Kenya - Part 2

I have been home for 4 weeks now. We finished up our last 2 days in Kenya with Jerry (our pastor) and John (our worship pastor) at the Mercy House.  This trip full to the brim with tasks and we accomplished everything on our list and more. I got spend time getting to know these wonderful girls, so sweet. It was heart warming to see them treat each other as sisters, helping each other out when needed. Not once did I see soemone walk past a baby that was crying or someone that needed something -  no matter who it was they always helped, like a family. It was as it should be...God is good, He takes what was broken and He heals, He restores. It's a beautiful thing to witness. I am so thankful to be a part of Mercy House and to get to see this home and these girls first hand.
 I am home, I am humbled, I am changed and I am thankful for so.many.things.

Kenya

We left Friday night at 8pm and arrived here on Sunday morning at 4am....that was a LONG trip. We came to Maureen's apartment and slept for a few hours, then got up and headed to Rehema (Mercy) House. So a quick catch up:

Sunday: we went and picked up the girls and house mother and we all went to church. Church here lasted 2 hours (in service) and that's a "short" service! The music was wonderful but by the time the preacher got up and started talking I was SO TIRED....had a really hard time staying awake. I might have even pullled a NaNa during prayer time ;) Afterwards we went back to the house for lunch, toured the house, visited with the girls and just did a few things around the house before heading back to the apartment. The babies were not real keen on us "white ladies"(muzungu) this first day thankfully a few of them have warmed up to us.

All the girls and babies

 

 Monday: We are currently in negotiations on a home, about 30 minutes from our current home. This means MH would own the home and be out from under the landlord who is continuing to raise rent and even raised the deposit after 2 years of being in the home (which is well maintained). Say what?! I don't think I have ever heard of asking for more deposit money. SO we got up bright and early to miss traffic and went to see the house. The owner is moving back to Uganda and is a wonderful woman. The home is so neat...I love it. It is smaller but has enough rooms to house all of our girls and will be wonderful. Afterwards we headed to the home, had lunch, did individual portraits of the babies in their new outfits, portraits of the girls, I worked with Deborah on some sewing items and watched some monkies who came into the yard to eat the guava :)

 Baby Maureen

 Me and Precious. She was snuggling because she was more scared of the monkies then of me :)

 

Today: This morning we got up early to head into the city center to buy fabric. This took about 45 minutes with traffic. We came back tot he apartment to get our bags (we left them at home...didn't want to be a target) then headed to Rehema house. This took 3 hours!! It was crazy...it has been raining for about a month on a daily basis and it is flooding roads, filling huge potholes....it was a mess. On the bright side it was good company :) When we got to the house Maureen's mom and Oliver were there....we had lunch, did some sewing and then Maureen got engaged!! It was great - Kristen did the video and I photographed it, I was so happy this happened while we were here. Traffic home wasn't as bad but it took about 45 minutes....so all in all about 5 hours in transport - ugh. Houston traffic has nothing on Kenya!

 





We got bored in traffic....so Kristen decided to see how deep the ditch was :) 



A happy ending to our day!

Spring Break 2013

We had a relaxing spring break....started off with exploring the drainage ditch with Dad and a little mud fighting :)

 Some time at the lake house

 Making chocolate chip cookies

 tire swing'n

Reese is 3

Reese was sick on her birthday...but she did blow out her candle and eat one bite of her cookie :) We went to Chickfila with our besties Lynette and Jenna after she was better. At 3 she loves to draw (circles especially), color, play with babies, cook in her kitchen, play with trains, legos and cars and play with her brothers.

 

Blake is 4

On January 6th Blake turned 4. We had a little party for him at our house on his birthday. He invited a few freinds, they played in the sandbox, climbed trees, bounced in the bounce house and just had fun being boys. He had a great time and loves his friends!

At 4 Blake loves to play with his brothers and Reese. He doesn't like it when she copies what he's doing - as he says "Reese is coffee-ing me", he loves trains and building tracks, loves to ride his bike and rides without training wheels, loves to be with Dad but is still a Mama's boy :) He's very affectionate and I can't get enough of his hugs and kisses!

Luke, Blake and Camden....buddies

 Can't believe this boy is 4!



New Years Eve

We spent NYE with the Schomburgs....such sweet friends. Our kids are like peas in a pod, everyone gets along - adults and children alike and I just love this family. A few pics of our family fun night.

 

Schomburgs vs. Boxes.....it was a tie :)

Christmas

We had Christmas several times, part of separated families. The kids don't seem to mind and we get to visit with everyone so it works. We were home on Christmas morning which is something we do each year....it's fun for the kids to get up and see their stockings. Stockings were always a fun thing in our house growing up so I enjoy finding little things to put in the kids stockings. I also do one for Kurt but I have become predictable on those items apparently ;) no more shaving cream honey??
 We had a good time with all our family...it's crazy but we're used to it and the others don't seem to mind our craziness or at least they don't show it. Or maybe they're like me and can do anything if it's temporary :)

Cast off!

Just before Christmas Truitt got his cast off. Just as he was getting to be a pro doing things with one arm :) He was thrilled and a little excited to be able to wear a splint. That excitement has worn off. At first his arm was tender when wrestling, punching etc - imagine that?! So anytime he is out playing the split HAS to be on. Now it's January and he'll continue to wear it on and off but after Jan it's not necessary. Thankful for healing in his arm and no complications.

Truitt hadn't been able to take 'real' baths in 7 weeks...he was so happy to play in the tub :)

Every Morning

Truitt ends up on the couch sometime during the night...every night. I loved waking up to this each morning.

Birthdays

My two November birthdays - Braden 9 and Truitt 6. Time flies....it really does. They had a small party, a few boys came and we played laser tag, it was fun. My friend Lynette took Reese with her so Kurt and I could play against all the boys (real fair!)...then last minute Melissa and Nick joined our team so we didn't do too shabby. All the boys loved 'battling' us...we had pizza and cake and a good time was had by all :)


Braden didn't tell anyone it was his birthday. He told me that right before school was out his teacher "figured it out". He doesn't like attention, at all.

Truitt with his birthday hat after he got off the bus...he loves attention :)