In Hanoi

we left HCMC around 4:30 and got checked in to our 2bd 2bath apartment around 8:30 pm. the apartment is nice and breakfast was great. Josiah did ok on the plane but wanted to sit on my lap and play with the windows so the only time he got really upset was when we took off and landed we even saw tears he definitely knows how to get his way and he is making sure I am at his beckon call to get what ever he wants or needs. he has woke up the last 2 mornings crying out my name and wanted to be cuddled so attachment is well under way. Our bunch at home was a little worried our phone quit working and we had no internet so they were in a panic until we skyped this morning now all is well. as soon as we get the computer out Josiah says hello daddy he can hardly wait until skype is up and going. we opted to get the internet in room and it is the best connection yet .here are a few pics from yesterday and we are heading out to explore so more pics tonight Love and miss you all !!!

Dinner with Dillon staff

yesterday we had our health check and submitted the dossier for his passport. The Dr. asked Minh if he was the correct child and then he told me has was very small but VERY happy. we had dinner with the Dillon staff @ a great Authentic Vietnam resturant I LOVED it , mom ate rice and a little soup josiah hasn’t been eating much but ate 3 bowls of soup then threw up all over the table and then filled the floorboard in the taxi YUCK!!!! but after we got to the room he played in the bath for an hour and I had to drain the tub to convince him it was bedtime Things seem better today but he has been really clingy, he had a fit when I had to leave to get the passport and he was soooo excited when I came back  we will be heading to the airport about 2-2:30 for a 4:30 flight to Hanoi hope we don’t have to fight about the luggage… we’ll see

Back in HCMC

Well after 4 wonderful days in Ninh Thaun and for so little $$$$ . 4 ***** hotel on the beach a little laundry 4 nights $263 can’t beat that. got to Hcmc around 3pm ran to the tax center shopped got coffee, and food the coffee shop has great sandwiches by the way, we have so much shopping we want to do tomorrow evening and I don’t think we will make it to the war musem or tunnels, we will be flying to Hanoi on Tue. afternoon. I am sure the bell boys are hoping we don’t buy anymore luggage to fill but I am afraid we may have to. I think we can have 2 per person wow 6 bags plus carry ons that will be fun @LA X. The boys did not feel well on our trip back and after a few clean ups we made ok time Tomorrow we will get pics apply for Visas and the health check, shop and maybe try Pizza Hut if we find it. Mom is in dire need of some familiar food. all in all we are great, Josiah is a parrot repeats everything over and over when we call home they love to here him say :say I LOVE YOU….. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY JEFF!!!! I love & miss you Here’s to a great week ahead. hope to be home soon

What a wonderful country and people

This is the most beautiful place I have ever been we got up this morning and went to Vinh Hy bay then to Lo O Spring. The tour guide was great he even carried Josiah as we got into the really rugged scenic part of the tour, mom picked the tour but I don’t think she realized she was going to hike and cross a scary hand made swing bridge (ha.ha) The scenery here is so breath taking and the people are so humble, and have such a great heart. everyone comments on how blessed Josiah is or how beautiful a boy he is. I wonder how I will ever be able to teach him how great his culture truly is. Mom is blown away by the fact that he follows me around saying me  me which means mom in vn and she keeps saying I can not believe he has not cried or even fussed. All this I believe is answered prayers Praise God for all he has done… is doing… and will continue untill his perfect plan unfolds….. We are leaving early tomorrow for HCMC and a busy week but I am so glad we stayed and got to see more of our babies home land and how life is around  here this area is a truly unique one even for Vietnam. I can’t help but think about his birthmother and her loving sacrifice and I hope she finds peace and someday realizes the wonderful gift she has given us we are truly blessed.

 

G & R …Vietnam says he is OURS!!!

Well today we went back to the center about 8:15 talke to the dir/asst. then they told us we could take the boys to the province office where the official that was supposed to do the ceremony was busy so some one filled in for him it was pretty informal and took about 45 min. OH my goodness this guy is soooo smart so tiny so Crazy he  has no fear he would not even go back to his nanny when she reached for him he has been repeating every word. what a day he is sooooo tired but not giving in yet . Fyi for future travelersthe kids love to carry things in bags or baggies if I had it to do over I would have brought baggies and dry cereal for them all they love it.  We are going on a small tour tomorrow to see a coral reef and waterfalls so hopefully I can get some pics up.

Thursday the best day yet!!!

We got to the center about 8:20 am but the kids were not there they were at school so we hung out with the director/& ast. director while they went to p/u the kids. Just as I was heading upstairs to the babies here came Josiah on the front of a scooter hollerng and grinning from ear to ear calling me momma . He was crazy about mom and kept calling her grandma he did not want to come to me until I took off my sunglasses then he seemed comfortable. we played in front of the babies room for about an hour,  and took lots of pictures of the little ones. then we were told it was time to go. Tommorow we will leave @ 8am to go back to the center and get the kids for the GNR @ 9am. The family we are here with are from Utah and they are adopting a 6yr old. It has been great because he (the father) knows some Vn how helpful. The nannies have taught him how to count to 10 in english and a song in VN about how he loves his daddy and his daddy loves him.  so sweet. sorry the last post did not get up until today and my pics are not loading well .

Not today!!!

that is what we were told over and over on Wed. we did not get to Ninh Thaun and checked in untill after 5pm so we could not go to the center but we will go first thing in the morning we did get a new friend.(see pic) Mom

In Vieitnam FINALLY!!!

Well 33+ hours but we made it. Loved Cathay air not as roomy as I would like but super nice staff.  it took us a while to get checked in and we are right on the noisey street but as tired as we are I am not sure it will matter much. I am a little braindead right now but I’m trying to stay up so we can rest good at night and try to get on the VN schedule. Skype did finally email to say we should be able to use it. we will see I am going to try home before school. We walked to the tax center bought a couple bottles of water and a cell phone. I did not have time to get the Panda phone and Sim card before we left, but hey I got the phone and 86 min. us calling for less than I would have paid for the phone @ home I guess it works she called home and got Voicemail it was 3 am there I am glad I didn’t wake them up but had to know it worked. Anyway the other family going to NT will get here @ 10:30 pm so we will leave for Ninh Thaun around 10am. 7-8 hrs via bus and after we get checked in we will get to spend 1-2hrs. at the center I can’t even imagine what tomorrow will be like. 

Tickets and Visa’s in hand

Well Wed. got home from church and there on the front porch was the Fed Ex envelope with plane tickets. After a scare with American I was reassured by Todd the travel agent all is well and we are not booked on the particular planes grounded, Whew… visa’s were delivered Fed Ex Thursday , all shots done, all meds purchased. I hope all our paperwork is done and packed so Tomorrow Mom is coming over so I can pack my stuff and snacks in her suitcase and get everything ready to go. Another Praise!!!  Jeff just called from the surgeon’s office and  he was told he is truly blessed, the Dr said while he tore most of the soft tissues there was nothing he could do surgery on Jeff has 6-8 weeks of healing ahead of him but NO surgery …. an answer to prayer.  In less than a week I will get to hold my Son and tell him how much we all LOVE HIM!!!

Phil. 1:6  tells me God, who started this good thing will carry it on untill completion untill Jesus returns!!!

Headed to Vietnam !!!!!!!!

Well we got the call @ about 11am this morning saying we have a GnR of April 19, wow did we just get that or was the agency hanging on to it just in case. I may never know but today I was in a mad panic to get the passports off for our visa’s and I hope it was all correct because I don’t think there will be enough time to fix anything. We have to be in VN in  8 days!!!! Maryanne said I have good news you need to be in Vietnam by Tue. April 15…..UH OK. She does not know how to do the paperwork yet and Jynger will be gone to D.C. this week but I am pretty sure she is going to have to spend time going over paperwork with me probably on the cell phone. with jeff not traveling I have plenty of paperwork to do and bring.  So happy as can be, but a little bewildered at the extremely short notice if any one behind me is close push to get the visa’s now. We still have no answer from USCIS if DNA will be an issue but the agency spoke to the incountry staff and they thought with a GnR and I-600 approval we were fine. Just got off the phone with Todd (travel agent) and we are set to leave Springfield Sun. 3:35 pm to be in HCMC Tue 10:20 am. one thing taken care of,… a million left to do. There are 4 families traveling for that date, 2 in our province and 2 in Ain gaing , Yay I will get to meet some other families I certainly had my idea of who would travel with me but I don’t think it will be so hopefully those families will be RIGHT behind us.