No Self Esteem Issues Here

In the mornings, before breakfast, Peter likes to come into our bedroom for a little quality time. Sometimes he'll climb up in our bed for a cuddle, or just chat, or play in the adjoining office.

The other morning, I woke up to some dishes clanking and soft mutterings coming from our office, and realized that Peter was trying to make Tom and I our morning tea.

I quickly got up before he broke something or got hurt. Under my supervision he carefully filled our glass kettle with water, put tea bags in each cup, put my 'sugar' tablet in, got the milk out of the fridge, and (with my help) filled both cups with hot water.

As the tea steeped on the desk, Peter looked at me and said, "Daddy is going to like that I made his tea all by myself. He is going to know that I'm a Good Kid!"


Exactly Two Years Ago: Looking for the Headless Horseman
Nearly Three Years Ago: In Everything Give Thanks
Exactly Four Years Ago: Village Church
Exactly Five Years Ago: Fab Friday Foto--(Hyphenation Rules)

Fab Friday Foto XXXV

They are finally working on the road from Kazembe to Mansa!

 There are two small detours now, but they are so worth it because the work looks like it's being done properly this time around. In the past, the road work has consisted more of tar being painted over dirt-filled potholes. No joke. These repairs usually only lasted until the first couple hard rains.  With an actual steam roller at least blocking the road and perhaps even being called into action we are hopeful for a decent road sometime this decade. Hip, Hip, Hooray!

Exactly Two Years Ago: Comments Regurgitated #2

Exactly Three Years Ago: Who Needs Starbucks

Fab Friday Foto XXXIV

Design Fail

Remember earlier this week and my quick trip to a hotel bathroom while we waited in line for the ATM? And, further remember how I said I would have something to share with you about that??

OK, well......

here goes.....

  The door cannot open any further than that. To get into the bathroom you have to scootch and wedge yourself into the space between the wall and the toilet and then close the door. When done with whatever took you there, repeat the process in reverse.

  As nasty as it is, it never fails to give Tom and I a chuckle.

Now, pop over to Troy's blog to see what wild, African animal is living with us now.

Exactly Two Years Ago: Still Here  (AKA the time I wished I had the Jaws theme on my iPod)

 

Fab Friday Foto XXXIII

"We hope you'll be our regular guests!"

Ba Dum Bum!*

Thank you very much! I'll be here all weekend.

I was in Mansa for two days. I'm very tired. Please forgive the Junior High Humor.

*Totally unintentional pun.

(Almost) Exactly Two Years Ago: Are We a Normal Family? A bonus chuckle for today

Fab Friday Foto: Late Breaking News

This just in.......

It's a Boy!

  

Details at Eleven (AKA tomorrow's blog)

Exactly One Year Ago: Boss Woes

Fab Friday Fotos--XXXI

 

Joshua and  Ephraim held hands and played with each others' faces for the longest time the other night. They were so cute!

Exactly One Year Ago: I Feel Helpless

Fab Friday Foto # 30

Kitten in a Mitten

Fab Friday Foto--XXIX

Had to throw in a little baby Peter for anyone who is addicted to him the way I am.

Exactly One Year Ago: A Whole New World

P.S Next week I will post my thirtieth Fab Friday Foto. Since I'm using roman numerals I'm afraid I'm going to attract the wrong crowd if I'm not careful. What should I do?

Fab Friday Foto XXVIII

Yet another in our collection of weird, funny or unfortunate shop names here in Africa.

Fab Friday Foto(s) XXVII

Happy One Month Birthday, Nicholas!

Nicholas is really starting to perk up now and look around. He eats 3 ounces every three hours and sleeps well too.

Fab Friday Foto(s) XXVI

Baby Sara in the arms of our volunteer, Ester. It is wonderful to have extra hands to give Sara the cuddles she needs.
Please continue to pray for Sara as her lungs are still very congested and her breathing rate is elevated. Thankfully, she is eating fairly well (though not quite as much as she should) and sleeping well.

Fab Friday Foto XXVI

My wonderful husband and his not-so-wonderful hobby.  He found this snake in our pantry! I'm so glad it wasn't me that found it. Thankfully, this snake was not poisonous. It is just a run-of-the-mill rat snake. Of course this meant that it was set free in our garden to help keep down the rat population. We may meet again.

Never a dull moment here. Wait till I tell you next week what creature now lives with us. It's crazy!

Fab Friday Foto XXV

Here is a little blast from the (not so distant) past. This photo was taken two years or so ago when I ditched my responsibilities and went to hang out with some Peace Corps and other volunteers for the weekend. We cooked my world-famous macaroni and cheese over that little brazier and then ate by candlelight when the electricity went out. I had such a good time and my Rapunzel was pacified for a little while.

Coming tomorrow--Another blast from the past.

Fab Friday Foto(s) XXIV

 Or: Everything is Not as It Seems

This is a typical market stall in our village. They sell anything from pots and pans, shoes, children's toys and stuffed animals to clothes. Everything is draped over the bamboo or laid out on blankets on the ground.

 The other day we had to take care of some errands so we were passing through the marketplace and I spotted something I thought Tom would love.

Tom loves lions and so I just knew he wouldn't pass up the opportunity to own a towel with a lion on it. Gifts is also his love language so I was going to score big on this one.

 But what is that behind the lion--on the other half of the towel?

 Tom's day just got better and better.

Fab Friday Foto XXI

This where I was on Monday and Tuesday. Jealous much? You should be! Ha ha!
Victoria Falls is amazing (it used to be on the list of the Seven Wonders of the World) and even though this is the third time I've seen it it never gets old. Also, because the water levels change it is a different experience every time. 

I will be writing much more about my whole trip to Livingstone and all the fun that Debbie and I had together. This is just a little sneak peek. I will also be putting selected photos up on my download site. Stay tuned for that.

Fab Friday Foto XX

Jasmine got a set of decorating tools as a gift when I returned from the States. She's already putting them to good use. One of her career goals may be  to be a baker. I think she'll do well.

Fab Friday Foto--Volume XVIII

I took this picture last week while on a walk with my young people (they don't want to be called kids or teenagers anymore). This neighborhood is my girls' favorite area to walk in. It was a 4 mile round trip and I definitely would take a water bottle next time but otherwise it was perfect!

I love lilacs!

I hope spring has come to all you wherever you are--unless you're in Australia, Africa or New Zealand because that would be wrong and mean that global warming was winning.

Happy Friday!

Fab Friday Foto--Volume XVII

I've only been in the States for 2 weeks but Tom has taken in two new babies and by the time you read this he may have picked up a third from the town where we do our shopping. I love that my husband has a tender heart for the babies. I just wish I could be there to help ease the process.

Here is a picture of little Angel Agnes. She is 2 and a half months old.

Please say a prayer for little Angel. 

Her mom was very sick before she died and Angel also has health issues. 

I can't wait to meet her.

In other news: I will have a booth at the Spring Crafts4Life show hosted by the Pregnancy Resource Center East. If you are in the Houston area this weekend please come check it out. You will find us at Trinity Episcopal Church, 5010 N. Main St., Baytown

Fab Friday Foto--Volume XIII

Remember when I was talking yesterday about Tom visiting an island where no white man had set foot for 15 years?

Below is a picture taken on that trip. Tom is the only one wearing a hat.

Do you see anything else out of place?

Fab Friday Foto--Volume XI

Sharing with you today an oldie but a goodie.

This photo was taken by my son a couple years ago

and remains one of my favorites!

In the picture are Theresa (left) and Queenie (right)