Those who know me know that I read and watch just about anything I can about Africa.  I want to learn and know as much as possible.  Since I have been home from getting Joseph, I haven't had time to watch or read much, but I finally got a movie from Netflix called Apocalypse Africa: Made in America.  Throughout the movie images of extreme hardship and poverty are shown in different parts of Africa.  These types of images have alway had a great impact on me.  They have pulled at my heartstrings and constantly challenged me to do more. This time though, was different.  In each image I saw Joseph, my son.  I saw his face walking down the road without shoes.  I saw his belly enlarged from extreme hunger.  I saw his future in a man carrying fruit on the back of a bicycle.  I think it's time for me to take a break from these kinds of movies.  They tell me a story of a past left behind and a future that could have been so different for my boy.

Showing off Joseph's bark cloth hat, Brinlee was quite the model!  The kids got asked to dance and model at the party and had such a good time!  Real Ugandan food, including Matoke if you can believe it!  So much fun!

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!