I'm On My Way

What a week... Last week on Thursday, around lunch time, I got the 817 area call. It was in the middle of the day. I knew it was Natalie. She calls on the evening before we leave for our trips, not in the middle of the day. I figured it wasn't good. Her tone of voice as soon as I said, "Natalie?" made everything clear. I knew what it was before she said it. A delay in the embassy apt because of an investigation. (No details to share - because it was all resolved.) What was an exciting day took a sharp turn. Rather than doing last minute packing, I was going to be on the phone with my travel agent and un-doing everything that had taken me weeks to get into place. I was impressed while Natalie was talking that I wasn't losing it. I remember even thinking, "wow, I can't believe how well I'm handling this." I think it's just because it wasn't clicking in my brain. In a few minutes after listening to her, I started crying on the phone. She's heard me cry before, and I'm sure she's heard others cry before. Natalie is so understanding, and I have appreciated that this whole process.

The next day, on Friday, we had a conference call with Belay. No update, but just to get everything cleared on what was going on. Gladney was very concerned for the families that this happened to. I could tell in their voices and with what they had to say. It was nice to know that it wasn't just a job to them.

Monday, we had the update that things were going well. I was told I would not hear anything the next day, but would on Wednesday.

Tuesday, I left my phone in the car while I was with a patient, and when I came out, saw that I had a missed call. This was either good or bad. I listened to her voice mail, heard "good news", hung up, and called her immediately. Ada was ready to come home. We would get the embassy apt the next day.

Wednesday, we got the call again. Our embassy apt is Tuesday, the 28th. I will have her visa on the 30th, and then bring her home.

Since Wednesday, (so yesterday), I have been re-doing everything that took me weeks to do in 1 day. Impressive, huh? No, I just know the right people. I have been working with Kathy from Susan Parr Travel Agency. She has been absolutely wonderful. She is taking care of everything, while she is on vacation. I'm now packed and ready to go. Santa is coming tonight (I'm writing this waiting for the kids to go to sleep). I leave to DC tomorrow at noon, spend the night, and then head straight on to Addis Ababa on Christmas day. I will get there in the morning of the 26th. Belay will bring Ada to me as soon as I get settled.

Ada and I will come home on Thursday the 30th at night, and arrive in the evening of New Year's Eve.

I am full of joy.