Home

We arrived last evening to warm and sweet welcome of family and friends at the airport.  The last hour of our flight was not what I would have ordered ... very turbulent as we re-routed to avoid the storms, which only ended up offering us a longer flight THROUGH the storms.  I had to make a conscious choice not to throw up or allow my migraine to cause me to faint.  I knew there would be family and friends to greet us at the airport and as I sat by Evangeline helping her to get through the same difficulties I was going through, I told her to just imagine the smiling faces at the airport waiting for us.  This beautiful image is really what got me through this final hour plus before greeting our loved ones!

I didn't have the energy or forethought to get my camera out or take a single picture, but thanks to the abundance of camera phones, we have a few images that captured the essence of the time.  It was really sweet.  I just wanted to soak it in, and not miss anything or anyone.  Of course as we were walking out the door, I missed the walkway and went the wrong way and had to turn around .... and of course I missed a few other moments and hugs as well, but it was such a sweet welcome and reunion of family and friends.  

Our time in Latvia was great, and great for our new family to bond.  But we were missing something for sure ... our extended family and friends who are like family.  This little reunion was such a great reminder and picture to me of the body of Christ and the Community for which we were made and designed to live in, grow in, adopt children into and in which to live out the gospel.  There were of course many family and friends who were not able to join us, but those who were represented the others and it was such a beautiful reminder of how not alone we are in this life.

Elizabeth, Emma and Evangeline were ready to return to school today.  Irena and I have been to the library and grocery store and are just embarking on what looks like an infinite amount of laundry.  The sun is working hard to peak through this dreary day.  I'm grateful to be home and greet what lies ahead.

I've got plenty more pictures on my camera memory card that haven't made the blog yet ... I'll likely have to do some "Latvia, revisited" posts in the days and weeks ahead.

The airport photos are on facebook ... I was happy all the signs came home with us, because there were many that I didn't really get to see at the airport.  As I was up at 4am today I decided to assemble them in foyer and photograph them!