Village Visit

We have three guards who work for us to keep our compound safe. They are Martin, Isaac, and Steven. We really like and trust them. Martin has twin baby girls who are 6 months old and several weeks ago he invited us to his daughters' baby dedication in his village. We were excited to say yes!

We left yesterday around 11:30. We carpooled with three other friends/church workers. We made the interesting (and really scary) 30 minute drive along remote dirt roads that wind in and out of the hills, the trees, the villages. When we stopped we were, of course, greeted by a herd of about 20 African children. The church was a rectangular building with mud walls and a tin roof filled with backless wooden benches. There was a table at the front surrounded by plastic chairs, thats where we were to sit as visitors of honor. 

The baby dedication was also a church service. It began with introductions of every person followed by praise and worship, which is call and response style. A local church leader then stood and preached a short but passionate sermon on baptism. I was quite shocked when eight people then came forward to be baptized, praise God! Then our friend and fellow missionary J.P. preached a sermon. This whole time, the 20+ children who were sitting on the floor in front of us all had their eyes glued on Graham and Molly....no pressure. :)

We then all piled into the 2 cars to drive to the river for the baptisms. How amazing to be a part of it! We drove back and the baby dedication finally began. The twins, Anna and Angel, were absolutely precious. Chad and J.P. were asked to lead the prayers for the two little ones and their parents. Then everyone broke out into joyful song and the babies were passed around from person to person. I got to hold and love on them both. 

We were told then that we should drive to Martin's house for lunch. It had started to rain, as it rains every afternoon here at this time of year, and everything started to get really muddy. We were greeted by Martin's extended family and offered drinks. We let Graham have a fanta, his very first soda! Finally, at around 3:00, the food came out. It was chicken, rice, and matoke (sort of like bananas). Even though for the Ugandans this was a special meal, a treat even, this food was hard for us to choke down and we honestly ate as little as possible. They also served us cake. 

I think it meant a lot to Martin and Irene for us to travel to their village and help celebrate their twins. It was a blessing for us to be there. We are proud of our children for enduring more than four hours of being stared at and having to sit still and quiet in a hot stuffy corner during a long church service with no flushing toilets. It was our first trip to a village but certainly not our last!

Things I'm Good At

I love stealing a good idea for a fun blog post! I got this one from my friend Jessica.

Things I'm Not Good At:

• Getting up early: I always have good intentions, but it rarely happens. :(
• Completing projects: I often start with enthusiasm and lose steam.
• Exercising: this is just embarrassing, but yeah....hasn't happened in months.
• Letting things go: regrets sometimes haunt me.
• Confrontation: there aren't many things I hate more. I often avoid it at all costs!
• Staying off of my smart phone: it's an addiction.
• Keeping the housework caught up: thankfully I am now blessed to have someone to help me with this one!

Things I'm Good At:

• Spending quality time with people: it's very important to me.
• Clothes Shopping: I enjoy putting together things that work for me a good price.
• Inviting people over: love it, anytime. 
• Trying new things: I'm game!
• Cheering up Graham or Chad: I (usually) know just how to make the world right again.
• Making our home comfortable: it's my pleasure. 
• Making new friends: I'm always pleased to have one more!

Flashback: My Brother's Wedding

Have I mentioned that I have a beautiful new sister-in-law??? It's true! My brother Jon and his significant other Lauren were kind and thoughtful enough to have their wedding before we left for Uganda. Wow. I don't think I can ever say how much it meant to me (and to all of us) that we could be there. 

Here are a few pictures from the rehearsal. Molly and I didn't go, but Chad and Graham were in the wedding party and braved the (really intense) June heat to be there. Unfortunately I think the heat was too much for Graham because he started throwing up right before the rehearsal dinner, which was at Maggiano's. I have the most wonderful mother-in-law who volunteered to leave the dinner to take Graham home so that none of the rest of us had to miss it. I'm so thankful Paula!

The rehearsal dinner was really fun with great food, by the way.

Aren't they the cutest couple??

My uncle, aunt, and cousins from California came for the wedding. On Saturday morning before the wedding they came over for brunch. It was such a blast to get to catch up with family that we don't get to see very often. I sure do love them! 

The day of the wedding, which was an outdoor wedding, was H-O-T hot! The ceremony was short but sweet and very touching. Graham helped pull Molly down the isle in a wagon! After pictures, we all gathered under a large tent for the reception. Unfortunately, Graham started to run fever and feel sick again. And once again, my mother-in-law came to the rescue. He needed to go home and go to bed, and she was sweet enough to take him so that Chad and I didn't have to miss the reception. I feel so bad that she flew in for the weekend and then had to miss the rehearsal AND the wedding, but I am SO THANKFUL that I didn't have to miss it. 

The reception was the funnest wedding reception I've ever been to. There was delicious homestyle food, a photo booth with fun dress-up clothes, and a dance floor with great music. And here's the thing: people danced! I've been to weddings before with dancing and it usually involved 2 or 3 brave couples awkwardly dancing while everyone else watches. At this reception, the dance floor was packed. We all danced and it was a blast. It was so hot that we took Molly's dress off and she was naked throughout. :)

I am so happy for Jon and thankful to the Lord that he brought Lauren into Jon's life. It was really special to get to be with him on his special day. I am so proud of him. 

Flashback: Traveling Goodbyes

There are so many things I've been wanting to write about but haven't had time. I hope to do some catching up in the next few days.

This past May and June we did quite a bit of traveling to see friends and family before we set sail. We began by staying two weeks with my parents in Kaufman, TX. I cannot even begin to tell you all the special things we did with my family. I'll never forget the days that my mom and I took the kids out to go shopping or to the watermark, or the dinners we enjoyed with my parents and my brothers. But that time together was so special, and I'm thankful we could stay with them.

During that time we also enjoyed some special time with our friends.

Boy, I sure do miss those kiddos. I wish I had gotten some pictures of me with their moms too. In the middle of May we hopped a flight to Atlanta to spend some time with Chad's peeps. We had so much fun.

I do wish I had been better about taking pictures in general...but this was a pretty crazy time for us. We then took a week-long road trip through Tennessee with Chad's mom visiting extending family. We just had a blast. We stayed a few days in Knoxville and a few days in Nashville. It was especially cool for me to get to see Oak Ridge for the very first time - the town where Chad's mom and dad both grew up.

Amy if you are reading this, do you remember that right after I took that pic of Sarah and Molly Molly spit up on Sarah's hand? Ha!

We then drove about 5 hours south to St. Simons Island Georgia where Chad's parents have a place on the beach. We spent the first week there with Tom and Paula. Matt and Heidi (my brother and sister in-law) were there for a weekend and I somehow didn't get a single picture of them! Being at SSI is so relaxing. We love to swim, walk on the beach, shop, and eat out. This was my 9th summer to visit.

Then my parents joined us there for about 5 days.

When this part of the trip was over we had to hurry home because we had a wedding to get ready for! We were all exhausted and tired of traveling but we left with so many special memories. THANK YOU to all of you who hosted us and fed us and drove to see us. 

Molly 9 Months!

Yay! We have finally gotten our desktop computer set up. That will make blogging much much easier, so be expecting more posts with fun pictures!

Our little sweetheart has turned 9 months old! Here's what she's been up to this month:

She is wearing 12 month and 18 month clothing and size 4 diapers.

She is nursing 5 times a day and eating 3 meals. She has started finger foods! Some new foods: pineapple, strawberry, macaroni and cheese, bread, chicken, and beef. She is a very good eater, even with our more limited choices here. 

She is taking 2, sometimes 3 naps a day 30-60 and rarely up to 2 and 1/2 hours. She sleeps at least 12 hours each night. 

She got her 2nd tooth! That makes two (the front bottom two).

She is pulling up on everything and cruising! (Cruising: walking holding on to the furniture.) This girl loves to stand. 

She loves to watch other kids play, especially her brother (who is, by the way, her favorite person!). She just laughs and squeals.

She doesn't like strangers to hold her. 

She loves to ride in the car.

She is not a huge fan of bath time right now. There is usually a lot of screaming. 

She doesn't like to be left alone in the room, she'll immediately try to go find somebody or start crying!

She loves her walker but not so much her exersaucer - it doesn't allow her to move!

She is a huge joy to our family, and to all who are around her here. She is just happy and sweet 95% of the time and she's just a pleasure to take care of! We are just so thankful for this gift, Lord!

Potty Trained!

It has been almost a year since I tried potty training Graham the first time. I have wanted to try again since then....but then I had a baby....then we were traveling for 2 months....then we moved to Africa....and to be honest I was scared! It had gone so badly the first time that I was terrified to try again. But if there is one thing I have learned about Graham its that he likes to learn things in his own timing, and you can't push it. 

So now that we are finally HOME and settled I decided it was time to try again (although I still didn't want to!). But this time was totally different. Within the first day he started telling me when he needed to go and using the potty. We are still working on #2....TMI...but for the most part he is doing super great and I am super proud! I am so glad to have only one child in diapers. 

What a big boy, way to go Graham!