Day Four - Tuesday, January 22

Tuesday was a very important day. The point of this trip was to bring our boy home, but that couldn't happen until the visa interview was completed and that was scheduled for early Tuesday morning.

I had originally planned on staying at the Susannah Lodge, just a few blocks from the embassy. On Boat's recommendation, I decided instead to stay at the guest house for the whole week. There were several benefits to staying there - close to the Home, inexpensive (the reasonable rate included meals), and we'd be staying in an area where the residents were accustomed to seeing volunteers with the children. You may remember from the details of our first trip that Ghanaians are still getting used to the idea of adoption, and seeing a light skinned person (especially a man) with a little Ghanaian boy would have drawn unwanted attention. Even though this adoption process was 100% legal and appropriate, locals might still think there was something inappropriate going on and alert authorities. I wasn't concerned about explaining myself, but rather about the delay that would be caused by having to explain myself.

The only bummer about staying at the guest house was its distance form the embassy. Boat recommended that we leave at 4:30 a.m. since traffic was unpredictable. Hugo was a trooper and popped out of bed when I woke him up at 4:00. The driver was a bit late and we were on the road a little before 5:00. Traffic was not nearly as bad as we expected and we were parked in front of the US embassy at 6:15. Hugo was a champ and slept the whole way.

The meeting was scheduled for 7:30 which just means that they allow the large number of people waiting outside to queue up at that time. We waited on some folding chairs across the road and Boat had to pay a lady two cedis to sit in them. To pass the time, Hugo played in the dirt and collected rocks while I gave up all hope of keeping him clean until the interview.

We got in line at 7:15 and waited our turn. Hugo started to get nervous for some reason and would fuss and cry every time we passed through a doorway. He cried when we navigated the security checkpoint, when we entered the courtyard outside the consular office, and again when we entered the building. I made sure he had a snack before we went in since food was not allowed inside.

There were about 200 people inside waiting to be called to a window for various services. I stuck out like a sore thumb and everyone's eyes were on the two of us. Guards who were working the room kept asking us to move to a different location and Hugo was getting increasingly agitated. The problem was solved when he eventually fell asleep.

The visa interview process has three steps. I was called to window one for step one (there were thirteen windows but, like cash registers at Walmart, only two or three were in use). There, a kind man collected all the vital documents and gave us instructions for step two. That step involved paying the cashier the $230 fee for processing a visa. We sat down to wait some more. Step three was the actual interview and that took place at window six.

This was the only scary part of the whole process. Our case worker, Kelsey Melvin, had prepared me so well for this day. She saw to it that I had every document that I could possibly need and all of it was organized in a folder that she had mailed to us from Washington. I was confident that I would have no problem with the interview. The man at window six, however, asked if I had proof that Rebekah had traveled to Ghana and met Hugo on the first trip. I swallowed hard. I didn't think I had anything to show she had been here.

I should have brought along her passport which would have shown the entry and exit stamps with dates, but I left it at home. I did have a document that gave me power of attorney privileges to act on Rebekah's behalf but he told me that was not good enough. I dug through the folder and found what I needed when I got to the very last document. It was a flight itinerary I had printed before the first trip and had forgotten to remove when I was reorganizing the folder for this trip. It had both our names on it and was sufficient to satisfy window six guy.

Rescued again. Thank you, Lord.

I received an appointment for Friday to pick up the visa and Boat, Hugo, and I left the embassy. Back on the chairs across the street, Boat called the driver who had used the time to pick up a few fares instead of just waiting for us. He told Boat he was coming. Forty-five minutes later, Boat called again and he said he was on his way. After another thirty minutes, and another call, the driver assured us that he was almost there. Hugo had a messy diaper and I decided that it needed to be dealt with now rather than wait for the driver. Just when I found a place to change him, the driver arrived and we piled in, messy diaper and all.

Now, if you are reading this and you've been to Ghana before, you are about to be really proud of me. As all parents know, diapers changing is no party. After a time, it just becomes normal and you don't really think about it but every once in awhile you get a messy diaper that is EPIC. The kind that you need to throw away the diaper and the kid's clothes. Now imagine, reader, dealing with that scenario in the back of a taxi that has no shocks, riding on a road that closely resembles the surface of the moon. Thankfully, I had thought to bring along a change of clothes, just in case, and so I cleaned him up, managed to keep the taxi poo-free, and did all that under the watchful eye of two guys who clearly thought this was woman's work.

We stopped at a ForEx Bureau to change some money, then drove to the Compassion field office to see if I could schedule a meeting with William, the child we sponsor through Compassion International. We had hoped to meet him last time but - long story short - were not able to. I was hoping it could work out this time but the man I had spoken to on the phone was not optimistic.

I met with two men named Daniel and George. Both were very kind and did everything they could to make me feel welcome and try to work out the visit. There were phone calls made and records checked. It took awhile but I was in no hurry. Hugo was asleep again (he sleeps so easily in a car) and the Compassion office was air conditioned! We left after they agreed to attempt a visit on Thursday. They said they would call Boat tomorrow and let him know if it could be arranged and give him directions for the driver. Hugo and I both slept, piled in a heap in the back seat, on the way back to the guest house.

We spent some time riding the scooter and I thought you might appreciate this video:

 And this one:

Jacob found us and said it was time for Hugo's bath. I had been giving him baths and told Jacob that I could handle it. He replied, "You are a man. You can not give proper baths." Instead of arguing, I figured it would fun to see how this went down.

It turned out to be fun. Hugo totally knew the routine and was scrubbed hard from head to toe. They poured water over his head, covered him in a thick lather including scrubbing his face thoroughly, and then dumped more water over his head to rinse. I kept thinking of Beatrix at home who begs me to keep the tiniest drop of water from getting anywhere near her eyes. They dried him off with the clothes he was wearing, rubbed him down with some sort of lotion that made his skin shine, and dressed him in something different.

When they took him to get the clothes, I followed and got a look at his room at the Home. The power was out so it was dark in there, but I saw at least five cribs, a bunk bed, two single beds, and a sleeping mat. I imagined Hugo going to sleep in one of the cribs only to end up in one of the beds by morning. It was still very hot but the girls dressed him in long pants, a sleeveless shirt, and a button down shirt with Winnie the Pooh on it. They were careful to button every button, even the ones on the ends of the sleeves.

It was dusk outside and when we emerged from the dormitory, I heard singing. In the courtyard, about five dozen kids from the Home had gathered in a big circle and were singing their hearts out. Upon closer examination, I realized that what I was seeing/hearing was a time of worship. There was a leader in the center and the rest of the kids formed a constantly-moving circle around him. He would alternately pray and sing. The smallest kids were in the front so they could see and the older kids were in the back, many of them encouraging the young ones to participate. Children as young as five and six years old were kneeling and worshiping the Lord. Many were raising their hands and literally shouting to the Lord. It was outstanding. I didn't know if I'd be welcome to join them so Hugo and I watched from outside the circle and joined in singing when we figured out the songs.

When we visited the Home in September, we met a little girl named Linda. She is absolutely beautiful and a bit shy. We took her picture, along with many others, and showed them to our kids at home. My daughter Stella made a colorful bead necklace for me that I had been wearing everyday on this trip. I had asked her permission to give it away to one of the children here and she said I could. I decided to give it to Linda.

During the worship service, I caught Linda's eye and motioned for her to come see me. She didn't at first but after a few attempts, I managed to get a visit. I explained to her about the necklace and asked if she would like to have it. She gave me a huge smile and allowed me to hang it around her neck. While it fit me just fine, it hung low on her chest. Every time I saw her over the next few days, she was wearing that necklace.

The rest of the evening was lovely. The power never came back on before bedtime so the fans didn't work back in the room. Thankfully, it rained a bit and the outside temperature dropped about 15 degrees. Hugo and I sat outside under a shelter and enjoyed the cooler air until he fell asleep in my arms. Jacob came by and Boat joined us and we all had a nice conversation. Boat and I tried unsuccessfully to explain to Jacob the concept of time zones. He just couldn't believe that there were places in the world where it was morning while we sat here under the night sky. I decided that I would give Jacob the watch I had brought along.

Day Three - Monday, January 21

Today was a very full day. I tried to start it at 6:30 but I heard the alarm, then woke up again at 7:30. I bolted out of bed when I realized the time because I wanted to make it over to the orphanage before morning assembly.

At this point, I want to clarify something. I have been using the word "orphanage" to refer to the place Hugo lived before coming home with us, but it is much more than that. I think I need a new word. To be sure, there are plenty of orphaned children that live there, so "orphanage" is not completely inappropriate. The problem with the word is this: before we got involved in this process, I thought of an orphanage as a dirty, smelly place where the kids never get any attention or care and they are standing on death's door due to poor health care and inadequate nourishment. Unfortunately, there are plenty of orphanages worldwide that accurately fit that description. But this place is not like that.

I haven't used the real name of the place to protect their privacy and to make sure that I'm not crossing some line of confidentiality. But I will say that they don't call themselves an orphanage. They refer to themselves as a home. That's what I'll call them from now on.

The Home, which also doubles as a school, has undergone a lot of changes since we had visited in September. In the morning light, I could see that the guest house had some more work done on the second floor and had added a set of outside stairs.

While there is still no roof on the upper floor, I could see that it was taking shape and would likely be ready for visitors soon. Hugo and I were staying on the first floor and, since there was a set of stairs right next to our room, we would get up there and do some exploring later in the day. The doghouse remains but there are no dogs living in it and in their place is the resident goat. More about him later.

At the Home, the changes were extensive. The ENTIRE courtyard, from the front gate to the offices and around to the dormitories, has been paved with a light gray concrete. I remembered how muddy the old version of the courtyard became in a heavy rain and thought this new arrangement must be much better.

There is a colorful swing set and slide and a little white shed behind it that houses some sort of water purification system. The floors of the classrooms have been tiled - a major improvement over the mud floors that were there last time. The wooden classrooms have been torn down and are being replaced with new concrete structures. In the meantime, the older kids are having class under the portable awnings which have been moved from the courtyard to the roof of the classroom building. There are three flag poles in a prominent place in the courtyard.

Jacob escorted me to the director's office. I was dying to see Hugo but I didn't want to offend anyone by not following protocol, so I waited as patiently as I could. While I waited, the kids gathered for assembly and I started spotting some familiar faces. Emmanuel, Linda, Coby, a boy we called Charlotte because he was wearing a Charlotte Hornets jersey when we met him, Abigail, and several others. One of the musicians recognized me from last time and came over for a big hug. Assembly was excellent. The band had more members now and Emmanuel had a significant leadership role.

The director arrived and was very pleasant. She welcomed me warmly and gave me permission to take some pictures since, in her words, I was now part of their family. She knew I was eager to see Hugo so she sent someone to get him.

When he walked into the office, the very first thing I thought was that he shrunk. I had expected him to be bigger than last time and we actually spent a lot of thought on what size clothes we should pack. Now, he seemed smaller than I remembered him. Just like last time, he came right to me but seemed confused and just stared into the distance. We left the Home right away and on the way to the guest house, he snapped out of his trance. Perhaps the walk triggered some memories but he began to smile and respond to me. He even laughed a few times.

Back in the room, we played soccer, had snacks, and generally tried to get reacquainted. I had brought along an antibiotic in case his ears were still leaking and, since he still had cotton balls shoved in his ears, I gave him his first dose. We spent most of the rest of the day just playing together. Since I can't remember the exact order of things, here are some of the highlights:

• He didn't seem to be as protective of his food and even offered to share some with me. This was a very good sign.
• He loved the ball I brought from home that Beatrix won at Chuck E Cheese. 
• His ears were still sick, but not as bad as last time.
• We went for a few short walks and Hugo was content to walk rather than be carried. This was a huge blessing because 1) carrying him would have been tough in the 90 degree heat and 2) I brought a carrier to wear him on my back but I was hesitant to use it in a culture where women are the primary  caregivers for children and the sight of a man wearing a baby would have raised some eyebrows.
• On our walks, he collected things to bring back to the house. Typical boy. I thought of Henry's nature collection at home and thought that Hugo would fit right in.
• There was a scooter at the guest house. It was the kind they made in the 80's with the huge tires and plenty of room for both of us to stand on the foot deck. We rode it all over the place. 
• He was terrified of the goat. Check out the video and watch how concerned he is when I finally talk him into getting closer to it. For anyone who is new here, you will hear me referring to Hugo as Kwabi, his African name.

It was a big day at the Home. There were representatives from Samsung there when Hugo and I went back to visit. They were making some sort of presentation, probably a donation of some sort, and there were plenty of photo ops and posed pictures. After the presentations, the kids put on a performance that included the band, dancing, and a really cool drumming demonstration. There was a film crew to document the whole thing which I'm pretty sure was for Samsung's benefit. It went on for hours.

At one point, a teen girl came and asked Hugo if he wanted something to eat. He went willingly and came back wearing different clothes. Also, Boat had recommended Hugo have a haircut before the visit to the embassy the next day, so a young man at the Home shaved his head. He used a basic pocket comb and held a razor blade against the side with his thumb. Then, as he combed Hugo's head all over, the hair came off in little fuzzy clumps. 

That evening, Hugo fell asleep easily. I'll never know what was going through his little head that day, but I'm sure it was enough to be mentally exhausting. Our alarm was set for 4 a.m. to make sure we had time to make it to the embassy in Accra. I asked Boat why we needed to get up so early and he replied, "Sunday traffic is not like Tuesday traffic." And then, in the profound way that only Boat can manage, he added, "On Tuesday, it will not be Sunday."

Day Two - Sunday, January 20

The flight to Amsterdam was the best one of the trip. Actually, it was the best one of my whole life. I flew KLM which I highly recommend - very friendly, clean, and comfortable. In Pittsburgh, I had received boarding passes for just the first two legs of the flight, so as I boarded in JFK, I asked the KLM attendant when I would receive the pass for the final leg. He took my boarding pass and asked me to wait where I was standing. I watched as he tapped away on a computer, then ripped up my current pass and printed a new one. He returned and said, "I still can't print your next boarding pass so you'll have to ask in Amsterdam. But I gave you an upgrade."

An upgrade! I felt like I just won a prize on a game show. It wasn't first class or anything but the new seat had tons of leg room and a big, comfy seat. I almost didn't want to sleep so I could enjoy the plush seat but, alas, the seat itself convinced me otherwise. Not long after we were airborne, I was sound asleep. I don't even really know how long the flight was because I woke up with only 37 minutes to go. A passing flight attendant saw that I was finally awake and said, "Now that's the way to travel."

I've read that the Amsterdam airport frequently tops the list of the world's best and I believe it. It was architecturally interesting, had lots of options for food and shopping, and had an art museum right in the middle. I had a short layover here but wanted to find a coffee and an internet connection. Despite everyone being asleep at home, I was glad to find a friend online. Hannah Thomas, our friend from home who is now living in London was awake and home from church with her baby boy. We chatted on facebook and I let her know what was going on. She promised to pray for us and I left the conversation feeling good about having "talked" with a friend despite being on a different continent.

I found the gate and finally figured out the boarding pass issue. With a newly minted pass (no upgrade this time), I boarded the plane for Accra. It had started to snow in Amsterdam so we made a brief stop to de-ice the plane, then we were on our way. I couldn't believe it but I fell asleep on this flight too. There were still several hours to go when I woke up so I passed the time with a movie that kept switching to the french language option every time the pilot made an announcement. I gave up on the movie and watched the Sahara Desert pass miles below the plane. I felt so much different than the last time I traveled to Ghana. Then, I had no idea what Hugo would be like and I was very nervous. This time, I new exactly what to expect and I couldn't wait to see him again.

Boat was waiting for me on the other side of baggage claim in Accra and it was great to see him. We walked right out on to the street where he had a taxi waiting and we set off for Kasoa. After the cold weather I had become accustomed to at home, it felt great to put the windows down and feel the warm evening breeze in Accra's tropical climate. The smell in the air was lovely in its familiarity - wood fires and fried plantains. It was after 8 p.m. local time and the temperature was hovering around the mid 80's. It must have been a long day for Boat, because he fell asleep on the way.

The day ended in a very familiar location - in the guest house at Hugo's orphanage. Jacob, a young man who took care of Rebekah and I during the first trip, was there to oversee things again and I was so pleased. He is seventeen years old and one of the kindest young men I've ever met. He is soft spoken and caring. I gave him a big hug and told him how happy I was to see him.

Jacob brought dinner and it was the usual cabbage and noodles. It tasted great after a long day of travel and Boat and I dug in. Afterward, I unpacked which mostly consisted of checking to make sure nothing was damaged and hiding any snacks that I didn't want Hugo to find all at once. Faith International Adoptions (our adoption agency) provided us with a phone for use in Ghana and after I got that "topped up" as they say, I managed to call home and let Rebekah know that I had arrived safely. Then it was off to bed to try and get some sleep.

Tomorrow I'd get to see Hugo again and this time I wouldn't have to take him back.

Due to Popular Demand....

I'm going to enter a post to chronicle day two of the journey right after I finish this one. Several people have made it very clear that they are unwilling to wait any longer for 1) new pictures and 2) an update of how Hugo is doing after the first week home. Since I didn't even get to see him until day three of the trip, I thought I better go off-topic for a post just to quell the uprising before it gets out of hand. Allison Miller, this is for you.

This was his first day home. As you can see, it didn't take long for him to join in the fun. He, Beatrix, and Mabel Jane were taking turns jumping off the stairs for anyone who would stand still long enough to catch them. When the grown ups tired out, we had to put a stop to the fun because Bea (who is four) was offering to do the catching. Bad idea.

When Rebekah was pregnant with Henry, we thought it would be fun to have twins. Eight years later, we didn't exactly get our wish but these two have become fast friends and play together most of the time. They are almost exactly the same size and they seem to like the same kinds of things. Our favorite is when they sit and talk for long stretches and seem to understand each other despite speaking two different languages.

No, we are not trying to embarrass him. He put these on himself. Before this lovely choice, he was wearing one with a large, pink, sequined flower on it.

I broke out the guitar on Thursday afternoon and we had a little jam session.

Movie night, complete with bags of popcorn. We watched Pingu, a collection of short, animated stories about a family of Penguins that don't speak a recognizable language. Since there was no language barrier, Hugo enjoyed it right along with everyone else and would break out into long belly laughs. It was hilarious.

Henry brought in a tub of snow and the kids gathered around to play. So far, the cold weather seems to have no affect on Hugo at all. Yesterday, with about three inches of snow on our front porch, he followed Henry out the door before we could stop him. He was wearing no socks or shoes and didn't even flinch. We brought him right back in but definitely thinks the snow is pretty great. Leaving church this morning, he kept stopping to play in it, eat some, and hand it out to people passing by.

(By the way, the things on his face are not injuries. Just before this picture, he and Beatrix were playing doctor.  He is wearing a bandaid on his forehead and has blobs of some sort of lotion on his face that was just part of the game.)

Overall, he is doing amazingly well. Is he perfect all the time? Nope, but what kid is? I'm not going to detail the difficult times here because I wouldn't want my shortcomings to be published on a blog either. But the short version is that he sometimes gets overwhelmed. Everything in his life changed massively. When it becomes too much, it is an excellent opportunity for us to love on him all the more. He needs it. We need him. By the grace of God, this is going very well and we can see him learning so much.

Thanks for the prayers and keep them coming.

Day One - Saturday, January 19

Friday was my last day of school for a few weeks. There had been a concert on Wednesday, Thursday was a normal day, and Friday was spent talking the students through the next few weeks and making final preparations with a very capable substitute teacher. It was the strangest feeling to walk out of school Friday afternoon knowing that the time had finally arrived to go on the adventure of a lifetime.

That evening, we packed. And not just me, everybody. While I was preparing for Ghana, Rebekah and the kids were planning to spend the next couple of days at her parents house. Rebekah would have some extra hands available to care for the kids and to keep the home school train rolling. While she is a completely capable mother, I couldn't help but feel a lot better knowing that she wouldn't be home alone.

We woke up Saturday morning and loaded the car. The kids were still in their pajamas and we had skipped breakfast when we pulled out of the driveway headed for the grandparents' house (Oma and Pop Pop). Upon arrival, Henry announced that he smelled bacon and, as expected, breakfast was served.

Rebekah and I did not stick around. We dropped off the kids and I hugged them all one last time. The hugs were good and long since they would have to last a week. We headed toward Pittsburgh with some extra time to spend together before needing to be at the airport. We did some shopping at IKEA and had lunch at Mad Mex. I tried to savor every bite since I fully expected to eat mostly rice for the next six days.

At the airport, we checked the bags and said goodbye. I was travelling with two bags this time - one for me and Hugo, and one that was staying in Ghana. Our friends and family had helped us fill the second suitcase with tons of things that could be used at the orphanage - towels, soap, little toys for the kids, and, believe it or not, a couple of musical instruments. I was taking a long a trumpet, a trombone, and a pair of crash cymbals. They required a bit of repair work to make them playable but they were now in perfect playing condition and would be a great addition to the band at the orphanage. A local music store had also donated some items to keep the instruments in good shape.

Knowing what to expect from Ghana this time, it was hard to imagine going without my wife. When we were there a few months before, the situation was completely overwhelming and we relied on each other to get through each moment. This time, I was going alone. I tried to imagine returning to this same spot the following Saturday, with Hugo in tow. Hard to believe this was happening.

I found the gate, walked around the airport, and kept myself busy while waiting for a 3:40 p.m. flight to JFK.

Travelling can be so unpredictable. We boarded the flight on time, taxied to the runway, sat on the tarmac for 30 minutes, then returned to the airport. It turns out that traffic at JFK was so heavy that they had no place to land the plane. We unloaded and several of us watched the Penguins game while we waited for the announcement to load again. On the second try, we made it off the ground and on our way to New York. Traffic was still heavy when we arrived in New York so we circled Manhattan for a long time before they allowed us to land. My next flight was not until nearly 10:00 p.m. so I was not concerned about making the connection.

I sat on the flight from Pittsburgh with a man named Mike. He was an engineer for GM (or was it GE?) on his way to Frankfurt, Germany to work for a few weeks. He asked why I was travelling and I filled him in, showing him the pictures of Hugo on my phone. Mike was a seasoned traveler to Africa having visited there several times on mission trips to Sierra Leone. His first visit there had been shortly after a war ended that had spilled over the border from neighboring Liberia. The conditions had been terrible and the danger very real. He showed me pictures of his own and I could tell that he spoke about his time there with a mixture of pride and heartbreak. He said something that I would remember frequently throughout the rest of the trip.

"When you find yourself involved in God's will, things may not always be comfortable or safe, but you wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

Thanks, Mike. I needed that.

The Beginning of Trip #2

Since we arrived home from the first trip back in October, we have had lots of practice at waiting. There was some activity at first as we answered questions for friends and family, shared pictures, and told the same stories many times over. We thought about Hugo constantly....at first.

As strange as it is to write this now, we had to learn how to not think about him. There was nothing we could do to hurry the process and there was no way to stay posted on his daily condition. We trusted the Lord to take care of him and waited for the next development.. Really it wasn't hard to do...there had been so many miracles along this journey already that we were convinced that the Lord would see it through. Plus, we also recognize that being close to our children does not remove the need to rely on the Lord. Near or far, our children need Him.

As we prepared for Christmas, we wondered if he would be home in time to celebrate with us. We got him a stocking and hung it on the mantle. We purchased presents but waited to wrap them. I wondered if I would get a call to go get him and miss Christmas altogether. If it came to that, it would be an easy decision - I'd go get him in a blink.

Sure enough, just before Christmas, we got notification that his I-600 petition was processed and all that remained was to schedule a meeting for the visa interview. The interviews take place at the US embassy in Accra, Ghana and can only be scheduled on Mondays and Tuesdays. Christmas was on a Tuesday this year so that week was not an option since the embassy would be closed. Same deal for the following week since it was New Year's Eve and New Year's day.

The first available date to schedule the interview was Monday, January 7. This created a small dilemma since I am a junior high band director and my students' concert was on January 9. As much as I wanted to get Hugo as soon as possible, I also felt that I had a responsibility to my students who had worked so hard to prepare for their first performance of the year. With a little sadness, I requested an interview on Monday, January 14.

And then waited.

I couldn't book a flight until the date was confirmed and since it was over the holiday, confirmation did not come right away. When it finally did come, it was not for the 14th. The interview was officially scheduled for Monday, January 21 at 7:30 a.m. I booked the flight as soon as I got the email confirmation. Then the date changed again. Whoever confirmed the date, remembered that January 21 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and since it is the US embassy, they observe all US government holidays. The embassy would be closed that day and the meeting was rescheduled for the next day. I called the airline, explained the situation, and they allowed me to change the ticket without penalty.

There were plenty of preparations in advance of the trip. Rebekah had been busy for months trying to get ahead of schedule for our kids' homeschooling. The plan was to take some time off when Hugo came home and she was trying to make up for future lost time. I had to prepare plenty of stuff at school in anticipation of taking some time off. There was his room to organize and some supplies to purchase.

That's how we got to day one of trip #2. Following this post, I will document the trip day by day like I did with the first trip, starting with the very long flight through New York and Amsterdam. And I promise to include pictures. Stay tuned and welcome back.

Home

Hi friends and family!

I haven't posted since October because really there was nothing to report. But now....

He's home.

There has been plenty to report the last few weeks but I didn't want to announce to the world that I would be away. I'll start posting more regularly now and tell you the story of how it went down. But for now, we're going to enjoy our new boy and help him adjust to his new family. So far, things are going very well and we are so thankful to the Lord for bringing him safely home. Thanks to all of you for your prayers.