Sweet Reunion...

It's hard to describe how it felt visiting Sarah and William. To see Lilly with both of them again, but HERE in the states!

Sarah was my prayer last October. Lil really wanted us to be the answer. This is second best for us, and PERFECT for Sarah! Wiliam is the epitome of what a miracle is. A miracle accomplished with prayer, people who truly care, and what some children go through to find their family! I love William. I've learned so much about life from knowing him.

William and Sarah would both hold my hand and give it a little squeeze. Those big hugs, so sweet! My heart is so full. As Kingsley would say, "God is good, he is always, always good."

Lil's trip to Ghana part 3

Maybe I did save my most favorite memories for last. For sure these are my favorite pictures!

9. Playing Football (Soccer)I took this picture after playing soccer for almost 2 hours. You can tell which shoe is mine. Not cleats, but pricey running shoes. The kids played and played and not one flip flop or crock flew off. The boys with the bare feet kept up with the rest of us. That's real talent!

Kingsley put on his jersey and showed me a few things. He showed off his skills, and I was impressed. My dad has always joked that I get my athletic ability from him and my good looks from my mom. Boy is he wrong! Sorry dad, you don't have moves like Eshuns do!

And listen to the cheering section! I laugh every time I listen to them, isn't that the best?

10. Spending time with the children. They are the most amazing, sweet people I've ever met. I made a promise to my parents that I will keep, especially now that's out here for the world to see! I will never complain about the time they spend on Luckyhill stuff. Mom has one phone in her hand and another in her pocket and her day timer on her head. Well she would if she could :D My dad never complains. He rolls his eyes and writes checks and wires money, but quietly does it. And nothing about my dad is quiet!!!

I UNDERSTAND the words "deep conviction".

This an every day scene. I told Gloria that in the states moms

send their kids outside to play. In Ghana moms send them inside to get them out of her hair because she's cooking and washing outside all day. Gloria is hardly ever inside her house. The sofa has only been there since spring time. Before that they sat on folding chairs or the floor.

This is Coby and Vida. They will both be coming to their new families VERY soon. I love Coby, I wish he were mine.

We pray for them every day. I know why.

This is either morning devotional or Family Home Evening. They are always together.

There is always some one to hang out with. We left for a few days and when we came back the children and adults came running to greet us. The morning we left they were surrounding the car singing "I am a Child of God."

I know what love is. I've always had it. I was an orphan and I was loved. My Eshun family loved me enough to let me come to my family in America. Adoption is love. Ghana is love. Luckyhill is love. I'm 13 and I am changed forever by this visit to my homeland!

Finally Part 2

Thank you for the encouragement! I love talking about our trip but it's hard to write about. So:

6. singing hymns just for fun and feeling the spirit. Not quite like my ipod.




Me with Jean and two cousins who came to visit. They live in my old neighborhood and are Muslim. They were in the middle of a month fast, just eating dinner. My father's family (Kingsley's brother) had a meeting to decide who should take care of me. It's tradition in Ghana for the father's family to take care of the children. I was already spending a lot of time with Kingsley so it was decided that he would take care of me. That one choice decided my life. Makes you think about choices doesn't it? I could have been living in the same place, I would be muslim and would have been starving from fasting!


7. All the different food, helping at mealtime, eating with my hands and the smells. It sounds weird to say, but I liked the spicy smell in the air. Also the occasional going to the restroom where ever you liked! I know my bad...

                              


Kingsley thought I was serious and was worried I would choke! 





















8. Running errands with Kingsley. We ran to the market for Gloria and when we got back in the car the battery was dead. Just like that, no warning. We had to rent a battery until we could buy one a few days later. It was very expensive. We should buy one at Walmart and bring it over to leave at Luckyhill for an emergency. Another day I went to meet the judges and  lawyer. I loved talking to them about adoption and telling them about my life in the U.S. I hope it helped them realize that we know we are Ghanaian and our good parent's want it to be part of our lives because it is who we are. (They asked that question and I wanted to say well duh, but I didn't. Why would you want to adopt a child from Ghana and then not tell them all about their life?) That day Kingsley bought me a fish for lunch. I ate all of it but the head. This is the fish. My mom was freaked about it. Oh well, too late! I didn't eat the head and I asked who wanted it and I had plenty of kids saying me! me! They shared it AND the eyes! One of them is in Marrion's hand. Can you stand it?!

It looks like it's going to take one more time to finish. I've got homework and a soccer game tomorrow, so to be continued...

Finally!

We've been home for a awhile, but it's taken some time to wrap our minds and hearts around our journey. What a journey it was.

We decided  each of us would write our top 10 memories of our Ghana trip. It was hard to put so much in to 10 thoughts because there was so much that we saw and learned and loved. So here they are, but not in order of our favorite.

Here is the first top 5 for Lillian:

1.  Spending time with my Grandmothers, Kingsley, Gloria and my cousins.

  Me, Jean and Beatrice writing with my Grandmother. She wanted to write her ABC's in English.

 

Me, Donnald, Jean and Marrion. Donnald is named after my Grandmother Donna, Marrion is named after my Grandmother Marrion and Jean is named after my Grandmother Duke!

Lot's of people I love in the states walking around here with their names.

Me with Kingsley visiting where we used to live.

 

 

 

Me and Gloria, who is always taking care of everyone and cooking.

 

 

 

My mother's mother, Abena. She's 81 and works on her farm everyday. She has the best sense of humor and a heart of gold.

 

2. Eating Strawberry Fan ice. It's frozen yogurt that you buy from vendors on the street, right off their heads.  It comes in a plastic tube and you bite off one corner and suck the contents out. Delish!

 

3. Going to the Rainforest and Castles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Staying at the Beach house and seeing my family so happy!

  

5. A special memory will always be when we went to my Grandpa Joseph's village and visiting his grave site. My dad and mom have told me stories of him. He used to call me his little clever! 

 

My next top 5 a little later. Thanks for looking,

Lillian

A Family Reunion

We are headed to Ghana with Lillian for a visit. Can you believe what a doll she was?! We are looking forward to visiting with both Grandmothers, Uncles, Aunts, and lots of cousins. Should be amazing trip for her...