Growth...of our family...in our walk with Christ...in all things to worship HIM!

Monday, February 18, 2013

The Long Journey Home!!

We woke Monday, January 28th at Oh Dark Hundred!!!
Or 1am to be exact:(
We needed to be packed and downstairs by 2am to leave for the airport.  
Once again I somehow neglected to get a photo with the extremely generous "T" 
who graciously agreed to pick us up at this ungodly hour!!

We arrived around 3am as planned and waited in line for the ticket booth.  
The kids did such a wonderful job especially with the lack of sleep they had!!

And then...to our great surprise...
There was not a line for immigration!!

It was amazing to watch the airplane take off through Aaron's eyes!!  

The flight from Manila to Tokyo did not have working tv screens 
but the kids still did remarkably well on the flight.  
We were very thankful that the flight from Tokyo to Detroit did indeed have movie access!!!

Everyone was very kind and helpful at immigration as we entered the country:)

We even had some down time for hubby to take a nap, Aaron to see snow out the window for the first time, and the girls to get their electronic fix:)

And then I sugared them up for the last 2 hour flight home!!

We were so very humbled and blessed again at the welcome we received at the airport.  
Although a bit overwhelming for our sweet boy, it blessed us so very much to see how many people took time from their busy day to celebrate our home coming!!!!

Thank you "J" for making this fabulous video!!  
We will cherish it always!!!

Welcome Home Aaron!!
to see:)


And God Grew a Family...part 5

Ok ya'll...I know I have not done a great job of posting lately

but I have not had much free time these days:)
(and I am certainly not complaining about it!!!)

this post is a long one...but I just had to get the rest of the story out!!

Our final days in the Philippines were laced with God's blessings and faithfulness!!

(View from our apartment window)

On Thursday morning, 
we were picked up bright and early by our agency liaison and taken to the 
ICAB (intercountry adoption board).

This is were we were to sign the final documents and receive Aaron's travel papers.

Waiting for the social worker to meet with us

Aaron was given a filipino flag and a jeepney as a souvenir.

Not our most attractive photo but the only one we had in front of the ICAB:)

I have to share another testimony of God's faithfulness!!!

We truly wanted to bless Aaron's orphanage while we were in the Philippines.  
To do that we needed to remain on a tight personal budget while we traveled. 
We knew we would be tight financially but were confident God would provide.  

While meeting with the ICAB social worker, we learned that we had over paid and there was a credit on our account.  We had the choice of being reimbursed for the money 
or to gift it to Aaron's orphanage.  
I will admit that I have no concept of conversion from US dollars to filipino pesos:) 
And I just love the orphanage.  
So, without even thinking about how tight we were, and that we had already blessed the orphanage just a few days before, I quickly blurted out that we should gift it!!  
As soon as it came out I knew what I had done, but at that point...it was done:)

Later, I went up to my hubby and humbly apologized for my impulsive answer and not letting him make the decision.  He acknowledged that it would have been very helpful for the remainder of our trip, but that again, God was in control and we cannot out give God. 

Let me just say, God was so incredibly faithful and not only met our needs...
but blessed us beyond measure!!!  

A dear friend of ours from home has family and friends in the Philippines that she wanted us to meet.  
We were so excited to make new friends,  
but could not have anticipated how very loved and blessed we would feel 
over the course of the next several days!!!

On the evening of our ICAB visit our sweet boy was acting a bit withdrawn.
These fabulous ladies lavished love on each of us, 
reassured our son that he is blessed to have a family and how much God and his family love him, 
picked us up at our door, took us to a fabulous shopping location where our children were able to find souvenirs with the money they saved for the trip, bought us treats, and took us to a fabulous dinner!!
I love it when you feel like you have known someone your entire life after just a few hours!!!!

Riding filipino style...no seat belts and cram as many as possible in the back:):)  
(I personally loved the excuse to hold my children on my lap...
they are starting to think they are too big)

 The following evening we were blessed once again!!!
(our children before we left for another night out in Manila)

Another wonderful friend of a friend
picked us up and took us to a fabulous restaurant in Manila!!
We were so very blessed by "T"'s kindness and generosity!!

I am sorry to say that we don't have a photo from this eventful evening:(  
You see, our baby girl has a fatal nut allergy.  
We even brought 4 epi pens with us to the Philippines.  
We have never had to use one but didn't want an overseas trip to be the first.  

We were running late when our host arrived Friday evening.  When we learned he was waiting downstairs, we quickly rushed out of the apartment not wanting to cause him to wait.  
(can you guess what we left behind???  
We have not gone ANYWHERE without an epi pen in the last 8 years!!!)

Our host kindly ordered for us and checked all the ingredients listed.
But at the end of the meal...we ordered dessert.  
I have a tremendous sweet tooth and was lured by a certain chocolate mouse cake on the menu.  
I asked if it had nuts or was processed with nuts.  
Even our sweet boy asked in tagalog...
but unfortunately many do not understand the severity of the allergy 
and the idea of cross contamination.  

Kylee had ordered plain vanilla ice cream, but because we asked about the cake, and they assured us it was safe...I gave her several bites of it:(

Before long she did not look like herself...
she politely walked over to me and said, "Mama, I itch all over and I am having a hard time breathing"!
(that is when I realized we did not have the epi pens with us!!)
I quietly excused us and we rushed to the bathroom!!
Kylee was very panicked and saying 
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL IN THE PHILIPPINES!!!
(let me tell you that is the last thing this mama wanted to do as well!!)

While there, we found that the ladies bathroom had complementary mouth wash.
Yep, I have never seen such a feature and even laughed about it an hour before when I entered to wash my hands.  But at this very moment, while praying like never before...we just helped ourselves and rinsed her mouth out several times!!!

Still praying all the while, we calmly exited the bathroom and told our host that she was having a hard time, and would there be a pharmacy nearby.  
I still marvel at the calm and peace we were able to exude!!  
Kylee remained calm because she didn't want to panic me,
(and she didn't want to be taken to the hospital)
I remained calm so Kylee would not panic.
And NO ONE else seemed to even see the extreme severity of the situation.  

Within minutes we were at the pharmacy and my hubby hurried to get some Benadryl.  
(it has never been prescribed for us to use Benadryl.  Her allergy is a +5 and we had been told to go right for the pen.  But, we know others who have used it and that was our only option at the moment.)

Hubby came out with 5 capsules wrapped in cardboard!
Let's just say that DID NOT ease my anxiety!!

We gave her one and she immediately fell asleep!!  
I held her with my hand over her nose to be sure she was still breathing:(  

Then, when we arrived back at the apartment, she woke up and walked upstairs as if nothing had happened!!!

ONLY GOD!!!!  

On Saturday, we were blessed once again!!!
We went to the mall of Asia and then blessed with an amazing dinner!!

Auntie "B" and cousin "J"were so very sweet and generous as well!!
It was such a blessing to get to know them!!

We tried many wonderful foods, and I had a special birthday surprise!!!

Yep, they all sang happy birthday to me!!!

Then, our kind hosts blessed the socks off our children 
by taking us to the carnival outside of the mall of Asia!!

AARON WAS BESIDE HIMSELF WITH EXCITEMENT!!!

We rode a 10 minute ferris wheel lookin' gondola...

Bumper cars!!

And then a zip line!!
OUR CHILDREN ARE THE ORANGE TRIANGLES IN THE PHOTO!!

Riding superman style! 

Brave girl riding solo!!

Sunday was our last day in the Philippines.
And once again we were so very blessed.  
We spent the early part of the day at Ocean Park Aquarium, and then had our last dip in the pool.

I know this is blurry but I love it anyway:)

Hee Hee...my man towered over everyone:)

 One of my favorite photos to date!!  
These two jokers are two peas in a pod!!

Our last meal before coming home!!!
Yellow Cab of course!!

I cannot express enough how humbled we are by God's faithfulness!!  
HE lead us to our son, opened doors, provided each step of the way,
kept us safe, and blessed us in ways we could not have anticipated!!

stay tuned for our special home coming!!


Wednesday, February 13, 2013

And God Grew a Family...part 4

Our internet service has not been working properly so there was a delay in our tale.
It it working again...so on to part 4:)

On Wednesday, January 23rd (Filipino time),
we took yet another emotional step.  

On this day, we were to leave the orphanage that has loved our son, 
and welcomed our family with open arms.  

We were so very excited to take the step towards bringing Aaron home, 
but also grieved to watch Aaron say goodbye to a family/home that he loves!!

 We decided to keep things light and spend much time playing.




A priceless thing happened shortly before leaving.
I don't know if Aaron's house father did it on purpose, or if it was something God orchestrated...
but Aaron's unit father started shooting some hoops by himself.
Almost immediately, Aaron went to join him.

Hubby and I stayed back and watched the two share in a special moment.

They laughed

they played

They made memories!!

I am positive that these special moments will be held in their hearts for years to come!!

Then before we knew it, the jeepney arrived

 and we had to begin the painful process of saying good-bye


And then...
we were on this side of the window waving to a sea of beautiful faces 
that we have all grown to love!!

I can tell you that the 2 1/2 hours to Makati City 
were indeed some of the longest hours of my life.  

Our sweet boy turned away and grieved, 
our daughters had crocodile tears streaming down their faces...
some for Aaron, some for leaving staff and children they have grown to love as well.  

And this mama sat on that long bumpy ride fighting to hold myself together
and praying for those sitting silent around me.  

I prayed for hearts to be healed, 
for our family to continue to bond, 
and for a certain breath taking smile to return to our son's face.  

And then, as if the past 2 1/2 hours had never happened, 
the cheerful little boy returned 
as we walked through the doorway of our temporary apartment.

It would be naive to think that the grieving was done, but oh how we cherished the the giggles and hugs around the Yellow Cab pizza that evening!!!!





Tuesday, February 5, 2013

And God Grew a Family...Part 3

On Tuesday morning we were given the opportunity to go to the local wet/dry market.  
I have heard of the market but there is simply nothing like experiencing it for myself!!



When we returned we were able to spend some time in the baby unit!!  
Oh I wish I could show you photos of my children lovin' on those babies!!!!!!

ABSOLUTELY PRICELESS!!!

Each of our children have such a love for littles and are so very gentle and nurturing to them!!!

Later my hubby, with the help of someone very special to us, worked together putting up the volleyball net...and just sharing their hearts:)

Then it was time to play!!

We've got this!

Someone is getting schooled:)

That has to be a foul doesn't it????

Part of the cheering squad!

I couldn't resist adding this one...she is such a ham!! 

Trying a Filipino treat...Taho
(can you see my other ham on the far left???)

Game time

Bonding time


I was asked if I would like to make some frosting for a cake for Aaron's going away party/birthday party for one of the babies turning one.  
Oh how it blessed this mama's heart to have a small part in the preparation
 for this very special evening!!!

The middles were given the distinguished privilege of helping to decorate!!
(there may have been some frosting that came up missing in this little experiment)


And some guitar lessons:)

There were many wonderful memories made throughout the day, 
but the highlight was the evening activities!!

We were invited to spend a special dinner in the unit that Aaron has lived in for the past several years.  
I would love to show you all the beautiful faces that sat around that table 
enjoying their Sinigang (pork soup) with rice!!  
I have not asked their permission so I will refrain from posting it here.  

It was such a privilege to be with those that have loved and cared for our son for so long!!
And it was wonderful to watch Aaron with his institutional siblings as well!

After dinner we had Aaron's going away party.  

Talk about emotional!!!!!!!

Let me just say it like it is...I cried UGLY...

ALL

NIGHT

LONG!!!!

I cried as we worshiped together,
I cried as each of the children recited their memory verses,
I cried as they showed a video of Aaron's life,
(they had a baby picture in it....yep, ugly cries)
I cried as I heard his close friends try to say words of love through their tears,
I cried as Aaron's house mother shared how she will miss Aaron but knows that he will have a better future, and then as his social worker spoke her love as well.  

At one point, a sweet little boy brought me a box of tissues!!  Yep, I had it bad!!

THEN, they asked us to come up with Aaron and say a few words.  
I had not recovered from all the ugly crying yet...so it looked something like this:)

A friend from church generously donated baseball hats for all staff and kids,
and my father made beautiful book marks for everyone that said the name of the orphanage and a bible verse on the back.  Aaron is reading the verse in this photo before handing them out to his friends.

As I have mentioned many times, Aaron's orphanage is something special!!
In additional to meeting the physical and emotional needs, 
they care about the spiritual growth of the children as well!!

They live their faith outloud and teach the children the power of prayer!!
We were so very blessed to have the older children and staff pray for our family!!
(the babies were all sleeping...except for the birthday boy:)


It has been two weeks since this photo was taken and I still struggle to put into works how thankful we are for the time we shared here!  IT WAS PRICELESS TO US!!!

Our heavenly father is sooo very faithful!!!  
And if you can believe it....
the story isn't over yet:):):)

Until next time,
One humbled Mama