17 July 2022 – Today it really hit me how close we are to the end of our visit. Time has decided to turn two and a half weeks into what feels like a few days. Evie is finally comfortable and trusting enough to embrace having many people who love and care for her. I still feel like there are so many things I want to do and places I want to see, but time isn’t letting me. I don’t know how to go back to having a village of 6 instead of 36. The United States has provided me with so many opportunities to grow and find love and start a family. Things that I wouldn’t give up for the world. My daughters’ futures aren’t as uncertain in the United States. I have two beautiful stepchildren that I know miss us a lot and can’t wait for us to get back. But this morning all I feel is sadness and sorrow. I’ve been holding in the emotions ever since arriving. I just don’t feel ready to go.
23 July 2022 – Amanda, Evie, and I finally arrived back in Minnesota. Super happy to be off the plane but also super sad to be 15,000 kilometers from my family again… This trip to South Africa showed how small our life is in the United States. It’s going to be tough to get used to not having someone be available to help with Evie. Now we have to focus on catching up on the life we have here.