It was our last weekend as 6 in Bogota. The hotel continues to be quiet (come on Michigan families)! We have been very blessed by our Colombian friends. They have given of their time, their life stories, and shared in our experience!! If the hotel was full, we would never have had the many adventures that we've been on, we'd be to busy hanging out with all the families going on our own adventures. Don't get me wrong, we absolutley have incredible memories with our friends from the states that we have done this with in our previous adoptions...and have made lifelong friendships...but, with this being not only an adoption, but, also a "heritage" experience for Isabel and Silas...God knew that hanging out with our Colombian friends was just what we all needed! Katya, the owner of Paris, took us to an awesome park! We would never have discovered it on our own...one of very many things this woman has done for our family...
Silas has been very difficult these last couple of days. He is very homesick, tired of playing with only girls (that is the biggest bummer of our trip...there were no boys at the hotel...all the adoptive families have been adopting girls), his meltdowns very intense again...so, when Katya said she was taking us to an amusment type park, we were very happy to say yes...and as you can see...the cars were a big hit. It was very entertaining for John and I to watch Silas. His imagination is very big, as he had himself in a "Nascar" type race. He was in his glory!! It was a much needed break from all the "girly" stuff he has had to endure the last couple of weeks!
Caroline enjoyed it too...going to any park is her favorite thing to do...she asks every day if we can walk to the park...this park trumped them all!
Silas and Caroline still have some really rough moments, especially since John has been back...every once in a while you will find them enjoying each other...
Isabel is sad to leave Colombia...she and Camilla have had a wonderful time together...
Camilla is definitely the stronger personality...but, when we go to parks like these, Isabel is way more adventurous encouraging her to try new things...
It's fun to eat "real" Colombian food...it is typical for all the food to come on a large platter, and you just take what you want...lots of Carne (beef), Papas (potatoes,) Corn, and who knows what...
...we have really enjoyed Katya's hospitality at the hotel, but, even more, her graciousness to just hang out with us, and take us to places we would never have known about...
We also discovered a great (free) park and Museum for kids called Parque El Chico. We had a fun afternoon there too, until the rain came in...
John is going to miss snuggling and bonding with Marta, they have a strong connection, even though he is the much firmer one of the 2 of us with her...she is very stubborn...I will admit I'm pretty soft with her...she makes us both laugh!
I'm going to miss the kids running around the hotel after dinner doing their little songs and chants...Camilla the ring leader, has a lot of followers...
I have now begun to pack Isabel, Silas, and John up to leave on Wednesday. I am so happy that Silas is going to be home, he is beyond ready...and it will be good for Isabel to get back into the routine of life. Many have been wondering why we have not heard anything on our court case...actually our Representative has been very good keeping us informed...this is where we are...We entered the courts on January 12 (because of the 4 week Holiday Shut down), that puts us 10 buiness days into the courts. The judge and Defender of Minors legally have 30 business days to review our case and sign (4x)...it could go much quicker, or not. We are known to be in a good court, so I don't anticipate the 4 stages will take the full 3o days...but, I also know I am in Colombia and anything can happen...
The bright side, Caroline and Marta have had to share me with Isabel and Silas for 8 weeks now...it will be very good for me to be able to key into just them before we head home to Michigan. It will also be good for Isabel and Silas to "settle" in to home before we all come home together. I have a feeling Isabel is going to be very tired being back at school the first week...and Silas and Caroline could use a little space from each other for a few days...John and I feel that the "intensity" of coming home will be cut in half by not all arriving at once...it is going to be a huge adjustment for all of us!!!
Ultimately God knows what is best, and has given me an unusual amount of peace with it all...there are a lot of MI families preparing to travel, and I look forward to seeing the Houseman family this weekend!
So, please pray for safe travels for John, Isabel and Silas on Wednesday...and ultimately that we all can be united again as a family of 6 in God's perfect timing and way! We made it almost 8 weeks! Wow!!! And our journey continues on...
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