Independence and a Zoo, Too

Blog Post About June 2021

The day we arrived back at our base, some of my sweet friends had planned a dinner party for me. These ladies still connect with me every other week over zoom to study the Word together.

One funny thing about that night is that I was having trouble finding out why one of my flights had been cancelled, and before the party I had been on hold with United for TWO HOURS and FIFTEEN MINUTES!  

I really do not like United, but that's a discussion for another day. 

When one of my friends saw me and hugged me, her cheek hit my earbud and disconnected my call. It was actually a blessing because it allowed me to enjoy my friends and stop being concerned with my flight for a little while.

The next day, I got a ride to meet my parents an hour away because they were bringing me a car to use for the rest of my time in America. Some sweet friends had already let me use their car for the first week I was in the States.

Two days later, we took off for Mississippi with Karis driving the whole seven hours.

The next day, we checked her into dance camp where she would stay for the next four weeks, and after one more night of sleep, we headed to a river camp with some friends to spend the Fourth of July. 

We had the best time!

Kylie had a week off as well, and she went to Ohio see a friend she had met at ballet camp years earlier.

Keira and I drove back to Texas to my parents' house on the 5th of July, but instead of taking us 7 hours, it took TEN.  Traffic and weather slowed us down considerably.  It's a good thing Keira is such a good traveler.  She talked to me the WHOLE ten hours ;)

We spent three nights with my parents again, and then headed to Doug's parents for three more nights with them. On the 9th, the weather was amazing, and we decided to go to the zoo.  

Keira has "Kenya" on her birth certificate, but she never got to experience the beauty of the wildlife there because she was so young when we left, so she was soaking it in (AND we got to see the big 5).

The giraffe with her giraffe shirt.

Happy birthday to Caleb today!

 

Holiday Travels to See Family

Blog About Winter 2020

After the weekend of ballet performances, we continued on with school, activities and visiting with people.  We had a friend in from Alaska who had been instrumental in leading me to my relationship with the Lord. It was nice to catch up and hear what the Lord is doing in her life and those around her.

One of the benefits of being in America was also being able to travel to see family, so on Tuesday, Doug, Keira, and I headed over to Doug's parent's to help them decorate for Christmas. Doug worked outside, and Keira and I helped inside.

December 8, 2020

The next day when we were leaving, Keira decided she wanted to spend the night away (for the first time) at her grandparents. We really wanted her to have this opportunity, so even though we were going to drive an hour and a half back home and have to return an hour and a half the next day, we said, "Yes." 

They hung out by the fire.

And she enjoyed riding her grandmother's scooter up and down the driveway.

And of course, the next day, when I returned, she wasn't ready to leave.

 

We reminded her that we were going to Dallas to visit cousins in two days, so she decided it would be best to come "home." 

Two days later my brother and his wife greeted us with hugs, laughter, and a charcuterie board. This was my first to see in person since the item had become such a popular thing in America.  I'm definitely a fan!

The next night, a friend of my brother and sister-in-law came and set up a massive "Grinch" themed party for her kids, my brother's kids, and my kids. We left them all to enjoy it while we went to a restaurant in Flower Mound called 1845: Taste Texas. 

That lady's husband is the drummer for a band my brother is in called The Poor Kings, and they were playing that night outside at 1845.  It was SO cold! The guitar player couldn't tell if his hands were playing the right chords or not because his hands were numb.  The surprising thing was that the outside courtyard had a continuous flow of people eating all night. They weren't deterred by the cold and they seemed to enjoy the music and dancing.

December 11, 2020

With the help of a friend in Texas (the son of the couple who hosted Doug's 50th), Caleb built his own computer, which we have since brought with us overseas. Here he is working at school on his new computer on his last day before Christmas holidays.

December 17, 2020

We heard of a friend of a friend who was in school to be a hairdresser, and she needed clients. Kylie, Karis and I all went. It took longer than usual because her teacher would come and inspect and ask questions, but she did a good job, and it was a lot cheaper than normal :)

December 20, 2020

We were so glad to have Kylie home and excited for Christmas.

November travel with a touch of Covid

Blog About Fall 2020

Kylie didn't get to stay long, but we knew we'd see her soon.

A dear friend of mine drove to Texas from Mississippi to stay a few nights and visit with me. 

She asks the best questions, she is so fun to have conversations with, and she tells great stories.

While she was here, we drove out to the Bush Presidential Library. It was closed for Covid, but we were able to walk around the beautiful grounds and see where former President Bush had been laid to rest in 2018, along with Barbara and their daughter Robin, who died before her 4th birthday

November 14, 2020

This is a part of the Berlin Wall that is outside the Bush Library.

Doug had left a few days earlier. He drove to Memphis, Tennessee, to meet up with some friends from seminary.

After a few days with his friends in Memphis, Doug was able to go spend two days with Kylie in Nashville before driving back home through Arkansas where he met with some other friends.

If you haven't guessed by now, our time in America is usually crazy busy!

Doug drove home, he spent one night with us, and then drove to stay with his mom because he dad was going to have surgery.

 

His father made it through the surgery fine, but while Doug was sitting with him in the hospital, Doug got a call from one of his friends he had been with in Tennessee, and he told Doug he had tested positive for Covid.

Doug told the nurse, who didn't seem concerned, and he immediately left to get tested. He took two tests. His rapid test came back negative, but he drove home to quarantine while he waited to hear about the other test. 

We knew Kylie had been with him two days in Nashville, so we sent her to get tested, and I had spent one night with him between his trips, so I also went to get tested. Kylie and I came back negative, but Doug's test was positive.

Like many of you, plans had to change. Since we knew he had to quarantine for two weeks, we also knew we would have to cancel plans with family for our first Thanksgiving back in America since 2015. However, Kylie flew home for the holidays, and even though Doug distanced himself and stayed in our room a lot, we were able to having a small Thanksgiving celebration outside with just the 6 of us.

How did this Happen??

Blog Post About Summer 2020

And the day arrives that you never thought possible...

Your firstborn is leaving home for college, and all she are taking is what you gave them for the first 18 years of her life. 

What?!?

August 28, 2020

Compared to what I took to college, she really didn't have that much stuff. 

One day after we left the house, my friend Leah sent this picture of our picture from 2007 that she found. 

It twas perfect timing as I was saying goodbye, and I was so appreciative because all of my children's baby pictures are in boxes, waiting for the day we set up house in America.

2007

We took the long, slow way to Nashville so we could see people along the way.

First stop: Waco

We took the grandparents to eat Middle Eastern food.

August 28, 2020

Then we headed to Dallas where we stayed with some friends who were like grandparents to my children while we lived in Africa. Jan and Lynn are like family. We took vacations together, went on safaris together, and spent many nights eating popcorn and playing Uno.

August 29, 2020

Then next morning, early, we went to get Kylie's car inspected, and then headed towards Arkansas.

We met a family for lunch near Hot Springs, and pretty quickly a storm rolled in.

We were also meeting a family from Jonesboro for dinner, but knew we couldn't make it there and get to Memphis (where we were spending the night) in a decent amount of time, so thankfully, this sweet family agreed to meet us in Memphis for dinner.

I can't tell you how glad I am that they made time for us and that it worked out for us to see the Rainwaters on this trip! We met them in Africa, too, and they are always such great encouragers.

On October 17th, a month and a half after this picture was taken, Greg went to sleep, and he didn't wake up. He was loved by so many and changed a lot of people's lives for the better.  What a privilege it was to know him!

Memphis: August 29, 2020

His and Tammy's beautiful daughter started college just last month (August 2021), and she and her mother have been amazing testimonies of what a life hidden in Christ can be.

Needless to say, we got to our friends' house in Memphis a little late, so we didn't meet their kids until the next morning.

Jessica is a friend from our days in Mississippi, and she and her husband let us stay a couple of days while we saw some other people in Memphis, Caleb and Karis did some online school, and before we made the drive to Nashville.

This is one of her daughters greeting Doug the next morning

August 30, 2020

And getting all the scoop from Caleb while he ate his breakfast.

Her older daughter teamed up with Keira for a reading session in a fun tent.

 

 We are so blessed to know so many people from so many places! They make life a lot more fun!