We are here….

and trying to find our feet (as the South Africans say).  I will recap the past few days, so everyone can understand why we are walking around still looking for our feet.

We left North Liberty Monday morning at 7 AM – to Chicago with a van load.  It was a great trip, and even better company.  Marky, Rob, Hudson, Me, Tony, Jake, Rosemary, Tanner, Austin, Monte, and Tate (including 13 suitcases, and 6 backpacks).

We had plenty of time to get checked-in, get through security and find some lunch.  We boarded our plane for Atlanta around 2 and got there around 5.  The kids did wonderful all day, they were in such good spirits.  We grabbed a few more snacks, and got ready to board our longer flight to Johannesburg.

About 2 hours into this flight, after Tanner was finished watching one movie, he took off his headphones and said, “Mom, we have been on this plane awhile – how much longer?”

Chuckling to myself, I said, “Honey, we have about 12 more hours to go….get settled in.”

Right after that, I got up and went to the bathroom and as I was coming out of the bathroom, Austin came running to me and said, “Mom – hurry, Hudson is puking everywhere!!”

I moved Austin back to my sit and Rob and I spent the remaining 12 hours on each side of Hudson, watching his every move.  We thought it could have been motion sickness, but as the flight went on, he got warmer and warmer.  I had his head on my lap, and Rob had his feet.  No sleeping for us.  It was really brutal – we felt so trapped with a sick child, and there was really nothing we could do.

Once we landed and got through customs, we could relax a bit…we had bathrooms, and we were no longer stuck in a plane.  We got all of our luggage and headed to J-life.  Our temporary home was ready and waiting, complete with a warm dinner for us.  I had told the kids to stop eating, after Hudson got sick because we wouldn’t have been able to manage multiply kids throwing up at once, so they were hungry.

We got everyone fed, tucked in bed and called it a night.

The past two days we have been walking around J-life, seeing some old friends and getting acquainted with our surroundings.  We have practiced driving up and down the driveway (the driveway is about 6 miles long).  The kids love the obstacle course, the jack terrier dogs (Chutney and Tess) and have really enjoyed the 80 degree weather.

Tomorrow we are heading to town.  We need to get a refrigerator, and washing machine.  It feels really good to be here.  Despite the rough flight, we are anxious to see what the Lord has in store for us here.

THANK YOU for all of your prayers and support, we couldn’t be doing what we are doing without the help of so many great friends and family.  Love to everyone back in the states.