Georgia and It's Southern Belles!!!

Well, we made it here to see our dear friends, the Willis family (Jason & Heather adopted Rocco), whom we met, traveled, lived, laughed & cried with for almost 3 weeks in VN last March 2007 when adopting our babies from Ninh Thuan, Vietnam! Both Rocco & Maile lived & played together everyday at the same orphanage and just found out even slept side by side without realizing their fate would bond them forever. We traveled STAND BY on SWA on Fri. June 20, which I don't know I would do again with 3 KIDS & husband. Getting ALL 5 of us on one plane to our final destination of Birmingham, AL (where the Willis family would then pick us up to take us to GA) would prove to be a very long day...ALMOST as exhausting as traveling home to USA with Maile! After settling in, Rocco warmed up very quickly to our kids and they have been playmates since. ABOVE Pix: We are in turquoise shirts, reunited with our Ninh Thuan Buddies, like time had stood still and picking up where we left off...from last meeting, March 29, 2007 (Rocco's 1st B-day & saying good byes in the Airport.)

Our first full day with the Willis' will be a hard day to beat - we got to hang with them on the WILLIS FARM, just 5 mins. away from their country home and with over 130 acres of raw land, 2 ponds, barns, cows, bulls, turkeys, deer, etc...there is A LOT of work to be done!!! The Carlson crew got to DRIVE the Tractor (seen in the ABOVE Pic.) and if YOU thought I was a crazy driver in FRISCO with my Suburban, you should see my drive this tractor. I tried to spear the 1200 lbs. bale of hay you see above and lifted the handle too soon. YIKES...needless to say, the hay tipped over on it's side and we rammed into it like a brick wall. Other than a bruised ego and a golf cart of Don, Heather & my kids watching (& laughing) - we were ALL okay (physically) :). Working on the farm (well as least when the Carlsons come to visit) - it becomes a day of VERY INEXPENSIVE Entertainment...the Willis' enjoyed educating us (*ME*) on how the "shredded wheat" looking hay after a VERY labor intensive project turns into "circles" - called bales of hay!!!

Now, if that was NOT enough, getting behind the wheel when HEATHER IS DRIVING is far more HAZARD to my health (both mental and physical) than I would ever imagine. She decided to take us on these ZEALOUS golf cart tours up and down hills, dirt paths, forest, etc...to show us the land. Poor Joseph, my conservative, sweet son would YELL & SCREAM, "Slow doowwwnnnn, Don't forget Maile's in the cart!!!!" It was halariously precious!!! But the FUNNIEST site Heather and I will NOT ever forget was when Heather asked Samuel, Maile, Joseph & I if we wanted to feed the bull & cows??? Well, not even 30 secs. later, we look back to watch JOSEPH's "Forest Gump" RUN (about 10 blocks) back to where Don, Rocco, Jason & his parents were!!! Joseph was running so fast, there was a trail dust clouding up behind him as he ran, bless his heart!!! We was so terrified.....NOW, I know rightfully so, HOW SMART Joseph was - getting out while he could!!!

Heather gathers the feed & hay & puts it on the back of the golf cart & teases them with a taste to get them to "follow her to another location!!" (here's a "FAMILY PORTRAIT" as Heather calls it - with the WHITE BULL in the back - TOP photo) Well, little would we realize HOW FAST Cows can CHASE after their food. This "safari" ride turned VERY SCARY for a few LONG seconds as I felt like we were in the movies on a GREAT ESCAPE mission. Maile was screaming, I was trying NOT to look back, but then had to get a pic. of the "MAD COWS" coming after us...it was surreal, scary and almost life threatening had they gotten any closer & flipped our golf cart with us in it like a pancake-(see LOWER photo)!!! YIKES...NOW we can laugh about it, but that was definitely a terrifying moment for Samuel, Maile & I...and maybe even my dear friend and crazy woman driver, Heather :). Haha...That is definitely one for the books to tell the grandkids someday! All's well that ends well....whew....close call, but we are A--OK! :)

SAT PM - June 21st - we got the privilege of meeting Sandra & Glenn, neighbors across the country road of the Willis' to have our kids ride on their sweet horse, Liberty. Both Rocco & Maile's first time and they were champs, so brave & strong!!! Joseph, Samuel, Maile & Rocco loved it and here's a precious pic. (ABOVE) of Rocco & Maile saddling up as s duo on the horse...a whole 45# combined - if that (Rocco - age 2 yrs. old & abt. 31.5" tall and 20.5# and Maile - age 3.5 yrs. old & 33.5"tall and 24.5#) They are SO SWEET with each other, we wonder if THEY sense or remember any of their EARLY days together in Ninh Thuan, they were both there together for about 8-9 mos., day in and day out...hmmmm....
Here's the VIETNAMESE clan from around the world, Joseph & Samuel met Rocco for the first time a couple days ago and love on him & play with him like a little brother!!! All united for the visit and we are blessed and amazed on how well they get along and love on each other... We have thoroughly enjoyed our time so far with the Willis family, hearing JASON preach as Senior Pastor @ his church, Lakeview Baptist Church this AM was an honor & highlight as well. We will also participate in the LBC - VBS program this week while we are here and already made a round of Putt Putt golf together...We are humbled and BLESSED by the friendship, kindness and generosity from sharing time, the Willis' house & church family & their lives with us...Wow!!!! THANK YOU God for them, what a gift not only for us...but the legacy of our sweet Ninh Thuan babies!!!! We see the handiwork of God everyday but especially through the eyes of our adopted children who teach us about Love, Loss, Life and yet...Trusting again.... (Jer. 29:11)