Greetings from the land of rice, scooters and dark haired grannies telling you to dress your kid warmer.
We had a nice weekend with day trips to the Red River and a friend's house in Hanoi. I can't tell you what a balm for the soul it was to stay for lunch at the Chau's house. To actually be in a home with a kitchen and dining room was almost too much for my weary heart. It was all I could do to not chain myself to the front door and refuse to leave. Sherman Chau was an old friend of Ryan's from Hong Kong. I met him in 1997 when I was visiting Ryan's family there. He and his lovely wife Becky have been living in Vietnam for 6 years and invited us over for a lunch on Saturday. They live in a nice gated community in a quieter section of Hanoi and it so soothing to not be within earshot of constant honking. We spent a wonderfully normal afternoon with them and to top it off, we ate the most delicious fried chicken for lunch. It was a very nice reminder of home.
On Sunday we spent the day on a Red River Tour. We boarded a boat at 7:30a.m. and spent the day rollin' down the river on a tour boat. We made three stops during the tour. At two, we visited some temples and wandered around tiny little villages. For the third stop we went to a ceramics village where they made everything from rice bowls to vases. The tour was over by 5:00p.m. where we collapsed in our rooms. There is something about fresh air the makes one so tired!
It was a nice weekend but I'm glad it's over. Now that the week has started again, I'm hoping that some progress can be made towards getting us home. According to some sources, someone is going down to Jonah's birth province to do some investigating. Hopefully everything will be found to be in order and we will get the okay to head home. Please pray that everything from here on out will go smoothly and that we will be home shortly.
I almost forgot! To top off our weekend, Mom and I caught the Packers game on television. We ate chips, drank Diet Coke and cheered as the Pack played their way to a huge victory. It was so awesome I contemplated changing Jonah's middle name to Brett. I can't wait to cheer them on in the Super Bowl from snowy Minnesota.
6 comments:
Hey you little darlins-
Happy to hear that you had an nice weekend! Sounded like fun - especially the Packer game part!! Who knew? All was much easier to read than the Snake Village trip. We will have to plan to have the whole family together for that Super Bowl game the day after Abby's wedding. What a fun weekend that will be! Love you much and rooting for you every inch of your journey-
Nan and Gary
Hi from the land of cold, rednecks and the pack! Love reading each of your blogs. Thanks for hanging in there! Hope you pack some of that snake wine in your suitcase so we can toast at Super Homecoming, Super Bowl, Super Day After Wedding and Super Man Birthday(Pete)Party at our house!! I do like the Jonah Bret Beach idea!! We pray more than daily for your speedy and safe return. Love and Hugs, Annie
Betsy dear
You are on my heart every day- and the names of each member of your family on Cy's tongue every night. The pictures are glorious. Your son is a charmer. Certainly the trip has not been all smiles, as the pictures portray. You are undoubtedly exhausted (physically & emotionally), and more than ready to be back in your bed. Fortunately, "endurance" is your specialty. And this bonding time with Jonah will lay the foundation for your homecoming. So, hang in there sweet lady. Sending oodles of love and lots of empathy on trying to feed a boy who doesn't want to eat. Cy has survived so far (all be it with the help of a feeding tube- hah!). Jonah will too. Love you friend- Jenn
Annie has it right: stick with the J Brett Beach plan.
Since the Vikings are done and the Oles are done then we will root for the Pack too! Hello and Wishes for a return home soon!
Tim, Christi, Elsa
Frida and Peterson Swanson Anderson
Bea, Bets, & Jonah,
Prayers are sent often throughout the day, to hasten your safe return to America--We all need to meet this Jonah Brett Beach!!!!!!!!!!!! Bets---we knew Minnesota would never catch on!!! I have to say WOW!!!!!! to Bea for trying the snake blood---has the climate gotten to you??? We'll have something better waiting for you when yoou get home----or maybe the snake wine-whatever!!
Hope you get to see the Pack this weekend, to get you pumped up for the Super Bowl, when everyone will be together!!!!!
Keep the faith.
Mike, Barb, (&Abby)
Hey we received your email from Seanna Scott who is in Los Angeles. She asked us to pray for you all. We also just got back from Vietnam from adopting our son. We were there for 5 weeks so we can definitely resonate with what you all are going through. You have a beautiful son! I'm truly sorry for the delay and having to be away from your daughter. We had to send our 2 year old son home with his dad after 3 weeks. The only thing that brought me comfort was knowing so many people were praying for our quick return. Know that we are praying for you too. Reading your blog brought back...memories. And we know all about the old ladies telling you to dress your kid warmer!
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