JUNIOR'S JOURNEY HOME: 2008-08-31

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Labor Day Road Trip to Illinois

Since Akins came home I have been trying to figure out how to accomplish getting him out to meet everyone in the family. The summer was pretty packed with my sister's annual visit and the AFAA reunion. Taking advantage of the three day weekend,Lorea, Mom, Akins and I took off for a long drive to Illinois. This is where I grew up and still have Uncles, Aunts and Cousins not to mention a lot of friends dating as far back as the third grade. I tried to fit them all into one action packed weekend, we even managed to squeeze in the Children's Discovery Museum. Here are some of the highlighted photos...

Givin' Robbie some lovin'

I will beat you Mr. Bones

Marcus was showing Akins how the tongue works at the Museum

Akins giving Marcus a "little" ride

Playing dentist - perfect timing Akins got his teeth cleaned and x-rayed TODAY!

We loved the air games

I'm not sure who is having the most fun

Milking the cows

Who is that guy with his legs wrapped around that thing?

Akins and Flo (Rob's Mom) takiing a little down time before the feast at Rob's resturant

I think there were 13 of us for dinner. This is Mom's side of the family. Her brother Del and his wife Sondie, my cousin Paula and her husband Chip and their kids Lexi and Cory. Then Rob's Mom Flo, Rob and Marcus and of course us.

Say chesse and smile????

Lorea, what are you up to?

Chip teaching the kids how to sew their hands - big hit!

Chip and more games

Meeting new cousins Lexi and Cory

Getting the Grand tour of Robbie's resturant "Lancaster's" He even got to see the kitchen and meet the chefs

Kickin' it with Robbie and Marcus' dog Banky

Hangin' out with Uncle Robbie

Hold still just long enough to snap - ahhh close enough

Helping Uncle Robbie (my best friend) feed the squirrels

Catching up with school friends

All this meeting people wears a boy plum out

All the girls hangin' out at Uncle Del and Aunt Sondie's house

Chow time

There were a whole lot of stories to tell

Playing with Cory and Lexi

Uncle Del helps Akins brush his teeth

Akins got to meet his very first "puppy" with sharp little teeth and all

Karen's Story

Gosh! Where to begin! Karen wants to adopt two children. She has been open to older children and both genders. After not getting a referral for a long time. Karen even applied in Ethiopia and Lesotho thus holding applications in three countries trying to broaden the options. Still no referral. Finally, Karen found Ishamel and asked about him. He is 9 years old and she has fallen in love. Still - Karen waits on a second referral. Still she holds applications in all three countries. The thought of making Ishamel wait while waiting for another referral has Karen in knots so she has made travel plans and is leaving to get Ishamel on August 23, 2007 and will likely have to make another trip for a second child! Karen has been my sounding board throughout these past few months. We got our referrals at about the same time and began holding each other together via telephone. Hang in there Karen!

Patricia's Story

This woman obviously has the patience of Job. She has waited 2 1/2 years for a child often feeling like she has been forgotten about. Finally, she got the referal for little Alomiza. After all this time and a communication failure she thought this child had been returned home. Later, it was confirmed that Alomiza is still at the house. Patricia hopes to bring her home in September but does not have specific plans yet as due to all of the waiting some of the paperwork has expired. We are all holding on to Alomiza coming home before fall!

July 19, 2007 - The Other Kids and Families

Needless to say international adoption is not an esay process. For the kids they often wait and wait. For the parents they often wait and wait! The only thing to keep everyone sane is each other. In the house there were reportedly 29 kids as of May 2007. The kids keep each other sane they play and learn together. The older kids are harder to place and often wait longer. The older kids seem mature and responsible beyond their years and are often seen caring for the smaller children. It seems to be natural and loving. Several familes are adopting more than one child so there are fewer familes. The familes stay sane by staying in contact through yahoo groups on line and the phone. By working together we learn. Without each other the process is maddening, complicated, confusing and very frustrating. There is little information provided and it is very infrequent.

July 26, 2007 - 12 day countdown!

Twelve more days until flight day! I'm starting to get anxious. I think with all of the frustrations and bad information around passports it was hard for me to "trust" that I was really going to bring Junior home. I now have tickets in hand and I'm goin'!

Heather shot off a short email today and while her arrival in Monrovia did not go exactly according to plan she did get to see the kids briefly - and she got to tell them their Mommies loved them and were coming soon - she wrote (VAL - JUNIOR WAS ALL SMILES!) I can not even explain how this made me feel and now I am really ready!

July 27, 2007 - 11 days and I can't sit still!

Unfortunately, no news from Heather today. All of us waiting families were hoping for an update from her and possisbly some photos! The mix up on her travel included not having reservations booked at the hotel where Internet is available so the communication from her is probably going to be limited. With Independance Day celebrations now complete she may be able to get better accomodations. We are all hoping for this anyway!

Yesterday, July 26th was the official Independence Day holiday Liberia was to celebrate its independence anniversary with something of a light show when Monrovia's street lights were to be turned on for the first time in 15 years, officials said on Wednesday.

Here's to PEACE, FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY in Liberia!