Just the Girls....

Grace (9 1/2) and Sophie (one month away from 5!)

This post is all about my girls.  

There's no deep, thoughtful Africa-fied post. It's just about them. 

One of the things I love best after having blogged for so many years is getting to look back at a post and remember "Oh yea, they DID that!" or seeing pictures reminding me of a time I've long since forgotten. Baby stories like this http://www.floferrell.blogspot.com/2008/01/my-daughter-is-obsessed.html  or memories made like this http://www.floferrell.blogspot.com/2008/12/all-aboardthe-polar-express.html  are just too fun to reminisce!  

So let me remember to write about them now. Just as they are......

Grace is truly remarkable in that she seems to transcend time.  Certain times, she is fully nine.  Silly, crazy, imaginative....playful with her sister and buying stuffed animals with her money.  Other times, I feel like she's so mature in ways I never was at that age. She knows when kids are being too crazy. She loves adult meals like ceasar salads and stir fried veggies. She likes independence and chooses to walk a bit in front of her mom on these red dirt roads.  She chooses to read, read, read.....she even finished her Harry Potter book (750 pages!) in 3 days. (I had to remind her to eat and drink.)  She appreciates Africa for what it gives us as a family - lots of time together, less stress/busyness.....but she also knows that home is where the heart is and family is huge part of that heart. She is tenderhearted and can cry at the drop of a hat if she thinks she's displeased you.  She is also a good friend and loyal. She doesn't understand girl drama at all.

Sophie, at 4 (but really 5 in one month) has truly come out of her shell. Or busted out of it....it's so interesting to see how Ugandans act towards her. They like her. I mean, really like her.  She  keeps everyone laughing...right now she is fully quoting Planet Earth  videos and runs around making tiger or lion noises with her nose all squished up (sounding like a dying horse really).  She has learned nearly 25 sight words at homeschool this year and, hopefully, will start reading a few starter books next semester.  She is tough. If she falls, she'd rather say "I'm okay" than cry....even if it hurt. She is still a picky eater (chicken, PB&J's, chips...that's about it.)  Sophie can befriend a tree and it's quite often I find myself pointing to a little girl here and saying, "Sophie - go be her friend." She will go bouncing up to that said girl and be playing together in two seconds flat.

It's funny how God works out deep desires.  I've always wanted to stay at home with my girls.  But I've always enjoyed working, too.  Growing up, my mom was a bit of the 'asian-tiger-mom'. I've had a job since I was 9, I think. I like the order and structure of working....but I've always wanted to be able to take just a year and spend it with my girls.  Well, God answered that prayer by sending us to Africa.  

I'm with my girls nearly 24/7.  It's wonderful, but at the same time, I also have to remind myself to make the most of it.  That's hard because sometimes I'd love to just have a moment of breather time alone!  We've reached that glorious age where my girls can play without too much supervision....momma can do other tasks...and I have to remind myself not to get caught up in that!  Momma CAN do other tasks, but taking this year - this time - with them is so much more than about doing tasks.

I'm going to blink and they'll be in college.

I'm going to blink and they'll be moms of their own.

I'm going to blink and I'll be saying, "It all goes by so fast."

Grace & Sophie, you two are your parents' joy!  We love you!