The last few days in review!

After church on Sunday, we had a Family Fun Day at a place called Funky's.  It has a great pool (that is covered with an awning so the water is actually cool....not warmer than a bath because of the sun ;)), some bouncy castles, and a skate park for the older kids.  We then took a trip to the mall, since we were already downtown, and got a fake Christmas tree at Game.  Game is kind of the South Africa version of Walmart...though that is just in content, not in availability or even prices, because as far as a I know, there is only 1 in town...not 1 every mile like in the US...and the prices can be quite "gouging"!  We got home and dripping sweat, because our AC wasn't working in the dining room/living room, put up the tree.

The kids putting on the ornaments.

We did splurge and bought a little Nativity Scene at Game as well.

Yesterday was an informal concert/recital with all the violin and piano players.  Both of the children did quite well.  We did have a mishap though, Krypto's bridge on his violin broke after he played his solo piece.  He unfortunately wasn't able to play "Silent Night" with the violin orchestra group.  We're having someone on campus try to glue it with a wood/polymer glue so it will be usable for the Thursday night Carol Service.  Just a temporary fix for now.  Our dear friend Yvette is sending out an extra bridge and some extra strings for us...I had no idea that these things are absolutely not available here.  Praying they get here soon!

Krypto playing his piece

Gwangi and his teacher, Mr. Alloys.  Gwangi was too funny, he just kept on playing through his book...4 songs later, we got him off the piano.  He certainly wasn't shy about playing in front of a group.

This morning we were finishing up some school work and Krypto was writing a thank you note while Gwangi was working on creating his own comic book.  He has decided to base it on Asterix and you'll see, he's really enjoying his "work".

Drawing his cover page.

It turned out well Gwangi.

A close up of the cover page.  Can't wait to see what the story entails.

While the boys were finishing up school, Sissi wanted a picture of her, next to the Christmas tree, taken.  So, here you go!  Love how all the ornaments we brought fit just perfectly on the tree.

When people really KNOW you...

So, on to the post I was really going to write and share with you today.

I got two packages yesterday.

One from my Secret Sister from my online, Tapestry of Grace, homeschool group  We all put in applications and  one of our very fine ladies draws numbers and you GET a sister that you will pray for and send a gift to, and someone else will RECEIVE you as their sister.  They will in turn pray for you and send you a gift.  Most of the time, this means you will have 2 different Secret Sisters...there have been times, when purely by chance, two ladies will receive each other.  What a blessing!

This is my 4th year being involved in this awesome ministry opportunity.  I love to share and pray for others and as my Secret Sister hasn't received her package yet, I can't say too much on that end yet ;)....  But, I can talk about the package, and Sister, that received me.  Karen in MA got my application and in true "planner" style, she got a package out in the mail to me early, and it made record time crossing the Atlantic.  I have truly felt her prayers this month and the peace that has made me feel.  THANK YOU!  I was also thrilled with her gift.  She sent me two beautiful ornaments, a Go Fish Christmas CD, and two Lamplighter books...The Lamplighter for myself, and Teddy's Buttons for me to read aloud to the children.  Awesome!

The books and CD from Karen

I love these two ornaments.  The "Give Thanks..." is really a wall hanger; but, I'm sure I'll try to hang it on our tree!

The second package we received was from our good friend Inna Boyd (and of course, STEVE too)...she knew that Indy was running out of the deodorant he likes...and since we had talked about scent, she wanted to be sure he knew it was meant for him!  See the label she attached?  She also knew I was having trouble finding pecans here, and though they didn't make it in time for Thanksgiving and a pecan pie...I have them for Christmas.  I think a Pecan Pie and a Derby Pie are in my future...the Derby Pie will also be using the early birthday present that I received from my amazing friend Laura.  She gave me chocolate chips, a whole bag!  That, my friends, is love!  Chocolate chips are hoarded here, held close to the chest (and freezer) because they are just not available here.  I'm telling you, the past 24 hours have been a good reminder to me that I have lots of dear friends that truly know me and my family, and love me!  Thank you Lord!!!

Some of the contents of the gift from Inna!!!  Notice the personal labels added on the deodorant ;)!

Some old memories

Having trouble with one of my USB ports today, and I can't seem to download my pictures via the cable.  SO, I took out the memory card and put it in the computer.  This was the first time I had dowloaded my pictures that way.  Then I sent them to "My Pictures", and now I can't find them except via a search by the IMG number!

In the process though, I was searching through some old photo folders (to see if they were inadvertently sent there) and found some really old memories.  Pictures of people and friends and young babies, many who are now teenagers.  AHHH!  Hadn't realized I had been around these people for so long.

Hope you enjoy a few of these "old memories"...

Ahhhh, Uncle Jon and Cousin Alex....since Alex just celebrated his 11th birthday, I would say this is an older picture!

The "dancing baby" Alex picture

Baby Ruthie

Alex and Ruthie a bit more grown up and in their Uncle's wedding, so adorable!

This was a dog that we adopted for a short time when we lived in MD.  He was older and hadn't been trained.  As I was pregnant with Gwangi, and the dog had a way of getting out of his collar and chasing bicycle riders (and dragging me along on the ride) when we went on walks, we sadly returned him around the holidays.  Look how small Krypto is!

My dear friends, Melanie, Charly, and Reagan...dressed up like Elizabeth Bennet

Loved this picture of Gwangi, he was about 6 months old.

A visit from Aunt Meg, while we lived in MD.

A wedding we couldn't attend (Indy was deployed and I had 2 babies); but, great friends nonetheless!

Kiddos with Grandma and Grandpa Marquis

Ahhh, Aunt Kate and my Krypto and Sissi!

Sissi with Grandma Stamp

WOW, remember this one?  It's Kristin Haes and Cassidy Stevens with Yvette and I.

The Baars girls, this has been a little while too!

Michelle and Rachel Pryslak!

Little Reagan and her daddy, on a date!

I remember this, Marcy Naylor and I were helping to watch the Nowlin kiddos when Seth was born

Classic Tony and Yvette photo!

Mikumi National Game Park - Nov. 2011

A few of the pictures from our Safari!  Some of these are the same as those on Facebook....still, take a look ;)

A baboon on the side of the main road, leading into the National Game Park

The main gate entrance

A few of the warnings and signs that greeted us...notice they are in English!  I wonder who their main guests are?

We were amazed at all the impala we saw, they were everywhere!

This view, and many more like it, were all around us.  Looks just like Colorado Springs...where the Front Range and Western Kansas meet!

Elephants at the watering hole.

These old baobab trees were so beautiful.

Our safari truck.  I stayed on the inside cab for the most part, wanted to be able to have both of my cameras out and also, not worry about motion sickness.  Got a great video of the weekend, super excited to get that finalized.

A herd of buffalo.

Lots of zebra were seen as well.

Gwangi and the male lion in the background, we really were that close!

An elephant following us down the road.  He walked right up next to us and starting drinking water out of a little pond.

Family down by the hippo pond.  They never fully came out; but, we got lots of 'sounds' as they came up from under the water to breathe.

There is a leopard in this tree.  We got video of it climbing down and running across the field.  Most people never get to see a leopard up close.  I have no idea how in the world our guide spotted it!

The Clendinen family that we went on safari with.  They are here in Dar with SIL/Wycliffe.

Hanging off the back of the truck.

Again, incredible that our guide saw these two mama lions and their cubs.  We drove right up to them.

Up in the baobab tree.

Krypto was super scared and didn't want to do this climb.  Daddy pushed him through it though and he was so glad that he was brave and made it to the top!

At the foot of the 150 year old baobab tree....Sissi is mad that she can't climb up the tree again because we're going...Krypto is still a bit red from crying.  Gwangi is just excited to be there!

At the end of the drive, we had this giraffe standing right in the middle of the road...eventually he moved, and we went on our way!

My thoughts, as we drove on safari...

Safari - A journey or trip, especially one for exploring or hunting in East Africa.

As we were driving endlessly on through the Mikumi National Game Park, at times I would feel drowsy in the heat, the bumpy ride lulling me to sleep....so, I began to think and pray...about my life and how it equates to a safari.  How often do we walk along and not know what we're seeing?  How many times have I questioned my purpose in life and wondered why I am, where I am?  Just like in a safari, it isn't always obvious what we're seeing or why we're here.  We need a guide, a mentor, Jesus to show us the way and to point out the memorable moments.  We often trudge along in our daily existence, or drive for 45 minutes without seeing anything special, and then BAM...a highlight moment!  We see a baobab tree, a leopard, a lion!  How many people get to see those things, really?

Honestly, sometimes these things are right in front of us; but, without a guide, that has experience, we don't see them!!!

Oh, how many times on our trip did we praise our guide, Renatus, for his "eagle-eyed", amazing vision.  Who could have seen those lions, hundreds of yards off the road?  Who could have seen that leopard hiding up in the tree?  We certainly didn't!  Renatus told us that he sees maybe 1 leopard a year!  He said he goes days without seeing lions.  What about those people that come all the way to East Africa for a safari, have such high hopes and the day they go out, is the day that they don't see lions or leopards... what if their guide isn't as competent...what if he isn't Jesus?

We had an excellent guide on our safari.  Do I praise and honor and worship Jesus as often as I praised our guide on safari?  Do I make a point of telling Jesus how much I appreciate his mentoring me through my life, pointing out the highlight moments and letting me see how much I am blessed!  OR, do I fall asleep on the trek and miss those moments, OR, do I get so used to seeing impala and giraffes and zebras that after the first few times the joy wears off and it just become status quo and I'm not excited anymore about the amazing creatures right in front of my face?

I think about the newness of dating and marriage, finding "The One"... it was all so new and amazing, I was thankful...is it all just "normal" now, am I still thankful for the one that the Lord gave me?  What about when we're first pregnant, the newness wears off, doesn't it; but that first time, WOW, we're excited.  What about new babies...we're so in love, but by the time they are 2, we're worn out and just want them to take a nice long nap?

I certainly felt convicted about how I view my life, a journey through an unknown land, in the context of the safari.  I want to be grateful and joyous at every turn, at every blessing the Lord provides.  I may not always be sure about why I'm here or what God's plan is for us in the long run.  I have my own hopes and dreams and though I want to be in God's will, I find myself praying that the two will coincide, at some point, in the near future.  I know that 'every good and perfect gift is from above' James 1:17.  I also remember that the Lord will 'equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight' Hebrews 13:21.

Thank you Lord for an amazing trip so far!  I have a husband that is amazing, three healthy and wonderful children, we're fed, have a home, have a ministry...how many other people, on their safari, have all those things?  Thank you for those highlight moments, and help me to be more intentional to look for them through my daily trek.  I pray I don't take them for granted and that the thousandth time I see my husband can be closer to the first time, when I gasp in amazement and say "Wow, will you look at that!"