in the HOME stretch, Lord willing...

all clean and almost ready to put on a new outfit. but she couldn't wait to put the new shoes on :) it feels very, very good to be packing up. it is like the last year, 4 months is finally coming to a close... and also a beginning.

all the families are ready to get back to America. our land is beautiful and we all miss it badly. i cannot wait for wide open spaces and fresh air. and yes, even the cold :)

the van should be here to pick us up at 8 pm hanoi time, 8 am weds. at home. it will be a long 30-something hours with two kids in tow, and i can't wait! but still prayer is very appreciated.

phoebe is doing considerably better. she had one big melt down a little bit ago, as we started organizing our bags, backpacks, etc. but that was her first one in two days. she has been quite the trooper. i love her sooo much. i know once we are back home new trials will surface. she can be quite rude to people, she just ignores them and walks over to me. and that is perfect from an attachment vantage point. we'll work on social etiquette next month :)

my guess is that the kids her age at the orphanage just ran with reckless abandon. for those of you who have had kids this age, you know exactly how challenging it is. add to that a new mom, a new language, new environment, new everything and it is amazing she is doing this well. she likes me very much which is so incredibly humbling. i know for sure that God put this in her heart. i know you will be patient with her and encourage me to do the same. we are in this for the long haul, not the short term :)

i am grateful that none of us have been sick and we have slept well. i am grateful to greg, ben, sam, and sarah for their support and love from 8,000 miles away. i am grateful for family and friends who have kept us in prayer. i am grateful to martha for coming along. i can't imagine having come this far alone. i am grateful to Jesus for adopting me into His Kingdom.

it will be soo good to get home :)