Mahalo

...means "thank-you." Thanks to everyone for your prayers, thoughts, kindness, and support.

It is tempting to erase the last couple blog entries, but that seems silly now. For any of you confused viewers, the adoption did not work out due to circumstances beyond our control. We are recovering, and doing pretty well. At this point, it is time to look at the bright side.

So, how was our vacation to CA? Well, here were a few highlights:

1. Hanging with the CA Edwards. We loved Blake's long hair, his presents, and his personality. We adore Rachel's high heeled shoes, bear hugs, and the way she said "Uuuuke" for Luke. We loved Ellie's bright eyes. Mostly, we loved hanging out with Kristen and Cory. They were very gracious, and even let us put 1,000 miles on their car.

2. Staying in Hangtown, USA. We were able to stay in the Cary House Hotel, a "charming" establishment in Placerville built in 1857. It is considered to the be the second most haunted hotel in America, according to the Travel Channel. It's elevator is the second oldest west of the Mississippi, built in 1926. Mark Twain even frequented the hotel in 1888.

3. We met up with my dad's mission companion and BYU roommate, and had a grand stay with them. They had a gorgeous library and piano room--two of my ultimate dreams. They were also very friendly, and we hope to have a lasting relationship.

4. We were able to eat at many fine establishments not found on Kauai, such as Macaroni Grill, Olive Garden, and Round Table Pizza.

5. We had lots of phone calls from family and friends. It was a good time to "catch up."

6. We had the opportunity of sleeping on 5 different beds! You can't get that at home. We could sleep on 2 different beds here, and possibly the Pack-n-Play if absolutely necessary.

7. We went to Lake Tahoe. Granted, we were there about 45 min, and most of that time was spent looking for a restroom. It was beautiful, though, and a great outlet for our anxiety. We loved hearing the sound of the water, and realized how addicted we are to living near the ocean.

8. We learned about generosity. Some people really are not inherently selfish, and if they are, they are doing a fantastic job hiding it. We had a foster family involved who opened up their home indefinitely to us. They were also trying to adopt a child, and received no compensation for their willingness to help us. They did not even know us! What a beautiful sacrifice they were willing to make!

9. We got some shopping exursions in. Brady purchased a few pairs of pants, and I got some new shirts. We also got our traditional "Pumpkin Spice" candle. Yummy.

10. We saw Fall! Seasons do not change so much around here, so it was fun to see bright red trees, crunch in some leaves, and enjoy the crisp temperatures of northern CA.

11. We were parents for two days. It was awesome--no sleep, a red bum, and spit up. Bring it on.

12. Due to changed travel arrangments, we were able to visit with Eric and Jillian in Hawaii for all of 24 hours! We were happy to see them, and the time we had together.

Our vacation was filled with new adventures. We are happy to be home. We feel a little like we need a vacation from this vacation!