Week 1 In Uganda

As I start to write these there are so many words I want to share, and some memories that are even hard to articulate. I am going to start by outlining our weeks there and then throw in a post or two on other moments that I think need their own space. Be prepared for long posts :)

L and I left Austin in the early morning of March 28th. From the moment we dropped our dogs off the night before I just had a sad feeling. Was I excited? Yes. But I was also scared, nervous, anxious and any other adjective in that arena you want to throw in. This was the moment we had prayed for, God had provided in so many ways, and yet I felt scared. And terrible for feeling scared and not trusting Him. I had never been out of the country, much less to Africa, nor had I ever been a mother, or adopted. There were a lot of unknowns. However, once I got on the plane and spent some time with the Lord, my fears were calmed...now we just needed to get off of those planes!

We traveled for over 24 hours with a stop in Amsterdam. We found ourselves very bored in that airport with no place to sleep on our five hour layover. We finally made it to Uganda at 11pm on Thursday night. We got our visas and headed to the baggage carousel. Our five bags were the LAST five to come out, we were a little anxious but oh so glad they came. We then walked outside to about fifty Ugandan drivers who were waiting for people and spotted ours. He took us out to his car. I was terrified. It was PITCH black and hot, you could hardly see anything and I was already worried if mosquitoes might be biting me. We got in his car and started the one hour drive to our guesthouse. The scariness of the parking lot was nothing compared to the driving. Ugandans drive crazy! As we drove I was imagining the visions of the red dirt we had heard all about and what things really looked like, it made me anxious for the next morning when I could actually see. We made it to our guesthouse, got under our mosquito net, and tried to sleep. We found ourselves awake off and on from jet lag and hungry at 4am (US dinner time!) so we stole some of D's goldfish to hold us over.

The next day we met with our lawyer and purchased internet and phone time. In the afternoon we spent time in our guesthouse lobby that had a beautiful view. We ate dinner at Cafe Roma, a great Italian restaurant that we frequented during our stay. Saturday we headed to visit two friends little boys. These boys belong to dear friends who were waiting to travel and adopt them. One is in country now and one leaves so very soon - we cannot wait for these boys to be home in Texas! We received two different sets of pictures of D when we were waiting so we were so honored to be able to send pictures and videos to these families and spend time with their children. We know when you are thousands of miles away from your child, those pictures mean the world to you.

Sunday morning we were able to start the long car ride to go meet D! We were so very excited for that moment when we would be united with him. This moment deserves its own post so that will be my next entry...stay tuned!

We spent the next few days around the rural town we were in spending time with D. We even visited a local pool where D got to swim for the first time and loved it. Then we headed to court on Wednesday. We met our lawyer there and he had us wait in a side room that was not being used. Then after about ten minutes our driver came and took us downstairs and outside to where our lawyer was standing. I knew immediately that there must be bad news. As soon as we walked up our lawyer told us the judge was not going to be in that day and he would not be back for weeks. I immediately began to sob. Yes I was sad we were not having court and legally becoming a forever family that day, but most of all I was thinking since it was going to be three weeks until our new court date, we surely would have to take D back to the baby home. This was my first question and luckily the answer was no - we just had to get foster care order and then D was able to come with us to the main city and continue bonding - PRAISE GOD.

I was so very sad in that moment at the court house and a mess to be honest, but L was wonderful and kept it together for us. As I was crying D grabbed my face and kissed it, be still my heart, it reminded me what we were fighting for. As we left the court house that day we were all sad, but we gathered our things and made the six hour drive back to the main city where we spent our time waiting for our next date on the 24th. I knew God had a plan that was bigger than mine, but that doesn't mean I did not cry my eyes out to Him. It was scary and deflating, but He picked us up and carried us like He always does.

We made it back to our new guesthouse, ate dinner, and got settled in. It was great to be together as a family and the next few days were spent figuring out the city and what in the world we were going to do for three weeks until court again.

The first week did not go as we had planned, but I am confident it was the way God wanted. He used the extra three weeks to bond us as a family and teach us so much.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9

Our first week through pictures (minus meeting D, those are for the next post!):

5 checked bags, 2 carry-ons, 2 backpacks - too much? Not for 6 weeks in AFRICA.

L finding creative uses for his carabiners :)

Oh Amsterdam airport...

Beautiful area near D's baby home

Day 2: Why yes, I do love this protein shake thing.

Daddy fun!

Big Fun - a pool and trampoline place

First swim!

First Court Date

Long drive back to Kampala, complete with silliness and three hours of straight singing!