Gotcha Day # 3

On August 7, 2010 we celebrated our 3rd year with Akins. This is the day Mom and I arrived in Liberia and in the dark I took this scared little boy away from all he had ever known. It is impossible to explain all we have been through and all that has been learned or accomplished. A friend recently reminded me of the Santa letter I wrote the first year. The letter was intended to support the requests of me and all the other Mom's of kids from Liberia. It was rittled with things like stopping the constant flushing the toilets and incessant needs to flip light switches (without going into detail everyone with kids from Liberia or likely any other 3rd world country know what I am talking about). I have taken that list and revised it to what is remaining on there. Here it is...

• I wish for just 10 minutes each day to elapse without hearing the
bleating cry “Mommy come”.
• I wish to be able to take a shower or use the toilet without an
audience. (working on this one)
• I wish for all hand dryers to be made the same in public restrooms to
eliminate the curiousity as this would be a definite time saver for me.
(we really do need to speak with the manufacturers of these things)

We definately have made much progress!!!



He has gone from.....this sad, scared little boy

to embracing me willingly for our first hug!

to leraning how to ride a scooter during the first week in America

to getting to see friends from Africa all safe and sound in South Dakota just a few weeks after getting here

to becoming an impressive swimmer who can hold his breath forever

to that funny, entertaining boy we all now know

to....this handsome young man!!!