Saturday, August 7, 2010
Home At Last!
Getting off the plane……………
Brothers!
Family of Seven! Finally reunited!
Peanut and Big Brother
We’re Home!
Touring the house. Joseph’s new room!
The Grand Tour!
Meeting Aunt Holly and Crew! Go Chelsea!
So many firsts! A dilly bar from Grandpa, then the ice cream truck. The neighbor kids couldn’t resist and a they bought Joseph a push up pop!
Great friends already! We are so blessed!!!
Some of the new cousins!
Brothers!
Notice the Uganda currency, the ice cream man didn’t take it! Ha!
What a beautiful, crazy and overwhelming day! We were greeted at the airport by Grandma and Grandpa B, Grandpa Gillies (a surprise who came from Reno) and of course Shawn and the kids. We made it through immigration biting our nails. At the last minute I noticed the passport b-day is different than the other b-day we have on the immigration paperwork. Talk about scary, but no one seemed to notice. After getting home we were blessed to have some welcome home signs all over the house compliments of our wonderful neighbors and friends. At this point Beau would not stop talking! Joseph, “Have you ever had a waffle? Joseph, do you like chocolate milk? Joseph, do you like your room”? It’s good Joseph loves kids and could handle the 50 million questions! We then took a tour of the house. Joseph’s bedroom looked great. When I left it was a storage room and Shawn did a great job getting things ready and our good friend bought him bedding. After that we had many visitors and just hung out outside. Joseph was quite overwhelmed and getting very tired, but I made him stay up until 8:30PM. I cannot express the joy that I feel having him here. We are complete, yet I still have a hole in my heart knowing we left his brother and sister behind. We are committed to helping them in any way and will maintain contact with them as much as the center they live at will allow. What a blessing to reunite with them, but how hard to seem them apart again.
F and Big Brother
Brother G…………
Reunited!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
This Is Not The End, Only The Beginning
I just slept. No, really, I just slept! I slept a peaceful and deep sleep. The weight that has been on my shoulders for the last year has been lifted and I was finally able to let me mind go and sleep. I've had problems sleeping for so long and this deep, blissful sleep is a sign to me that I can now rest. Joseph is safe and soon I will be tucknig him into his own bed at night. There is no way for me to describe how difficult this last year has been. No one could begin to comprehend unless they had been through it themselves. I often compare this journey to Joseph like someone trying to dig a tunnel through a mountain using a spoon. It has completely consumed every single minute of everyday and caused great stress. I can only breathe a great, big deep sigh of relief. I have learned so much about myself and I have had my testimony strengthened in the process. I believe that God worked this miracle through Joseph's faith more than anyone elses! My son has been able to teach me so much about faith! God did not let him down. To top this glorious ending off, I got up the courage to call the center where Joseph's brother and sister have been adopted and they granted us a last minute meeting with them tomorrow. Grandma hasn't seen them for years and we are going to bring her a well. What a gift! God knows that these 3 need each other! I couldn't be more grateful. I will update with photos as soon as I can. In the meantime, thanks to all those who prayed and loved us through this. The challenges we face when we get home are not over, yet somehow I am ready to face them knowing that our Journey to Joseph is over!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Visa!!!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Visa Appointment
Today was a big day. It seems like once you clear one hurdle in Ugandan adoption, you don't have a lot of time to celebrate before the next big challenge happens. Thankfully things seemed to go well today. We had some long delays due to technology issues, but the interview went very well. We met with the head consul, Bridgette. She was very kind to us. I will find out tomorrow how long it will take to get the visa. Praying for no glitches:) Thanks for the prayers and support. This is my 4th week in Uganda and Im ready to come home and I know Shawn is struggling, so I feel pretty down about that, but we are enjoying each other and making the best out of things!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Joseph
I really don't know how to express what has happened over the last few
days. No child should ever had to go through what Joseph has been
through. We set out on Thursday to Masaka, about a 3 hour drive from Kampala.
We were going to visit the graves of his mother, father and 2 younger siblings. I was very
nervous about seeing where he grew up, and having him relive so may
memories. On our way to Masaka the road became jammed with cars,
trucks and bodas. After waiting for about 2 hours we learned that
there was a weigh station and that the trucks were angry that they
were being overcharged to pass. So, they decided to block the road!
Our time was very short, so we decided to leave our driver, walk past
the "riot" and try to get a taxi. A taxi is a small van that is meant
to hold 14 people. They are known for being crazy and driving too
fast. After walking some time, we found a taxi and held up our
fingers that we needed seats for 3. The conductor waved us over and
we quickly hurried to get a seat. Upon arriving I noticed the taxi
was already totally full yet the conductor was yelling at people to
make room. As we got closer I noticed the group inside were a group
of Ghadaffi supporting Muslims. As the conductor starts to shove me
to the back, this huge lady starts screaming in my direction. The
taxi starts to move and Joseph and I get shoved to the back, all the
while the lady is yelling in Luganda. At this point I was totally
shaking. After all 19 of us get situated the women taps me on the
back and screams at me, "Where are you going"? At this point, I had
had it, and I yelled back, "I don't know, nice to meet you too". At
this, she breaks into a jolly smile and starts laughing! I was like,
"What! Is this women high"? Let's just say I was very happy to get out of there.
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| The Women Who I Thought Was Going to Kill Me! |
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| 2 of the group in the taxi! |
When we got to Masaka we went and visited a neighbor Esther. As we walked into the house, the sky opened up into a loud raging storm. We sat there in the dark as without
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| Inside Esther's House During the Rain. It was Pitch Black Inside, But My Flash Lit Things Up! |
electricity. While Joseph was talking I had the distinct
feeling that the rains were a symbol of heaven crying. Crying for my
boy who has endured more than any child should have to endure. I
asked the Esther everything I could about his mother and father and
learned a few cute stories about him when he was a boy. She said his
father was very harsh and he would get in trouble when his dad would
send him to market and he would run off to the football pitch instead.
After the rains stopped we walked down a muddy road into a clearing
where his mother, father and little brother and sister now rest. The
graves were not marked and were just a mound of dirt. We each used
our hands to groom the graves ( a Ugandan tradition). It was very
humbling to see the dirt where his parents lay and to see the smaller
mounds of Willy and Rosette. I thought my heart was going to break
for my boy. His family is buried on land owned by someone else which
means they could be removed at any time. Oh how I want to buy this
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| Paying Our Respects |
walk to the land his family used to live on. The home is destroyed,
but we were able to look at the space and Joseph recalled several
childhood memories. We continued walking back to grandma's and
Esther said something in Luganda that my friend Hilda interpreted.
She said, "I can remember Joseph walking this road so many times when
he was a boy. He lacked food and clothing. Now, looking at him
walking that same road and seeing him looking so good made her so
happy". It was a very humbling experience and I am so honored that
God is giving us a chance to be be Joseph's mother and father. I wish
that his parents were still here, that Willy, Rosette, Fiona and
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| The Property Where Joseph's Home Once Stood |
only try to do our best by them. After that experience I didn't think
things could get any harder, but little did I know! After searching
for the better part of a year, we were given a contact where Joseph's
little brother and sister were staying. We got a number, called and
were told that we could see them if we came. The build up and
anticipation at seeing them was almost too much! My best guess is
that it's been about 4 years since Joseph had seen them. We arrived
at the center (not even knowing anything about it) and were greeted.
Then, it happened.
The most beautiful, sad, and tragic thing I've ever witnessed.
Joseph was reunited with F and G. They hugged and Goeffrey
sat on Joseph's lap as they tried to catch up on 4 years of lost time.
I sat a cried. I couldn't help myself. After searching so long and
finally finding them it was indeed sweet. Fiona has the most
beautiful voice and was so sweet and pretty. Goeffrey looks just like
Joseph. I won't share what they talked about, but let's just say
Joseph is a great big brother. He instructed them as to what they
should do to help one another since they are together.
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| Together At Last! |
go. I cannot even talk about how that went as I still haven't fully
recovered from it. I cannot stand to see Joseph hurt. I found out
from Fand G that they have been to the US on tour with the faclities
childrens choir. I couldn't believe they had been to the US before
their brother. G told Joseph that when they were older and he got
money, he would build a place and they could all live together. After
doing some research on the facility I learned that the choir is coming
to the US in September. My son is the bravest, strongest person I
know. We are so lucky to have him.
Anyway, that is what's been going on. We are waiting to go to the embassy.
Will update when I can. Thank you for the love and support. I am not
going to have a very easy time jumping back into American life after
this last month. I feel like the things we have gone through trump
everything and I just hope people will be understanding if it takes me
awhiled to catch up and be myself.
Monday, July 26, 2010
It's Official!
Telling Joseph The Verdict...
Well, today was a great day! The judge came and we received our ruling................Joseph waited in the waiting room and I went in alone. I thought I was going to throw up and was shaking so hard. I thought about how far we had come. I thought about the times I lost hope and never thought this day would come, but mostly I thought about how God carried us through this difficult journey. When the ruling finally came back positive I about fell off my chair. I walked back into the waiting room where Joseph sat nervously waiting for me. I think he knew by the smile on my face and we embraced and cried together. The relief came so fast and quickly that it overwhelmed us. I'm still not sure this is real! We then celebrated by going to see a real movie at the very western theater. Joseph and I had the theater to ourselves! Shrek 4, his first movie! So, as we celebrate this day, I can't help to think about all of the dear friends I've made along the way still waiting. Don't give up, the reward is so worth it. Now, off to call the embassy in the hopes for a quick appt. Still waiting for our written ruling, but after that we pray for smooth sailing!
Calling To Tell Dad!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Big Day Tomorrow
Today was a special day. We were able to go to Birra and let Joseph say good-bye to Mama Dorothy and the others he lived with. We took lots of pictures so he will be able to remember everything. It was so interesting to see him speaking his native language and conversing with the women who has helped care for him for the last 3 years of his life. Most of what we have ever given him has been stolen so we were able to retrieve what was left of it. Also, after we got back we were relaxing and Joseph suggested we go down to Sanyu Babies Home to help with the kids. He was quite a pro and I was so proud of him wanting to go and give of his time to help the orphans there. Tonight we get to borrow a friends computer and Skype again with the kids. It was so fun for the kids and Joseph to "meet" for the first time. Tomorrow is the big day. Hoping the judge shows up and is kind to us:) Thanks for the prayers!
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