Goodbye Bangkok

We spent the last 5 days downtown in a hotel so we could more easily shutdown life in Thailand.  From closing bank accounts, cell service, taking care of cars and wrapping up work, it took most of that time!  We did make an effort to have some fun on the weekend so we wouldn't all go crazy.  We took the kids to a surfing/knee boarding place and "funarium" for a nice break as well as several other good-bye activities.  Candace and I went on a last fancy date in one of the tallest skyscrapers in Bangkok.  It was a great evening together!

After several months of planning, the morning finally arrived (2am!) for us to leave.  We got all of our 17 bags (and 6 backpacks) downstairs and met Khun Tar and our rental driver to take all of us and our stuff to the airport.  It was sad to drive down that dark highway one last time knowing we'd likely never be back as a family.

Once arrived and checked in, we grabbed some breakfast and waited in the lounge for our early flight.  We were all getting excited to finally be returning to The States!

We boarded our ANA flight and the kids quickly got snuggled into their seats for the 7 hour flight.

Once we landed in Tokyo, we grabbed some more food (and Internet) and then boarded our 747 to San Francisco!  I had booked seats upstairs as I figured this was likely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the kiddos.  Glad I did.  The captain let the kids sit in the huge cockpit and get some pictures.

The flight went really smoothly and quietly. The kids are amazing travelers after the last 2 years, so we all really enjoyed this long (10 hour) flight together.

We arrived in San Francisco and waited a long time for all of our bags to arrive.  Once we gathered them, we piled them all onto carts and made it through customs.  We were back in America!

We had a few hours and then caught our last leg of the trip on a small regional jet from SFO to PDX.  As we flew over Northern California, I spotted the hill where my grandma used to live and where her ashes now remain.  It was a tender mercy to be able say good-bye to grandma one more time.  As the scenery changed to more and more green and mountains, Candace and I smiled at each other: "We're home."

The Cheneys were waiting for us at security with a welcome home sign.  It felt so nice to be welcomed by family and to realize that we had safely made it home to loved ones.

So that brings us to the end of this great adventure.  I can't believe it's over.  We are so grateful for this opportunity to live overseas among such a wonderful people.  It was hard at times.  It was glorious at others.  So thankful we experienced it together and that so much of our family got to experience it with us.