3rd trip

My aunt and uncle came to stay with Jaime and Tara while we were gone. A lot is happening while we are away this trip. Homecoming is the major event but also several band events. :( They promised to take lots of pictures. :) Maybe we'll even have a chance to skype while they're dressed in their pretty outfits!

Anyway, they came on Friday and we left Saturday late morning. It was nice having them there to go through the routine somewhat so they know how everything works. It's not complicated, just our life. ha ha (complicated!) We left for the airport around 11 for our 1:20 flight from the Peoria airport. We figured that would be plenty of time. Nothing has been easy for us this month. Checking in was also not easy.

We went to the counter and they informed us that Timothy's round trip ticket (which we were going to use the back end of) was not valid if he did not start the trip with us. As soon as the first flight took off our tickets would be cancelled. $1600 down the drain. We argued with Orbitz (and are not done) for a little while but eventually needed to make a decision. Gregg decided we would take our chances and figure out what was left of the ticket once we get here. The thing is, it's not really a round trip ticket. Only the portion from Peoria to Paris is round trip. It is actually a multi destination ticket because we fly into Abakan (near the orphanage) and back to Moscow from Krasnoyarsk.

So we got to Moscow and Gregg went to the ticket counter for S7, our carrier for the flight to the region and back. He asked them how many in our party had tickets for Wednesday. They said 4. Hallelujah! Keep praying! We will check on the rest of the trip as well, but it appears that the S7 flight at least will be ok. That is the flight on Wednesday of this week to Moscow.

Many have asked how Benjamin traveled. He was amazing honestly. We did not hear one cry, one peep really, other than happy peeps. He is a very easy going kid who just loves to be with Mom and Dad. He did ask why his sisters weren't there. :( I wish we had the money to bring us all but, alas, the expenses had to stop somewhere. Anyway, he did great and has even been a trooper today, in our first hours after the plane ride. He and Gregg napped most of the morning which will probably not be good later, but at least it was morning and not late afternoon as we usually do. Actually they slept until 1 pm. :)

Soon our coordinator will pick us up to go to the orphanage. She had to pick up our court decree from the courthouse in Kras and drive it 5 1/2 hours to Abakan. She will pick us up and take us to get Timmy. And then the journey begins! Our life with 6 children! I told Gregg as I was waking up Benjamin a bit ago...enjoy this quiet. :) Things will be different, for sure.

I will, of course, blog after we pick up Timmy from the orphanage. There will be lots of pictures on Facebook. :) (you know me!) Please continue to pray for our adjustment as a new and improved family. Pray for those tickets that need to be there so we can get home. And if they're not, then we will need to buy new ones. Pray that does not happen.

Thank you for following our journey to Timothy James. Soon he'll be in our arms...FOREVER! :)