2010 reflection

As this year comes to a close I think back on the many, many changes our family has experienced. This time last year we had skyped with Bobby once (Christmas Day) and were filled with nervous anticipation as we waited for news of our court date so that we could travel to Uganda and meet Bobby in person.

We finally got that news and left March 31, we arrived in Uganda April 1 and after a five hour delay in getting to the orphanage we were able to hold and hug our little boy!!

We were in Uganda eight weeks while we waited on the paperwork process to continue so that we could get Bobby's visa to travel to the US. Africa was amazing. I can't even begin to describe the colors, smells, textures and beauty that are Uganda. Lush green tropical forests, trees brimming with avocados, mangos, jackfruit, bananas, matake (green banana that tastes like a potato), watermelon. The beautiful Lake Victoria which is the source of the Nile River and the source of much delicious Tilapia which made its way to our plates. The Ugandan people are very handsome and we met many very nice and friendly folks. Still, we missed our kids at home very much and often both Buddy and I were frustrated and discouraged at the slow pace of things. Just before we left to go to Uganda, that government and the United States government had run into some trouble with adoptions which had halted all adoption movement. We didn't know if we would be there 6 weeks or 6 months, and I'm not exaggerating. After one horribly frustrating few days with one Ugandan government office Buddy and I were at the end of our rope. I prayed, "God, I don't even know if this adoption is really what you want us to do, I'm so discouraged and want to be home for Austin's graduation in two weeks but it doesn't look possible. Please just somehow let me know that we are doing what you want us to do". The next day we got a phone call from a Ugandan friend of my aunt in Birmingham, Alabama. Her brother is a high court judge in Uganda and gave us a name to get in touch with at the passport office. Within a week we were flying home, visa in hand! God had heard my cry to Him and moved mountains when we had exhausted all our efforts. We were bumped from number 12 of 24 on the visa waiting list to number one! We were the first family in 2010 to received a visa for adoption!!!!!!