GOTTCHA!!!!!!

It was 4 years ago today that we stood in the Portland Airport and met our two newest members of our family!!!!

We were not allowed to travel due to the instability of the country during their first presidential elections after 13 years of civil war. In order to get Hannah home to get the medical attention she needed, we chose to forgo the travel to get her home quickly. I do wish we had had the chance to meet them in their own country, where we would have been the ones to stand out and things would have been more understandable for them. Also it would have helped to have the insight into their culture by having seen it. I am so thankful for the many friends who have helped to fill in that gap for us!!!!

Caleb Charles (5 years) and Hannah Charlesetta (2 1/2 years)

Caleb was all eyes and wonder!! He now says we all looked funny and were talking a funny language, though English is the national language in Liberia too!!!

Hannah was a stinky little one, literally, having bad parasites will do that to a person!!

The minute the escort handed her to me she started screaming---loudly!! After about 5 minutes I handed her to David so I could actually talk to Caleb and she stopped---just like that!!! How is that for rejection!!! I do not think female, mother figures were high on her list of trust worthy people!!

Now 4 years later!!!!

We are so thankful for the joy they have brought into our lives. We are so much richer for having them be a part of our family!!!