WE ARE HOME

Wow, we are home. Alison is in her room playing. She is opening drawers, doors and just getting acquainted with her new surroundings. Today at the airport we got out her photo album that I sent to her in her care package that was sent several weeks before we left for China. In the photos I had family pictures and some pictures of her room. We went through identifying who is who in our family. Tonight was so fun. She walked through the house looking at rooms that she has only seen in pictures. She spotted her sisters as we came down the escalator!

We left Guangzhou late this moring so we missed our connection in Tokyo. But we were able to catch a Detroit flight instead of Minneapolis. We arrived in plenty of time to catch the flight to Indianapolis but due to mechanical review that flight was delayed. So, they sent us to gate 45 and after we got there it was discovered this flight also had a mechanical delay then down to gate 15 and we finally left. We were several hours late.

Tonight ...It was so fun... I asked that all the grandkids not come to the airport. I thought that would be overwhelming for Alison and I was probably right. But, Tammie, Angie and Michelle came and that was just perfect. Sam and Annie Reed also were there and I am so encouraged by that as well. I hope Annie and Alison will be good friends. It is so amazing to see how well Annie is doing and she has only been here since May and is 10. Someday Alison will know how special to be greeted at the airport by another 10 year old orphan who knows what she will go through. It means so much to me for the girls acceptance of Alison and that was apparent as well. We are so blessed.

The kids were all waiting at Angie's house. Everyone was great. I am so proud of my girls and how compassionately they have raised their children. I think Alison felt welcomed and she knows she has people in her life now. As the time went by, she became more and more calm and less anxious. Actually, the most anxiety was because of our dog, Nikki. But even now she is petting her some and Alison was actually talking to Nikki in the car as we came back home from Angie's.

It is so good to be home. I will write more tomorrow. I will catch you up on the zoo and our last day. Oh, we got some smiles today and our daughter is a trooper of a traveler. Twenty-two travel hours and not one whine or melt down. She napped, watched movies and people watched. How anxious she must have been! How brave these little orphans are! Brenda