So Many Things and So Little Time

Man, the last few weeks have been such a whirl wind around here.  Today is the only day I have had to actually sit down and write.  It has been so busy!  So much has happened can't wait to tell you....

Our view from Padra Burgos Castle Resort

Well, our trip to the Philippines was a success!  We spent 2 1/2 weeks over there and , needless to say, we were really ready to get back home.  What a blessing it was to be in Jacob's country - on his turf- for those 2 weeks.   We all began bonding with him during that time.  For those of you adopting older children from another country I really suggest spending that extra time with your child in his country.  It makes a HUGE difference.  

It is always an adventure in the Worthey household and traveling with the whole family to another country is almost comical.  Trying to get 5  kids through security, immigration and on an airplane with luggage takes some kind of  skill.  Marshall and I both decided that this was no "vacation".  It was definitely a "mission" we were on.  We also came to the conclusion that a "vacation" doesn't happen when you travel with your children.  From the moment we stepped off that airplane life changed.  Watching Naomi being in her birth country was really eye opening.  Neither one of us knew how she would respond going back and seeing the same people and places that had been such a huge part of her life.  While she enjoyed giving hugs and running around the orphanage, she still had it in her that she was a Worthey and her home was with us - in America.

Naomi enjoying the plane ride

Words cannot describe what it was like walking into the orphanage and seeing our son for the first time in a long time.  His hugs, his smiles and his laugh touched our hearts.  To watch him show his new brothers his room and share his life with us made everything just perfect.  Within 12 hours of being with his new family our Jacob jumped into a swimming pool for the first time,  ran around a hotel lobby and  learned that he could venture a little further off than just "the yard" of the orphanage.  Seeing life for the first time is how I describe it.

There is no way possible to share everything with you in this post so we will continue writing about our experiences in the Philippines, our life since we got back and the adjustments and blessings of having five children in our home in future blogs.  For now, there are children beckoning me to go out and "enjoy the sun" with them.  Better go until next time.

Lorrie