Joshua - Four Years Ago!

Joshua has been home four years ago today, March 1!  His adoption experience was so

 incredibly different than Isaac's, most noticeable by his absolute terror and tears.

We were a day late getting to China because of  airplane difficulties in trying to leave Tucson, which

meant that we missed our international flight out of  LA to get to Hong Kong. We truly

thought it was the end of the world...............

However, because of that three hour late flight, we met the Rhoden family in Los Angeles!  Courtney

and Rachel had been blogging friends with Cassie whose family had also adopted from China.  

They came to our rescue when they heard that we were stuck in a hotel for 24 hours before we could

board another flight to Hong Kong.  We spent a lovely day at their home and enjoyed meeting

these new friends!  I am still amazed at how God worked all of that out!

Theresa, Nicole, and Cassie (who is getting married this spring, by the way!)

Our good Nebraska friend, Lesley came with us on this adventure!  Rachel stayed home to care for

Isaac, and it was so nice to have another pair of hands to help Courtney and me through this two week adoption trip! Lesley is now married and has two little girls!

Whereas Isaac was sad and shed silent tears, Joshua screamed, sobbed, and desperately

tried to get away when they brought him in to us.

It was so heartbreaking to see, and there was not much I could do to comfort him.

Once we got back to the hotel, he fell asleep, dripping with sweat in his four layers of
clothing that reeked of moth balls.  But there was no way he was going to let me take those off!

But, once he woke up he loved his bath and smelled ever so much better!

We had a great rest of the time in China, even though Joshua didn't want much to do with me!

Once we got home it was smooth sailing!  Joshua and Joe hit it off immediately from
their first meeting at the airport,  and.......

..............these two?

Brothers from the heart from the moment they met.  They are very different, yet
compliment each other tremendously.  Even with their mischievousness, they liven
up our home and give us many laughs a day!!

We love you, Joshua!  Happy fourth "Gotcha Day"!!!!!