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| Our kids fly like pros! |
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| Malai even did well for a 9 hour and 10 hour flight |
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| We had an overnight in Dallas so we stopped to see Cowboy stadium where the final 4 began the next day. |
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| We also went to the Stockyard in Fortworth |
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| All tired out!!! |
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| We then spent a week in Orange Beach with the Beute family and friends (this is me and my dad) |
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| We had a few cloudy days but we still had lots of fun |
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| Cousins! |
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| Friends |
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| Shrimp |
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| Beautiful sunset view from our condo |
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| Went to see the Blue Angels |
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| Rainbow! |
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| Starfish |
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| Grandma and Grandpa |
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| 17 of my parents 18 grandkids where in Orange Beach together |
April
12, 2014
Hello for the USA! We
are sitting in our 6th airport in less than two weeks and we still
have one more – GR! -- before we settle in for a while. Thankfully everything has gone very
well. God has been with us the whole
way! I just love His promises like in
Ps. 139 that says He goes ahead and behind us.
I love knowing He is with us!
Our kids really enjoy traveling and flying –
it is part of their lives. Malai doesn’t
understand it yet and would rather be home but she did really well too. Our first flight was a night flight so we all
slept. Our flight from London to Dallas was 10 hours so we were glad Malai slept half
of it. I realize once again that our
kids are more African than American. I
told Luka to blow his hands dry in the bathroom so he literally began blowing
them dry with his mouth. He doesn’t know
what a hand drier is. He also saw a
drinking fountain and asked me what it is.
He was pretty excited when I showed him how to use it. J
We really enjoyed a full night sleep in a
nice, modern, air conditioned hotel when we arrived in Dallas!
After all the flying and time change we needed it. I was a bit overwhelmed being back in America where everything is so nice and everything
is available. It seems no one else knows
or cares how beautiful and good it is here except me. I don’t know how to process it all. It was different being back but not with our
families yet. We had a fun day seeing
some of Dallas/Fort Worth. (It was a
little stressful at first when the taxi would cost us over $160 so we scrabbled
to rent a vehicle big enough for all of us which was difficult with almost everything
rented out for the final four. I didn’t
know if we could still figure things out in our own country, but we did.) We visited Cowboy stadium but they were
getting ready for the final four so we couldn’t get in. Then we went to the Stockyard and had some Texas food, saw the longhorns, and tried on some
cowboy hats. The kids seemed to enjoy it
– and they loved stopping at Mc Donalds on the way back for ice cream! (You may only understand that if you have
been outside of the US for over a year.)
Jet lag took it’s toll on us the first few
days. The older kids did pretty well but
Malai had us up at 4am the
first morning, 6am the
next, then 8am by the
third morning. She was quite off and
only found comfort in nursing so that is frustrating but works. Can’t wait to have routine again for her
sake.
From Dallas we flew to spend a week with my family in Orange Beach, AL. My parents, three of my
siblings, 17 of my parents 18 grandkids, and two other couples (good friends)
all had condos in the same place. I was
a little overwhelmed at first probably still jet lagged and trying to process
still. We stayed on the top floor and
shared the four bedroom condo with the two other couples. The place took my breath away – the view was
amazing! We overlooked the Gulf and
lagoon behind it. The sunsets up there
were awesome. We even saw dolphins from
our room. The condo was beautiful and we
felt like we were living it up. Now
imagine going from Africa where my neighbors live in huts and I reuse
my laundry water to flush my toilets to an extravagant condo on the Gulf of Mexico – how should I feel?! It took a little bit but I thanked God
everyday for the blessing of staying in such a nice place with my family.
Our first few days were cool and on and off
rain, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying our time. (Coming from over 100degree weather almost
all other weather is cold to us!) It was
special just to be with cousins, aunts and uncles and grandparents. We swam in the indoor pool, walked the beach,
found shells, my kids even braved the ocean and boogie boarded. We also went to see the Blue Angels fly. It was awesome! It is amazing what humans can do. We celebrated Josh’s 36th birthday
– how thankful I am for him!!! Funny
thing is Luka told our friends and his grandparents that they missed his
birthday so they needed to celebrate his.
So they threw a party for him and now he is seriously convinced he is
now 6 instead of 5 because he had a birthday.
When security at the airport asked him how old he was he told them
6. He is so funny.
By the middle of the week we enjoyed sunshine
and went to the beach. We are not ones
for laying out in the sun – we have too much sun and avoid it most of our lives
– but I loved finding shells with the kids, swimming with them and taking in
beauty all around me. It was a great
week. Even Josh said how relaxed he felt
not having to look and worry about snakes and just an easy way of life for a
while. We are so thankful for a special
week away with our family and relatives!
We are now very ready to be done traveling
and settle into home and a routine. We
will have slept in 6 different places in two weeks – no wonder Malai is so out
of sorts at night! Unfortunately, our
last day of vacation we found out the parsonage we were suppose to move into
wasn’t ready. The renters wont leave so
the church is trying to figure things out – yuck! So need to decide between three other (good
but not great) options. Pray for us as
we figure this out and try to find some routine for our family. I do have peace in this unexpected bump in
the road because I know God has it all under control and I can trust His good
plan for us.
Thanks ya’ll!
April
23, 2014
Quick update before a real update later, we
are living in Jamestown in the basement of a widow lady. Our basement home has a kitchen, sitting
area, bathroom, and two bedrooms. We are
thankful for a place to unpack! The
church still hopes to get us into the parsonage soon so we will see. We have been overwhelmed with the business of
getting clothes for everyone, school, Malai being sick, and figuring out life
here – but we will make it. Thanks for
your prayers!
