Producing...

In Uganda when a woman has a baby she is said to "have produced".

This week two of my friends "produced".

Rhoda, a Ugandan, produced a baby boy. I held this sweet little one yesterday. He won't be given a name until a later time according to Ugandan custom. He was wrapped from head to toe in about three heavy warm blankets. Plus he had on a hat. Plus baby mittens.

Ugandans don't want their babies to get too cold here on the Equator!

Brandi, an American, produced a sweet baby girl. She has had a name for several months now and is more than likely wearing only a onesie, a diaper and wrapped in a light blanket.

Americans don't want their babies to get too warm here on the Equator!

The diversity in cultures can be seen very clearly in customs surrounding childbirth. These two arrivals represent the diversity we function in every day.

Two precious gifts. Two different worlds. Existing, complementing, contradicting and growing just down the street from each other.

What a wonderful world!

The Wilds of Africa

Ever had one of those days...

...when you take your kids for a picnic at a nearby lake, and as you are walking up a well marked trail, you get head-butted in the derriere by a COW...

ripping your apparel in a rather embarrassing way, hurting your hind regions and forever ruining your favorite pair of comfy jeans?

Just wondering.

The Infirmary

IT got us.

You know.

Fever. Chills. Stomach...ahem...issues...

IT started with Silas and has worked its way up through our family chronologically.

We have been dealing with IT for about 7 days.

We're drinking Sprite. We are on our last few Saltine crackers from the States. And we are taking turns on the couches as we rest and recuperate.

We are very hopeful that IT will be gone from our home soon.

Thankfully (?) the youngest two are back to full strength. They are currently "discussing" some very important issue in the other room. Loudly.

The older two are still dragging and Mom and Dad are beat.

Remarkably, the internet is the best functioning thing in our home today.

Which is pretty sad.

Hope your home is healthy and happy!

Eat Some Cake for Us

Happy Birthday Little Man--

May your eyes always be open and the way in front of you clear--

(smile)

You make us laugh. You steal our hearts.

Oh how we miss you!!!

Happiest of Birthdays!!!!

We love you Cason!

Easter Bonnets or Easter Mittens?

Our Equator Easter was beautiful. We enjoyed egg hunting, good food, fellowship with other missionaries and a visit from the Easter Bunny. Who left our home to borrow Santa's sleigh so he could visit all of our loved ones who had snow on Easter?!?!

Sunny or Freezing...I hope your Easter was happy!

The Re-Cap

Posting has been a discouraging endeavor, of late. I'm starting to feel like a broken record. Here's my attempt to put IT another way...
Ahem...

"The information superhighway behaves in such an unreasonable manner that our relationship is fast becoming irreconcilable."

That is to say…
The internet isn’t working and I’m not happy about it.

On to better things…

COME BEFORE WINTER RENEWAL:
What a week I had! We were on the coast of Kenya with splendid views of the Indian Ocean. I walked in white sands. Ate much yummy seafood. Swam in a pool without constantly counting children.
And shared my soul with many precious sisters…
Singing with these ladies was, divine.
Praying together…a gift.
Hearing their testimonies…God honoring.
Thank you for your prayers for safe travels.
The time was blessed and encouraging.

SUPER HUBBY AND KIDS
Campouts, bike ramps, Bible games, ET (the movie!) and sweet memories…
Super Hubs accomplished all that while also, replacing a toilet, building a new wardrobe for our clothes, and repairing electrical wires that have been broken since November.

The kids, two weeks later, have finally finished relaying ALL the stories of the FUN they had with Daddy.

Daddy now needs a renewal too.

FIRST WEEK BACK
I was pretty worn out. But overwhelmingly thankful for the cool rains that have begun to fall again in Ft Portal.
School is back in full swing.
Our power outages have increased.
Our kids are healthy and funny. :-)
I’m glad to be home…

Life is good.