SAYING GOODBYE

This is a photo we took at bible study on Wednesday morning.  Our group had a sendoff for Miduk, which included his favorite sausage rolls, lots of cards, hugs, and well wishes-not to mention a Texas Rangers baseball hat that Miduk is wearing (backwards) in this photo!  We brought his prayer shawl today, the shawl that was given to him when he went in for his surgery, and prayed over it for a safe journey for Miduk, and that he would always feel God's love and ours.

This is Connie (and Soldier the Beagle!) who came over on Miduk's last night to say goodbye.

Crazy Tim with his crazy hat/hair always makes us laugh!!!  Miduk is gonna miss bowling with Tim.

Miduk had his final appointment with Dr. Birch at Scottish Rite Hospital this week. Kartika met us there and gave Miduk a University of Dallas t-shirt and hat, a Scottish Rite t-shirt, and some beautiful rosary beads to take back home with him. She is so sweet and told Miduk he could email her any time.  I am so glad we met Kartika, she has been such a huge help with translations and is so sweet to Miduk.  We had not seen her in a while, and I think she was very surprised at how well he is speaking English!  A couple of weeks ago, I asked friends and family to write a short note of encouragement to Miduk.  Kartika willingly took on the task of translating all of those letters into Bahasa so that Miduk could read them more easily.  I collected them all in a folder and gave them to Miduk so that he could read them on the flight home, and read them again and again in the years to come. 

The x-rays and appointment went well, and the good news is that Dr. Birch told Miduk that he has probably three more years of growing to do!  Not to mention, he weighs ALMOST 89 pounds!  He arrived weighing 75 lbs in early November.  What a noticeable change!  He is also approximately 3/4 of an inch taller and looks so healthy.  I wish I could be there to see his family's reaction when they set eyes on him for the first time!!!  His voice has also changed since he has been here.  :)

Miduk had a great week-fishing, playing basketball, and go-karting with Ben.  He swam in the pool a lot too.  :)  And gave Sugar lots of love.....