side.  Also Krista you are my ROCK and to Jeremiah, Karah, Jennah, and Kalyn I could not be any more PROUD to say I am your DAD! 

Kalyn's Immigration APPROVED!

We are so excited another step completed! Our application for Kalyn's immigration was provisionally approved on November 19th. The same day we celebrated my niece's first birthday. Wow, BIG DAY!  Yeah!!!

The next step is to apply for Kalyn's VISA. We will update you all again once that step is complete.  We are SO CLOSE!

In the mean time we know GOD will provide the last few thousand priceless dollars we need for in country costs. 

All in HIS time!

Blessings to you all...

Patience....

I found this online the other day. It sure does bring a waiting mama some peace...

 

Chinese Visas are HERE!

Source of image: China Panda Visa

Our Chinese Visa's arrived last Thursday! Yay! One step closer to being ready to fly when China says GO!

The process to secure a Chinese visa is essential for our family's travel to China. We will be guests of Kalyn's birth place and this is one of the requirements to travel in-country. A visa is just a sticker within our passports that allows for entry into China as a tourist and for the Hahn Family Adoption. It was yet another form we filled out, waited, and were approved. Our visas are valid for a one year and multiple entries into the country. 

Next, we are waiting on the United States to approve Kalyn's immigration. We are praying for accurate and steady processing of our application. Then on to the last few minor steps until TRAVEL APPROVAL and JET PLANE!!!

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As we get closer to bringing Kalyn home we would like to share with you some of the Chinese culture and the beauty of his birth place. PANDA COUNTRY! Home of the world famous Yangtze River.

Source of Image: Yangtze River Tours

Kalyn is currently living in Chongqing (Chungking) China, one of the largest municipalities located in southwest China -- population of 28.8 million. Yep that's MILLION...! One of the fastest growing metropolis in the world. Lots of people, lots of buildings, lots of cars and lots of pollution! Kalyn's orphanage is actually outside the city in rural Chongqing away from the busyness of city life.

Source of image: commons.wikimedia.org

 

 

 

Chongqing is known for as the origin of the famous HOT POT which is East Asian's version of stew. It actually is a simmering metal pot of stock at the center of the dining table that you place ingredients into then cook as you like. Most hot pot's consist of thinly sliced meat, leafy veggies, mushrooms, wontons, egg dumplings, and seafood. Thank you wikipedia! Hot pot meals are often eaten in the winter during supper time. Our family eats them anytime of the year. They are delightful! Mommy and daddy actually went on a double date recently with some great friends and had a wonderful time eating a hot pot for the first time at Happy Valley, MHK! YUM!

Source of image: chinatours.de

  "It's easy to let days fly by without taking notice to the world around you. 

Life is beautiful. 

Soak it in, think about it and BE GRATEFUL!" - unknown author

A Fathers Perspective

A Fathers Perspective:

Just another Acronym…….

Wow what a couple of weeks!  Last week at the beginning we received “Match Reviewed” often called “Soft LOA.”  Now we have received the “Hard LOA.”  “LOA” what in the world could that mean.  Well since it took 68 days or as Krista would say “68 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, 26 seconds, and 39 miliseconds,” I should know what it means.  For those of you who are not in the loop it means “Leaving On Airplane…...soon” or also referred to as “Letter of Approval/Aceptance.”  It is the legal paper that formally approves us to adopt Kalyn from China.  HE IS OURS and will soon be in our arms!!!

All joking aside this is the culmination of the Adoption process for those who adopt from Countries such as China.  A few post ago Krista started referring to this process as a “Paper Pregnancy” which seems to be the gestation period of an Elephant (approximately 2 years).  This hard LOA is the start of the false labor pains.  We now have lots of paperwork, securing funds, and making travel arrangements to finish out this process.  Immigration approval from our Government will be the next small hurdle and then on to the “TA” (Travel Approval).

This process has been quite an ordeal.  We pray for a speedy process of our Immigration paperwork and that the TA comes soon after.  We have been very blessed to have your continued support.  Stay tuned for the next update!

Over a period of 10 business days this AMAZING Letter will have traveled ~17,364 miles all the way from China, to our agency, to our home, then back to our agency and over to China again!

Yes, we accept the adoptee!

Kalyn you will no longer be an orphan, you are loved!

 

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

 ~ 1 Peter 2:9 NIV

 

LOVE Unconditionally

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." -John 14:18

This video speaks volumes... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsf_z4urc4s&sns=em

PRAY...ADOPT...INVEST...FOSTER...ADOCATE...SUPPORT...GO!

November is National Adoption Month