After nearly three months of waiting, Lisa Lappi and her children are headed to their home in Germany.

Lappi, originally of Bismarck, has been waiting on replacement passports, which was the last obstacle in their path to get home.

In early May - while on the way to meet her husband, Army Staff Sgt. Ronnie Lappi, at their home in Vilseck, Germany - Lisa Lappi had her purse stolen at Denver International Airport. In the purse were all her credit cards and all the identification for her and her two children.

Without money or identification to clear customs, Lappi was effectively stranded in the United States with her children. So she came back to Bismarck to stay with her mother and is still there today.

But not for much longer.

On Sunday a family friend will drive Lappi and her kids to Grand Forks where, on Monday, they will take a Space-A flight to London, where she will wait for another Space-A flight to Germany.

Space-A works like stand-by flights, where military personnel and their families wait for space available on military aircraft.

"Good for her," said Lt. Dan Murphy, National Guard public information officer, when he found out she finally got their passports.

In mid-May, the North Dakota National Guard got involved by fast-tracking replacement identification for the Lappis. Since then, the Guard has been working with a number of different military branches and divisions to get the Lappis home so that when Staff Sgt. Lappi finishes his tour of Iraq in November, they will be home waiting to welcome him.

"The best thing is, this is a great example of how active duty and National Guard units work together for a good cause," Murphy said. "We're happy she is able to get on a plane and get home."

Lappi and her children couldn't be happier.

"They're pretty excited to get back to their rooms and their toys," said Lappi.

"And my friend's toys," added 4-year-old Nina Lappi.

Before leaving, Lappi said she has been saying goodbye to friends here and telling friends in Germany they're coming back. She also plans to take her 7-year-old son, Zakk, to the new Batman movie before they leave town.

"There's so much to say," Lappi said. "I just want to tell everyone that was supportive, that our family appreciates it and are thankful for everyone's help - there's so many people."

(Reach reporter Chris Rosacker at 250-8254 or chris.rosacker@bismarcktribune.com.)