Thursday Dec 16, 2021.
7:45am. After tossing and turning all night, hardly able to sleep, Josh and I arrived at the IOM office. The man on the phone the day before let us know it would be alright for us both to come (for IOM testing only one parent is allowed), considering the circumstances we were walking. However, that plan was shut down at the entrance door. They would only allow Josh with Theresia since he had been with her throughout the appointment 2 days prior. I had to wait along the side of the street until my dear friend Amber was able to return to pick me up. This appointment lasted almost 2 hours, however relief was the end result. Her X-rays came back NEGATIVE!! We would be able to return home and her health was in good standing! We cried such happy tears as we then rushed towards our US Visa appointment which we were now late for. However, as these things go there was much waiting anyways and there was no problem with our tardiness. This appointment ran very smoothly and we were able to relax the rest of the afternoon, releasing such heaviness from the last 24 hours.
Friday December 17, 2021
9:50am- We arrive at the US Embassy for me to be able to pick up our finalized Visa for Theresia. We were told this would be a quick and easy appointment and many others who had gone before us had confirmed that this was typically the case. However for us, that did not end up happening. Somehow our case got combined with my friend Beth’s who was there with me as well and we ended up sitting in those chairs, staring into their glass cubicles for over 2.5 hours wondering if we would actually be able to receive our documentation files to be able to travel stateside. Like most things adoption, everything is a gamble, and we were beginning to think this was a pretty big one. But in their own time, they were able to sort through our files correctly and get us both on our way. We were so grateful.
2:00pm- After fighting some traffic we were able to make our way to a covid testing facility where we would receive hopefully our FINAL covid tests for a while. We certainly were ready to be done having examiners wedge q-tips up our nostrils.
5:00pm- This evening David and Amber treated us to one of their favorite restaurant locations. I got one of the best avocado chicken wraps of my life and the kids enjoyed the play-set that was right next to the table. It was a great way to soak in all the navigations the Lord had brought us through and begin to prepare our hearts to head home.
Saturday December 18, 2021.
4:00am. As was pretty typical this trip, sleep had eluded me most of the night. However at 4am, I saw notifications coming through on my phone. Many emails flooding in all at once. Our covid test results. I nervously opened and began looking through our results. This was truly the last thing we needed to be able to board the plane later this coming evening. Shiloh’s was the first to pull up: Negative. Josh up next, negative. Two down, I was a little relieved. Thomas, also negative. Joy began to slowly swirl. I knew if nothing else I could get the three of them home. Theresia, negative. ALMOST THERE. Hands shaking, me fully sweating with nerves at this point, I opened my own personal result: negative. The tears began pouring out. We had done it. We would be getting on a plane this very evening as a family of 5, beginning our journey HOME.
2:00pm. After much rejoicing all around this morning from everyone that all of our results had come in and we were all in the clear we spent the morning resting and gathering all of our things together for travel. Then we headed out to the mall. The malls in Kenya are filled with everything you need, and so much more of things you don’t. Things you might expect like souveneir shops, intermingled with things you might not expect, like a full grocery store, or a trampoline park, full out with rock climbing walls. We stopped by the parking lot to gather a couple small final souvenirs as well as the grocery store for snacks for our journey home. (We got to venture to the trampoline park earlier in our time in Kenya. It was pretty cool! ) It would be a late departure out and I am so thankful we were able to have some time to rest before jumping into quite a long bit of travel.
7:30pm. We said our goodbyes to Amber and her girls as David would be taking us to the airport. Josh and I truly could not have made it through our time in Kenya without them. They not only hosted us in their home, but they were the emotional support we needed when we were crashing in defeat, despair and utter exhaustion. They gave us respite of food and warm baths and showers. We could not be more grateful for their hand in carrying us through this journey. They, more than most others, understand the complexities and dynamics of choosing a life that is very outside of the American norm. Also, so far beyond anything we have ever done, they choose to sacrifice their lives for our country. They choose to live outside of comfort again and again and again that so many others in America don’t have to. We adore this family and highly respect all expat families who do the same.
8:30pm. Safely at the airport we begin the process of line after line, checkpoint after checkpoint. I remember having to show our passports and covid testing results at at least 4 checkpoints and then again to board the plane. We were already set for I believe an 11pm departure, which after delays was closer to 1am. I do not know how we managed to keep everyone awake, but someone we all rallied and then slept the entire 7 hour flight to Frankfurt, Germany.
Sunday December 19, 2021.
Early morning Frankfurt time we arrived. I remember the feeling rushing over me that this would be the day. This would be the day we would land on US soil, that Theresia would officially become a US Citizen, and that she would see our home, in rural Indiana for the very first time. Also, cold, she would also experience that for the first time as snow was on the ground once we made it through our last long flight and wheels touched the ground. I will never forget this very moment, not ever. I remember looking over at Josh. Waves of relief rushed over me. A few tears trickled down. We were here. We were here.
Late afternoon. Time was so foggy at this point, but once we landed we unfortunately had quite the time being able to pass through US Immigration. Theresia’s additional medical questioning had placed her case on a red flag list and we had to process things through the US Health department and that took some time. Likely over an hour after the rest of our plane had come and gone through baggage claim we were able to go and were received so beautifully by my Mother in Law Mary, Josh’s mom. She came prepared for us with winter coats for all. We walked all together, the doors opening to the chill in the air, Theresia’s eyes widened in complete shock, never having felt anything close to these temperatures and laughter roared out of all of us. A new adventure had begun.
