Here is the ending of our adventure in Liberia and the beginning of our new family adventure.

As I told you before, I called Eric Friday morning at 7am our time to see what was going on.  He told me that it seemed that all was a go and he was packing.  Donna called me an hour later and told me that they were getting everything together and he would be on the plane.  Well, little did I know how close of a call it all was.  Patty got the Passports for the kids and then ran over to the US Embassy to get all of the paperwork needed to get out of the country.  As the story goes, she then went to pick up Eric and the kids.  By this time it was about 5pm their time and the plane left at 6pm.  So, Patty called ahead to the airport and had the second in command walk Eric through the whole process.  This kept him from getting any grief from each station.  He did end up on that plane but he said it took almost the whole trip to Brussels to realize that it was truly all coming together.

Well, the adventure continued when he arrived in Brussels at 5:30am.  He had a six hour layover there. Two hours before the scheduled flight to JFK he went up to the desk to check in.  This is when he found out that they had no ticket for him.  Somehow the travel agent did not re-issue a ticket for him.  He said that he was the first to check in and the last on the plane.  He ended up having to buy a new ticket for him and Joe..but at least he made the flight.

In the meantime, I headed to SFO Friday night to fly out on the red eye.  For me, this was quite an adventure in and of itself.  As many of you know, my eyesight is failing.  My eyes take over an hour now to adjust to different lighting.  And, I can't drive at night.  So, I had to leave by 5 to get to the airport before the sun went down.  Trying to work myself around the maze of the SFO airport was hilarious in retrospect.  I have to admit that it is times like these that remind me how much I depend on others.  Sad to say, that will be the last road trip I take without a co-pilot.   But, the Lord was gracious and  placed people in my path at the right time all along the way. 

So, I spent the evening listening to Steven Curtis Chapman on my MP3 player and knitting up a storm in the SFO airport.  On the airplane, I had three seats to myself and took advantage of some well needed rest. When I arrived in New York at 7am the next morning I was exhausted.  I tried to sleep but really only rested....there just happened to be a crying baby on board!

I spent the next two hours trying to figure out how to find out where Eric was going to be flying in.  It became increasingly difficult when I realized that anyone who could help me was on the other side of security.  I finally decided to take the plunge and leave the secured area.  Then, I really got the run around.  Due to security measures, they could not give me info on where my husband was.  They wouldn't even tell me if his plane was on time and where I could meet him.  After wandering aimlessly around JFK a UPS cargo pilot asked if I needed help.  By this time, my sleep depraved mind was about to lose it.  He came at just the right time.  I told him why I was there and why I just wanted to know where to meet my husband. So, he set me up with someone who looked like they were important and I was finally given an answer.  She said I would have to meet Eric at the terminal that our connecting flight was flying out of.  Ugh!  All that just to tell me that I couldn't see him until he got to the connecting flight?

But, the story does not end there.  You can't check in to your flight more then four hours ahead of time.  So, I had to wait in the check in lobby until they could check me in.  There were no chairs and so I ended up on the floor for the next hour.  I laugh now because these are things that happen to Eric and I all the time. It always seems like great memory makers after the fact.

So, off I go to the terminal.  And, I sit and wait and sleep and read and knit. It really was an enjoyable time.  Hey, at least they had a Starbucks! 

Eric called me at 1:30 to tell me that he was at the airport.  I quickly filled him in on the fact that I would not be able to meet him until he got past security.  He then called me about a half hour later telling me where he was.  He was not in a hurry since they were starting to board our flight home.  I met him in a hallway of JFK.  Not very romantic but it was pleasant all the same.  He had Gabbie in the baby back pack and he was pulling the carry on. Joe was walking right beside him with Eric's Tivo hat on.  He grinned from ear to ear when Eric introduced me as his new Mama.  I took Gabbie out of the carrier.  What a peanut she is.  She really is very, very small.  They were fine coming to me and giving me hugs.  It was more then I could ask for.  Eric looked like he had aged about ten years.  He was scruffy and his hair was getting long.  He had bags under his bloodshot eyes.  But, oh how I was thankful to see him.  We have truly become one.  He completes me.

When we walked up to the terminal podium we met the two captains that would be flying us to SFO.  They were awestruck by our story and were instrumental in getting us all in the same row.  We ended up in the front row of the airplane and enjoyed the leg room and extra attention from the flight attendants.  Joe loves planes.  He was so thrilled when the plane took off and landed.  He snuggled a bit with me and let me help him.  Gabby was a bit apprehensive  She started to warm up to me when she woke up from her nap.  She is a snuggle bug and will readily put her head on your chest when she is sitting in your lap.  Both did great on the plane.  Eric actually was able to sleep a bit while on the plane as I was there to help with the kids.  We also got to catch up on life.  He told me that he would have missed the flight if it hadn't been for Joe having to go to the bathroom.  Joe does not have a lot of self control and yelled that he had to go pee.  Well, that got the attention of everyone.  Eric told a guard about his dilemna.  The guard told him to go ahead and take him to the bathroom and then make his way to the front of the immigration line since he had these two kids.  Eric later found out that the line usually takes about two hours to get through!  God bless that guard for letting Eric pass through quickly (and God bless Joe for having such great timing!).

We arrived at the SFO airport with no problems.  It did not take us long to get to the car.  The kids did great in the car seats. They are very amiable and compliant.  They have such sweet dispositions.  We drove the two hours home with both the kids fast asleep.  We had to keep reminding ourselves that there is an eight hour difference in time zones. 

When we got home at 9 our friends brought our four older children back to the house  There were a lot of tears of joy that night.  Our friends stayed to enjoy the reunion.  Joe played the drums for us (I must add that he is incredibly talented) and the kids all tried on their new african outfits.  Out with Laura Ingalls and in with African! 

This has gotten so long.  So many of you have asked for details and so that is what I have ventured to give you.  I will post more a bit later on our adventure the days after we arrived home. 

Posted by Erin Fisher

Heather,
I thoroughly enjoy reading your blog. I was praying for all of you. I am so thankful that despite the "adventure" all of you guys recently endured that you are finally together.
Erin

Posted by jenholtz

What a beautiful reunion! Thank you so much for sharing your story. It gives us hope as we wait for our referral. May God bless your family. You have been blessed by Him.
Jenny

Posted by homeskoolmom

Oh Heather--
I am sitting here bawling. God is so good doesn't seem like enough to say, but he is so very good and works everything out in his own timing-- down to Joe's need to use the restroom. He cares so much about even the little things. The children sound adorable. Any news on Eric's job? When does he leave for Hawaii? BTW, we need to see a family picture soon. I'm going to go cry some more happy tears of your sweet reunion.
Have a wonderful day in the Lord,
Christine

Posted by Dalyn

Glorious! Fabulous! What a story!

Posted by Anonymous

Thanks for sharing your story. It's hard to believe that the journey to get those two children here is finally over. Thank God for providing your and your family the endurance and patience to push forward even when things were getting very frustrating. Ultimately, I'm sure all of you were tried and refined by this process.

Can't wait to see the pictures!!

love,
Rebecca Redin

Posted by joexandxkim

You've got me crying! I'm looking forward to seeing pics and hearing how it is going!