Our Family Circus

The children have been studying England and Queen Victoria.   It was suggested that we have high tea.   That sounds great but in the scheme of things, pulling off a high tea would be a lot of work for me and something I would have to study and learn more about to actually do.   BUT, God put someone very special in our lives to pull this off with class and charm. Queen Elsa, the original Elsa, sent an invite for a high tea to the ladies of our home.   Elsa is Austrian so her knowledge was far greater than mine on the topic and she has WAY more class than I do. The girls dressed up fancy for their tea with Queen Elsa.   We were quite the parade walking across the mission with Dolly clanking along in my heeled shoes.   A driver even stopped to pick them up (walk beside them.)   James is his name..........yep, can't make this stuff up Queen Elsa and James the driver.   Elsa greeted them at her "mo...

Saturday is a work day on the mission making it a 6 day work week.   My Dear drove a team to the airport but stopped at the grocery store on the way home.   I work Saturdays on the mission as well completing projects.   Today was no different.  When I got home from working in the dirty depot sorting through linens, I was a bit overwhelmed by the condition of the house where 3 unattended children had made sandwiches, opened mail,  and did whatever kids do and left the evidence!   I was a bit hungry but could not function in chaos....I hear it is a sign of a weak mind if a person has to clean up so they can work...if so my mind is WEAK y'all!   I also had exchanged only a few words with My Dear throughout the day, maybe even the past couple of days. We needed to make some decisions but being able to talk without interruptions or input was becoming difficult.   We were talking in the kitchen ...

I was surprised to see that it has been over a month since I posted.   You know what the means, our lives are becoming normal!   Things do not seem as "note worthy" as they did.   The smells and sounds are more normal.  I am no longer awaken by the 6 am service at church.   I no longer smell corn from open fires roasted or even smell cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven at the bakery at the top of the hill ( not sure if that is good or bad!)  The routine is more normal.  The children have a good idea of what their boundaries and limitations are on the mission.   Faces are becoming familiar too....which is all good!!! About a month ago, we learned that there were items to be  picked up at the docks that had came over on a ship for the mission.   It was assumed, it was the vehicle we purchased.   WAIT, let me back track.  Early October, My Dear made a quick trip t...

After 5 months......I think we are settled! We are no longer in survival mode with weekly tears of missing our church, our house, our neighborhood, our friends, our familiar.....well.... for the most part.    We pull a chair up to the sink for Miss B. to fulfill her dish-duty-day.   The water and soap were ready but Miss B. was sitting in the chair with big tears.   I talked with her about why she was crying.   She said, "I want to go home."   As I hugged her, I asked why and she said through her tears, "I want a dishwasher."   I giggled through my hug and realized......We have come a long way!   We have missed "home" but God is certainly remaking home for us.   I am thankful for the precious memories and the joy the kids have when they think of the brick home on the dead end street that we lived in...really, it was PERFECT for us just like it is perfect for the sweet family that is ther...

Because of the demands on the mission and the electricity, My Dear does not shave his head everyday.   In fact, he doesn't even do it weekly so his hair is growing out.    I have noticed the change in color in some spots.  I was surprised by the shiny slivers of silver in his hair.  My hair too is sporting a cluster of grey   A patch right in the front.  While Skyping with a family member while My Dear had a quick trip to the states, I heard him quietly whisper, "did you see the spot in her hair?"   I realized he too had noticed yet another change in his former 21 year old bride.  I mentioned that I was going to get it colored while we are on furlough and he was quick to say, "No you're not!"   Not that he wouldn't let me but just to let me know how he truly felt about the spot of "wisdom." My hands now look like my mother's.   My abdomen has housed 3 babies that took a brea...

 Tonight, I was planning to post about Miss B's birthday and all the love poured out on her (and therefore her mama.)   Adults willing to act silly to insure she had a wonderful birthday, those are pictures you would want to see! That was the plan.  I walked to the dining hall alone thinking on the post.   My Dear had taken "the Reds" (as I call our redheads) along with the dog to fill water bottles and they would meet me there, the people not the dog.   Dolly left early to  help our neighbor.  It had been a Monday....you know what I mean!   Children whined about "more school work."  "Do I have to do alllll of the dishes??"   "That's mine!"  "MOM!"  "Do I have to?"   "She did it!"  and the newest one "No likes me in this family," followed by tears.  You get it!!!! As I made my way around the corner, I was met by a guard and another man  who I did not recognize.  I c...

That past 2 weeks we have entertained children from the other sites.   There is no better way to speed up the motivation in the classroom then to know friends will be around to play.   It also means sleep overs and late nights that lead to crashing when everyone has gone back home.   We have prayed for the kids to be more comfortable with the people of this culture.   With the help of our neighbor, we have taken Miss B. to the playground a few times to let her play along side the children who visit it.   I asked her to join me on Sunday to take some mail to drop off at the office.   As we walked past the playground, she asked if she could go play because she saw 2 little girls there.   She did not interact or play with them but played near the children.  God let me see that it was not my suggestion but her's....progress! A team left last week, so I went clean up with my Creole book in hand to help with commun...

The primary responsibility of the kiddos and myself, for this season of our lives, is schooling.   But because the children do not have a schedule of activities in the evening , we can still help out as needed at the mission.   Dolly feeds the fish in the pond 2 times a day and also checks in on the zoo animals.   She "dog sat" for a family who went on furlough and whatever else comes up.   I know she has given impromptu tours of the zoo and have played with younger children on the playground who have invited her to play with them.   When the zoo keeper sees her coming, his hand flies up to wave.   He speaks to her in Creole and some days she comes home saying, "What does (this word) mean?"   There is a guard on campus that tries a different Creole phrase with her each time he sees her.   She asks him what it means and he tells her in English.   She said, "He always ask me that."   I...

Last week, I struggled through the virus Chikungunya.   It is carried by mosquitoes and it hit HARD! This, I know about me, when one aspect of me is down, the rest of me suffers.   Physically, I felt horrible and even rest would not cease that feeling because insomnia is part of it.   I could easily write of all of my misery, but I will spare you those details and just put them in my tear stained journal.   Let's just say, the last time I felt that bad someone handed me a baby all bundled up and told me congratulations.............where is my congratulations gift??? During this time, I realized how much I missed the old.   I missed the hardwood under my feet, my dishwasher (okay, I miss that everyday!), the yard, neighbors, phone calls, our van, dance classes, church activities, and our ability to go places.   I missed familiar, I have the same bed but it is in the wrong room.  I can lay on...

Last Sunday, we arrived at church during a long and spirit filled prayer.   We waited outside of the door until the prayer was over.  As we waited, we saw a white family.   This never happens!   Not only were they white but the man was bald....perks!   When service was over, My Dear called the man by name.   I thought, "Does he know him?"   But of course, he just saw his name on his Bible when we stood and decided to use it to mess with him a bit. We introduced ourselves and Jen, the "wife" and "mom" shared that she saw our kiddos a few months ago when we had returned from Atrel.   They were here visiting with our neighbors.   We talked for a bit and asked them to join us for spaghetti (cause its Sunday!) They have only been here for 3 days.   They moved from Nashville but lived in Louisville for a time.   Chris left youth ministry to move to Haiti with Jen and their youngest dau...

I just pulled the dirty sheets of the girls' beds to be washed.   They usually do this task so I found it a bit amusing and thought I would share. B's top bunk contained: 5 books (chapter, picture and a large collection book) 11 stuffed animals 2 dolls a throw pillow a bed pillow a baby blanket a head light a yo-yo (under her pillow) and numerous tiny rubber bands from a broken bracelet I guess. Dolly's bunk contained:  2 flashlights (one small and one large) 2 wallets 2 pencils 1 pen 4 chapter books (cause one is not enough!) a filled backpack a math book a sweater a shirt a 31 lunch bag of hair accessories...yeah, they are not small. 2 bed pillows 1 portable, battery operated fan 1 doll 4 stuffed dogs...surprise! a electronic pad (thank you Emily!) a tag off of a piece of clothing a small blanket that I believe fell from the top bunk and a single hairband...surprised there are not more since the bag was not zipped. She wonders wh...

The past couple of weeks we continue to learn how to live here.   We have lots of great support but some stuff, okay, a lot of stuff is just not the same.   The kids enjoy making things in the kitchen.   Along with Mark, they have baked bread, which does not stand a chance in this household, biscuits, and cinnamon rolls.   There is no grocery in our area and it certainly is not open at hours we are used to.   This bread is so much better if I do say so myself and flour is readily accessible too.   Without a dishwasher, the kids take shifts on dish duty.   Miss B. is getting good use out of her apron and step stool and look!  We finally got some liquid hand soap and they had Dawn dishwashing liquid too, not at the Walgreen's sale price but....THANK YOU GOD! I so appreciate technology.   B. is face timing with her BFF , as you can tell from the smile and Dolly is reading a downloaded book. ...

Many of you kind folks have asked about or prayed for our kiddos.   Thought you might enjoy hearing about some fun they had. Our mission has 3 locations.  Our kiddos are the only ones at our site except for a precious baby boy.  I have shared about the family in Atrel that has 5 children.  The third location is at the waterfront where the camp is.   This is where Crossings teams go.  This family has 5 children as well.   The youngest of those children is 13 years old. This week, the Atrel family drove to the mountains to fully some responsibilities and gather supplies.  On their  6 hour drive in, they stopped about half way and picked up the other BHM kiddo.   With all that being said, THREE NIGHT PARTY AT OUR HOUSE!   A game of Apples to Apples Jr.  along with some silly faces.     A treat of ice cream at Mountain Maid, a ministry of BHM.   ...