Winding things up :)

I can't believe it's been over a month since I have posted anything here. It's been a busy time, the end of school, my son's wedding, prep for Vacation Bible School and G and B were gone for a week in Haiti on a mission trip and we had the 4 kids here. Today was the first day of VBS and it went great, I feel like I should be doing something but everything seems to be ready so I thought I would see if I could finish our trip journal.

Feb. 18th
We were on our way home. We got on the plane but didn't get to sit together. G and B and Y were at the bulkhead, that way they could have a little crib thing that Y could sleep in. I was two rows back on the isle in the middle next to a young Ethiopian man. The baby even had a seat belt that looped through Gretchen's and then around Yohanna. We had snacks within a few hours, gold fish like crackers in the shape of airplanes with the Ethiopian Airline logo on the bag. There were 2 other meals served during the trip but I didn't enjoy either. We had eaten something from the market the day before and I still wasn't feeling that well. And it didn't help that every time a meal was served the stewardess would put up my seat. The person in front of me was almost laying in my lap and she didn't put up her seat but mine had to go up.

The kid next to me was from Ethiopia and it was his 1st plane trip. He crossed himself when we started our decent to D.C. He was so excited about snow, remember there was over 40 inches at the D.C. airport. He was getting a job there. His English was very poor. All he had was a light windbreaker for a coat. I asked if that was they only coat he had and the Ethiopian lady next to him burst out laughing. I assume that they had already discussed that in Amheric and she was laughing that I had said the same thing. It was only 20 degrees in D.C. when we arrived. We were used to the cold but I am sure that he was VERY COLD. Remember it was 85 in Addis and they were wearing winter coats.

We got to D.C. and had to get all our luggage through customs and immigration. We figured that it would take over 2 hours but Y was too little to fingerprint so they just took the envelope of documents and we were off. I was surprised that customs wasn't harder to get through. They just asked what we brought with us and took our word for it. I was done first so I went to look for our luggage. Of course ours was last off the plane because it was first on the plane.

We went to the USO, they said they usually only let immediate family in but they wouldn't say anything about me because there was no one else there. Both volunteers were a bit unusual but they probably thought the same thing about us. It was good to relax and eat normal food. G and B check facebook and posted a few things. Another worker came in to deliver some paper products. She talked to G and B about Y and then left in a few minutes she returned and handed B a $10 bill for Y's education. Wow!!!

We headed off again to to through security. I had Y in my arms and bumped the side of the metal detector so I had to do it again. They even checked out Y's bottles and the formula and rice cereal for drugs or what ever.

When we were standing there putting on our shoes an Female Africian Security Guard came up to talk to us, I thought we were in trouble. She just asked if Y was Ethiopian. G said yes, she said she had lived there for many years and could tell an Ethiopian anywhere. She asked if Y was Somilian, of course we didn't know. She said she looked it and then asked about how we got Y and G gave her the name of an adoption agency that let single parents adopt. She had been a widow for 12 years and would like to adopt some older children.

We tried to look for Nathan's bag. The lady was snippy with me but then she got nicer. She was from the middle east with the scarf covering her head. She tried and tried and then told me that we would have to wait till we got to our final destination to put in a claim. Everywhere we go it's someone else's problem they can't help us. It had been over 48 hours and it was probably gone forever.

While we stood there 2 ladies came up and talked to G and B about Y. The daughter was also interested in adoption. They had missed their plane and we were where God had planned for us to be. G and B gave her info and they went away very happy.

The plane from D. C. to Chicago was the best flight we had, a little bigger plane than on the way out, much more comfortable. Y slept in my arms the whole way. I had watched out the window on the way to D. C. but my stomach couldn't handle it on the way home I closed the shade.

One guy in the airport that I had talked to hadn't been home to Africa for 12 years.

The last plane to Peoria was a puddle jumper again. It seemed that we just got up when we were on our decent again. Seth and Dayna were at the airport to get us with an extra blanket for Y. Those were in the luggage we lost. We waited and waited for our luggage. I went and talked to the United guy about Nathan's missing piece. Of course there was nothing he could do. Why hadn't we done something before? I wasn't happy but I held my temper. But I wasn't very kind. Then one of our other suitcase was missing. That guy came looking for us thinking he had made the big find of our lost suitcase of course it wasn't it. He was very rude. I should have written to the airline but I never got around to it. It definately wasn't our fault that our luggage got to where we were suppose to be before we got there.

We dropped off Dayna at the apartment and Seth came home with us. We told him stories and laughed and laughed. Gretchen called home and Caleb said, " Mom, I'll come home tonight but tomorrow can we have another sleep over at grandpa's?" That boy would live here if we let him.

Seth told us about Caleb falling and Tami coming over to help take care of him. We think he just had the flu, but Speed talked Laural into saying she didn't feel good too so he didn't have to lie when he called the school to tell them that the kids wouldn't be there one day.

We came down the road and the kids were in the patio door watching and jumping up and down. C and L were all over Y but Sam wasn't into her. We sorted out their stuff from mine and they headed home. Gretchen told me later she really didn't remember Fri. night, she was so tired. Bill told L to keep talking to him so he would stay awake on the way home. He had drill the next day. While Sam and Y slept G decided to nap too. When B got home he woke her up and the two oldest had destroyed the house.

The bottle of wine that B had packed had broken in the suitcase. At least B had put it in with dark stuff so it didn't ruin anything.

I went to bed at 9 and woke up at 6, cleaned house and took a real bath. Went to Williamsfield to have cheesy fries. Came home and figured out the message I would do at church. Some where the one I planned before I left had got lost. Those kids were into everything. Watched TV and tried to stay awake to get on a more normal schedule. Fell asleep about 4 and got up at 6, ate a little and went back to bed woke up at 4.

Went to church at Gilson and Williamsfield. Gretchen dropped off the boys and L and Y came with her to church. She was sick. We came home and had pizza for lunch and watched movies while G napped. Went to bed at 7 and woke up at 4 again. It took me well over a week to get back into somewhat a feeling good state. Even when I went to bed early every night. Got though the week of school, a three day weekend yay, soap operas on Monday. Good night.