Chapter Nineteen - Home Bittersweet Home

September 13th:

We woke up early so that we could eat breakfast and still make it to the Airport prior to 7:00 am.  Just like the dinner the night before, the Breakfast Buffet (that was free with the nights stay) was just as delicious.  We made it to the Airport, checked our bags and the lady from American Airlines told us about a Security Checkpoint that was closer to the Gate our flight was leaving from.  When Rachelle and I got in line, there were approximately 20 people in front of us.  As we were entering the X Ray machines there were now probably 100 people in line.  Timing was definitely in our Favor again this morning like it had been so many times throughout the trip.  Boarding the plane to OKC!!!

Unlike sitting on the first row on the flight from Kiev to Warsaw, we now drew seats in the last row, right next to the restroom.  The plane was one of the smallest ones I had ever flown.  It had two seats on one side of the isle and then a single seat on the other.  Sitting across from us was a tall, skinny older gentleman that was wearing a Harley Davidson jacket.  He started talking to us and was easy to tell on our end that he couldn't hear very well.  He asked if we lived in Oklahoma, or if we were just passing through or visiting like he was.  I told him that we were both from there and we had been away for close to three weeks.

I returned the question to him.  He replied telling us that he was on his way to Fort Sill for a 40 year reunion with some guys that he had served with in Vietnam.  The gentleman in front of me without hesitation turned around with his hand out requesting to shake his hand as he thanked the Veteran for his service to our Country.  I joined in the thanks and at that time he put his hand over his face and I noticed the Veteran fighting back tears.  

THIS IS WHAT AMERICA IS ALL ABOUT!!!  Giving the proper thanks to men and women who have given sacrifices for the rest of us.  We should ALWAYS take a moment to thank a Veteran for their sacrifices!  Too many people take this Country for granted.  Even if you don't agree with what they are ordered to do, just remember they are like you and me, however they have answered the call to protect our Freedom.  Reminds me of the Perfect One who Chose the Cross for Our Spiritual Freedom!!!

As the flight went on we talked about him riding his Dyna Wide Glide across country.  That his daughter is a Motorcycle Officer in Las Vegas, and that he actually lives close to the Harley Davidson plant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  He asked how long Rachelle and I had been married.  He expressed to both of us with his hand down low to forget the times when you are here and stick it out together.  Then with his hand up high, he told us to always remember the high (good) times, all of the while forgetting about the lows.  He told us not to bring up the lows, no matter what.  He said that he had been both married and divorced twice and that he still loved his 2nd wife and how wonderful of a woman she is.

It was actually raining as the plane landed in OKC.  I asked him how he was going to get from the Airport to Fort Sill.  He told me that his Lieutenant was meeting him there and he was going to ride with him.  We shook hands as we left the plane.

Shortly after we left the Gate, my youngest brother Blake was in the Airport awaiting a flight to Las Vegas.  We talked briefly, however Rachelle was looking forward to seeing Andrew who was waiting with my Dad on the way to Baggage Claim.  As we walked down the hallway, I could see Andrew sitting there waiting.  Then it happened.  He saw his Mommy and said very loudly "Mommy!"  Rachelle ran to him, scooped him up and the tears started flowing.  The two of them hadn't been away from each other for this long and needless to say, they missed each other a WHOLE Bunch!!!  There were a couple of ladies waiting for the arrival of one of their loved ones, however they got consumed by Rachelle and Andrew that they too started crying.  As we were going down the escalator, the ladies leaned over the edge and just told her how much they enjoyed watching their connection.

It felt really good to see Andrew and to be back in OKC, just wish that we would have been able to bring Vanya with us!  As we were walking to the truck, I told Dad that we wanted Mexican for lunch.  We went to On the Border on Broadway and enjoyed the company and told Dad details of our Journey.  After lunch, homeward bound we were.  We pulled up in the driveway, opened the garage door just to find out that her Dad had actually locked the deadbolt.  Unfortunately, we didn't have a key.  So Rachelle, Andrew and I loaded up in the car to meet him for the key and Dad headed back to Perry.  After sitting in the passenger seat for so long It felt weird to actually be DRIVING.

We met her Dad at the same restaurant we were just eating at less than an hour ago for the key exchange.  Rachelle got to talk to her Dad as Andrew took a nap in the car.  After about 10 minutes we were on our way home, again.  As I was driving home; Rachelle in the passenger seat, Andrew in his carseat behind her, I was thinking about how AWESOME it is going to be in less than a few weeks that Vanya will be in his carseat behind me!

Bittersweet as it is...WE FINALLY MADE IT HOME!!! 

I will be taking a trip back to Ukraine in a few weeks to bring Vanya home.  So in the meantime, we will be making the final modifications to our house for his arrival as well as loving on the little boy who we haven't seen.  We are so looking forward to seeing Dylan next weekend so we can bring him up to speed   on our process.  The last time we talked to him, he is Super Excited to meet his Brother!!!