hard to believe

it honestly feels like it has been months since we left home.  i could hardly imagine that we would spend two weeks in hanoi.  before we left, the thought of it overwhelmed me. now that God has graciously seen me through the roller coaster of emotions in a two-week span, i can say in all truthfulness that this place has grown on me.  it's funny how you settle into a routine... and the familiarity of a routine brings peace to this lover of predictability.  paradox to even put predictability and adoption in the same sentence.  adoption is alot of things, but predictable isn't one of them :)

going from quiet country life to the noise and bustle of a city with ten million people was easier than i ever would have guessed. hard to explain, but this seems normal.  part of it is that the people don't seem uptight or angry.  things just flow and move and it seems smooth and right.  this is my third time in vietnam, and it keeps growing on me :)  the contrast between here and home is extreme, and i would be wise to remember when esther's transition hits rough patches.

we said farewell for now to our adoption traveling company -- huang, han, emily, theia, and the two cousins.  esther's visa was issued friday afternoon, and at that point, you are free to go!  just the little issue of not having airline tickets until late monday :(  we knew that we would see esther regress when she said her "so long until america" to theia.  and we did.  esther is sensitive, and introspective.  she wears her heart on her sleeve.  you know exactly where she stands on things :)

holt did a phenomenal job of preparing her for what lies ahead.  for four days, ms. moon came to our apartment home and covered many details.... her philosophy was that the more esther knows about what to expect, the less anxiety she will experience.  she covered our day by day routine, the complete layout of our home and property, the types of chores and animal duties she will have, things each sibling likes to do, specifics of airports and the airplane, and the 'rules' and expectations of a large family.  the days and weeks ahead will be a challenge.  i would love to hit the ground running and pick up where we left off november 8th.  but it doesn't work that way.  time will help everyone establish a new normal.  with ten kids -- can you even stinking believe it?!!  as the mom of the tribe, i feel an incredible responsibility.  Father, give me the strength and resources to do this, i humbly pray.

before i forget, esther now leads us in grace (and reminds us if we forget!) at meals - "God You are Great, God You are Good, and God i thank You for our food."  so simple, and so perfectly reflects our gratitude and awe.  esther then follows with the sign of the Cross as her orphanage upbringing taught.  we've gone to the international church both sundays - one in english and one in vietnamese.  guarantee it is nothing like she has experienced before.  good stuff going on in the church here.

we had a second visitor in hanoi.  it makes us feel well-loved! mint flew over from bangkok to spend a day and night with us.  a complete surprise to see her walk into my daily coffee shop haunt!  the smurf who photobombed our picture traveled from thailand to vietnam all because he wanted to immigrate to the states.  crazy smurf, he is!  thank you, mint!

signing off for now with 30 hours until depatture.... yay!!!!!!!

p.s. we have had so many blessings here but one that made my heart incredibly happy -- the sidewalks here are ummm... challenging is probably a good word choice.  broken, uneven, filled with motorbikes, people, and street vendors.  one night i rolled off the side of my $3 goodwill skecher sandals and broke a strap.  next to my boots, these are my absolute favorite shoes.  a few nights later, i stepped out of a store and a guy is standing there with a plastic basket and points at my broken strap.  he takes off my shoe and whips out his heavy thread and needle and proceeds to stitch and doublestitch all the straps.  then signals to take off the other shoe and polishes and buffs them both.  i swear, it made my day LOL!