officially longer

this wild
and crazy,
silly
and beautiful,
loud
and funny,
smarter than the average bear,
Ethiopian princess
has now been with us
LONGER than 
she ever was without us.
(just shy of 10 months)

closer...

so random to be living closer to the South Pole than to the good ole US of A.
actually looks like we are closer to there than anywhere else.
hum?!
just sayin'!

Easter singin'

this is one of our favorite songs and today,
Easter Sunday,
we wanted to sing you a little bit of it!

(forgive the dark and shaky video
we had one little angel who couldn't keep
her hands off the computer
during our quick filming session
before church this morning.)

and share this line our Poppi in TN
shares each Easter...
"WE SERVE A RISEN SAVIOR"!

may you remember this today
and every day.

Happy Easter!
love,
the lankford's

prep for Easter

we didn't make an egg hunt this year.
first time ever in Briley's 9 years.
but, ironically enough, no one ever asked.

special thanks to our "aunty danielle"
who shared her from the States egg dye
with us the other nite as
we prepared for Easter.
one prob though...
they only have brown eggs
which mess with the dye colors
and so
we tried these flawless looking
white candy coated choc eggs
that started off perfection
and then commenced to releasing their chalkiness
into our dyes.
nevertheless
fun was had by all!

also, from "aunty danielle",
Easter craft paper, stickers, and all that jazz.
we now have  a fab Easter banner
of the kids pics
to decorate the place.

we have read the Bible stories each night leading up the the cross
and I had brought
those fun resurrection eggs from Lifeway
that we do each year and love
but
can't find the cute story book
that goes with it
so we used the much better alternative of
the actual Bible
and can you believe it?
it worked out perfect.

today we shared Easter love with a little family
we are getting to know...
(and no, these aren't all her kids).

tomorrow we will do the same for Joey's friend Itai.


it seems as if every year
I am more impacted by the stories
of Jesus' death and resurrection.
this year Joey and I are both the same age Jesus was when He gave Hs life.
grasping this is not even possible...

a Savior, a Redeemer, a friend, my Father...
He gave His life for me

how am I loving Him in return?

yes

yes
we are still here in south africa.
yes
we are still up to our ears in cucumbers.
yes
we are still trying to find the "best" way to convince young moms to join our support group.
yes
we are learning and coaching a boys rugby team.
yes
we are loving people in our home, the local McDonald's, the townships, everywhere...
yes
we are praying that flight prices drop so this family of 6 can fly home to TN for a visit.
yes
we are reading the Bible stories leading up to the death of Jesus and His resurrection.
yes
we are selling bread, biscuits, chelsea buns.
yes
we are realizing that the summer is ending here and it is getting colder and rainy.
yes
we are pinching every penny.
yes
we have the most amazing group of friends and missionaries loving on us here.
yes
we overwhelmed at the opportunites God is blessing us with.
yes
we have no heating or cooling system in our home  (or most any home here).
yes
the banking here is an experience of patience to say it nicely.
yes
we have heard the voices and stories of those suffering.
yes
we are learning daily about how life is lived here; differently in each township.
yes
we hand out rand/money to beggers when our eyes can't bear to look away.
yes
our car window is broke again (at least it is just that).
yes
we say "no thank you" over and over to men at the robots, in the parking lots, everywhere
trying to sell us something or beg from us.
yes
we will miss the hundreds of people we pass walking up and down the roads every day
whenever we leave this place.
yes
we see men carrying little pink girls backpacks like it is nothing.
yes
we (only when Joey is with us) give rides to strangers
yes
we see Jesus in the hearts of many.
yes
we see need, we see hope and hopelessness, we see suffering, we see loneliness.
yes
we are overcome with the discrimination and segregation that is still so evident.
yes
we see beauty that is beyond explanation and description and can only be witnessed in person.
yes
life is totally different than it was when we lived in TN.
yes
it is harder than we could have ever imagined to move our family to africa
but God provides daily for us and gives us hope, joy, love, peace...
yes
we will stay here as long as God calls us here.
yes
this is the hardest thing we have ever done.
yes
some days we are overwhelmed in every way.
yes
we miss family, friends.
yes
we have amazing visions for work/missions here
yes
we are so grateful and blessed by those who support our ministry.
yes
we feel your prayers.
yes
we can not wait to hug your necks, hold your hands, feel your kisses
read your letters, open your packages, get your emails, sit at your kitchen tables...
yes
we are so busy.
yes
we wish we didn't just have 1 car.
yes
we spend a staggering amount of time in the car delivering kids and ourselves to where we need to be.
yes
everyone we meet has been incredibly kind to us.
yes
balancing the old life and our new life can turn us over and back up.
yes
our children are in a most brilliant school.
yes
the kids love life here.
yes
we love working with living hope, way, grace, care...
yes
we are learning and growing
in faith, in family, in life experiences.
yes
joey wants to be mayor here.
yes
we play with kids who have more than us, less than us, or literally nothing.
yes
we now have gardening, baking, ministorial, and evangelical skills to attach to our business and nursing resumes.
yes
we are losing some of our southern tennessee accent.
yes
some people around us sleep on the dirt and in places we wouldn't dream as fit for humankind.
yes
some kids have no blankets.
yes
we miss american customer service.
yes
the global/world view we are experiencing is stunning.
yes
we sometimes look at each other and say...can you believe we live in africa?!
yes
real life, real struggles are seen on the faces of those we see daily.
yes
we are excited to do more for Jesus.


and yes
this post is long:)

celebrating at tea...

this afternoon

a few sweet friends and i

went to a most wonderful hotel

the mount nelson

in cape town

to experience

high tea

afternoon tea

fancy tea

whatever you want to call it

it was all we could have dreamed of and more...

the teapots

amy and i
with the tea menu
(more tea choices than i could have dreamed)

amy and i both came all the way from tn
almost same town, same church
only to meet here in SA

one side of the our table

and the other side...

the buffet
from sweet treats to savory
the yumminess is too too much

my dessert plate
and
oh yes
i went back several times

laurel and i in the beautiful garden
(laurel and i are also both nashville folks
yet had to come to SA to meet)

lord nelson, me,
and my very own special
don't eat here but take home
so your kids will dig in to it the second you walk in the door
birthday cake

the beautiful ladies who celebrated with me!
thank you girls for joining me
on such a perfectly scrumptous afternoon!

referral-versary

1 year ago TODAY

April 15

we received THE CALL

that FOREVER

changed our lives...

we were introduced to 

a 7 month old beauty

ASKEDECH AYELE...

and oh the joy 

she has brought to us.

we love you baby girl!

a birthday

today
i had a birthday. my first one on the continent of africa.
my first one with the most incredible,
only God could have dreamed up this,
beauty.

today
i missed my mom more than i thought i would.
and my sister.
and sis in laws.
and well, my family....all of them.
and my best buds back in TN.

today
i opened a present
sent with love,
back in february,
and still managed to remain wrapped
with the
"do not open until april 11" note.
it was from my mom
and
i LOVE it mom!

today
God gave me the most beautiful, sunny, warm day
and those who know me best,
know how happy this makes me.

today
i took a long walk and soaked in my
year behind and year ahead.
i thanked God for both.

today
my oldest 2 kids brought me the most precious gifts.
gifts my very own mom told me about before i ever had kids of my own.
gifts that i had shared with my mom when i was little and ones she told me meant more than anything.
she was right. i couldn't understand then,
but i understand now.
gifts that they found, created
made straight from the heart and
all on their own.
these treasures i receive at various celebrations and they always make me teary.
today
i got 3 wooden animals, a 50 cent piece,
a porcupine quill, a red heart silly band, to name a few...
and 2 of the most precious handmade cards.

today
God painted the most beautiful sunset we have seen yet
since being in SA.
pink, pink perfectly wrapped present from Jesus...
a  sunset
that we gathered upstairs as a family to watch.

today
i received the coolest
metal,
handmade,
bought from the street vendors,
been wanting for quite some time
fish

today
i am so thankful for the birthday wishes
by so many
who took time to send me sweet, inspiring, thoughtful
words.

today
my birthday
was blessed
and so am i.

break

feels like i have been a bit on a break from blog world.

no real reason.

except,
well maybe,

it has something to do with
the 3 pictured above
and the 1 below...
(who will join this pallet fun as soon as she possibly is allowed)

the 3 have been off school this week
and they,
along with little miss
have kept momma quite busy.

love our time and all our adventures.
so blessed by this zoo crew.

there has been much merrymaking ...
hikes, beach, aquarium,
waterfall, game nite, sleeping all together on pallet,
and more...

but after something like 10 days
(whose really counting, right...)
this momma is tired
and ready for our routine again.

changed

this beauty has changed me. she has changed our little family in the most incredible ways. her uniqueness and personality. her smile and laugh and puckered kisses. her adoration of her sister. her bonds with her brothers. her friendliness. her attachment to her mommy. the precious love she and her daddy share. 

she is  a flower unfolding from a not-so-easy beginning. and she is beautiful.

a breath of joy and love from the heavens. 

and she keeps me on my toes.

never a day goes by that i don't sit in awe and gratitude that we were chosen to be her parents, her family. watching her as she giggles with barron as they hide under the covers. or as her biggest brother sneaks in to get her from her nap. or sissy arranging neatly a mini nail salon where nails and toes are painted along with smudged polish all around. 


we can't remember life before. life before 9 months ago today when she quietly, seriously, hesistantly first came into our arms. 


bristol pistol. you have changed us. 
and we are blessed.

one of those...

it seemed this week,

 that once again,

when the knot was tied 

and i was hanging at the end of my rope

with no where else to go,

 i remembered... 

God has got me.

and it was then,

when i turned it all over to Him, 

that BAM

peace, beauty, joy, love

all came rushing in.

beautiful.

our weekly fun times at one of the local township kids clubs

beach fun with the precious boy our family mentors

...sorry for the grainy pictures. they are from my phone and well, it was the best i could do...


in other lankford news...

we have finished the first term of school. excelling in our studies and making many school buddies!
there has been play dates and sleep overs.

the tunnels have produced abundantly. and the bakery " tastily". there is awesome, mind boggling details in the making.

we are looking forward this week to a break from the daily school routine to do some fun family adventures when Joe can break away from his duties.

life in Africa continues to be blessed. there is not a day that goes by that we don't thank God for calling us here on this incredible journey.