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Last evening Bob arrived at the airport to pick us up. He had the little guys in tow, having just got them from their drop off point from camp. So we all converged at the airport and then drove the 15 minutes home to greet Skipper at the house. What a contrast with the car rental, freeway drive from the huge Detroit airport, and border crossings of our visit to Michigan and Ontario.

While we were gone, Bob began negotiations for a new position, one with plenty of time with his beloved residents and no headaches of administration. He is quite happy with the developments, and it appears that we are moving nowhere location-wise.

Before we left, we never did find Rob's birth certificate, and his new passport came in the mail only hours after we had flown out. So he couldn't come to Grandpa's party in Windsor. I dropped him off on the Detroit side and he spent the time with two of his favorite four sisters and brothers-in-law, and one perky little adoring niece. He did not complain.

The party was a lovely gathering of four generations with great aunties and uncles and cousins from the area. We met at a restaurant. Maggie and I greeted Dad at the door so we could enjoy seeing his jaw drop up close.

Staying in Windsor brought back sweet childhood memories. Waking up to a Northern spring morning in the country with the song of the birds and the distant droning of a lawn mower, I rolled over and smiled myself back to sleep. I did not realize how much I missed Ontario, my sister, and their farm. And how much I needed the break.

Later in Rochester at our old house, we lazed about and pretended we still lived there, played with baby, fussed in the garden, and went canoeing and picnic-ing at the lake.

Back home again in Mississippi, it was fun seeing the boys' happy faces. They were a bit bleary-eyed after four days at camp and an eight hour drive home in the church van from Texas. A little at a time they have been relating their exciting adventures of horseback riding, car racing, and attending kids' meetings where God would show up.

We are back with renewed vision and purpose and adjusting to each other as we continue this journey towards being a family where each member is comfortable in his or her position and knows they and everyone else really belongs. Again the melting together is, as it has been from the start, a work of God, not man.

Summer Begins

Aunt Becky reminds me I have not posted in a while, so here is a short note before Maggie, Rob and I fly up to Michigan, and then cross to Windsor, Ontario for my Dad's 90th birthday. Dad is as active as I am, so I don't expect the surprise to shake him at all. It should be fun. We will see Em and Steph and their guys and our wee grandaughter, Mia girl.

The little boys were prayed for at Church tonight along with the teenagers, including Rob. It was a wonderful send-off for James and Peter who will travel to Discovery Camp in Texas this weekend, while we three head north. After the bussle of immunizations and parties and packing, Bob will be glad to remain here and go to work, and in the evenings soothe poor Skipper and Lucy till we all return Monday night. God bless us every one!

Maggie, meanwhile, is planning her response to the call to Sri Lanka to help rebuild with Word Made Flesh organizaton. It is a good thing God can do "over and above all that we could ask or think" or we would all be in trouble. She is babysitting up a storm and sending out letters to accummulate the airfare.

Also travelling by faith are two adoptive couples who are in Ukraine this week or will travel Friday to adopt young teen girls we met there. Our boys are happy for them as some are former classmates of theirs. The boys continue to bond with their big brother more each day. Soon I am thinking Rob may see them as some of his best friends.

This past week James turned thirteen and had a lively swim party here with the boys in his class. With the birthday, his first with real gifts and a cake and candles, he seems to have turned some kind of corner. The day after his party, the two of us raced laughing across the Wal-Mart parking lot in the pouring rain. He reached for my hand, singing, "I am thirteen, going on fourteen, I'll take care of you." He told me that he wants to be like his dad in every way. Bob and I are both sobered by his trust.

All these adoption adventures are so God-filled, and faith building, that the very thought of how God is making a way for these orphan kids, of the obstacles He has already overcome, gives me hope that my little dilemna this evening is nothing for Him.....That we will uncover Rob's birth certificate, which, if we do not locate tonight, could keep him stranded in Canada indefinitely.

As always, God will help us...and thank you, Stephie, for your encouraging phone conversation.