Savannah and I went to the Moclips, Wa last weekend, with friends. It's right on the ocean about 30 minutes North of Ocean Shores.

My friend brought her 14 yr old niece, Alyssa, whom Savannah was glued to the entire trip. During the trip I heard Alyssa say several times to Savannah "You sure do ask a lot of questions". I had to laugh! On the trip I made a scrapbook for Juliette to have when she's older. This is the first scrap booking Ive done of any of my past foster kids, much less an album for a child. I was emotionally drained afterward and didn't get much sleep that night.

Juliette's last day with us was on 7/24 and Beatrice's last day was 7/29. They both are now living on Vashon Island, so they may see each other again. I've been enjoying the time with no little ones. I wont take anymore until after I'm back from my trip in September. I'm going to try not to take any kids until after Savannah's birthday in October, but I may not make it that long!! I cant stand the thought of children in harm.

Raymond is counting the hours until I'm in his arms again. He's been fighting a skin infection for about 2 months, and he's also being treated for intestinal worms. His skin isn't getting better because the cost is about $100 per week just for the medication. Since knowing Raymond I've learned about the terrible conditions for people living in Ghana.

Supposedly, no one is refused medical care in Ghana. They have public hospitals and private hospitals, and no Dr's offices. The public hospitals are extremely understaffed because the Dr's do not get paid and they are tired of using sub par medical equipment. Raymond told me it's a death wish to go to a public hospital. He said many people go in with one ailment and die in the hospital of a completely different ailment. The private hospitals are better staffed and better equipped to help patients, but they still severely lack what we are used to here in the states. And of course they are much more expensive because the Dr's can charge whatever they want to charge the patients. Nothing is regulated, and there is no such thing as health insurance. I regularly follow up with the news in Ghana to feel closer to Raymond. The other day I read a story of a terrible car accident on one of the busy highways in Accra, Ghana. It took over an hour for an ambulance to reach the accident and several people had died while waiting. Two people were taken to the nearest hospital which was a private hospital. The hospital refused the patients because they had no assurance of payment. So the ambulance turned around and returned the accident victims to the scene and left. later the two people died on the side of the road while family members were trying to reach them. I can not get this story out of my head, it haunts me that these people would have had a chance at life if they hadn't been refused care. Over a year or so ago, I was speaking to an American from the US Embassy about some medical concerns that were going on with Raymond. The worker was so smug and righteous sounding when he told me no Ghanaians are ever refused health care. Obviously the Americans don't have a clue what the people of Ghana live with. Ghana is only one small country in the world that is in complete poverty. Millions of people live in poverty and it's not their fault. They are born into it and have a very slim chance of escaping to somewhere livable.

I'm happy to report I have a job!! I'll be starting at White Center DSHS on Sept 16Th, M-F 8-5pm, as a Financial Services Specialist. This is the perfect job for me! I still get to work with clients and families, and I still get to work with finances. I am grateful and blessed to have gotten this job! I've been told it's really difficult to get hired by the state. Plus, they have not hired for this positions in over two years, so the timing was just perfect for me.

I'm hoping to buy a townhouse in the Delridge or Highland Park area by the end of the year. And if Raymond comes home with me in August, that will be the icing on the cake!! I'm planning on updating the blog while I'm in Ghana, so you'll know if Ray gets his visa or not.I miss you all!