fruit and coffee

Today is the day. Finally. The pictures that we have known, the pictures that we have seen, that we have shared with friends and family, these pictures will become so much more than what we have dreamed or imagined today. It is 10:42 as I write this (EST), and we are now sitting and waiting to go to meet our kids. We will be picked up at 2:30 so we can do some bank stuff prior to picking up the kids. We are not expecting a fablous first meeting, or even a great first few days, but we are still very excited. There is no doubt that the kids will be going through a lot in their own hearts and minds as this all happens, so it is difficult to consider only ourselves in this. It will be difficult, but we know that we will make it through. We pray for our children, though, as it will be a whirlwind of changes for them. I hope that they can see our love for them in spite of all the difficulties that our family will endure. We meet at 4 PM EST. Celebrate with us and please be in prayer.

We are getting used to being here, little by little. I never knew that eating would be such a difficult task, at least in the realm of trying to figure out the menu and the Colombian Peso. Hopefully we will have some of it down before too long. I am enjoying the fruit here, that is for sure, and the coffee has been good, which is contrary to the reports from my dear friend and brother-in-law Mr. Chocolate. So, Mr. Chocolate, there is good coffee here...and soon I will try the espresso while sitting on the veranda overlooking the golf course. Sounds dreamy, but I need to figure out how to order and how to best pay.

There are quite a few families here. We have seen many children playing, splashing in the pool, skating on Heelies, etc., so it is obviously a welcoming environment for kids. That is good, as soon the Shinns will add three more to the mix. The pool looks like much fun, and seems to be dominated by kids, save for the diving area where there is an inordinate amount of young, strapping tennis players gingerly diving from ten feet above the water's surface. So the pool will be fun, a place we will visit perhaps twice a day, and the ice cream stand that sits beside the pool will certainly be a favorite of Shirley, Andres, and Juan David. Maybe me, too.

Oh, Mr. Chocolate...lots of beautiful birds here, too. I should have brought a book.

Has anyone ever watched the Simpsons in Spanish? Way funnier than King of the Hill in Spanish. Just so you know.

And I finally watched Gangs of New York last night. There was quite a bit of anti-McCarthyism involved in it, as well as Scorsese's commentary on the present administration's use of fear to maintain control and power. Interesting. Also, note the commentary on immigration and the impact of war and hatred among ourselves. I had more thoughts on it, but am having trouble gathering them at the moment.

The song for the day is "Talking World War III Blues" by Bob Dylan.

I will try to write more later or tomorrow.