It's "Finished"

When we order food in a restaurant, we often get the response "it's finished". When the electricity goes out, it's "finished".   When anything is not available, completed or over, it is "finished".  So, it seems fitting to say that on the day that Ghana lost a heartbreaking match with Uruguay in the World Cup quarter finals, I put the kids on a plane to the US - this phase of life in Ghana is "finished". 

Our Ghana Family (Sophie, Rosie, Japha, Patience, Xavier, Zig Zag, Kirsten)

The last few days of good-byes were sweet.  My favorite was visiting the family of Xavier's best friend, Atis.  The kids all gathered together to pose for a photo (below) and Atis' little sister (a budding drama queen) declares that everyone must sing "the anthem".  Given that their family is Swiss and Serb and has lived in both Rwanda and Ghana for most of the kids' lives, my kids are American and were living in Ghana for the past year, I was not sure which anthem would be sung.  But, all the kids knew - and they sang us a rousing rendition of "God Bless My Homeland Ghana".  It made tears come to my eyes and was one of the sweetest things I have ever witnessed! 

The kids' last full day in Ghana consistied of a visit to Patience, our housekeeper's,  village.  It was one of the ones most affected by the floods of a few weeks ago.  The kids and Colleen took a big bag of rice and lots of clothes to the village.  Sophie was able to get some amazing shots of village life and the juxtaposition of the joy displayed on people's faces with the devastation of the floods. 

It started pouring rain when we woke up to head to the airport yesterday.  We arrived with ankle-deep water on the airport drive and I told the kids all of Ghana was crying because they were leaving.  The rain stopped about the time their flight departed.  Twenty-four hours after getting the kids to the airport in Accra, they have arrived safely in Seattle with Colleen.  All went well, although it sounds like none of the three got any sleep to speak of.  I am lying around moping with the puppies, missing the kids and all the amazing energy they brought to our world here in Ghana, remembering the countless adventures we shared in the past year, thinking of the profound ways every one of us has changed and feeling grateful knowing that there are so many people on Vashon that are happy they are back.

Yes, this phase of their lives is "finished" but the impact of it will no doubt last forever.........