I'm sure people are curious about how things are going around the Gillies house.  Well, here it is......they are going beautifully!  I spent many hours worrying before we ever got Joseph home.  Worrying about, how are the other kids going to do, how will Joseph do, will he miss Uganda?  Will  he miss the climate?  What if he doesn't like our rules, what if? what if? what if?  Well, all my worries have been eased.  It feels like Joseph has been with us forever.  Like a piece of a puzzle was missing, but we didn't know it until he came into our lives.  Joseph does not miss anything in Uganda (with exception to his Grandma and brother and sister), but the things I thought he would miss, he is not missing.  I finally stopped asking if he was missing things because one day he said, "Mom, wherever you are, I am happy".  Enough said?  It doesn't matter if we are all together in Uganda, Paris or Seattle, as long as we are together, he is happy.  What a lesson to those of us who are constantly searching and waiting for the next best thing that might increase our happiness.  We are so grateful he is home.  He is as much a Gillies as the rest of the kids and they are all acting like siblings!  All of the other kiddos have adjusted well too and we are so happy to be together! 

I knew this was coming.  I knew it, and I tried to push it out of  my mind for as long as I could, but the inevitable happened.  I had to send Joseph to school.  Not only that, but I had to send him to Junior High!  Last night when I tucked him in, it lasted for about 30 minutes.  Every time I would get up to leave we would hug again and say I love you, then I would get up to leave, and again, another hug.  We both knew this was coming and although grateful for the opportunity to go to school, we were both not ready to seperate.  This morning he got up and made himself a rolex (Ugandan) food and then we were off.  I walked him into school resisting his hand when he tried to hold mine.  Yes, I wanted to hold his hand but I thought he'd better enter school without holding hands with his mom, lest he have difficulty living that down.  We went into the counselor's office where she had a sweet boy that was going to escort him to his classes and eat lunch with him.  I walked with Joseph and the escort to his first class and again, when he tried to walk with me and hold my hand I urged him forward so he could walk with the other boy.  But dang it, I really wanted to hold his hand!  I wanted to take away all of his fears!  By the time he reached class I was ready to break into the ugly cry so I figured I had better get out of there before he saw.  We gave a quick hug and that was it.  I walked to the car and as I wiped my eyes I smelled his Nivea lotion (a scent I hate) on my hands.  I said a quick but heartfelt prayer that God would be with my boy.  I'm walking around the house doing my housewifely duties, counting down the minutes until I get to pick him up.  I have 1hour 25 minutes, but who's counting?

Mixing the Dough! Tough work!

Trust me Mom!  I'm an expert! Chipatti is a wonderful food that we all enjoy in Uganda.  Last night I tried to make them, but look who took over!  At first I was bossing him around trying to follow a recipe, and then, things got serious and Joseph took over full time.  The result? Excellent Chipatti to go along with our rice and beef!  Good Job Son!

First night in his own bed.  Home at last, safe and sound.
Seattle......................

Pikes' Place Market, Seattle, Washington
First swimming lesson!
Welcome home sign..................first day of church.
Dad, Mom and Joseph
First time in a hot tub!
Welcome home son!

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!

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!