Great News!

So we went out today trying to just get away for a while and when we got back we received the news that we had gotten our "sentensia"! So what this means is that on Monday I will be traveling back to Chinquinquira to pick up the final paperwork on the children from the Colombian Government (the children don't need to go so Donna will be spending the day here at the hotel with them). On Tuesday of next week we will be starting the process of applying for the children's passports and paperwork to bring them back to the States. So it looks like we will be heading back home a week from tomorrow!

I didn't think this was any big deal - that it was all just part of the process...but when we got the news I cannot believe the sense of relief that Donna and I felt. We actually are gonna make it home before the Steelers season opener! We had ourselves a little celebration here tonight and at dinner all the other residents at the hotel were congratulating us and toasting our good news. This place is great...and the people here are even greater!

Of course we will keep you updated on everything as it happens.

As I mentioned today we took an outing with some great friends we have met here. They were so great with helping out with the kids while we went to the Catedral de Sal (Salt Cathedral). It is literally an active salt mine with a Cathedral carved out of it. So as you are walk farther and farther down into the earth towards this Cathedral there are miners walking past you who work in this place as well. As you descend down there are the stations of the cross carved out of salt with some really cool lighting arrangements to accentuate the sculptures. It's pretty amazing when you finally get down to the Cathedral itself. With it's HUGE cross carved out of salt as well. Due to the lighting (and lack thereof) It's pretty difficult to get good shots of the sculptures or the tunnels - but check out the website - it's in Spanish but they have some pretty good pics on there. I'll try to post some of the ones I took later on.

Speaking of pics here's a few new ones of the kids (every time I go to take a picture of Donna she refuses to let me):

Here's the beginning of the nightly "dressing/undressing" ritual with Anji:

Here's Carol today at lunch on or outing - she really LOVES to have her picture taken:

And then the three of them enjoying - yet again - ice cream:

And finally here's the opening of the Salt mine that we visited to day:

Again - we'll definitely keep you updated on what's going on next week - thanks again for everyone's prayers and love - we could not have done this without all of the support you have provided.

Scott