Headed Home

Maybe I should call this blog "Better Late than Never" but I'd really like to begin to post pictures from our furlough last year. It's been over a year since we left the Philippines, on our way to the States. We were in the States from August 2005 until May 2006. We had a wonderful time of reconnecting with many people and churches that have been so faithful to pray and support us. We especially enjoyed the time spent with family. There were many long, long hours spent on the road, but every trip proved to be an adventure! Little by little, I plan to post pictures here of our 8 months in the States.

Carly, Caleb and I left the Philippines about 3 weeks before Wade. We wanted a few extra days to spend with friends and family before we had to hit the road. This picture is of Carly and Caleb sitting in the Manila airport, waiting to board our plane. Needless to say, they were pretty excited to be going to America!

Caleb was only 18 months old when we left the States so he knew he had a whole new experience ahead of him. Before we left, all our friends here were asking him what he expected to find when he got to the States and he informed them all that "there were no cats in America!" (For those of you who don't know, that comes from a song in the movie "An American Tale.") It didn't take many days for Caleb to discover that there WERE cats in America! He also got a real kick out of things like water fountains, coke machines, pizza delivery and lawnmowers. A couple of days after we arrived, Caleb noticed his uncle drinking water straight from the tap and was horrified! "Uncle Sam! You mean you drink SINK WATER??!!" (something we NEVER do in the Philippines) This picture shows how grown-up Caleb was when we left for furlough - quite a change from the last time he flew across the ocean!

The kids and I also had another traveling companion, Laura Simpson. Laura had spent her summer with us in the Philippines as a Volunteer Student Missionary. We REALLY enjoyed having her around. She was an asset to our ministry and a blessing to our family. She was also a HUGE help to me on the trip. I couldn't have done it without her. Thanks, Laura! I'm still nominating you for VSM of the Year!