http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Minnesota/Golden-Valley/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from North America , United States , Minnesota , Golden Valley en-us Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:21:40 UTC Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:21:40 UTC We arrived home safely on the evening of Dec 1st. Are acclimating to the 5F temp of this morning. Olivia went off to school this morning. It is difficult to express what this journey has meant to us. If you have ever watched StarTrek Next Generation it's like the episode where the Enterprise comes upon a probe in space and Capt. Picard is zapped and experiences a whole life on another plan http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Minnesota/Golden-Valley/blog-224854.html I have been here for five days now and I'm still really enjoying it here. Nothing really new has happened here over the last day. I have a new favorite baby his name is Joshua. He is so cute and I think he really likes me. I haven't been updated on my Grandma yet. I just hope that she's okay and nothing really serious is going to happen. Itrsquos just so disappointing for me that this had http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Minnesota/Golden-Valley/blog-205369.html I have been n Tanzania for a total of four days. I thought that I wouldn't like it here but I actually have grown to like it a lot more than I thought. I really like seeing the kids every day. They are so cute and loveable. I already have a favorite her name is Violet. She just started walking but she needs some more practice she still falls over every nice and a while. Last night we went http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Minnesota/Golden-Valley/blog-205056.html Our boarding passes have been printed and we have only a few more last minute tasks to complete before we leave on this journey to Tanzania. It's nine am in Minnesota and our plane leaves at 3pm. We planned a surprise party for Olivia last night. It went off without a hitch except that she knew about it. We hosted 20 or so teenagers at the local pizza place. They polished off 5 large pizza's. http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Minnesota/Golden-Valley/blog-203663.html Yesterday Tom and Olivia took our two mini dachshunds Alice and Angelina over to Susan K's house who is watching them while we are gone. What a gift to have her do this for us Everything went well with their new friend Rosie the bearded collie. A dose of children's benadryl before they went eased the transition. We will miss them a lot.Yesterday I sold my car. I was kind of sitting on the http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Minnesota/Golden-Valley/blog-203419.html I am still preparing to get ready for my big trip to Africa. I think that I am getting use to the fact that it's accually happening. Befor it didn't even seem real that I was leaving and now I think I'm ready for it. Of course I'll miss all of my friends but I think I'm ready to go now. I still have to pack I've been putting that off so I think it's time to do that. I'm more excited and use http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Minnesota/Golden-Valley/blog-203126.html We leave this week in three days All will be soon be well when we are on the plane and can exhale I looked at the Cradle of Love website Sept 13th and was astounded at the work that has been done on the volunteer apartment. They are working at a record breaking pace to complete it. If you would like to see pictures go to the website at www.cradleoflove.com. The baby home recently received f http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Minnesota/Golden-Valley/blog-202781.html I know this experience should be life changing for me and a lot of people would love to have an opportunity like this. It's just very hard for me to adjust to this whole trip actually happening. It hasn't really sunk in for me that I'm leaving in a couple days. I like how things are going right now and I don't want them to change. I don't really have a choice whether I'm going or not. I'm goi http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Minnesota/Golden-Valley/blog-201986.html We are exactly one week from our departure day We are feeling some anxiety about leaving and somewhat overcome with details of preparation. Olivia's school and teachers have been in contact with us regarding maintaining her education using a similar curriculum. They have been so helpful. Especially her English teacher from last year. He is creating a curriculum for creative writing that wo http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Minnesota/Golden-Valley/blog-201502.html We are getting closer and closer. We are continuing our fundraising for the Orphanage and today received a very generous donation that we weren't expecting. It is such a gift to realize how much support is there for us and for the work we will be doing.Anne and Tom met with the Hopkins North Jr High Principal today to discuss what Olivia will need to do to meet curriculum goals Olivia will need http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Minnesota/Golden-Valley/blog-200789.html It's day minus 12 and we are getting ready for our journey to the Cradle of Love Baby Home in Usa River Tanzania. Tom created this travelogue so that we can keep family and friends updated on a regular basis. We'll take lots of pictures and post them here as well. We get more and more excited each day. We are so grateful for this opportunity.We have received so many generous donations from Fa http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Minnesota/Golden-Valley/blog-200784.html