Coming Home

We won't receive our Ruling from the Judge until November 11 so we are heading home. We have been able to work everything out with Airlines, Hotel, orphanage, etc... We don't have to be present for the ruling and we can then have the orphanage reps apply for the childrens passports. We can then fly back and make our appointment with the US Embassy for the childrens visas.

We want to surprise Keira on Friday so please do not say anything to her. Thank you again to everyone for helping out and making her time special while we have been away. We are sorry if you had made plans and won't get to follow through with them.

We leave tomorrow night and return Friday afternoon.

Love to all

Things we are Greatful for:
Trent - pasteurized milk, and pizza delivery (Dibs on Papa Johns Friday Night!)
Natalie - wonderful friends and family, Organized Motor vehicle transportation

Things we have learned:
Trent - Don't try to barter if you are white - no point :(
Natalie - Good people are good no matter their race, religion, ethnicity, or so on...

Finally a Judge!

Apparently the 3rd time is the charm. We finally met with a judge (well we just sat there and looked pretty while our lawyer met with the judge.) Andrews grandmother came in for the hearing and it hopefully made clear any issues wth Andrews relinguishment. We presented cases for both children and then were given a date for the ruling - November 11th!!!

So, now we have decided to return home since we don't have to be back for the ruling or the passport application. We have missed K greatly and we know that the process has happened like this for a reason. We are making arrangements to change our return flight now and not sure when we will return. Likely this weekend. We will then return just after Thanksgiving once we know that the ruling is in our favor and we have received the passports.

Thank you everyone for your support and understanding. None of this could have happened without wonderful friends and family. Love to all.

Another Court heartache

Court has been delayed - again. This system is so extremely frustrating!!! We were originally scheduled to have court on Friday. Court was cancelled and delayed to today. We were never told that they also changed our Judge. The new judge was not in today. Our lawyer left town on saturday and left our cases in charge with her associate. Whatever happened there was no communication between our lawyer and the courts to confirm judge, time and which court.

We showed up as instructed to the High Judge this morning. We were only 1 of many cases to be heard. The judge started off by basically lecturing all about adoption and all of the mistakes the lawyers have made. He was extremely frustrated with potential parents not taking the time to bond with the children prior to adoption (basically refering to the Russian girl that was sent back because she was possessed by demons). He stated that had the mother taken the 3 years to bond with the child first she would have known it would not work out. It is probably better we did not have him hear our case.

We now have a hearing scheduled for tomorrow at noon. Atleast that is what we hve been told. We will reserve judgement until a judge actually talks to us.We are very sad today! We are very homesick and frustrated. We miss Keira so much it hurts. We just want to cry.

Food - Ugandan Style!!!

A very nice and relaxing day today. We stayed in our lodge until about 2:00 and then went to the Zoo. There were not alot of animals but it was very open with very little fencing. Luckily the Lions were tired!!! The Crocodiles were very hungry though and we got to watch them feed. It was awesome!!!

We then went to the beach and enjoyed a lively atmosphere. When they asked if we would like a whole fish - We didn't know they meant a WHOLE FISH. It was extremely tasty though. I am very proud of Natalie for stepping out of her zone.

Tomorrow is court - Hopefully. Be sure to keep checking our pictures on Picasa as we update them daily. Love to all and please send us e-mails or messages about back home. We are very Homesick.

Things we learned today:

Trent - Natalie can suck it up when she has to, (See picture above)

Natalie - What it is like to be in the minority

Things we are grateful for:

Trent - Soda that is bigger than 10 ounces and doesn't need a bottle opener.

Natalie - Paved Roads

An update a day

We are going to do a small update everyday. In these updates we will list one thing we are grateful for (and miss from America) and one thing we have learned. Keira doesn't count on this list - she is always missed DEARLY!!!

Today we spent all day at the orphanage. There was a birthday party for one of the mothers and the kids had such a fun time singing, dancing and eating birthday cake.

One thing we are Grateful for: One for each day we have been here thus far (3 each):
Natalie: Washing Machines, Electricity that stays on, Clean Running Water
Trent: Ice Cubes, Subway Sandwiches, Broadband Internet.

Things we learned today:
Natalie: Cockroaches have wings (and can use them!!!)
Trent: How to make T laugh hysterically (See photo above)

Amsterdam!