I'm so grateful for a friend who arranged to have someone bring a package with her to Uganda for Joseph.  My mom was so nice and made a scrapbook of all the Benson relatives so that Joseph could get to know all of the Benson side of the family.  I think there are about 32 of us so he has a lot to learn.  He will have 13 more on Shawn's side!  That's a lot of people.  I'm also tucking in some vitamins................I am a mom!  Benson sent a couple of books............Notice anything interesting about our family picture???? Thanks to my dad for his photo shop skills!

-Visa's are being issued!
-Beau got antibiotics for his strep throat! So grateful we have access to medicine
-We don't have a LG order with the wrong words
-We have amazing kids who have a heart for the poor and needy
-My kids are all healthy
-Shawn has a great job
-I'm alive!

I'd love to hear from anyone who is following the blog.  Drop us a comment and send a hug.  I see lots of visits but don't know who is out there. 

Today has been a little hard.   Shawn talked to the lawyer and he said he tried to meet with our judge and she sent her clerk to tell him to go away.  I don't know what that means.  My hopes of getting Joseph home before courts close seems to be fading.  Today I gathered so much strength by thinking about the women beaders in the IDP camps that our foundation helps support.  I thought about their struggles, HIV, poverty, lack of water, education, food, being widowed, war, loss of children.  What on earth do I have to be sad about?  Yes, there is a hole in my heart and I know it's normal to be sad when things get difficult in this adoption, but really if I take my mind back to the beautiful, resilent women I met when we traveled in January I can't feel sad for long.  They give me so much courage.  Today I honor each and every one of them and I pledge to continue helping them through the work I do with our foundation.  I can't wait to see them again!

I just ran across this photo.  This is the moment I met Joseph.  He was playing football and I walked by.  I asked if I could join in (I'm not hard to miss in this picture, the only white, female out there).  Anway, we played with a ball made out of sacks and Josehp and I ended up conecting on some great plays.  That's where I met this sweet boy!  In fact, the one year anniversary is coming up any day now!

Shawn just called the attorney and he still hasn't talked to his "associate"  So, he said call back in two hours.  Shawn is going to set his alarm and call.  Hope we get some news.

Today I was in Safeway and my  tummy started rumbling and I thought, "I'll get a Jamba Juice".  I looked up at the menu and saw "Mango a-go-go". The ingredients were mango, pineapple and passionfruit juice.  I was feeling a bit down so I splurged and ordered one.  I picked the Mango drink because the fruits remind me of my beloved Uganda.  The liquid slid up the straw and as it touched my tongue so many senses came to life.  I was there!  I was back in Uganda sipping passionfruit juice.  I was eating the sweetest pineapple from the side of the road.  Tears stung my eyes as my senses completely grabbed ahold of me and threatened to sink me.  I got it together quickly and went about my day.  But, just for a moment I felt like I was home.