First days in Uganda

Carson enjoying the beauty of Uganda

 After a very smooth trip, we were so excited to learn about this new country we're moving to. The boys have enjoyed playing outside because it's so cool and beautiful here.

Crazy city traffic

 Driving around Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, has definitely been a big adjustment. As you can see in this picture, the roads are taken over with motorcycles. We are slowly learning our way around.

Carson and I enjoying the porch and cool weather

Last talks with Isaac ("you've got to shower every day and don't forget to wash your sheets every now and then...")

6 days after we arrived in Africa, Eli traveled to Kenya with Isaac to get him settled in his new school, Rift Valley Academy. It is an awesome school and being there confirmed to Eli that Isaac is ready for this step of independence. He's been super busy this first week of school but we are able to talk on the phone and he is really excited to be there. We, on the other hand, are missing him terribly!

Isaac moving into his room at school

What a gift! He gets to room with a long time friend.

This is such a God thing! Isaac has 3 other roommates and one of them is the son of our dear friends Phil and Emily Greene. He started at this school last year so he's been able to show Isaac around and help answer questions.

We get to live in the same country as my parents!

 A big perk about being in Uganda is that my parents still live here too. They are in a town about 4 hours away from the capital so they drove over to have a special family "send off" for Isaac and then to keep the other boys and I company while Eli was away.

Mimo cuddles

Enjoying delicious chai

My high school, life long friend, Emily, and I enjoying time together

Big ol' shopping spree for our new home - we filled 4 carts!

Kampala is not where we will be settling down. This is where our mission base is and where we'll pass through on our way to Kenya to visit Isaac or pick him up at the end of each term. So we have been shopping for what we might need in our new home. We will be moving to our next "stop" which is a town called Gulu, this Saturday. Eli has hired 2 vans to arrive at 6 am on Saturday morning. We will pack all our stuff in one and then all of us plus the extra stuff in the 2nd vehicle and make our way north to Gulu. We've been told the trip can be done in 5 hours without stops but Google maps said it takes 7 1/2 hours so we'll see how it goes with 2 boys, and infant and many many trunks of stuff.

The plan is that we'll be in Gulu town for at least the new few months. We will be house sitting and dog sitting for missionary friends and during that time will be working on where would be the best place for our family to settle. We would really appreciate prayer for wisdom regarding WHERE exactly in northern Uganda to live. 

Safe and sound in Uganda

Our packed bags ready for departure

The last week in the States was a blur of packing, painting, cleaning and tearful goodbyes. But we are so grateful for all our dear friends who gave of their time to help us.

This is the crew who came to carry all our things up to our storage space the day before we left.

Dear friends ordered pizza to be delivered to our house for our last lunch

Though our travels were long they were uneventful and smooth. The big boys enjoyed watching many movies and Carson was a champ. The best answer to prayer of all was arriving in Uganda and all 20 of our bags showing up in tact.

Carson playing on the airport floor

We are staying at a beautiful place. Our favorite spot is the porch where we can see out on beautiful green uganda and hear all the birds singing.

Carson watching his brothers play in the front yard

Gearing up for TRANSITION

We now have only 2 days left in South Carolina before loading about 15 pieces of baggage and our family onto a plane to fly across the globe to Uganda, the Pearl of Africa. We grow more excited every day and the house is getting emptier as we pack up.

We are delighted to report that God has answered prayer after prayer and in a way we couldn't have even hoped. We have all of Carson's important documents, just about all the house projects finished, and even sold our car. We are just waiting on confirmation from a family interested in renting our house and then everything will be done.

Tonight before the boys went to bed we spent some time talking about the transitions ahead of us and discussed how important it is to say goodbyes well, leave with no regrets, and how to have healthy, hopeful expectations for what is ahead. It was a really sweet time and I'm so thankful God gave us that pause in the midst of the crazy!

We fly out of Charlotte on Thursday at 1 pm so please say a prayer for us as you eat your lunch.

Details of Carson's Adoption Story

This was that unreal moment when they placed a sweet baby boy in our arms and we were now in charge of caring for his every needs. We named him Carson John and the hospital gave us our own room in the hospital to bond with and care for Carson. He didn't leave our sides except for his different medical checkups.

Joy, fear, relief and most of all - a flood of love

Bonding with sweet Carson

Totally loved

This was a perfect representation of our days in the hospital: 

coffee, bottles and counting poopy diapers

Lots of skin to skin

1st smiles

Discharged from the hospital on day 3

As you can see by my face in the car, I was in total shock. Were we really allowed to take this sweet baby home? Since we were in another state, we still had to stay another few days before we were cleared to go home to SC but we had special friends to stay with. We began to get into a routine with feedings, diaper changes, and even our first walk outside.

Trying the baby wrap for the first time

Yep, I'm super happy!

1st pediatrician appt at 3 days old

We were actually at the doctor's office in this very room when we got the text from the lawyer that Carson's birth mom signed the papers to give up her rights. Still more shock, total thanksgiving and excitement.

Meeting the Fader grandparents

 When Carson was only a week old we were granted permission to return home to SC. We couldn't wait to get home and introduce him to his big brothers! They all wanted to hold him and cuddle him - we'd prayed for this baby for so long!

Joshua was already eager to learn how to change diapers.

Helping with feedings

Our first family walk

Meeting Mimo (Sorensen grandparents)

Grandpa!

Meeting Uncle Stan

In July Carson got to meet his cousin Silas who was born the day after him!

Meeting Aunt Audrey

Aunt Alyssa came all the way from Michigan to meet Carson and be here for his court finalization

So this is our journey so far. Carson is now 3 months old, officially and forever ours, and now we're all working on his paperwork/passport so he will be ready to move to Uganda with us in only 3 weeks!

The Final Month

Have you ever wondered what the final month in America is like for a missionary family? I am not writing this for pity or for you to feel bad for us. Rather, I was reminded by a friend the other day how hard it is for those who haven't moved their family overseas to understand what it's like and so I thought I'd explain a bit of the "season" we're in. If by chance you're wondering why we had to say no to coming over to your house for dinner or you're wondering why we have seemed distant or in our own little world, this is why:

Our List of Things To Do is looks like this this week:

1. Take down old back yard fence and rebuild new fence
2. Prune bushes and spruce up the yard for renters.
3. Pick out neutral paint colors to paint the inside of the house before we rent it out.
4. Have the house ready to show to potential renters at any time.
5. Finish shopping for each of the 6 members in our family for the next 3 years - the baby in particular is a fun challenge.
6. Sew name tags into all of Isaac's clothing for when he starts at Rift Valley Academy next month.
7. Write a prayer letter with photos to share with our supporters, friends and family where we're going next and what our ministry will be.
8. Edit our wills
9. Finish all paperwork for both SIM and AIM (we are now seconded to Africa Inland Mission so we have paperwork to do for them too.)
10. Make sure we all are up to date with immunizations including baby Carson.
11. Go to court on Friday the 27th to finalize our adoption!
12. Amend Carson's birth certificate with his real name.
13. Drive to Atlanta to apply for Carson's passport in person to speed up the process
14. Begin to pack up the whole house and pack it into the finished room over our garage.
15. Begin to pack and weigh each of our trunks (luggage)

And somehow in addition to all of this, Eli is finishing two difficult PhD courses and I'm trying to keep meals on the table, care for a 3 month old baby, and every now and then do something fun with the boys like take them to the pool since this is our summer after all. :)