So, now it's time to GO HOME!

I am to meet the taxi in five minutes, but wanted to send one farewell post from Hanoi. Lucy and I went out today for most of the day with Mrs. Berry, one of the service missionaries from our church. It was so funny to see her barter with the shop girls for souvenirs. I think I have more things for her children in my bags than I do for my own (ha a) but it was nice to have company and view this culture one last time. I can't wait to post pictures of the open market here. Fresh seafood is everywhere (I mean fresh, as in alive and swimming in big silver bowls with bubbles blowing out the top...). We were totally taken by a taxi driver who wanted 10 bucks to go 2 blocks-and we got a little lost. A fun adventure for two women and a baby!

For dinner Lucy and I celebrated our last night in Vietnam by dining at a very lovely restaurant, Bobby Chinn. We've enjoyed lunch there a few times and John and Mason even ate there with me before they left for home. Most of the wait staff consists of college aged girls, who all adore Lucy and wanted to hear her story one more time. It feels so funny to be "on display" anywhere we go, but I so enjoy interacting with the college kids. They are open and friendly-you can see the good of man kind gushing out of them!

As I walked this last time back to the hotel I thought of all the phrases I won't hear again now that its time to fly:

"Cyclo Madame?"
"Motorbike"
"Baby Vietnam Madame"
"Give me money Madame!"
"Want tooo buy a t-shirt?"
"Madame, give me money please..."

These are phrases that have been called out to me every where I've been over the last five weeks-like a chorus to the music of the cities we've experienced. I wondered today what phrases will be common now that we'll go home.

"Are all of them yours?"
"Did you mean to have that many?"
"Is she adopted?"
"Are they all adopted?"
"You must be tired"
"You look tired"
"Can I help you Ma’am?" (I say this one because it is now painful that I am no longer a "Miss" but a "Ma’am", getting old is hard...)

It will be so hard to endure 40 hours of flying with a five month old. But all we have to do is endure, and then in the end we will be in the arms of family, and home at last. Lucy's journey to our family is so close to complete. What a wonderful journey it has been!

p.s. Bryn Madi and the rest; here are some thoughts for you:

-When you leave for school Lucy and I will be waiting to get on the airplane.
-When you eat lunch today Lucy and I will be in the air between Vietnam and Japan
-When you eat pizza tonight Lucy and I will be wandering around an airport in Osaka
-When you wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom we will be over the ocean
-When you watch cartoons we will almost be landing in Los Angeles
-When you do your chores we will be wishing we could go to Disneyland instead of sit in the airport wanting to see you
-After dinner we will be flying to Salt Lake -after baths, prayers and scripture time we will be landing and then we will be home, and we will hold each other and you will meet Lucy at last! I can't wait!
Love,
Mom