Pre-Travel Woes

Ready to leave KC!  Wait, did we remember Mommy? Is she still in the shower?

Well, we are already faced with a few dilemmas and we haven't even departed from our house!

As I frantically scurried around today, prepping my house for the grandparents to come and leaving the boys well-equipped with all of their necessities, making last minute purchases, giving haircuts, washing up every single bit of laundry, completing our banking transactions and bill paying for the next 3 weeks, I decided to go out and visit my horse.

The big guy has been a little neglected by us for the past few weeks and I just had to see him before we left. Lydia and I took out a big bag of apples and some molasses treats for him and his friends.  Beau was so glad to see  us!  Can't wait for spring when we can ride again...Vivian will love him (hopefully!)  It was a great visit and we were also able to say good-bye to our dear friends and horse buddies.

As I drove home to pick up a Z-pack (oncoming sinus infection!), dilemma #1 one surfaced.  I called Jason to request the hundredth errand/favor for the day...call and confirm the flights.  I had already checked this a.m. and all was well, but we wanted to do e-check in.  After 45 minutes of waiting in the CVS line, anxiety began to creep in...we still hadn't really packed and were leaving in 12 hours!  Everything was sort of set out and waiting, but I had not yet placed things in bags or arranged things strategically.  My new carefree way of thinking was coming back to bite me...I pushed down the anxiety as we left the huge pharmacy line, thinking all was going to be fine.  However, as I drove, Jason called....his announcement came through the ceiling of the SUV like a heavy brick...our flights had been cancelled!

We already gets lots of staring...they are intrigued not only to see Westerners, but trying to figure our how we have a Chinese child!  Lydia is such a GREAT traveler...so thoughtful and kind-hearted.
As we stopped at the first squat potty in the Beijing airport, she said "Wow, Mommy traveling is so much work!  Thank you for bringing me to China" sweet, sweet girl.

I have become pretty savvy at springing into action when faced with calamity...but being trapped in the CVS parking lot with these words coming through BlueTooth made me lose it!  I believe I blurted out something really freakish and began to panic a little as I traveled the two blocks home.  That little drive was all it took, to get my mental gears turning....what to do?

Thankfully, we booked with the sweetest, most diligent travel agent I have ever met.  She is so calm, kind, and eager to get people going AND understands adoption trips. Once your trip is mapped out, there is not a whole lot of room for messed up travel plans...which would mean missing connecting flights in China, then delays in meeting up with your child, processing paperwork, etc.  

Keeping busy in the Beijing airport waiting to transfer to Zhengzhou

I ended the panic with a plan, but at 5:30 on a Thursday, it was questionable.  Thankfully our agent, Sue, was still in her office!  She was surprised that our flight out of Chicago was cancelled because she had no alerts, but sure enough, she checked her system and those flights were gone. She set to work scouring for new options that would get us to our connection in Beijing....in the meantime...G'ma and G'pa arrived to get the boys situated.  Yay!  We had already planned to catch a little dinner out together before our flight.  As we headed out to Longhorn at 6:00 pm, Sue called back, "Well, I think I've found something, are you packed?"  I replied, "Ummm, how packed?  Do you mean stuff planned out/checking off the list or bags in the car?"  She said, "Hmm, bags in the car...we could get you out of KC tonight at 8:15 but you would need to hurry"  Say WHAT?!  Holy cow, leave in 2 hours!??  Well, that seriously wasn't happening (as we were walking out the door to share steaks, suitcases were still empty, I still needed to compile a schedule/notebook for G'ma, and print out/copy documents)....blah, stress settling in.

Thankfully Sue didn't shame me, and thankfully she set to work once again doing magic with the flight system reservations.  The problem was that now all people booted off were trying to get other flights and also were trying to avoid bad weather in the northeast.  She feared that we might not get in until Sunday (which would mean no travel recovery day and meeting Vivian the very next morning).....nearing panic mode.

I managed to calm myself.  My new mantra "it will all work out" was quickly spiraling through my head.....set to playback loop mode. Over and over, "it all works out" "everything works out" "shift your thinking and experience the solutions"

Doing some stretching after the 12+ hours of flying!

Steaks delivered, Sue provided the remedy...flights found and diverted from bad weather.  Leaving a bit earlier in the a.m. and a few more stops in the US, but avoiding the snow and getting us to Beijing in time to make our connection to Vivian's province.  Hallelujah!   The rest of dinner, was eaten in peace....then off to tackle those bags....flying out in less than 12 hours!

Dilemma #2...packing was a little more challenging than I remember!  I have traveled to China twice, once to get baby Lydia, and again with 3 of the kids.  We must have tossed out a few suitcases since then, because as I went to pack the bag situation was ridiculous.  There was no way things were going to fit into the bags we had AND I needed to do some serious purging of non-essential stuff!  Blah, again!!

The clock ticked, the hours passed, 1 a.m. and after a trip to the store to buy another suitcase (!) the bags were packed, weighed, purged, weighed again, items shifted around, etc. Finally by 2 am. it was done, Jason had vanished (sleeping) and I set to work typing out instructions for my parents of the boys' 2 upcoming weeks.  Panic settling in again and procrastination bug biting me in the butt!  We were to leave in 1.5 hours and I still had docs to copy and to get myself ready for the long 30 hours of travel....BLAH!!

Somehow, in some way, everything DOES in fact work out....I do my very best work in panic mode..the adrenaline push is most effective for my best work.  We made it out of the house at 3:30 a.m. and off to the airport...to my knowledge I have not forgotten a thing and have every single thing I need for this trip!

3 hour layover in Beijing...writing in her journal

Well...everything except getting to wash my hair.....at the very last moment, I had 15 minutes to shower, dress, prep Lydia, and get out the door....quick decision, speedy shower, fluff the hair with powder and hair spray and hope that I will survive without looking like a stringy haired hippie girl when I arrive in China.  I do recall that happens anyway, so why waste the effort and I was seriously pushing it.  Jason was starting to pace the kitchen with a stomach-ache.  Poor guy....I really do cause him a lot of grief with my haphazard ways :)



In the end...it ALL worked out and we made our flight.  Happy travels...next stop China....one step closer to our little one.

Finally!  After nearly 30 hours of travel, we are at the hotel at midnight...hope to sleep in!

Crisis Averted!!

Thanks to a little Google action, found out that I needed a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to by-pass the China firewall.  AND, thanks to Sprint and my hubby's work computer, we are in blogging business!  What a relief...it would have been a pain to try and do this through a family member, and format from the mobile phone posting was not good either.  Yay...updates to come!  We are here and have fun pics/words to share.

Blogging Crisis

Beyond frustrated....my old Blogspot from '07 is now blocked in China! Working on a way to overcome this. Most likely will email my posts and my sister will post for me. Until then, please know that I can see your comments in my email...what an encouragement...Thank you! But they will not appear on the page until they are "accepted" which i cannot do from here either. Hoping to get it fixed/figured out soon. Now trying to post from my phone...will it work? We are safe and sound in Zhengzhou and resting, preparing to meet the little one tomorrow, yay! and nervous!

Packing Up!

Hmmm, what needs to go in the backpack?

Lydia is helping pack her sister's toys and getting her little backpack ready.  Her greatest dilemma of the moment...which dolly to take?  She better decide soon...we are down to 2, but they are still naked because she can't decide what clothes to take for them.  She is definitely my daughter...decisions, decisions...let's just take all of it!  

 During the last adoption trip, a had a 2 page packing list and checked it a zillion times.  This time, as long as we have Vivian's documents, a little cash, our meds and favorite toiletries, I am unconcerned what makes it into the suitcase.  What a change of thinking since '07....minimalist this time!  I say that now, but Jason is already eyeballing my piles of stuff and sharing his opinions about how many bags that is going to take...boo! Maybe minimalism is relative?

A Little Girl Makes Five

The first pic I saw of Vivian...I fell in love with her quiet, sweet spirit.  Oct, 2012

For the past 14 months, I have been able to say "I have 5 kids"!  I find that statement very shocking and scary, but also quite exciting and humbling.  Children are such a gift and I do not feel worthy to have this gift five times over.  I never imagined that we would be on the journey of adoption again, but here we are!  

Over the past months, we have waited (impatiently) for the arrival of our fifth child.  The entire time, I should have been putting the process into journal form.  But along with this process has been so much heartache, struggle, and frustration that I just did not want to put out into words.  I believe that words are energy and putting negative words out there draws negativity all around you.  If you want to attract positive things into your life, one must be willing and intent to see the world in a positive way, and put out loving and kind thoughts/words.  This has been such a challenge for me in 2013.  But, I have purposed to work on transforming my mind into more positive thinking patterns and surround myself with a higher energy.  This is SUPER hard, but what I have found to be most helpful, is to avoid as much negativity as possible.  With that in mind....because much of this adoption process has been one frustration and struggle after another, I could not bear to write such negativity into this blog and put that out into the minds of others that read it.  

One of the first pics we saw of Vivian, Oct 2012

So, here is a post of the wonderful loving outcome that has resulted from this struggle....that a little girl will no longer be an orphan, that she will no longer suffer loneliness and have an empty Mommy-hole in her heart, that she will receive the medical care that she needs to thrive, and that she will be given the ideas and tools she needs to fulfill her life purpose.  For me, it means...that a Mommy is able to give her daughter a little sister to love, that she can give her kids an example of how to love and take care of people, and that she sees in her husband a man who is willing to do things that are way outside of his comfort zone just because he loves her.  

Vivian playing with her friends, March 2013

Now begins the chronicle of the positives that have now arrived...

Miss Vivian Gwen Caifang 

will be in my arms one week from tomorrow!  

This little one captured my heart over a year ago, and finally we are able to bring her home.  The wait has been long; knowing that your child is somewhere on the other side of the Earth without your guidance and protection is so difficult.  But, just like the last adoption, I am forced to rely on divine trust and faith.  When in this position, that's really all you have to keep from being sad all the time. One more week...God, keep her safe and strong until we get there...prepare her heart for the trauma of being pulled from her familiar surroundings...fill me with patience and love to help heal her heart.  Most of all, help her to love me and to accept my love....it seems such a simple thing, but for a 3 year-old orphan, it is often a scary painful journey.

July, 2013

Getting Techie

Posting from the phone! Great for our upcoming trip to bring home sweet Vivian.  I haven't updated the blog in nearly 2 years.  I guess it's time to get life chronicled again.  Hoping to rid myself of the anxiety and pressure to post things consistently, and instead just enjoy the writing process.

Tempus Fugit....

Hours turn into days and then into months and before I realize it, my adventurous self is carrying me away without time left to savor the moments....plainly stated...my journaling has been neglected! It is both passion and fear that makes me write again, a passion and obsession for the written word and fear that I will lose my memories if I don't write them down.

I’m not quite sure how to re-enter the blogosphere after taking a hiatus for nearly 18 months. The perfectionist in me requires that I go back and chronicle each month from the time I left off, expanding on memories and blog-able thoughts that I’ve had lingering in the hippocampus. Other more reasonable opinions (i.e. from normal people) suggest that I should just write one big post, highlighting all of the major moments. While that makes a lot of sense, I just can’t do it.

My biggest regret is that I have lost some of the amazing thoughts and snippets of funny language that my younglings have offered over the past months. My intentions are there. I hear something and scramble for the nearest writing utensil to capture the essence of their opinion or the power of their love. But, the scraps of paper with scribbles of memories accumulating in my purse, on my desk, and tucked away in boxes are much too numerous to go through, making my super-fantastical blog ideas go lame. Because this blog is truly for them, when I come across some child’s especially luscious words while de-cluttering my personal space, I will work diligently to include them.

After all, “We write to taste life twice. In the moment and in retrospection” ~ Anais Nin. Writing reflects the mind and soul, connecting our perspective and inner self with the silent minds of others. When else can you have a conversation with someone, without uttering a spoken word?

So, here begins the process catching up on my life. Scroll down and click around for the most recent back-dated posts…hey, isn’t that an oxymoron? Attempting to halt the "tempus fugit" or "time that flies."

Adoption Day

On this date in 2007, the most beautiful little girl in the world joined our life. Today is the day Lydia found her forever family :)

Three years later, I couldn't imagine my life without her. She loves life and is joyful beyond measure. She has more intrigue and energy than all of our boys put together and she is exactly what I needed to make my Mommy life complete.

Tonight I sang her little song about how we went around the world to find her, and this is what is on her mind at age 4.

Lydia: "What does my China Mommy do now...because I'm here with you?"
Me: "She misses you very much.....Your China Mommy loved you so much. She knew she would have a hard time taking care of you, so she helped us find you."

Eeek! These bedtime conversations happen more often as Lydia gets older. It gets tougher with every question, making sure that I say exactly what she needs to hear at this point in her life. It is so very hard. Heavy stuff for a little person. Praying that I'm giving her the answers that will help heal her heart and make her stronger and confident in who she is and how God designed her life. Most importantly, I want her to see how God has the power and will to take a tough situation and, in His perfection, make it all right and exactly as it should be.

November 2010 Highlights



a devoted football fan



2 other devoted fans

Lydia with her Fuling sisters at dance class

Ben brings home the Kindergarten class mascot

Aunt Anika and Uncle Bryant at the Christmas Parade

Halloween 2010



Sam



Jack



Ben



Lydia

Lydia's Golden Birthday: 10/10/10

Age 4

Sweet, sweet girl...

a jade bracelet from China

September 2010 Highlights

Lydia's first day of preschool

Jack's first football game

Jack turns 8!



a box of cash is always nice



Lydia and Grandma watching the boys play football

The Youngest Kemper Sister Gets Married

 A few highlights from our trip to Minnesota to see Jason's baby sister get married.  Congratulations Ashley and Jay!  Twas a beautiful and fun weekend....

The hotel pool and hot tub are always a hit

Jason serves as the quiet, brotherly groomsman. 

Pretty flower girl!

The bribes were in full force to get this little man to participate in the wedding.  A ring bearer can be bribed with a Wii game almost anytime!

Complete exhaustion.  After a couple of hours getting her groove on, we found this little
peach sprawled out on a sofa :)

Football and Dance



Let the dance performances begin!  Lydia's Chinese dance group performing at the Ethnic Festival in KC



Pop Warner football this year for both of the boys.  Practice for each of them 2-3 nights
a week and games on Saturday.  Don't know if I will survive.  Sam's team is large and
already well established (meaning he doesn't get much playing time) BUT, his
coach does appreciate his catching abilities, speed, and strange skill at knowing where the
gaps will be.  He's a head shorter than the other boys and gets smashed all over the place
but he's tough!  Don't know if he'll play next year.....

Sam's mouthpiece is almost bigger than his head!

Dad's backyard football drills are tough!

Benjamin trying to keep up with the older boys



Graceful Butterfly



Sam and I attend a summer camp designed for kids on the autism spectrum, where he camps alongside the kids as a peer model.  He is so compassionate and accepts people just as they are, so he make is a great support for these kids.  He is nervous there, but has found growth in his own life as he works to try new things and learn independence alongside the campers.  As our little scientist, here he examines "owl pellets" and found tiny bones, etc. 

Sam and a camper friend learn from a juggler on the carvinal night.

Dad and the boys found a funny video on YouTube.

Lydia in her new (bigger) room....a girl needs more space for all of her treasures!