Un Dia con Nuestros Abuelos Colombianos

We have been very spoiled with how busy all our Colombian friends are keeping us. I thought with the quiet hotel, John being gone, I would get a little stir crazy...not the case this week. So many loving, caring people giving our family more opportunities to see Bogota, and it's surrounding cities. It's been so good for our kids...and today, we were invited to go with our Abuelitos Colombianos "country club."

Abuelo Julio was in the Navy for many years, and this is a place their family often came. They still will periodically come for Sunday brunch and mass. It is much like a hotel/country club, with pools, tennis, park, mini golf...etc. Did I tell you our dear abuelitos are 86 and 81 years old...married 55 years with 6 children?! I just love them, and our kids do, too! I've learned more about what it was like raising a family in Colombia, life in the Navy, all their children living in the states and Canada, and even the heartache of having to sell their home because of a horrible incident that happened 5 years ago. Unfortunately, that is a very real issue in Colombia, Abuela Margarita still has tears talking about it. But, it is evident that their love for Bogota remains!

So, they picked us up in their fancy car. The kids very happy to have "space" in the back seat. Abuela drove (very interesting, in Bogota, their is a limit of days that you can drive your car...many only have 2-3 days a week that they can be on the road, I can't imagine...lots of carpooling for the kids to school.) The kids got a kick out of Abuela's lead foot. In the city their is a lot of stop and go, so, I was praying Caroline wasn't going to throw up all over their car. She looked very sick on the way there, so, I had them do lots of songs and rhymes to take her mind off it...whew...she made it! Abuela is a sharp woman and very youthful!

The kids had lots of fun in the morning swimming in the pool, they treated us all to a delicious lunch, played outside for an hour, and returned back with 4 very tired kids!

This weekend we are going to "lay low" catch up on school work, and hang out at the hotel...we have been on many adventures while John has been gone. What a blessing to make time go quickly, and allow our kids to see more of their birth land!

Tonight John is in Chicago getting ready for his dear friend, Bill VanTuinen's wedding! I'm so happy he could make it home for this, and I would have so loved to have been there!! He has stayed very busy at home, feeling very good about seeing our wonderful customers on Gun Lake, bidding out some work, and having great meals with our family! Thanks family for taking such good care of him!! He really needed this time to be home...being Mr. Mom 24/7 is not his thing...but, I have to say he has done a remarkable job, and I will be very happy to have him back on Tuesday night!

The courts also will reopen on Tuesday, January 12. Our Representative seems more optimistic this time around, but, I feel God has prepared me for either. We have a tentative return of January 27th, and regardless if we get Sentencia or not...John, Isabel, and Silas will return home on that date. If it happens sooner, we will all fly home together sooner. Typically, once Sentencia is given out, it takes 4-5 business days to accomplish all the paperwork...visas, US Embassy, US Doctor Visit, etc...Many have been asking if I'm missing home...as much as I LOVE home, I really don't get home sick. I realize this is probably our final adoption, and thinking about home to me is a waste time (and can quickly bring the kids down). This stay is totally in God's hands, so, why wouldn't I want to engage in the culture and people that are so near and dear to our family's heart...the minute I step foot on the airplane, you better believe my heart will be excited and anticipating all that the following weeks will hold with family and friends...I can remember flying into Atlanta, Georgia, when we adopted Isabel, wanting to kiss the ground, I wept...it felt so good to be in America! But, until then, my heart remains in Colombia, with my kids, and their most beautiful birth country!!!