HE'S COMING HOME!!!!

Just a quick update to let everyone know that the loud screaming you heard coming from the Pacific Northwest was from us - shouting for joy that Gabriel will be coming home! That's right, our boy is coming home to Alaska! WOOHOO!!! We could NOT be happier! We got the email - after waiting 6 weeks and sending 3 urgent emails and getting ready to call our congressmen to call them on our behalf - and our appointment is on January 15. We have to go back to the Embassy on the 16th to pick up all the paperwork and we leave on the 17th for home. Of course, getting back here is always a ....well...let's just call it a special treat, so we won't get home until the 18th.

We are going to leave Kodiak on the 12th for warmer weather and my other "sunshine" (I love to sing the Sunshine songs to my little ones). We have our flight and hotel taken care of already, except the flight to Anchorage. It's easier to book two separate tickets for this particular flight. Our flight doesn't actually leave Anchorage until 1 a.m. on the 13th, but I think we may try to get out on the morning flight. The weather is so iffy right now, that I'd rather be safe. The early morning flights almost always get out, but the later in the day it gets the harder it is to get there. This time of year especially. It's supposed to snow everyday up to and including the day we leave, so that may be better. I'm waiting on that to talk to Zach.

We are probably going to use our companion fare we get from having the Alaska Airlines Visa. Can I just say how great that thing is? Sure there is an annual fee, but we have received SO many miles and we get a companion fare each year. SO worth it! We pay almost all of our bills with that and buy everything on it, then pay it off every payday. We try to at least. We got a little busy one month and forgot, so we had a big payment that month, but it was still paid off.

Anyway....sorry there are no pictures this time. I've been going nuts trying to get everything settled. Finding a hotel was a nightmare. Apparently there is going to be a convention with presidents from several countries, so the hotels were booked, but we actually got the hotel we wanted. Thank you, God for hearing our cries!

We watched Facing the Giants last night at the recommendation of a TON of people. * SPOILER ALERT - if you haven't watched the movie, don't read this.* It took a while to get past the horrible acting, but it had a great story and message. When the wife said that she would still love God if she couldn't get pregnant I was almost bawling. I don't know if I could have ever said that out loud when we were going through treatments. I was too hurt and angry and confused. Then I kept crying when the nurse ran out to give her the good news. Did you see how she jumped up and down and hugged the nurse? Yeah, that was me with my Dr. Dr. Walters and I both cried and jumped and screamed together. So it was very cheesy and it's not really one I care to see again, but I loved the message, but they could have done a better job with actors. Oh, and it was totally funny, b/c I told Zach that it seemed like they hired people who were actually those people in real life to act those parts and it was very uncomfortable for them. In the special features it went into who the actors were and I was right! The wife is a real coaches wife, the Dr was a real Dr, and several of the football players really played for the school. It was rather amusing.

Ok, spoiler over.

Ok, must get back to work. I've got a TON to get done.

OH! I have to add, that my good friends Becca, Jana and Lisa are have a quicky baby shower for me this Sunday! It's going to be small and pretty much just a few of us from CraftNite and I cannot WAIT! They are so sweet to think of us. They were going to do a shower for us, but Donavyn decided "she was too cool for the womb" (according to Becca - isn't she funny?) and nixed our plans for that one.

Love you gals!

Comments

I hear ya on the "facing the giants" movie. I watched it while babysitting for the Dolls and I bawled my eyes out the whole time!!!! Can't wait to see pics!!!
Mary said…
We're so excited for your family.
Anonymous said…
I am so excited for you! I can't wait to see a complete family photo! About the movie- no one in Hollywood would ever make a movie like that, so a Baptist church took on the project themselves. It was their creation from start to finish. They never thought it would go as far as it did! So in spite of the bad acting- people DO want to see positive messages in movies! Just my little tid-bit! Love, Delinda
The Little Wife said…
This is just the best news ever! And, you are schedule to come home on my birthday...I couldn't think of anything that will make me happier (for you guys, of course)--except maybe if I was there to meet Gabriel myself. :)
Becca and Jason said…
I don't think I even have to tell you how excited we are for you guys - besides, I don't think I have the words.
I can't wait to meet that little boy, and to see the WHOLE Koehler family together at last!!!
Becca
Brian/Rebecca said…
I told you that I thought it would be any day now... I just had that feeling! As Dad would say--"God Is Good..."! We are super excited and are praying for y'all to have a safe trip. XOXOX- Becca, Brian, Makayla, and Olivia
Anonymous said…
Yay Beth! So excited for you guys ... we'll all be expecting photos as soon as you guys get back to Kodiak! Love ya'll!
I can't tell you how happy I am for you guys...reliving some of my own times with you!! I really can't wait to meet Gabriel; your dreams are coming full circle! Nice blog, I did som catching up, lots of great photos and it looks like life is treating your family well. Keep me posted and we have to get together when you have time. love, Val
Anonymous said…
Hi Aunt Beth, this is Savannah!!! I miss you all soooooo much!! I'm also so excited for you, too! This month in church our class is doing a study on Jesus, and for 20 minutes each day we are supposed to learn something new about Him. So, I learned that Jesus knows how to bless people!! I spent my 20 minutes thanking Him that Gabriel was coming home!!! Love ya!!! xoxo
Anonymous said…
Beth--
this is great news. I can't wait to hear all about your trip and to see pictures of your WHOLE family together.

our twins came home about 10 days ago. my days are passing in a haze of nursing and pumping and changing very tiny diapers. it is so good to be home. I can't even tell you.

love
Amy

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