Today was an important day as the girls said goodbye to the Medellin area that had been their home for about 2 years. We spent the morning at the club, the girls played with some kids that had also been adopted from La Casita and spent a little time at the pool. Without being at the club we would have had a difficult time packing. Since they were being supervised by staff, we could finish packing and get ready for the trip. We were ready to go at around 1:10. The transport that the hotel had arranged never showed and we had to get to the airport in two taxis. We made it through the girls' first airplane trip. For such a short trip (a little more than 30 minutes) it was full of things. We had an hour + delay, we had turbulence, we had issues over who would sit next to the window (which ended up being a relatively moot issue because the engines were right outside the window, and we spent most of the flight in clouds).
The girls were very patient, though still put out over who got to sit in the obstructed (non) view window. No time in a 30 minute flight for a meal (and the girls were too excited at lunch time to eat so they were hungry by the time we arrived in Bogota).
We said goodbye to a bunch of friends this morning, La Casita alumni families as well as staff we had grown attached to. For us the club was a life saver. Not only was it fun for the girls, but we also got a little rest as well as meet families who had adopted from La Casita. Every one we met came over and told us what wonderful thing it was we had adopted the girls. One of the parents we met this morning told us "everyone always says what a wonderful thing it is to do this for these kids, but they give so much more to us that we could ever give to them." Well said. People will come up to us to tell us what a wonderful thing it is that we are doing, but in a way it is more for us, because what they will give us will be so much more.
We will save a description of Casa Lanthana for tomorrow, when we have had time to see it in the daylight and a chance to familiarize ourselves with the neighborhood. Based on the weather so far I am glad we adopted from Medellin and not Bogota.
Well, perhaps from your perspective, the girls are giving you more than what you're giving them; but that still doesn't take away from the fact that you and Alex are exceedingly rare: a couple who is willing to adopt 4 children at once. I just don't buy your humble "dismissal" of how wonderful a thing that is! What you have done is nothing short of utterly extraordinary, and don't sell yourselves short by telling yourself anything less. :) Love, Laura
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