"I am finally getting my chance to tell the story!"

Jim is finally giving me a chance to blog (he always likes to tell his story) so here goes... It looks like we've made it through the first three days with our kids. Boy has it been an emotional rollercoaster. I have been either laughing or crying the entire time. Laughing, because I can't believe this is my life....crying, well because reality is, this is my life!!!! I thought I came totally prepared to take on the world, little did I know what a huge undertaking that this would be. I am such a home-body and this has put me totally out of my comfort zone. I miss my son (Michael), my dogs, my bed, my family, my church, my friends...you get the idea. Actually today wasn't that bad. I only cried four times. At breakfast Jim and I looked across the table at each other and broke down in tears. Meal times are very hectic with the younger ones. The positive side is that by the time I get to eat, I'm usually so stressed out that I hardly want to eat anything. I may just loose some weight before this is all over. We are on the go from 6:00 until 9:30. Yes, you heard me right, 6:00 am. I have no idea why anyone would want to get up that early but they do...every single one of them get up early. I packed my straightner and my curling iron, now I wished I would have saved the room in my luggage and left them at home. I'm lucky to get my hair 3/4 of the way blow dried before someone needs my help. So basically I am a walking frizz bomb and I don't like it at all but there's really not a whole lot that I can do about it unless I shaved my head like Jim. Believe me, if I could get away with it, I would do it. For those of you who know me well, you know that I like things clean and smelling good. Well, there's nothing clean and smelling good about seven people (six of them being males) sharing one bathroom. I had forgotten what it was like having little boys pee all over the seat. Last night I was quickly reminded of that fact. I went to sit down on the toilet and it felt a little sticky. I was so tired that I didn't even have the strength to hover (for those of you men that don't know what I am talking about, just ask your wives). I guess there are just some things that aren't important anymore, like having a clean toilet seat.?? Did I mention that in Brazil, you don't flush your toilet paper (they say that the pipes are too small)? No, it goes in the trash can right next to the toilet. Now you can imagine how pleasant that is with seven people and no air moving around.

But seriously, today I was thinking about how incredibly blessed that we are to have been chosen by God to be the parents to these precious little children. They truly are great kids. Today we were able to go to the park next door. It was so nice to have something different to do. The kids loved it! We overheard Anna Carolina "bragging" to another girl at the park about her family and how she was going to be living in the United States. She was so proud of all of us. Tonight there was a group of girls her age outside our window playing so she asked if she could go play with them. I went to check on her a few minutes later and when I looked out of the window she said "mom, come down here." I said I would but then I got busy doing something else. A few minutes later she came upstairs and grabbed my hand and said, "please come down there with me." I told her I really didn't want to because I felt ugly because I had been crying. She said, "you're not ugly, you're very pretty." She then looked at Jim and said, "isn't mom pretty?" Now how was I going to say no to her. She grabbed my hand and took me downstairs to show me off to her little friends. It almost made me cry (unfortunately I had already reach my crying limit for the day). I realize how important it is for these kids to have a family. They were so ready for us. It has truly been an amazing journey. Thanks to all of you for your love and support. We feel your prayers. Well it's time for bed so I guess I'll close for now. We love you!

Mary Jane