This morning while I was laying in bed, I over heard Kiefer and Caleb fighting with eachother. (Note that they are twins, same age and same height)
They were going back and forth saying......
No, I'm bigger.
No, I'm bigger
I'm married
No, your not
Yes, when I turned 4 I got married
No, you didn't
Yes, I did
Well, I'm taller
Well, I'm older
No, I'm older.........
This went on for some time. I was laughing and enjoying my little babies, that aren't so little anymore.

Ok, this is such a cute story for me. It puts a grin on my face when I think about it.
Yesturday afternoon I decided to go running. I haven't gone in about 7 weeks, so I thought I would get with it again. I put on my running clothes and headed down the stairs. As I headed down, Marcelo was heading up. Lets just say it was the first time he has seen my legs. (They don't really wear shorts where he grew up, especially the hermanas:) ) He started rumbing my legs with this stare in his eyes. He then went to Bryanna half laughing telling her I have shorts on. BUT, then I got on the tredmill. He stared at me for some time. I imagine he was thinking, what is she doing, how does that work(she is running in place on this machine with this thing that keeps moving), why in the world would she want to run in place, that is just odd.
I kept laughing to myself as I watched him looking in amazement. I have to be honest I ask myself those same questions sometimes.
Walking and excercise is a way of life there. You walk to where you want to go or take a taxi(if you can afford it or find one empty) I didn't see anyone "run" down there until the last couple of days. They looked like visitors.
Speaking of visitors. The last week Rich and I saw a couple walking down the street. My first thought was, "Oh, they surely aren't from here, they kinda stand out." I had to laugh at myself when I realized what I thought and said to Rich. After being there for some time. I felt much apart of the city and the people. I forgot that when people looked at me they were thinking the same thing about us, "they sure aren't from around here." I guess all things are in a matter of perspective :).

Home Life

We're back into the groove now! I worked my first full day and Marcelo and the family had a really good day. It snowed a little last night so he got to go outside and play and have another one of his "firsts". I'll share a few of those in this post as well. I wanted to share what our lawyer told us about the last 2 days in Ecuador. Everywhere she went people said what we were doing was impossible yet here we are. We told how we had the crazy day of traveling to get his identification card. What she told us of her day is that as she hurried to the airport and arrived there they told her boarding was closed. She showed her ticket and said the plane wasn't even there yet. It just so happened that thick clouds covered the little town Catamayo where the airport was and delayed the plane just enough that they let her on. She then went to Quito to work on our papers. She first went to get some papers signed. The lady asked if everything was legal because no one ever comes with the papers dated the same date. She showed them her plane ticket and everything and they were surprised. They then told her that the Lady who normally signs those was out on sick leave and the other person with authority had resigned the day before. There was no one with the authority in the country to sign the paper. They said we'd have to wait until Jan. 4th, 2010 and someone was appointed. Our little hero lawyer then asked what she needed to do. They said they couldn't do anything. She asked again. They told her the steps that had to happen to get all this done. She then took all the legal paperwork from person to person getting signatures and approvals until someone who had never done this was appointed. This new person then procedes to ask her questions about us she doesn't know like where we were born, birthdates, etc... She tries to call me but I don't hear the phone. Finally this person says she has one more minute, I answer the phone and she asks me to text her the info. I had no idea the hurry she was in. It took me a while because of the cheap little phone I had. She called in the middle asking why I hadn't sent it, I told her it would be there. I find out later the person left, she ran down the stairs, blocked the doorway with her little body, and told them to wait, the info was coming. The paper got signed.

The next day another paper had to be signed. The only man to sign that was away on religious holiday praying. She had to get a flight this same morning (the 23rd) to make it to Guayaquil to work on the Visa. They said she'd have to wait again. Someone contacted him, she said he told her, " a child is even more important than this", left where he was at, and came and signed the paper. She then couldn't find a ticket to Guayaquil because of the holidays. She spoke to a friend in the government who got her on the plane because of "special government" business. Off she went. This is the day we had to wait until noon for the passport. Which we did get around noon. We ate and were back at the house when she called and needed the scanned copy of the passport. That story is recorded as well. It was needed come to find out for the US doctor to sign the necessary paperwork for the Visa. With this copy they started the paperwork for us to just go, show the original on the 24th and get the final paperwork at the US consulate. We made it to Guayaquil as you know. Ran around all morning and finally caught our planes. Due to many days of looking at different return options I can say I felt inspired as to what planes to book and the times of them. It was really the ONLY option to get home that night.

So many miracles over the past month. It's hard to describe how our faith in the Lord and his miracles has increased. I guess some could look at it and just say we were lucky or we had a hard working lawyer. But we know that through the prayers, fasting, and faith of us, our family, and hundreds of friends, and maybe even some people we don't even know that God heard those and answered them. We can never doubt this.

Marcelo has enjoyed a lot of firsts. His first plane ride, his first water fountain in the airport. He sucked on the fountain itself, I had to show him how to sip from the top of the stream, very cute. His first bathrooms with the automatic water on, handdryer, and flushers. His first home with a family in it. First older brother to share of room with. Him and Trey just layed there looking at eachother with the blankets up to their noses and a slight grin on their faces that first night. His first snow and really cold weather. His first bike, riding it outside, 39 degrees, with a cold drizzle on Christmas morning, he knows only one speed and that is FAST!

I'm sure Jill has some more firsts and I'll let her add those as they come. Thank you everyone again for all the help, prayers, and faith. It's so good to be home yet we miss a lot of our Ecuador experience. It seems as if it passed like a dream and here we are. What a blessing to know that God lives and loves his children. He is there always waiting for us if we will but come close to him and ask. May God bless you all.

Just wanted to let everyone know we got his Visa yesterday by 10:30 a.m. I ended up doing a bunch of research on flights and bought 2 seperate tickets. One to Miami, and then Miami to Cincinnati. Couldn't find anything to Louisville. But the goal was to get home before Christmas morning. We even had enough time to stop by the Guayaquil Temple before catching our flight. It was a pretty crazy day. A lot of questions and stops to check passports when you're taking an Ecuadorian child into the states. After leaving and hour and a half late, going through immigration, customs, rechecking our bags (running through the Miami Airport), going through security again. We made it to Cincinnati at 11:55 p.m. My wonderful father picked us up and we were home at 1:30 a.m. When we went to look at all the kids they all woke up so we had a great reunion in the middle of the night. All the kids then slept well. We stayed up til 4 a.m. prepping for Christmas and before 8 this morning we were up. It has been wonderful to finally be together as a family after a year of working and expectations. The kids have all gotten along great and he loves being with Bryanna who just dotes all over him. So many miracles have happened along the way. I will share some in another post just to show how each day of impossibilities turned into sufficient each day to get us where we need to be to get to the next step. What we were told would be 6-8 weeks ended this morning at day 3 weeks, 6 days. We have seen the hand of the Lord in each step. Thank you all for the prayers and faith. It would not happened without it. Merry Christmas to everyone. What a great day to join together with all Christian faiths everywhere to recognize and celebrate the birth of our Lord, the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. We have felt the true spirit of Christmas this season more than any other. Thanks to all who followed this journey with us.

Rich and Jill

So, I'm writing yesturdays update today. I couldn't keep my eyes open last night to write.
Yesturday, at noon, we got Marcelo's passport. It felt so good to finally get it. I say finally, but when I think we got his passport in one day it is amazing seeing we waited 6-8 weeks to get ours.
We went back to the hotel to say our goodbyes to some of the people who have been so wonderful to us. We also had a huge lunch there, since we didn't know when we would get to eat again.
When we thought that we would have to walk the couple of miles home,( because there were so many people out and about, and taxis were full and not going into the center of the city) we saw a truck from the airport sitting at the corner. Rich went to ask him if he could take us to the airport at 3:30. He ended up taking us to the house and picking us up. How wonderful.
In the meantime, Rich had to find a scanner and email a copy of Marcelo's passport to our lawyer. This isn't easy to do. Not alot of people have a scanner. He finally called our realitor and it all worked out with in 15 minutes of having to leave for the airport. Marcelo and I chilled at home while he was out. We went on to Lds.org and watched one of the little videos on Christmas and then we found where you can listen to the hymes. So we listened to some of the Christmas songs. He loved it and it relaxed him so much he fell a sleep.
As we were about to walk out the door to leave for the airport, I looked around the house. This place has been our home for the last month. In just a short moment of time so much as happened. We are leaving Marcelo's home town. I have grown to love so many things about this place. I love the warm greetings and the warm good-byes, the mountains, walking to places, so many people who have made our stay so nice and have helped in so many ways. A flood of emotions hit that I didn't expect. This whole experience has been such a growth for us all.
Before we knew it we were sitting at this very small airport waiting for our plane to get there. The plane was late. When Marcelo's eyes first saw his first plane his eyes just about popped out. It was so fun to watch. He had his first experience on a plane. I love the firsts of things. He did great.
Our hotel in Guayaquil is so nice. It is the first time we have had airconditioning in a month. Our queen bed isn't a true queen, but it is longer than the beds we have been sleeping in. AND, it is SOFT. Oh, the pleasures of life. This is the first time Marcelo has slept in air conditioning.
WELL, THE GREAT NEWS IS WE BOUGHT OUR TICKETS LAST NIGHT. WE ARE HEADING HOME AND WILL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is hard to believe we are at this point. Our lawyer was in Quito trying to get this certain paper done. The lady she was to work with was sick the other lady was out of town. Everyone she talked to said it ws impossible to get it all done before Christmas. But, she called yesturday morning with the paper in her hand. We told her we had many people praying for us. She told us that as she worked she could feel those prayers.
Thankyou you all so much for your prayers. They have been felt and it has allowed the impossible to be possible.
Today, we still need to get his visa done and some other things, but we are here. I can't believe it. I'm so excited to get home and be with all my other children. They have been so great through this whole thing. So strong!!! I appreciate everyone's help, love , and prayers. You have allowed this Christmas Miracle to be that much sweeter. I may never know all the people or all the things that took place during this adventure to help us. BUT, my heart will always be full of love and gratitude. Thank you and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Crazy day 1 is now behind us. We woke up this morning and had to be at the "Registro Civil" at 8am. We met our two lawyers there. We ran around to different parts of the building for the first hour first getting Marcelo's birth certificate canceled, then a new one made with his new last name "NEAL". It took a lot of begging by our lawyers each step. Our main lawyer Ximena had a flight at 10am booked to Quito to begin the other parts of the process there but she needed to have certain information with her to do that. She didn't leave for the airport until 9:25 and the airport is 35 minutes away. When my phone rang with her number at 10:10 I prayed it wasn't to tell us she missed the flight, but instead she said how she was on the plane. If she hadn't made it there is no way we could be done by Christmas. In the meantime we finished all the paperwork there to find out they weren't doing new "cedulas" (identification cards) in our town all this week. We have to have that, to get his passport, to be able to fly home. The person in charge was out in the small towns to make identification cards for them. With a little talking and a very softened heart the main guy here in Loja told us we could go there and get it (45 min. drive to Vilcabamba). He was heading there, so he gave us a ride in the government issued truck, we pulled up with him where they were doing it, and we had his card within 40 min. Truly a miracle. We then rode the long, twisting, mountain roads back to Loja to go apply for his passport. The normally stop taking the applications at 12 noon. Thus the rush. We got there at 11:40. We finished all the application but had to go to the bank to make an official deposit and bring the receipts back before they could send the application to another town for the next day passport. We got to the bank and there was a line of at least 60-80 people. Somehow our lawyer went talking to people and got 3rd in line and we were out in 10 minutes. They got the application off at 12:15. Unfortunatly the town where they send the application electronically has its lights go out from 12-2, so they didn't get it until after that. They said it could be Thurs. before we get the passport which we told them was not possible because I have tickets to fly to Guayaquil Wed. evening. They said they'd make some calls. Please add prayers that we'll get the passport tomorrow and that our lawyer in Quito will accomplish everything that needs to be done so we can get our Visa Thursday morning, and we can get our behinds home. The rest of the day was pretty relaxed, drizzling a little. We went to the park and Jill was feeling a little under the weather also. We have seen the Lords hand continue to work with us and have faith that if we keep moving forward we'll see the blessings in front of us. We have started packing our bags. Hard to believe we are gettting this close. Love and appreciate you all.
Rich

We sit here at 9pm. The electricity just went out which is weird. It normally only goes out between 4 and 6:30. Luckily we have a little juice left in the computer. It's been a pretty low key day. Tomorrow we get crazy trying to finish up the last bit of paperwork here in Loja. We went to the travel agency and reserved tickets to Guayaquil. We can't buy them yet because tomorrow we hope to have to get Marcelo's identification card with his new last name on it which is necessary to buy plane tickets. So here's what has to happen in the next 60 hours. We work here in Loja to get Marcelo's birth certificate cancelled with his old names, new one made, identification card made, and passport ready to go. In the meantime our lawyer her will be flying to Quito to meet with the main adoption people in the country to get a specific paper needed for his Visa. When all that is done we all fly to Guayaquil and meet our lawyer there, we then will go to the US Consulate and hope to obtain a Visa for Marcelo within a few hours time. Once all that happens we then will need to find last minute plane tickets to the USA hopefully on Christmas Eve in time to have Christmas with the whole family. Keep praying. We know all things are possible if it's the Lord's will. We feel like we've done all that we can now and we are letting it go and putting it into His hands. While Jill and Marcelo went to the park I went to get cash out of th e ATM. It took 5 different ATM's until I could get enough out. They aren't real reliable here. There's no guarantee they'll have enough money in them. After all that this morning we couldn't find a taxi home, everyone was full. I think a lot of people are in town for the holidays. So we walked the couple miles back to the house and relaxed.We also said goodbye to Rosa who has cleaned the house and done some laundry a couple times a week for us. I swear we are both standing at the same level in the picture. I felt a little under the weather and Jill as always took great care of me. She even made the herbal tea drink here that's called Horchata. It's very healing is what we hear. I do feel better now I must admit. Marcelo has seemed today to understand more fully that we're leaving and that yesterday was his last time seeing his friends for a while. He's had a couple sad moments but he's done well. He even seemed to be closer to us, in a more family way if that makes sense. He was really cute today washing the dinner dishes. He had on the gloves and my head flashlight (because the lights were out and we use it when it's darker in the house). It was really cute. It's been hard hearing all the kids at home have been sick with the flu. We are eternally grateful for all those who have helped with our kids at home. We know that we'll probably never know everyone who has helped us in so many ways and we wish we could thank everyone in person. We really feel blessed to have such great family, friends, and employees who have done and sacrificed for us. Thank you forever. We love you all and hope to see you soon.

Rich