the reunion...

8 months ago...

we took these pictures 

with these friends.

in 1 month...

we will be back in TN

taking new pictures with these friends

that we miss so very much.

oh how i can't wait to see how all have grown

and to watch and soak in 

the joy 

of spending time with those we love.

we appreciate now, more than ever, the bonds of family and closest friends.

and the sweetness of that reunion

and precious time spent together

will be treasured deep in our souls...

would you believe?

would you believe?

that my life 

was 

just a little bit

wild, crazy, hectic

and goes right with 

the quirky little motto of...

never a dull moment.

i'm sure you know this.

anyways,

lots happening. 

all 

the

 time.

....and

that's 

all i've

got time

for 

now.

wildlife and life...

our life this week was...

spent with these guys 

that Briley always enjoys

preaching to...

blessed by "uncle Steve" 

coming from TN

to check out our ministry here

and to follow God's call... 

this girl grew up even more...

wildlife was abundant...

there was a man-size baboon

amongst many others...

a snake farm visit 

made the older 3 want a slithery pet...

absolutely  a "No"...

this 

horned beast

stopped us in our tracks...

and the greatest treat of the week...

this little life 

was welcomed into our family....

though we are thousands of miles away

the proud parents

gave us a special surprise by 

skype-ing us

immediately after his birth

so we could be the 

1st ones

to hear 

the announcement

"it's a boy!!".

you made us feel so apart of the celebration

even though we were so far away.
we were so blessed.

congrats uncle rich, aunt dana,

and sweet sis

jadey-bug.

bristol's masiphumelele

someone thinks they are too cute with the newest word she can say...
masiphumelele. (accurately pronounced... masi- phum- e- lele)
yep, just a short, easy to say name of a local township.

moms

 If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go 

where a prayer has not already been.  ~Robert Brault

Mother love 

is the fuel 

that enables a normal human being 

to do the impossible.  ~Marion C. Garretty

A mother is the truest friend we have, 

when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; 

when adversity takes the place of prosperity; 

when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; 

when trouble thickens around us, 

still will she cling to us, 

and endeavor by her kind 

precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, 

and cause peace to return to our hearts.  ~Washington Irving

Children and mothers 

never truly part -

Bound in the beating 

of each other's heartCharlotte Gray

A man's work is from sun to sun,

 but a mother's work is never done.  ~Author Unknown

When you are a mother, 

you are never really alone in your thoughts.  

A mother always has to think twice, 

once for herself and once for her child.  ~Sophia Loren

There is an instinct in a woman to love most her own child - 

and an instinct to make any child who needs her love, her own.  ~Robert Brault

and to this most special mom,
bristol's birth mom,
you have given us the greatest gift
and our hearts are bonded forever.

All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.
-- Abraham Lincoln

She never quite leaves her children at home, 

even when she doesn't take them along.  ~Margaret Culkin Banning

Because I feel 
that in the heavens above
The angels, whispering one to another,

Can find among their burning tears of love,

None so devotional as that of "Mother,"

Therefore, by that dear name I have long called you,

You who are more than mother unto me.

~Edgar Allan Poe

 Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, 

but their hearts forever. - Author Unknown

This Mother's Day

I am thankful 

Joey and I were blessed with 

amazing, beautiful moms.

And that God chose me

faithful enough

to give me 

4 

perfect blessings

to hold, kiss, love, 

wash, scold, teach, 

juggle, provide for,

counsel, hug, drive,

read to, cook for, wash for,

clean up after, stay up all nite with,

comfort, carry, spank,

learn from, cuddle,

eat sweets with, play games with,

and on and on.

May I be to each of you,

the greatest Mom you could dream.

a baby

There is a baby. 

Not near us, 

but actually quite a journey away.

A baby whose Mom lost her life in childbirth.

A baby whose first moments

and each day since

are missing the Mom who carried her.

A baby whose family has tried to keep her alive...

giving her the milk of a goat 

to sustain life.

A baby so loved

by her uncle ...

that he has made sure that, 

(while he lives far away from her

but very near to us)

the nutrition,

the formula she needs

makes the journey to her.

On his visit 2 months ago

to his homeland 

he took the formula

we had bought together.

It had been all I could do

not to send 

a store's worth of this precious nutrition.

But

that is just not the way things work.

Upon arrival 

she was not well. 

Not good at all.

By the time he left 

a month later,

she was thriving

on the formula we sent.

Praise God.

And now,

almost 2 months later...

another member of his family

is making the long journey home

and taking with him
more of 

the life sustaining formula.

And so 

I found myself back tonight

staring

at the boxes of formula

and dreaming of this 

treasured babe.

And wanting to buy

every box.

Just to make sure she has enough.

Because 

what if she doesn't?

What if she runs out?

Gets hungry and weak again.

Is it possible to get it to her another way?

Where she is...

I am not sure there is another way.

And so,

I send my boxes.

All that will fit in his bag

on the long trip.

To

a life so precious.

To

a face we have never seen.

To

a baby we love

and will always be in our hearts.
One
whose life has forever bonded to mine.

a nice destination...

in case anyone needed a reason to come visit us...
check this out

www.tripadvisor.com/TCDestinations

well,
what do you think?
should we start planning adventures for you?

i am not sure there is anywhere else in the world
with as drastic differences between rich/poor, wealth/poverty, beauty/ashes.

i do know we are blessed to be here.
in every way.