Today we traveled to Cuttack, back to Papa's home and "my kids." After spending most of the day in the airport due to a delayed flight, we finally walk into the airport at Bhubaneswar and I spot Papa waiting for us! I run and hug him, so happy to see him again. Of course he has been waiting for hours, since the time the plane was scheduled to arrive. For this, I am glad he has not brought any of the children with him.

Driving to Cuttack I ask Papa about the kids, Mama, the ashram. Mostly he just bobs his head and replies, "You will see!" At the hotel we meet up with Caroline, Baxter and Tracy, who just arrived by car from Manjeet's orphanage in Rourkela.

We leave for the ashram quickly. They aren't expecting us. Walking through the courtyard, one by one they start to spy us. I see little faces peeking around corners and through bushes. Within seconds, word spreads and we are attacked! A hundred smiling, jumping kids surround us, sticking out their hands. "Hello," "welcome," "good evening," they say. I shake the small hands and then pull them tight for hugs. There's Daina! And Pinky! And Santa and Papuni and Salu and Mami....it feels me with an overwhelming joy and happiness to see these faces again, who I have thought about every day in the past year. Wave after wave of little bodies presses tight.

I look around at Chandler, to see her reaction. She looks amazed. She has been impatient to get to the kids on the whole trip - and now here they are, all the people she knows at first sight from the photos she's seen countless times. She has a huge smile on her face, surrounded by a sea of kids.

I haven't seen Santosh though. I ask around, and Ganesh tells me he's studying. A few minutes later the study group comes out and I grab Santosh, hugging and kissing him while he grins from ear to ear.

We stay in the courtyard with the children for a while. Cookies and chai are brought out. The children sing songs for us, ending with a version of "My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean." This one has several versions including, "My Baxter lies over the ocean...." - "My Shelley lies over the ocean..." - "Oh, bring back my Caroline to me..."

Papa then comes to each of us in turn. He takes Baxter's hand, talking about Baxter as everyone listens. He then moves to Tracy, then me. Holding my hands, he asks if they remember me. "Yes!" they scream in unison. He tells how we are their family now, his children, and this is our home too. It feels like home. He takes Chandler's hand, calls her sweetie, and tells everyone that she is my daughter I have brought just to meet them.

When Papa's rounds are over the girls drag us into their dorm and perform dances for us. Diamante sings as Sangeeta, Daina, Milli and others dance beautifully. We leave the ashram feeling peaceful and happy, anxious to return the next day.