Sept 8, 2004

Happy Birthday Nanny! We are thinking of you and miss you dearly!

Hey Everyone, Its 12:20 AM on Wednesday, the day we have been waiting for!
I'm putting the final touches on the house and the last few items in the luggage. We are doing well with two large suitcases, two duffels and two carry ons. This is an accomplishment. For those of you who have seen the inherited checklist, please note - no way in heck will that all fit into the amount of luggage we are bringing. It sure was fun buying it though!!

Its been a long year, we just passed our contract date on the 3rd and when I say I have been packed for 9 months of it, Im telling the truth. Allot of the packing was play packing,,,hmm..wonder what size she will be? should I bring 3-6 month clothes, or 6-9? how many of each...same for him....it was fun looking at those little socks and tops. Today it blew my mind when I was actually putting the outfits in the suitcase and NOT taking them back out. This is it, this is what the kids will wear...in a few days!!! OMG!

This is not the first time this has happened. It started out with a visit to my friend Kathleen's house. She adopted the most wonderful little fellow in January, he has permanently stolen a piece of my heart!! When I arrived at her house, she took me to a large spare room and showed me everything that she had ready to go (by the way, hers didn't fit in the luggage either!). I left her house dazed and confused, HOLY COW WE ARE ADOPTING CHILDREN and they will need things! Its strange to think that reality had not hit me, I mean, what was the application for?? A credit card and free prize?? NOOOO CHILDREN!! Along the way there have been several more epiphanies (Jeff H. how do you spell that? its late I'm tired) Each with more impact than the last, I'm not sure if Im the only one who has gone through this, its scary and wonderful all at the same time. As a matter of fact, this whole experience has been full of smoothie feelings - fast/slow, happy/sad - kind of like - strawberry/kiwi if you know what I mean.

Jeff is sleeping on the couch right now, poor guy! He has been so wonderful and its fun to share this excitement with him. But he has been working like a dog to get things in shape to leave for a month. He has really been busting it to get things in order. This is a zillion more times exciting than the wedding...but we really would need our friends and a good dose of Bruce right now to say the packing and cleaning has been as fun.

I wanted to take a moment and recognize our friends and family that are really helping us out. As of late, we have had to change the pet schedule due to an illness in our Family. In the 9th hour (today) our neighbors, the Monks have stepped up to cover as well as Jeff's parents for my father so he can be with his sister. We are blessed on so many levels. It brings tears to my eyes thinking about how wonderful these people are. Thank you so much!!

Aunt Carol, we love you and are thinking of you!!

Taylor's and Holton's, please wave to us as we each pass over the Atlantic tomorrow night. Welcome back! I look forward to hearing the adventure of the flight home!! XO Colene