This is goodbye...

We left the house on Monday with all in high spirits.  We knew that we still had the day together.  We drove to Minneapolis, checked into our hotel and headed to the Mall of America to grab some dinner.  We took them to the Rainforest Café but something about the smell in the restaurant really offended both of them.  I think they got used to it and both got a huge Chicken dinner for their last American meal here with us.  We then walked around the mall and the girls were amazed, I know they really wanted to shop... but of course, who wouldn't want to shop at MOA?  We wanted to show them LEGOLAND and they were amazed, but they were really excited when they saw the roller coasters.  With it already being fairly late in the evening, we decided to just pay for one roller coaster...and it was a blast.  What a great experience, I'm sure they have never done that before.  The girls and Josie and I went on a great coaster and we screamed the whole way!  It was a blast!
We then headed back to the hotel to do some swimming with the other host families from Wausau.  It was a great, relaxing time for all the kids to just have a little fun and forget about what tomorrow would bring. 

We had to all get up at 430am, to get to the airport in time, it was an early morning.  But in typical fashion they girls got up and started a pillow fight with Randy.  It was quite funny and just reminded us of how delicate, loving and playful they both are!  We finally got everyone dressed and ready to head out the door.  Both girls kept pointing at us and saying home.  I know they did not want to leave us, nor did we want to let them go...

























Arrival at the airport was not stress free.  We learned that the international flight had a baggage limit of 44lbs...ugh!  how do we tell them they have to remove 6 more lbs and leave it with us.  Both girls were mad and Randy and I had to finally just start taking things out.  :(

 
After getting checked in we had about 25 minutes to just wait and hug the girls.  There were tears from most of the families and Randy and I just back and forth between the girls, hugging and reassuring they that we loved them!  It was heart breaking to watch their tears fall.

As we watched them go through security, they had a few smiles and waves to share with us.  But this was not consoling the hearts of our little Jacob and Josie...they were just sobbing their little hearts out.  They were quickly typing out messages on their ipod and translating them to Ukrainian and holding them up to the glass windows for the girls to read.  I'm not sure what Jacob typed in his but the girls were blowing kisses and waving.  Josie was typing, " I love you and I will miss you, Goodbye" while sobbing and sobbing and waving.  It was easier to focus my attention on the heartbreak of all my kids than to focus on my aching heart. Jacob later told me, "this is the saddest day EVER!"

As they cleared security, they turned and waved one last time with a smile on their faces...

I have to admit, I've been very sick since the girls left with a sinus infection but I just couldn't bring myself to finish the blog until today.  I did go up and fold up some of the clothes they left behind but have been mostly avoiding their room.  It just feels like an odd void and something is missing and sad...


We can praise the Lord for their experience here and the blessing they have brought to our family.  We can pray that they are spreading the love with their friends through their excitement of their experience.  And we can know in our hearts that God has a plan!

Though this was goodbye, I have a feeling this was not the end...stay tuned!

If you have a little space in your home and heart to host an orphan, I encourage to not think too hard but to do what God is calling you to do...you'll never regret it. 
Visit: www.newhorizonsforchildren.org
Many of these children are ready to be adopted, if you could be their forever family or know someone that could, please contact me or New Horizons.  God bless!