Theresa is HOME

Hi everyone, thanks so much for your prayers we are so blessed to be all together again. It was a long wait in Tokyo, about 13hours, but we finally made it on to a Jumbo Jet going to Manila. By the time we got onto the plane, Nasira and I were so tired that we fell asleep right away and didn't even notice that we sat on the plane for another 2 hours before we took off. We waited for many more passengers coming in from all over.
At one point, the flight attendant woke me up and asked me if I was okay. I quickly realized that I was so tired that I had fallen asleep with my head folded into my lap!! He was concerned that I wasn't okay!
We arrived in Manila at 5:30am to make it through customs and immigration smoothly. I was overjoyed to be embraced by my husband when I finally got to him!
Nasira wasn't sure if she wanted anything to do with him right away, but shortly after arriving at the hotel, she realized who he was when he started wrestling with her on the bed.
When we finally got home-home, again, I was overjoyed to see the other 3 girls! They had written a welcome home sign in chalk on the front driveway. They were pretty happy to have their mom and baby sister back. It has taken a while to get back into the routine of mommy-of-4, but nonetheless, I am so thankful to be home!! 5 Weeks is a long time to be away from the family!
Now, we are looking onwards to studying Tagalog, so we all feel confident enough to have full conversations with our fellow neighbors. I want to be good enough to be able to counsel my moms during prenatals and births, to be able to really get to the heart of our wonderful moms, and to be able to not only use my hands to spread the Love of Jesus, but my heart through words.
We will be hiking up into the mountains tomorrow to see some of our pregnant moms and do some prenatals.
Maiya and Ayda both have recitals on Friday, so I have to make my way to the mall (it's about an hour away by bus) in order to buy Maiya a black skirt/white shirt, and a white ballerina suit for Ayda.......They are growing up so fast. Maiya has been playing the violin for a few months now and Ayda switched half way through from art to Ballet....she loves it!
Hannah is now writing her ABC's and sounding them out as she does it and is eating more than me now!!!!! Nasira is so happy to be finally home, in one place for longer than a week with more than just one familiar face.
We have almost gotten enough permission and permits, taxes and all that fun stuff finished in order to get the power and water to our land.
Jason and I are patiently waiting to get our tents in the mail from some boxes that I had sent off from Idaho when I was there. We decided that we would move into a couple of tents for a little bit, while we enjoy the land and start building our home. We thought that it would be some good family time, tenting and camping. The girls are finished school at the end of the month, I think that it will be a really special time (if we don't get eaten by red ants, that is!!).

Again, I just wanted to thank everyone for their prayers while I was in transit. I really felt like God had me in His hand, nasira and I were so well looked-after. We were really tired, but never once felt like we were in danger or afraid of what may happen. My heart goes out to all of the Japanese people who are feeling the harsh after effects of the earthquake.

It's sooooo good to be home!!