Better

Today was busy in so many different ways it’s hard to know where to begin.  I’ll start, though, with a big thank you for the words of encouragement from readers.  I needed to hear the voices of friends (albeit online) letting me know that I’m going on this journey by myself. 

I also want to send a big thank you to the folks at New Hope Lutheran Church in North Aurora, IL.  I read your first letter today during my Bible study time.  Thank you so much for the prayers and encouragement.  It has been hard for me to wait until today to start reading them.  Truth be told, I thought about opening all of them before I even left—it was like sitting and staring at Christmas presents under the tree knowing the letters were packed in my suitcase.  And my parents will attest to the fact that as a kid I would sit by the tree and just stare at my presents, waiting anxiously for Christmas morning!  I did show restraint, however, and didn’t open any until today.  It will an exercise in delayed gratification to wait until Sundays to read the letters.  But, I think the waiting will make their messages all the more precious.  I am grateful for this gift from you.

So, after the usual morning routine of feeding kids, I wasn’t sure what to do to kill time until Gertrude and I had to leave to check out the land.  Gertrude was puttering around in the kitchen, and I asked whether there was anything I could do help.  Yes.  I could help make peanut butter cookies.  Now there was something I knew I could do.  I may not know special needs.  I may not know French.  I may not know Creole.  But I know how to make cookies!  It was good to have something to do while we talked—made the conversation so much easier.

About 10:00 I reminded Gertrude that she had an appointment with the adoption lawyer at 10:00.  She had totally forgotten about it!  We were readying to leave when the Ws’ (Wilson, Wilberson, and Wildania) adoptive parents arrived.  Our departure was pushed back for a little bit more.  We headed out to see the land which is just down the street from Gertrude’s lawyer.  The land is gorgeous!  It is a big plot with a number of trees.  A cool breeze blew through for most of the time that I was there.  I thought that the land had been totally cleared of rubble from the earthquake, but I was mistaken.  There is A LOT of clearing out that needs to happen before any building can begin.  When we are ready to do that work, you all are more than welcome to come and help!  The pictures I posted are of the land.  It may not seem like much right now, but we can see our school there.

I spent some time getting to know Bonnie and Steve, the couple adopting the Ws.  There story is amazing; maybe later I will share it. 

Tonight I am sitting in the kitchen area while I type.  Little Alicia is in my lap.  My spirits are much better than they were Friday and yesterday morning.  Thank you.

Okay.  I have more pictures, but it took 5 minutes for this one to load and about 10 minutes for another one to mostly load before it gave up.  I guess I'll be posting pictures slowly.