Didn't Expect to Hear From Me, Eh?

So.  Here I am.  Blogging once more.

I missed it (a bit).  It's been a nice break to be away. Smashing back into life after Africa has been a transition that I thought would be hard, but (unfortunately) was a bit too easy. It really took just a few weeks to settle back into our big stores, smooth roads, air conditioning, and Cloroxed-lives. The pit latrines are a distant memory, but the people.....they are not. Every picture brings me back, and makes me question if we should be there or here. Permanently. But the thinking and pondering hasn't gone away....oohh no.  My hubs and I are constantly pondering questions like, "What was done in Africa?"  "What do we do with what we learned and experienced now that we're back?"  "What direction do    we go with our lives at this juncture?" "How can we continue to help those we know are in need?"

Y'know. The light stuff.


So what have I been up to in the last 6 months?  Well, if you are a follower of my blog because of my furniture refurbishing-craze, you'll need to unsubscribe. I haven't waxed a peep. Painted more than a toenail. And certainly haven't been to a garage sale!  I think that, whilst 'twas fun, it wasn't my "forever" deal. It served a purpose, and that chapter is closed for now. Who knows, though, right?

What HAS happened is life. And quickly.  My oldest, Grace, entered the 3rd grade, and 3-going-on-4 year old Sophie started a new daycare.  Grace has already won Student of the Month and is so far making all A's....she's a star kiddo.  Sophie, oh my.  She talks, and talks, and talks, and talks.  She hilarious personified. I began my 8th year of teaching 4th grade.  My hubs started his 4th year of coaching & teaching.  We suffere...I mean, strolled through a football/basketball & now starting track season. Not much has changed on the job fronts.

A few things HAVE changed though. For the better. And much of it has to do with our life this summer in Africa.  For one, our diets have changed.  After eating little processed foods and not always having sugary foods readily available (no sweet tea!) for two months, we came back to America with our digestive systems changed. All of a sudden, eating at our favorite Mexican food place threw both mine and my hub's stomach into World War III. It did NOT like it!  We realized we needed to make a change. So, I began searching.

I literally did a 180 on our normal food routine. We used to have cookies & all kinds of fun snacks readily available. But after some research (thanks Pinterest!), I started making rounds of healthy snacks like below. No/low sugar, flaxseed, whole wheat, no ingredients that sound like they should be in a science lab (maltodextrinchloride, anyone?....heh, I just made that up.)

It's worked like a charm. My body took to it like wheat on rye! ; )  I lost pounds, my hubs shed weight that he's never been able to shed (even after running all his hundreds of miles) and we both felt SO much better.  It's been an interesting journey in food these past few months, but a welcome change it has been!

Africa, obviously, has changed our lives in so many more ways other than just food.  It's a HUGE part of our decision making process now.....it's invaded the little things and the big.  I also met some people there that to THIS DAY still make me feel empowered as an heir in Christ.  Life changers, I call them. Everyone should meet these people! I'll share stories of their life-gift to us on another blog, but believe me, it's Changed.Our.Life.

All in all, to try to talk about it all in one post is lud-i-crous. Can't do it. Won't try.

But I guess I'm back. It feels good.

Back to Life, Back to Reality

 It is nice to be back.

The welcoming crew was wonderful....a sweet scene of cousins who hadn't seen each other all summer, running and jumping on one another.  The smell of clean air and sanitary bathrooms were something we ALL rejoiced over.  And yes, after the last mango larvae was picked out of my dear little Sophie's head....and my hub's back (as shown below).....we all settled down for a long winter's nap. I mean, summer.

We lived a missionary's life for two months.  We caught of brief, brief glimpse of what it means to live life overseas (with children).  The people we met were inspiring (young interns managing an NGO while navigating their way through a foreign country, faithful servants who really do wait on the Lord, families gracefully tackling the challenges of adoption, marriages that inspire you to make changes in your own marriage right now, plus a few hundred more examples.)   

 So how was it?  What did I learn?  What was I shown?  What did I see?

We are tackled with these questions with the expectation of a quick answer.  The quickest answer I can give is not with words.  It simply must be with my life. Our life.  My hubs and I, our daughters, our marriage.....the joy in us that is produced only by Him, through seeking Him in His Word (or via really awesome, amazing challenging podcasts we've been listening to!), reading challenging C.S. Lewis books (yes....my author hero), and keeping in touch with those who we've met that gave us the heavy doses of inspiration.

It's easy to get back into this reality.  The America full of endless consumption.  The "I gotta get's...."  "I gotta do's..." the "schedules".......it's also easy to get cynical and think none of it really matters. Y'know...in the grand God-scheme of it all.  What does matter is that the cup put before you is one that you take not just with obedience, but with a submitted, connected heart.  Whatever that cup is.......until the next one is given.

I gotta say this selfishly. I love what was brought forth, brought back into our life. It was a spirit of grace.  Grace in my marriage, grace in parenting, grace with myself.....Knowing we fail. Knowing we are not perfect. But knowing we are perfect in Christ, and we are living this very temporary life according to His plan and by His grace.  Knowing we need to cling to the Vine, the source of joy and peace and contentment.  Knowing that we will do it together. Not fearfully living. Not trying to be in control. But by living this life the way He intended, not trying to be radical, just living it IN Him.

Thanks to so many people. You know who you are. You know it because I'm sending you a vibe right now. Right. Now.  Can you feel it?.....Good.

"Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."  John 15:4

Our First Few Minutes Back at Home!

The Last Day

Here it is. The last day in Uganda. A two month trip....done.

After all the planning and praying that we did to prepare for this trip, here I am on the last day thinking....what in the world was done?  Uganda is just the same as the day we arrived. Beautiful & terrible. Corrupt & honest. Wealth & poverty (with more of the latter than the first).  Christians & Muslim. The little ones we visited still have no undies and little food......I've had these thoughts several times along the way (usually as I'm doing some mundane chore like ironing).  A good friend put it into perspective for me:  "Don't measure yourself by man's standards.  'Getting things done'  'accomplishments', etc. are man's terms.  Measure yourself by God's standards".

It was in those words I could breathe free.  I could look through the lens of God and see the relationships developed, the sweetness of just being a friend, the hugs given, the menial tasks done that needed to be done.....and maybe, I dusted off my own self as well.  As CS Lewis said in "Mere Christianity", perfect sunlight can be reflected better off a clean mirror, than a dirty one.  My mirror definitely needed a bit of shining!

One thing I DO understand now is that the Ugandan people are living life just as we live ours. In the hardships, they glorify God. Some don't, but that's life in America, as well.  The main difference between the two places, to me, is that in America we have 'opportunity'.  We have a friend, family member,government or an organization that can help when we really need.  Here.....so many are on their own.

What do I think about coming back to the states?  I'm excited to see my home. My family & friends.  Most of all, I'm excited to go home and find ways in which I use what I've been blessed with to help the 'least of these' more.  My sister moved into her gorgeous, new home while I was gone and said to me by phone, "I don't want you to come see it....after what you've seen!".  No. That's the wrong way to think.  Think about how God's blessed us, just as he did King David & Abraham, and use those gifts as a blessing to others.  To keep it all to ourselves would glorify none.

So I leave you with some pictures of our time here.

Thanks for being part of the journey.

That Beautiful Face

 Making Friends & Mudballs

 Sophie, an Exceptional Friend Maker

 My Favorite Teacher

 They Loved "The Bearded, Tall Man"

 Ice Cream - a Rare Delicacy

 Dirty Feet & Bottoms - Always

 Friends Building Their Home, Brick by Brick (at 200 shillings each!)

 Boat Ride to ARM on Lake Victoria

 The Beautiful Kids

The Nile....The Family.....

Relationships

 Can you spot the monkey?? (Hint: It's not Grace!)

There's a bit of irony in this trip of ours.  We came thinking we'd be pouring out blessings all over Uganda, but actually, Uganda's been pouring out the blessings on us.  I feel like I've had a crash course in real relationships.  Not to say I don't have good relationships with people at home, but if I can write honestly, I would say that for many reasons that I don't understand, these people have to rely on each other in a way we don't.  There's no pretenses about it. They need each other to survive. 

That whole "it takes a village" really rings true here. 

 Pastor Boaz & his wife, Faith, are perfect examples.  It took me a few times of realizing that when Faith says, "I am so glad you are here.".....she actually means it.  It's not just some saying that is thrown around loosely to be "kind".  And Boaz.  Every time he sees you, he starts each day with, "Hello. How are you? How is your family?" And he's looking for real answers.  The simple way they want to earnestly talk to you, listen to your answers, and laugh with you......it's heartwarming.

One thing my hubs and I have also been blessed to soak in is the spiritual wisdom from our friend, Jenny.  We stay up at nights and discuss marriage and parenting like nobody's business.  She's full of marital wisdom that has already changed the way we think about our marriage.  And her parenting advice (she has 15 children, including a 16 year old son that is AWESOME) hit home.  Practical, Christian advice in "the gritty  truth" kinda way.  I love it & am thankful for her.

Jenny, Faith, and me

This afternoon, we made time to attend fellowship and a bible study with Boaz & Faith at Kids of Africa, a Swiss children's home.  The grounds were beautiful and so were the children.  Grace & Sophie enjoyed playing with the kiddos on one of the best playgrounds I've seen in Uganda thus far.  

Sophie playing "Fire on the Mountain"

 Grace on the BIMBO....hehe

Perfection

I've never met a little girl like Esther. Someone who has so much favor with God that as soon as you meet her, you can't help but be filled with joy.  Esther is the newly adopted daughter of our friend, Jenny, here in Uganda.  Esther has special needs, and thanks to the intricately woven plan of our super creative God, Jenny never batted an eyelash to any of those needs. She simply knew that she was the momma to this little girl and will be taking her home in a few days. During those few days, they are our house mates.  

What a blessing they've been and it's only day one.

God's plan here was evident.  He equipped many people to specifically breathe truth and love into her life at times when she was the weakest.  I met a young man, Daniel, who for years, spent every weekend with her at the orphanage.....nurturing, caring, and singing praise songs to her when many people would have given up.  Also, the many volunteers who fell in love with her during their stay in Uganda.  And the plan was perfected when Jenny came into her life.

Watching Esther and listening to Jenny's stories of all the "firsts":  first time to sleep in a bed, discovering the joy of bath time, eating foods other than porridge.....Love. Simply love.

My own smitten girls wish that Esther could come home with us.  ; )  I reminded Grace that she already has a family....and that made me smile.  That prayer has been answered.

Tesserah's Birthday

In Uganda, if you live in a "mzungu" house, you typically hire a night guard who keeps watch at the gate, and sometimes you even have a caretaker of the house and grounds. The house we are living in has both and, thankfully, that's allowed us to get to know some very special people.  Nicholas and Christine, the caretakers, work so hard to keep the house and grounds clean......as I speak, he's "slashing" the yard with a panga.  Makes you definitely think we Americans could drop our "riding lawnmowers" and possibly get fit in the process of slashing our yards!  

Tesserah, one of their children, turned 10 this past week.  She's been a sweet presence the entire time we've been here, so we thought it'd be nice to bake her a cake!  I'm going to be honest and say that it was a little unusual. The children showed up for the cake. Christine showed up. Then left. Then came back. Then the kids left.  Then finally.....the family came back and were ready to blow out the candles! ; )  Totally mystified by Ugandan communication for sure.....

We sang. She blew. She opened her present (with a little help....she did not want to open it right away.)

The Party!

 Grace & the birthday girl

On another note, we have less than 2 weeks left in this beautiful country. I'm beginning to get those mixed feelings....I want to leave, I don't want to leave.....and my husband is definitely feeling more of the "I want to stay" than I want to leave!  He's fallen in love with the sweet nature of the Ugandan people, their simple life, and the hard, but worthwhile work that is to be done here.  It's hard not to.

The other day, we loaned out our car to the Sixty Feet interns who were short a vehicle. That left us with a morning off! So....what to do in a foreign country when you don't have a car?  Well, walk of course!   We took a walk down to the market and the American Club for a morning of fun for the girls.  The walk was interesting as you realllllly have to watch out for the cars and bodas (they come awfully close!).  Also, we all took a boda back to the house.  My first boda experience!  Easiest way to travel here for sure....

 The Gorgeous View of Kampala!

Washing of the Feet Part II

Bwerenga Village is probably my favorite place to be here in Uganda.  The Hope International school is full of heart, sweet children,and loving teacher/mommas.  The way they nurture their kids to grow in God's love is pretty darn amazing.  But today, I was even more in awe.....

Sophie (above) took part in the washing of the shoes.  Mama Catherine trained all the kids she cares for to come home from school and wash and dry their shoes & socks, which are usually bright red from the dirt.  Sophie, of course, couldn't resist putting her own flip flops in that action.  A short while later, Grace decided she wanted to get some clean flops, too. So by herself, she walked over to the basins and began to softly wash her shoes. I watched, as one of the teenage girls at the house ran.....literally ran....from her chores to wash Grace's shoes for her. This lovely young lady, with a lame hand and foot, took her shoes, scrubbed with all her might, bent over at the waist, shoving them in and out of the water.  The shoes were spotless.  I watched as Grace thanked her, and then tried to step into the shoes. The girl would have none of that.....she took Grace's feet and legs and began to tenderly wash the dirt off of them, as well.  She scrubbed and scrubbed, making sure no trace of red dirt was left behind.  

She then looked up and smiled.   

I was all teary-eyed.

I couldn't help but notice that in no way was she too proud.

She was too humble.  And humbled herself to serve others, with a smile.....her physical limitations only making her effort shine brighter in my eyes.

I dared not take a picture of that beauty.

My hubs did take pictures of the rest of our day there. Playing jump rope. My sister-in-law and niece helping nurse wounds (infections are so common here.....).  It was a beautiful day.