oh, where to start...

on may 23rd we packed up the rest of what could fit into the containers that we had left.  we had made a personal commitment to not buy any more containers, as it was getting a bit ridiculous, and so as we got to the end it became clear we weren't going to be able to take the lantern.  yes, we left our lantern.  let it be noted that on june 17th, the electricity was out for a very long time here in swaziland, and we wished we had replaced some of the brownie mix with the lantern....  anyway,  we finished up the very last bits of packing, said our good byes to randy's parents, my sister, her children,  and my grandparents.  those moments in time are meant for a much more sad blog.  *sigh*  so anyway, we put everything we had on the trailer, and off we went to the airport.  we had such favor as we checked in our luggage.  it went incredibly smooth, and quickly, too.  all things considered. :)  we got something to eat, and then we boarded.  my parents were kind enough to come with us to swaziland.  not permanently, but long enough to help us get settled in, and to help with the trip.  THANK YOU!  i'm not sure we would have all made it without them.

as the plane took off i told ella to say, "good-bye to america."  she waved....














we landed in london 8 hours later.

we were blessed that the flight wasn't very full, and everyone was able to stretch out a lot.  most of us got enough sleep, and so the london excursion that i forced everyone to endure was less of a beating.  we took the tube around the city and we did it with a double stroller.  the tube, and most of its entrances and exits, are not created for a double stroller...not to mention, 2 carry ons,  3 back packs, 2 toddlers, 2 purses full of things that could not fit into the carry ons, 2 blankies, 4 pacifiers...in case one of them lost one, and the london "treasures" that olivia felt compelled to purchase...which included, but was not limited to, a poster that could not be bent or folded.  now when i say that the tube was not meant for a double stroller, it's not because it's not big enough.  there was plenty of room....once we were on.  unfortunately, there are no elevators, so we, and when i say we, i mean randy, had to carry the stroller up or down 2, 3, 4 flights of stairs and usually some unbelievably steep escalator.  i would post a picture, but none of us had hands to take a picture with.  well, i might could have taken a picture while carrying ella, my purse, and 3 back packs, but my camera battery was dead.  yes, i was in london with a dead camera battery.  i had planned ahead and put batteries in my purse in case such an incident took place....unfortunately, i didn't remember that until i got to africa.  hudson made a video of our london trip...he made it look like we had a good time.  that's all that matters really.  we laughed a lot.  we yelled from time to time.  we gave each other dirty looks.  we wondered why on earth dezra would make us take on such an adventurous feat with 4 kids in tow.  we finally made it back to the airport.  i don't know if i ever want to see london again.  pretty sure i don't.

our flight to johannesburg was delayed.  so we took naps.  and then we boarded the plane.  being blessed yet again, the flight had almost no one on it.  i had 8 seats in all at my disposal.  but i also had ella...which meant not much sleep.  it could have been worse.  at least she was quiet.  and so everyone on board didn't hate me the next morning.

when we got to johannesburg, the trailer we had rented was the size of my dining room table.  we had asked for the biggest one they had, but that clearly meant nothing to them on this particular morning.  God preformed a few miracles, and we were able to get all of our belongings to swaziland.  all 40 pieces of luggage.  only one serving dish, from target, was broken.  everything else was exactly how we packed it.  we made it to our new home on the evening of may 25th, to the welcoming claps of the missionaries that were already on the ground here.   and that was our trip from allen to ezulwini...at least i think that's how you spell it....