Coming of Age

I have two sons. The oldest, Micah, is 12. He will be 13 in November. How that happened, I do not know. Where the time has vanished, I will never know.

As he approaches manhood, and believe me he is approaching...he has the pimples and body odor to prove it. I have been contemplating some type of "Coming of Age" ceremony or process for him. I am praying about it. Wondering what it should look like.

Today he had an introduction as his dad invited him to attend the Men's Breakfast with him. He was a little intimidated at first but also excited. His dad explained that if he decided to go he would need to be sure to know it was not a playtime. He understood and agreed to go with a huge grin on his face. Partly, I think because it was something special for just him and dad to do but also because dad considered him old enough to be part of the men.

I realize I am partial but I am pretty sure he is about the most handsome, kind hearted boy young man out there.

Seasonal Confusion

I suffer from an unusual disease...it's called "Seasonal Confusion." I realize you may not have heard of it before but believe me it IS real. It starts out as improperly placed desires for particular activities and smells associated with familiar times of the year. Then you find that your body revolts against the idea of a particular season because it doesn't feel right temperature wise. Then you find yourself asking questions. What season is it? What month is it? What holidays are we supposed to be celebrating.

I think for this New England New Hampshire girl it all started many years ago when I first moved to Florida. I went from four distinct seasons, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring to two...Hot and Hotter. Even though at times it didn't feel like a particular season I could convince myself otherwise by observing all of the holiday pharphenalia in the stores and diving head first into the celebrations.

Here in Africa it is a different story. Again, I find myself with two distinct seasons instead of four. We have HOT, rainy season and not so hot, dry season. On top of that I have changed hemispheres which means I am exactly opposite of what I have always known. I do not have reminders all around me. I forget holidays. I get confused about what season we are in. I feel as though we should be preparing for Summer, the beach, picnics, barbeques, fireworks, etc. Instead, it is getting cold. I am finding myself adding extra blankets at night, more layers of clothes during the day, SOCKS, and warm drinks. We are heading rapidly into Winter. How can this be? I should be smelling flowers in bloom, wet mud from the after snow thaws, the beach.

I guess it all just takes time to get used to it. Somehow though, I think this New Hampshire girl will always long for Summer barbeques, Autumn leaves, Winter snow and Spring flowers. It's just part of who I am.

Grateful Days

 Sometimes you have those days.

The ones where you realize you must remember to be grateful.

Today was one of them.

I am grateful for two healthy, strong boys.

Plein Air...Outside

Well yesterday I was browsing a home school website and saw what they called "Plein Air." Their interpretation (for those of you that speak French: don't bug me about it being an improper translation if that is the case) was Outside. Basically to take your children and their schooling outside. I thought it was a great idea especially since we are getting those end of the year gitters. We seem to have a pretty bad case especially since it's really not the end of our year because we are going to do school most of the summer as well. Anyway, I thought today would be a great day to stray from the normal course and adventure some. So we did. Here were the results. By the way, my boys LOVED it and I made a mental note to do it again when our sanity is on the brink of escaping.

Ok, so we went inside to do the science

but then we returned back outside for the boys to discuss their books.

Call to Worship

People singing.

Rhythm clapping.

Feet stomping.

Drum beating.

Shakers rattling.

It's a call to worship at the local church we attend.

No need for modern conveniences or instruments.

Worship is about the heart!

10 Things I think I Could Live Without

1. Sleeping under a mosquito net every night of my life.
2. Picking up food at the grocery store and watching the weevils and cockroaches scatter.
3. Dodging people, goats, chickens, carts, bicycles and who knows what else driving down the road.
4. Filtering my drinking water.
5. Scrubbing my feet every night before bed because they are caked in red dirt.
6. Heating water in a kettle to wash my dishes.
7. Having malaria as a constant lurking threat.
8. Dodging huge potholes while driving down the road.
9. Being in a room where several languages are being spoken and not understanding any of them.
10. Dealing with a constant layer of red/brown dust on EVERYTHING in my house no matter how much I dust, sweep, or wipe counters.

Then again, when I really get to thinking about it these are the things that keep my life ummm.....interesting. I am not sure that in light of where I live and the suffering and poverty surrounding me that I should let these things concern me. My life after all is very comfortable and pleasant in comparison.

A Forever Family

You may remember seeing this face before...

This is adorable, sweet little Tendai.

She has much to be excited about...

today she is no longer an orphan but now the daughter of our friends, Rick and Heather and officially part of the Neufeld family.

Thank you Father that you've smiled on Tendai and her mommy & daddy and made them a forever family.