Peace Like a River

I know not what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.
--Author  unknown

We are looking toward the future and realizing that we are going to one day outgrow our current property. To that end we are looking at possible pieces of land. We may open a junior/high boarding school and farm for the kids as they get older.

Yesterday Tom and I stopped off on the way to Mansa, and took a walk through the bush to the Luapula River.

A group of children accompanied us to show us the way.

At one point there was a train of children following us. I quickly turned around to catch a picture of them but this girl was too quick for me.--She ducked down to hide from the camera.

We had to clamber over huge boulders. This is one of the driest months of the year so we'll have to come back in April to see how far the water comes up. 

As we walked along the trail heading to and from the river, this little plant kept reaching out to snag us. Each leaf had tiny thorns lining the edges. Ouch!

We finally reached the river and it was beautiful.

This is the most peaceful section of the Luapula that we've seen so far. It would make a really nice place for boating and fishing.

We have no idea if this is the right place for a future project but it was fun to daydream a bit and we got a great walk in. 

This post was submitted to Unknown Mami's Sundays in My City and Fresh Mommy's Sunday Citar.

Winning!

The votes came in fast and furiously since Monday here and on Facebook. Sadly, aside from one vote that was really more for a beverage than a costume--none of the votes were for me...... Sad!

Anyway, I'm not bitter at all and am very happy to announce the winner of our second annual Halloween costume contest.

Wait! Make that WINNERS!

Jasmine and Tom tied for the win.

Here now are the winning pictures and a couple bonus ones for fun:

I'm looking forward to posting more interesting things over the next several days--but that would mean a certain little girl (*cough*Naomi*cough*) would have to be happy somewhere that is not my chest. Send thoughts and prayers her way. Thanks!

Exactly One Year Ago: Fab Friday Foto--yet another snake....

Exactly Two Years Ago: Fab Friday Foto--a picture of peace

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie

Most of us are familiar with the children's story:

If you give a mouse a cookie……

He’ll ask for a glass of milk….

...and on and on it goes.

 Here now is the Africa version:

If you spy a mouse in your office…..

You’ll start to move furniture around trying to catch and dispose of the little sucker…

Once you’ve moved furniture around you’ll find that the mouse has been living in your file cabinets….

So, you’ll empty your file cabinets onto the floor….

When you’ve emptied the file cabinets onto the floor….

They’ll be nice and empty but you’ll see how dirty they are….

So, you’ll haul those massive cabinets out to the front lawn….

And once they’re out in the front lawn you’ll give them a good scrubbing with bleach….

Then, you’ll realize that all those piles of debris on the office floor have to make their way back into cabinets…

And, you’ll decide that first those piles need to be decluttered... 

Once you begin decluttering, you’ll come across a journal you used for years....

Flipping through it will bring back so many memories....

You will hold it in your hand for long minutes deciding whether to pitch it or not…

It will be set aside without a decision made…

Eventually all those piles will be sorted and make their way back into the cabinets....

It may not be today or tomorrow, but it will happen....

In the meantime, If you spy a mouse in your office…..

You might want to close the door and just walk away…..

********* 

Thank you to all who have voted so far in the Halloween costume vote. There's still time to weigh in with your opinion. Click here!

(Almost) Exactly One Year Ago:Tuesday's This and That

Exactly Two Years Ago: I Need Your Help

Halloween Brings Out the Weird

I have decidedly mixed feelings about Halloween. On the one hand, I love seeing the creative ways people put together costumes and the choices they make. Kids are especially adorable.

On the other hand, I'm not very creative and I get nervous having to think up some sort of costume idea. 

On yet another hand--CHOCOLATE! 

Like I said, not crazy about the holiday. (Pay no attention to the wastebasket overflowing with candy wrappers)

In keeping with the tradition we started last year, I will now show you our costumes and give you a chance to vote on your favorite. The winner gets the all important bragging rights. 

Last year's winner was Troy who was Avatar: The Last Airbender

I was accused of unfairly persuading the votes by posting my picture last--I got a fair percentage of the votes. Therefore, this year I will post in alphabetical order.

And now, without further ado, this year's contestants:

 Amy--A Barmaid

I had a corset already on hand and so just had to figure out how to use it in a costume.

Jasmine--Luna Lovegood (from Harry Potter)

The cat insisted on being in almost every photo. This time it worked.

Thomas--A Wild Man from Borneo

Originally Tom called this costume Tom in 10 Years. I told him it had better  be an alternate universe because there is no way that is my future!

Timothy--Phantom of the Opera

A point for you if you know where he's posing to take this picture.

Troy--A JabbaWockeeZ Dancer

This is from a dance group featured in one of the Step Up movies and winners of America's Best Dance Crew

So, join in the fun and leave your vote in the comments. We'll love ya for it!

You can also send me an email or write on the Facebook page. All votes will be compiled and the winner announced on Friday.

Exactly One Year Ago: Costume Fun

Exactly Two Years Ago: Beautiful Ham--one of our lovely girls.

Landscape Gardening

We're going to be losing our large garden space soon because by July of next year we hope to have 2 new cottages and a school building in that field. I hope to write more about that in the next month or so.

In the meantime, we're trying to work with our reduced garden area. So, to that end, we are experimenting with landscape gardening. We're going to begin building raised beds all around and between the buildings where we can grow herbs and vegetables. We'll even plant peas and beans along fences and barriers to provide beauty and food.

We decided to do an herb garden first of all. This yard section is between our house and the dining/kitchen building. We still have our large garden for the next few months so we'll plant larger veggies there still.

We probably could have done a much lower bed but our large dogs keep thinking that these beds have been personally built for them. They love the cool dirt on these hot days. We filled the beds with river soil and compost. The plants are going to be so happy.
The bed runs east/west so it will get lovely sunshine all day.  

On Thursday we planted Roma tomatoes, basil and coriander (cilantro) in the center. On either side we planted lower-growing plants: lettuce, chives, leaks, spring onions, and parsley. In one corner we planted a chili pepper plant. 

Those were the only seeds available in our supermarket. When Tom goes to Lusaka he's going to try to get a few more herb seedlings that we will plant in and among the existing plants as we see how they go. I'm hoping for rosemary, thyme, oregano and mint.

I'm so impatient--I'm like a little kid now--I can't wait for green growth to appear. So far I've spotted 5 teeny tiny bits of green poking up. I can't wait to be able to mosey out of my kitchen door with a little basket to gather whatever herbs I desire for that day's meals.

Exactly One Year Ago: A Favorite Halloween Memory

Exactly Two Years Ago: Fab Friday Foto--A Stolen Snooze

Kisses from Katie

When Kisses from Katie, a book written by Katie Davis, a missionary to Uganda appeared on my list of books to be reviewed, I was so excited. I've been following Katie's blog for a couple years and have been fascinated by the life she describes.

Once I had downloaded the galley onto my computer, I hesitated. I suddenly didn't want to read the book. I just knew I would challenged in ways. I didn't want to be nudged to be a better person. 

Of course, I did read it later that day. And, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Katie has such a fresh and wonderful way of looking at the people and places she works in and with. She speaks often of seeing Jesus in everyone around her. It's beautiful!

As I expected, I was challenged. I was inspired. I was given a fresh perspective. I'm so glad I read it. Katie isn't perfect. Her world is far from perfect. But her obedience to God's Will for her is amazing. She doesn't always want to obey, but the important thing is she does. And because of that, she has made an incredible impact in her corner of the globe.

Katie was a high school graduate, with the standard American life--a good family, an adoring boyfriend, and a healthy future ahead of her, who decided to spend a year working in Uganda, teaching at a preschool, before heading off to college. 

Then, God and Africa got a hold of her. Her life changed completely. She is now the mother of 14 little Ugandan orphaned girls. To find out how that all came about you'll just have to read Kisses from Katie. I highly recommend it. 

And, when you do, I'm warning you: Your life will be challenged. Like me, you'll find ways that God wants to work in and through you. It will be so worth it though, believe me!

On a related note: Meg wrote a beautiful post yesterday. We all can't wait for her to come back to Africa!

Exactly One Year Ago: Fab Friday Foto--Brazier Cooking

* I received a free,digital galley from NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, Inc to review. All opinions are my own.

Love Comes Softly

As I look down at little Naomi and her sweet rosebud mouth, her clear brown eyes, and the little mohawk that is forming out of the wisps of hair on top of her head, it hits me--I love this kid.

It might seem obvious. It's a newborn baby, what's not to love? But, love doesn't always hit like a lightning bolt.

Unlike a normal baby experience, we didn't have 7-9 months to get to know Naomi as she grew and developed out of sight. We didn't feel the first little kicks, we didn't plan her layette, and get a crib ready just for her arrival.

Receiving a baby in the first days is strictly a triage situation: We react in much the same way as a paramedic would--what are the vitals, how is the overall health? What first needs to be done to get her healthy?

Love is often not foremost in our minds. 

And yet, love is given and shared. We cuddle. We snuggle. We feed. We bathe. We do what needs to be done.

It's not always discernible and tangible love. It's often just basic care.

But, over time, something happens. Slowly but surely, we fall in love. 

That baby wriggles into our hearts and becomes a part of us.

Some babies are easier to love than others. Some are grumpy and fussy. Others are just so easygoing, they are a breeze to care for. Some are sick and need round-the-clock care, leaving us exhausted.

At the end of the day though, easygoing or colicky, it isn't long before that baby is so much a part of our family we can't remember life without them. Love has come--slowly and quietly, but permanently.

Exactly Two Years Ago: Moriah Memory--our first newborn

Exactly One Year Ago: A New Experience for the Kids