Here is the video we took of the kids singing "Who Am I?"

They chose the song and just started singing it.

Send off...back to the Philippines they go!

     Well it has been a tough day but we got through the airport scene.  We finished packing things up this morning and headed to McDonald's for our last "soda" and fries.  Boy do they love fries with ketchup!  They got the dipping thing down pat!  After our snack at Mickey D's it was off to the airport. 

Things were very quiet there as the 10 children gathered.  The older kids tried to be upbeat and tell the little ones that we would be seeing each other again soon but there were still tears in the midst and not just by the children.  Saying goodbye is never easy! 

We did get all the kids ticketed and through security and saw them heading up the escalator out of sight.  The plane should have taken off about an hour ago. 

They fly to Detroit and from there leave at 3:55 for the Philippines.  They will arrive in Manila at 10:35 pm on Aug 20th.  They are about 12 hours ahead of us.  So basically arriving at 10:35am our time on the 20th which means it is about a 21 hour trip home for them.  We're praying all goes well for them.  Thanks again for all the support everyone has given us.  As I sit at home writing this I feel a little strange with the quietness around me.  It will take some adjusting to go back to just the 2 of us here.  Does Zoe count? 

I will not update the blog daily anymore but just occaisionally if I hear from the kids or decisions are made. 

God's blessings to you and always continue....

Choosing Joy,
Chris

Crazy week

It has been a very busy week with me working and Jeff staying home with the kids.  On Tuesday he headed back up to the lake cottage for the day to get some last minute "swimming" in with the kids.  Lola Walker was there and Lola's Kuya Jerry.  They had a nice lunch and swam.  It wasn't super hot and the kids got cold after being in the water for awhile.  They are used to much hotter temps and prefer warmer water.  On Wednesday they enjoyed coming to visit me at my school and bringing me my favorite drink..coke in a styrofoam cup.  Of course that meant they got sodas too!

 They also enjoyed putting puzzles together with Jeff. 

And they really enjoyed watching TV and being lazy in the mornings. Zoe loved it too!

In the afternoon Jeff tried fishing with them in our backyard pond.  He only had 1 fishing pole so they had to take turns but it didn't stop them from catching fish.

These kids are great singers and we're impressed by how many praise and worship songs they know the words to in English.  They put on a performance for Jeff and he videotaped it.  It's really fun to hear them with their accents singing praise songs.  Jeff also explained to them that they would be leaving tomorrow and we had to pack up their things.  They seemed to be pretty moody after this and it wasn't an easy day with them but he survived. 

We had friends and family stop by in the evening to say good bye and give/get one last hug from Ramon and Ramona.  They are going to be missed.  We tried not to think about what the airport would be like seeing them walk away.

Thanks big children for all of your support through the hosting program.  We definitely have an amazing family in our children & their spouses.    It has been a fun filled 4 weeks and we continue to see over and over how God has blessed our lives with our children.  We love you guys...Luke & Susi, Nick & Autumn, Courtney & Zach!  Now if we can just get through the airport day tomorrow.

Choosing Joy,

Chris

Monday....Mommy Christine works and Daddy Jeffrey is Mr.Mom

Today I started back to teaching at Summit and Jeff stayed home to play Mr. Mom to Ramon and Ramona.  They had a good day it sounded like.  Jeff fixed them breakfast and they took a walk with Zoe and the bike.  One rode the bike and the other led Zoe and then they switched.  Unfortunately I needed the camera at my school so I do not have many pictures of the day.  Jeff did get some on his cell phone of their outing.  After the walk they headed to Chuck E Cheese to meet some coworkers from Raytheon.  Lonnie and Lynne met Jeff and the kids at Chuck E. Cheese for lunch.  They were brave souls. 

The kids loved it so thanks Lonnie for treating them!  That was very kind of you and they definitely loved it.  They had many stories to tell me at dinner about Chuck E. Cheese.  I just wish I could have understood 1/2 of what they were saying. 

 After an outing to Walmart they headed to the Dollar Tree to spend their dollar.  Did you know the Dollar Tree at Jefferson Point has been replaced by a Toys R Us Express?  Poor Jeff.  He had to spend time in there trying to help the kids find something for $1.  They finally settled on squirt guns which seemed like a good choice until one of them got the best of the other one and a sibling fight ensued.  Oh dear.  Daddy Jeffrey got a real taste of being Mr. Mom as he tried to settle their dispute while not understanding a word of what they were saying.  After a dinner of spagetti and watermelon we headed to the YMCA park to help them run off some energy. 

We finished off the evening with a treat at Zestos.  I'm not sure it is R & R's favorite stop but it sure is mine and I needed it after my first day back at school.  Kids were settled in bed by 8:30pm.  It was a good day.

Choosing Joy,

Chris

Last weekend of fun

This is our last weekend with Ramon and Ramona before they leave on Thursday, 8-19.  On Saturday we sort of just hung out at the house with our friends Mindy Miller & Chris Goff. 

Chris Goff brought over a racing game for the Wii and Ramon was very entertained with that while Mindy showed Ramona a new website (Starfall) on the computer. 




Ate Courtney and Kuya Zach stopped by for a quick hug on their way home.  The kids were excited to see them. It was a quiet but fun day.  In the evening we went to church and then out to Pizza Hut.

On Sunday we got up and headed to meet our good friends, John and Kim Porter.  We wanted to introduce Ramon and Ramona to them so we met at a water park in Marion, IN.  It was a fun day.  We first ate at Fazolis and then headed to the water park.  We topped our fun day off with an ice cream stop at Culvers.  What a great day.  Thanks Porters for meeting us and all the support you've given us with R & R.

Two really fun days with the Ates (big sisters)

Courtney, Autumn, and Susi volunteered to take over with Ramon and Ramona when I started school this week. 

The girls moved in for a couple of days and did a great job!  R & R loved having the attention of their Ates all day long.  I think everyone had fun. 

They started out on Thursday by playing at their favorite YMCA park and then heading to have lunch with Me (Mommy Christine) and her teacher friends. 

Later in the day they went to the neighbors (Thanks Johnson family) to swim at their pool. 

On Friday they were totally blessed by a day at the zoo.  The kids have talked about the chimpanzees, and the zebras and the snakes and the train and the tigers and the lions and the...... 

Well the talk has gone on and on.  They simply loved the zoo.  It must have been quite the day and I'm sorry that I had to work and missed it.  Doesn't work just get in the way sometimes?

Choosing Joy,

Chris