Curious George Takes a Bath

If you have been following our lives over the past couple of months, you might have noticed Curious George in some of our pictures.  That little monkey has been on quite the adventure as of late.  As the most recent addition to our family, he has already traveled to Atlanta, Washington DC, Switzerland, Kenya, South Africa and finally to his new home in Lesotho.  That is certainly a lot of travel for such a little monkey and you can see why he was in such need of a bath!

During the time that we stayed with my parents before we left for Africa, Kyle discovered Curious George amidst the large family of stuffed animals whose home is Uncle Caleb’s bed.  For whatever reason, Kyle took right to him and dragged him all around the house for those couple of weeks.  They became close friends quickly as Curious and Kyle had slumber parties each night in Kyle’s crib.  The morning before we left, Uncle Caleb kindly met Kyle, just awake for the morning with Curious in hand, at the top of the stairs to tell him he could take Curious with him to Africa.  So, Curious was packed in Kyle’s carry-on and pretty soon the two were off for a wildly exciting venture around the world. 

Curious was there as we said goodbye in the hotel room.  Flying across the Atlantic, Curious kept Kyle company during his few naps and many sleepless hours.  In Kenya, Curious went with Kyle to class regularly and frequented meal times with him as well.  Back on the airplane, Curious snuggled up to Kyle and geared up for a long night on the red eye flight.  Once we got to Lesotho, Curious and Kyle took a nice snoozer whilst we drove to South Africa for a short visit. Over the past three weeks, we have been nestled back into the mountainous woods of central Lesotho, experiencing village life first hand.  Curious has been here, too, faithfully keeping Kyle company during his naps and at bedtime.  Yesterday while Jonathan, Kyle and I washed the laundry, we pulled Curious out of his comfortable new home in Kyle’s crib and gave that little monkey a bath!  His hands, feet and face were so dirty, you would’ve barely recognized him.  We took turns scrubbing and rinsing him until we all agreed that he was a much cleaner monkey than before.  In typical monkey fashion, he hung upside down to dry over night and we rescued him first thing this morning.  He is as good as new and ready for many more adventures with his best friend, Kyle!

Bath time for Curious!

Kyle helps wash his hands...

Floating in the soapy water

That's where he's going to go once he's rinsed out....

Squeeze all the water out of him....

Silly monkey!

Clean Curious!!

~Abby

23 Weeks....

....And still belly sleeping!  I know that is going to have to change eventually but I have high hopes I'll make it another few weeks with my pillow propped under my side so I can continue facing downward.  It is impossible to sleep on my back and I'm not much of a fan of side sleeping these days. And, after all, sleeping is very, very important.

This morning I saw an OB-GYN here in Bloemfontein.  The general practitioner I saw yesterday referred me over to this guy and I really like him. He did an extensive scan of the baby (which by the way is still a girl) and took lots of measurements.  He said everything looks very healthy so of course I am relieved.  She is measuring a few days small so maybe she's petite or maybe she'll come a little after her due date or maybe it doesn't matter at all.  I'll come back to the Dr on March 8th, and probably again around April 8.  Then on the 20th of May we plan to come here to Bloem and stay in a guest house while we wait for Ellee to make her appearance.

After my appointment with the OB, I walked to the adjacent building into the labor and delivery section.  It looks almost identical to the hospital I delivered Kyle in and their proceedures are about the same.  There is a check-in room where you go to determine if you are really in labor and if so, they'll take you into a labor and delivery room until after the baby is born. The recovery rooms make me a little nervous, as they vary from 1-2-3 patients per room depending on availability.  The nurse I spoke to today said that they were swamped at this time but hoped when I come in June, they won't be nearly as busy.  Either way, assuming everything goes normally, I'll spend about 48 hours in the hospital after delivery before being discharged.

I'm still about 7 or 8 pounds lighter than I was when I got pregnant.  The ridiculous morning sickness I battled for upwards of two months was quite the weight-loss program.  I've actually put about 7 or 8 pounds on since my lowest point of dehydration and malnourshipment.  And I've eaten like a hog these past couple of days because I know we are going to a village-stay for 3 weeks starting tomorrow where we will be eating very unfamiliar foods again.  So, I feel no guilt over the half of a large pizza I consumed upon arrival into Maseru on Wednesday.  Or the quarter pounder with cheese I ate yesterday at McDonalds.  Before you lecture me about the need for healthy foods, I am planning to eat a pile of grapes, yogurt and granola in about 5 minutes.  Yes, I found all the necessary components to my favorite goop here in South Africa and I am so excited to have it as a snack!! 

I don't expect to gain much weight over these next couple of weeks so I'll be surprised if I end up spending more than about 12 weeks in my maternity clothes.  Right now I am still wearing the jeans I wore when Jonathan and I got married; occasionally I have to use a hair band to loosen the button a little after I eat.  It works out nicely because most of my maternity clothes are for cold weather and the temperature is supposed to stop dropping in March.  So, if I can make it until then in my skirts and t-shirts, I'll be set for the last few months of pregnancy! 

Nevertheless, regardless of weight gain or loss, I can't really describe how thankful I am to finally be eating again.  The last meal I lost was right when we got to Kenya at 19 weeks.  Since then, although much of the food has been hard on my stomach, I have managed to keep the little I have been able to eat in my belly.  Ellee and I are both very grateful for that.

Speaking of Ellee, she is an active little thing.  During the sonogram today, it was neat to watch her and simultaneously feel her punch me.  During our many long sessions at ABO, I would find myself watching my belly jump around for entertainment.  Jonathan has felt her multiple times and can see her bouncing, too.  I don't know how much Kyle understands.  When I ask him the baby's name, he points to my belly and says "Aye" which obviously is his way of saying Ellee.  Of course, I'm the one who told him she was in there in the first place.  He hasn't felt her yet, but I don't think he would make the connection.  Nevertheless, he'll figure out soon enough that she's here to stay.  I think he will be a good brother.  After watching him with the little girl, Ruth, at ABO who was not quite a year younger than him, I am more excited to see him be a big brother.  He is a sweet boy and he was so tender towards me during all those days he watched horrified as I violently lost my meals in the bathroom.  He gladly follows instructions and I think he will be a big help to me once Ellee arrives, fetching various items for me when directed.

I brought a few white long-sleeved onesies from the US to stitch for her once we get done with our village stay.  I don't have any way to smock for her here and I don't have a sewing machine.... yet. :)  But, I'll get creative, I'm sure.  I brought all my floss so I can at least embroider plain shirts and pants or skirts for her.  Mom and I settled on a beautiful pattern for her quilt which is going to be made from these fabrics.  Having these things picked out makes it seem more real that she's coming and I'm getting excited.

It was hard to be excited about her during the first 20 weeks of this pregnancy because of how sick I felt.  But, now that it has passed and I feel so much better, I'm really looking forward to having her here.  I finally feel like I can enjoy the idea that there is a baby growing in my belly instead of dreading waking up in the mornings facing another day of miserable sickness.  I wonder if she'll look like me and what her personality will be like.  Around 17 weeks until we meet her and find out!

~Abby

ABO

Nearly three weeks have passed since we first arrived here at Scott Christian University in Machakos, Kenya.  We have had little down time over these weeks.  Our days have been filled with learning, via lectures and discussions and several activities in the local town.  We have gathered from many different countries and backgrounds and have enjoyed getting to know each other thoroughly over these days.  I believe there are 57 of us in total, including children and a few staff who facilitate our sessions.  Many of us came from the US, naturally, as about 70% of AIM's missionaries are from America.  However, we have quite a variety of other countries represented as well including Switzerland, England, Ireland, Canada, Germany, Brazil, and South Africa.  

Our living arrangements are in the college dorms and despite the rustic bunk-bed set up, I have slept like a hibernating bear nearly every night many thanks to my trusty earplugs.  The halls are loud and echoey and the open windows cause a draft which regularly slams open doors shut.  Not being keen on the experience of sleeping enclosed in a mosquito net, I utilized the duct tape which was packed in my bag to secure a net over our open window.  We have managed to spend three weeks with very few mosquitos in our midst, at least in our bedroom.  Kyle has slept like a champ (despite the noise) in his pack & play which I am so thankful we purchased and were able to check plane side all the way here for free.  Although this is supposed to be the dry season, we have experienced heavy rain many days and a few windy storms.  It seems that rain automatically makes the power go out.  Welcome to Africa.  Fortunately, there was a generator for some of the power outages, but we did have to manage in the dark many evenings.  Showering in flashlight is fun.... not.  Speaking of showering, as you can imagine we've had our fill of community bathrooms.  Nothing like three weeks to force you to give up any clinging to privacy.  Kyle has bathed every other night in a giant wash tub in the company of all the women who walked through the bathroom.  He didn't seem bothered.  On the up side, we had hot water nearly every day.  That is a real plus!

Home for three weeks

The food has without a doubt been the roughest part, just as I suspected.  In my almost month in Africa, I see that variety isn't something which is highly valued.  We eat about the same thing every day: some combination of rice, potatoes, plain spaghetti noodles, steamed cabbage, rubbery beef, chicken, fish and fresh fruit are the trusty components.  Variation in cooking style of aforementioned ingredients is almost undetectable and seasoning is sparse.  The fish (if you know me well, you know I'm not a big fish fan to begin with), however, is heavily seasoned and gives me miserable heart burn.  I try to smother the taste in ketchup and eat as much as I can.  We have thoroughly enjoyed what are called chipatis, a type of fried pita.  Heavy on the grease but tasty.  The chicken is typically pretty yummy but there isn't a lot to go around for 57 people.  Thankfully, Kyle has eaten very well all three weeks and has only had one bout with an upset stomach.  I fought an upset stomach nearly all week last week but it seems to have finally died down.  I've purchased some snacks from the local grocery and tried to supplement with those where I could.  The yogurt was tasty but the refrigerator broke so I had to ditch the rest.  Kyle and I downed the Goldfish I brought from home early on.  I have found some really delicious cookies, but alas, one cannot live by cookies alone.  Almost, but not quite.  Anyways, needless to say, I don't think I've packed on much weight these three weeks and for that I am grateful.  Despite the lack of palatable food, Ellee is still growing and kicking just fine.

Taken 2/6/12 (Ellee at 22.5 weeks)

A couple times Jonathan and I have ventured into town for some decent food and I really enjoy the simple selection at Kenchic, chicken and chips.  A fried (without the breading) quarter chicken and a plate full of fries for about three bucks, with a coke, $3.50.  Full of grease and full of flavor.  We might just go again tonight...

Our sessions have been helpful, some highly interesting, some review from topics we covered in pre-field training.  Our typical schedule has been breakfast, devotions, prayer, then sessions from 9:30-12:30, lunch, sessions from 2-5, free time before dinner and the evenings have been free.  We covered (really just scratched the surface on) African culture, world-view, spiritual warfare, and "biblical vs cultural" with a Kenyan pastor.  We spent days going over safety tips for living in Africa, HIV/AIDS overview, security precautions, contingency plans, and cultural communication and conflict.  We also had two full days of training from another Kenyan regarding Islam and it's origin and spread across Africa.  We've received a regional overview of each of AIM's four regions, North, South, East and Central.  That was very informative and encouraging to hear about.  All in all, it has been long and exhausting, but beneficial for sure.

Kyle has been a total champ and I am so proud of him it makes my eyes sweat.  He has done great in this little toddler sessions, taking lots of walks, coloring lots of pictures, making lots of crafts, eating lots of snacks and playing with lots of toys.  The childcare worker said he has been the easiest and eager to help by passing out the right sippy cups to each of the other two or three (depending on the day) toddlers in his class.  A boy after my own heart, the kid values snack time.  He has gone cheerfully to his teacher each morning (okay, not the first couple of days but after that....), and then been all smiles when we picked him up at lunch time, albeit very "unree" (hungry).  He might have a crush on the youngest girl in his class, Ruth, as he points her out every time we pass her, or her mom, or her dad exclaming "Ru", "Ru Mama", or "Ru Dada".  One evening he accidentally poked her in the eye and the next morning when he woke up the first thing he said as he stood up in his bed was, "Ru eye."  Sugar baby.  Sweet, sweet sugar baby.  So glad he's mine and I get to keep him with me.

We leave Machokos in the morning and head back to Nairobi.  We'll eat lunch and dinner there and then head to the airport.  I'm dreading our 2:25AM flight to Johannesburg, SA.  We'll have about a three hour layover there before catching our jump into Lesotho.  We should arrive in Maseru around 10 AM.  Our plans for what happens after we land have changed multiple times since we've been here.  Welcome to Africa.  Now, we will be picked up in Maseru and then taken back to Bloemfontein, South Africa for a few days of rest.  That wasn't in the original plan but there has been a medical emergency on our team in Lesotho and we've had to arrange our plans accordingly.  The teammate is in the hospital in Bloemfontein and our team leaders and another lady who was supposed to intercept us in Maseru are there helping care for him and his family including four children.  One of the team members has already made me a doctor's appointment in Bloemfontein so we can check on Ellee and try to get a referral for an OBGYN in the area with whom I will deliver.  So, we'll spend about five days there, I believe, before we're taken back into Lesotho for our village stay.

We'll be in the village for three weeks living with an African family.  I'd be lying if I said I was excited about it, but I am hopeful that it will be at least more relaxing than these three weeks have been.  Again I am nervous about the food situation and I really do feel like I'm gonna deteriorate if I don't get any familiar or at least truly nutritious and tasty food for yet another three weeks.  However, this is the plan so we'll go with it.  At least I shouldn't have much baby weight to lose come June.  Anyways, after our village stay, the plan right now is for us to return to Maseru and live in the empty house of a retired missionary until near Ellee's due date.  Then, we will travel about two hours back up to Bloemfontein and await her arrival.  Again, this isn't the plan we had been going off of for the past couple of weeks, but with the medical situation I mentioned, this is the plan for now.  We'll see if it changes again.  Regardless, after Ellee is born and I have recovered, we should be set to move out to Mokhotlong as planned in July or August.  The reason the medical situation affects us so much is because that was the family who was supposed to be receiving us and facilitating our transition into Mokhotlong.  Until there is a decent prognosis made, we won't know exactly how the plan will unfold.  Regardless, our time in Maseru will be spent learning the local language and culture as well as the details on the theological program Jonathan will be coordinating in the mountains.

The couple here at ABO from South Africa has been a great resource to have around.  I've asked many questions about availability of groceries once we get to Lesotho.  Of course we figure much of what is readily available in South Africa will be imported into Lesotho but what isn't we'll have to go out occasionally to stock up on.  Unlike Kenya, apparently there are various types of cheese, dried fruits, pecans, pastas, and ethnic foods available in South Africa.  We also had lunch one day with a couple who recently moved out of Mokhotlong to take an administrational position.  I was very relieved to talk to them and hear that internet really is readily accessible and the availability of familiar groceries in the local stores is increasing regularly.  They did say it is very cold and snows every winter.  I have a feeling we'll be investing in some more long johns.  And probably some ear muffs.

I'm really excited to get where we are going and pretty frustrated that it is still so far out.  However, I'm trying to soak up these weeks and months of transition and know that once we are out in Mokhotlong, two and a half years will feel like a long time to be there.  My nesting instinct is strong anyways, and expecting another baby isn't helping the situation.  I'm really having to learn to go with the flow and trust that God has gone before us and ordered our steps.  With all the change in "our plans" I know there is no change in His plan.  For that I am thankful and in that I can rest.  I ponder when I have down time (which right now is almost never) about what life will look like in the mountain town of Mokhotlong, Lesotho.  We are being told that the local language, Sesotho, is a very difficult one and I expect to be frustrated.  I'm up for the challenge though and am determined to learn it and learn it well during our three years there.  I wonder what our house will look like and I hope it will be the first house we've lived in which we can claim all four walls.  Up until now, we have always shared walls.  We are praying we'll find a reliable vehicle and be able to make a wise purchase.  I am praying I'll have a stove to cook on and that I'll be able to find pretty furniture and things to put in our house.  Since we have been married, I have lived with this mindset of living temporarily.  Even though we spent two years in SC, I still didn't invest much time or effort into nesting because I knew we would be leaving.  Of course, when we moved there, we didn't know it would be two years, but I digress.  This time, however, I really want to do what I can to make home seem like home and I'm excited to have the opportunity to do so.  I hope during our time in Maseru after our  village stay and before it gets too close to Ellee's due date, we can make the trip out to Mokhotlong to see the place for ourselves.  It will be hard to go through the rest of this pregnancy not knowing what I'll be bringing my baby "home" to and not knowing how to plan a special nursery for her.  But, I think if we can make the trip to visit, I can at least have a grasp on what to prepare for and look forward to once we get there.

I'll leave it at that for now and probably won't have much chance to update over the next few weeks.  Until then, I'll be munching on the decadent chocolate bar I found in town..... Mmmmm milk and white Cadbury chocolate, where have you been all my life?

~Abby

Settling In

After an exhausting day and night and day of travel from Atlanta to DC to Zurich to Nairobi, we arrived safe and sound last night along with our 9 pieces of luggage, two car seats, stroller and pack & play.  I could hardly believe everything made it.  Although, on each of our flights we sat for a long time at the gate.  Eventually they came over the intercom to say, "We're sorry for the delay but we have a lot of baggage to load."  Well between the three families and two single girls moving to Africa, I think we donated our fair share of luggage to the loading crew.  Everyone's luggage arrived with us on our last flight, an answer to prayer for sure!

We were greeted by quite a few pilots from AIM Air who assisted us in gathering and loading our luggage onto two vans.  We fought traffic to Mayfield Guest House where we are all spending a few days trying to get over jet-lag before we head about an hour south for orientation.  Once we arrived here last night and got checked in, I was so out of it I had a hard time just getting things together to get in the bed.  We had missed quite a few meals because of the time change and naps on the plane so I had to feed Kyle some crackers in order to give him his malaria medicine.  We got that taken care of and then filed through the bath to rid ourselves of plane stench.

Mr. World Traveler

Speaking of plane, Kyle did better on the flights than I had hoped.  The first flight to DC, he napped the entire way.  The second flight (over night) to Zurich, he was awake for the entire 8 hours excluding about a half hour cat nap.  He fussed some on that flight, but fought sleep the entire time.  Our lay-over in Zurich was almost non-existent and we lined right back up to board the last flight.  Once we got airborne, I suggested he go to sleep to which he replied, "Poe" (pillow), "Que" (Curious George), and "Bla" (Blanket).  I handed him all the players and he knocked out in about 20 seconds.  We all slept pretty continuously for about half of that 7 hour flight.  He fussed some when he awoke, and let us know he was ready to get down.  But, in all, he didn't make any huge scene and he didn't keep the entire plane awake.  That was my fear.

So, once we got settled in, we slept most of the night until about 4AM.  Kyle woke up chattering constantly and wanting to read books.  Somehow (through patience on his part and prayers on mine) Jonathan managed to get Kyle to settle down again about an hour later and we slept hard until 9AM.  In fact, I slept through the breakfast alarm.  Jonathan assures me it was very loud.  I had one ear plug in to keep the sound out the ear not attached to my pillow.  A rooster started crowing about the time Kyle woke up at 4 and Jono suggested maybe he had jet-lag, too.  After that there was a family of birds chirping loudly outside the open window, and cars going by, people talking, etc.  The ear plug solved all those problems.  But, it caused me to skip breakfast.

We got some juice from the kitchen and ate a granola bar.  I felt pretty dizzy and weak up until our nap time right after lunch.  Kyle and Jonathan seemed fine, although Kyle was obviously very sleepy.  So, we napped and then woke up and went to the store to get a few essentials.

"Cheese!"

Some Nutella, peanut butter and jelly, crackers, and juice were those essentials, along with shampoo, conditioner, and soap.  I purchased the cheap-o shampoo and opted against the egg scented one.  GROSS.  Who wants their hair to smell like eggs?  If I had the camera with me, I would've documented that bottle so you would believe me.  Apple was a familiar option so I chose that.

Dinner was delicious: a bacon quiche, cole slaw and fresh fruit.  I ate like a horse.  Although I was awake for lunch, I felt so poorly I didn't eat a whole lot.  I wished I could've eaten more dinner but I ran out of time.  The kitchen crew finally booted us because they were ready to clean up... and I was still eating.  Fortunately, I was running out of space anyways.  All of our meals are provided here at Mayfield along with the room for about $40/night.

The weather is wonderful, just cool enough to be very comfortable and a nice, dry breeze.  I can't really believe how good it feels.  Maybe tomorrow I will be less jet-lagged and we can spend more time outside at the park with Kyle.  For now, he is playing in the closet while I sit here at the desk or on the bed.

If I knew how to work my camera and if I didn't have a bouncy one year old, the photo wouldn't be blurry and you would be able to read that his shirt says, "jungle explorer."  :)

We are here at Mayfield until Tuesday, then we head south to Machakos for orientation.  I'll update when I can!

~Abby

Thank You

Over the past months, Jonathan and I have been on a wild ride known as support raising.  God, in His goodness, brought in our support so quickly compared to many other missionaries we know who are raising support.  When I look back at the months that were covered up with phone calls, e-mails and meetings, I thank God for orchestrating it at just the right time.  In early October, it looked as if we were too far away to make our January departure date.  Then over just two weeks, we watched the flood gates open and the differences grow smaller.  We were cleared to leave despite a slight shortage on our monthly support and we haven't looked back since, except to recount the faithfulness of our God who provided at exactly the right time.

My extreme sickness with this pregnancy started in mid-October.  We didn't have one more support meeting after that.  If our support had not been raised before that point, I do not see how I could have physically handled trying to coordinate or attend meetings.  I praise God for raising our support before I got so sick.

Now, as I sit in a hotel room the night before I depart for Africa, I am once again amazed.  A simple post on Facebook notifying our many prayer warriors of the remaining monthly shortage has prompted more families to commit to support us monthly as well as donate one time gifts.  We are overwhelmed.  We are fully supported.  When I look at the list of people who represent so many thousands of dollars and countless prayers, I am moved to tears.  Words cannot express what I feel in my heart.

At times I begin to feel like it's just us going out to do this.  And I lay awake at night and wonder if I am crazy.  Who up and leaves their family to move to a remote town in the heart of Africa?  Who takes their child a world away from his grandparents, not knowing what kind of communication we will be able to maintain?  Who spends weeks making trips back and forth to the Goodwill only to look at the trunk of a car and realize, "this is all I own"?  Who takes a shower wondering if this is the last hot water I'll enjoy for years?  I really do feel crazy.  Maybe I am!  But, there are a lot of crazy people behind us who are cheering us on.  And I am once again reminded that I'm not the only one making sacrifices.  A long list of faithful believers are praying and giving on our behalf so that Africa might see the light of Christ and be changed for eternity.

My sweet sister in law wrote a song called "I Will Go."  If I were tech-savy, I could link it to this page.  I am not.  However, I can copy the words so you can understand why this song is so special to us.  She wrote it in high school after reading about the martyrs of the faith.  When Jonathan and I first began writing about our mutual interest in missions, he e-mailed me the file of this song.  My 17 year old heart could barely comprehend the wisdom behind the words in the second verse.  Now I understand.  And now I have to look deep down into my mother's heart as I sing these words, to test and see if what I am saying is true.

Lord, do I love you enough?

Enough to sacrifice every other love?

And Lord, am I willing to stand 

On my own, and place my dreams in your hands?

My desire is to the walk narrow road

And if suffering is where you've called me,

Father, I will go

I will go, I will do

What I know has come from you

I will say what you command me to say

I choose your way

Lord, I will go

Lord, it easier now

To pledge my hopes and dreams to you

To make a vow

But, Lord, it will not always be

For one day you may bless me with a family

And I'll desire to hope and dream for them

So I pray you will give me strength

To say once again,

I will Go

And if you call me unto death,

I will not hold on to life

But willingly I'll choose your way

And I will go

I will go

Father, here I am

Despite the ache I feel and the struggle I now know as a mother and protector of my children, I can still say, "I will go."  However, if it weren't for all of you, I wouldn't be able to go.  So, thank you.

Until Africa,

~Abby

My Best Girl

My heart is in my throat as I even attempt to begin this post.  How do I summarize the countless memories I have with my very best girl?  It seems impossible.  When Kaylee walked into my life in early high school, I gained one of the sweetest friendships I think I'll ever know.  After that, we were attached at the hip until I got married and moved away.  When our senior year of high school came around, we had the wonderful opportunity to visit Hawaii with my parents for a special trip.  Nearly two weeks of Hawaiian bliss with the best company, an experience I certainly will never forget.

Feb '08

 Both of us were home schooled and we "missed out" on that delightful experience known as senior prom.  Fortunately, neither of us cared a bit.  At this point, we didn't have boyfriends so we opted to go out to dinner with our daddies.  We ditched the prom dresses and stuck with our trusty jeans....

April '08

After a whirlwind of changes, a year later, Kaylee and her mom were hosting my bridal luncheon.  Here we are two days before my wedding...

Despite the miles that marriage and college put between us, we have remained in close contact and seen each other regularly.  This summer, I had the privilege of attending her wedding.  Here we are, two days before her wedding at her bridal luncheon...

And then they were hitched!

After she was married, Kaylee and her new husband moved from Illinois back down south.  Over the past six months, we have soaked up the short time we knew we'd have back together, regularly eating together on her lunch break.  I can't really explain how good it has been to be able to go back to "old times" and just relax and visit together.  

Yesterday, we found ourselves saying the goodbye which has been looming for months.  When I fully surrendered to the call of missions in 2006, with Kaylee by my side, I didn't realize the impact it would have on my precious friendship.  Of course we are thankful for Skype and e-mail but nothing will ever compare to the countless hours we've spent, curled up in each other's beds or sitting on each other's kitchen counters, eating ice cream and talking until the wee hours of the morning about God and life and our futures.

I'm gonna miss this girl.  It hurts.  But, I cherish these many years of friendship which don't end here.  And I am thankful for a friend who encourages me and supports me in my journey around the world.  I know she'll always be there for me..... Anytime.

~Abby

A Mama's Mama

Yesterday I enjoyed a special treat which was given to me by a precious friend.  For Christmas, I received a gift certificate to a local spa for a pedicure.  The envelope read "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" (Romans 10:15) Having only had one other pedicure in my life, I was pretty stoked.

With only four days here at home before we depart for Atlanta, Mom and I (okay.. I) decided to make the outing a last time out together for the two of us.  We enjoyed lunch at Red Bowl and then I relaxed while the nice pedicure lady rubbed my feet.  If I didn't have a million to-do's floating around in my head, I might have really been able to relax.  I did the best I could, all things considered.

Before I continue, I have to let you in on what happened while trying to find the spa.  I knew the place was located right in the same shopping center as Red Bowl.  I didn't realize there were two nail places.  So, we walked into the first one and were blasted by the smell of chemicals.  Mom said the gift giver had mentioned how serene the spa was so it didn't exactly seem like the right place.  However, I saw a little sign that said, "Gift Certificates Available" and thought it must be here.  So, the non-American guy (read: Vietnamese) comes from across the salon saying, "sit down, I take you now."  I proceeded to attempt explaining my certificate and appointment and the guy was just insisting, "I take you now."  After fumbling through the purse for the envelope, I opened it and looked at the name on the certificate.  Then I looked at the name of the place we were in.  Wrong place.  Now holding my gift certificate for the other nail spa, the guy looked completely deflated.  That might be an understatement.  He was still insisting he could "do for me." I was thinking, "No, you can't do for me and you won't take me now because my gift certificate isn't even for your place!"  It was so awkward because he wouldn't give me the certificate back.  He just kept staring at it, I guess trying to figure out how to make me stay regardless.  Finally I reached for it and said, "can I have that back now?" And we walked out.  A couple doors down, we found the right place.  Very serene.  Beautiful music.  No chemical smell punching you in the face.  And then we laughed, hard, about that poor man's disappointment.

The spa people were really interested in our giant move and we talked about that the entire time.  That's what we talk about everywhere we go.  No one can really believe that we are moving to Africa.  I want to say, "yeah, me neither."  And most people's follow up question is, "how old are you?"  When I reply with 22, they typically say I don't look older than 16.  Then I try to hide my irritation by saying, "yeah, people say that often.  I guess I'll appreciate it when I'm 40."

Now my toes are ready for the southern hemisphere.... flip flops!

Really, it was just nice to spend a couple hours alone with my sweet mama.  The world knows that my mom and I are tight as ticks and I am going to miss her terribly.  Sometimes I wonder why I am so crazy to sign up for this lifestyle since it is going to take me so far from home.  But, yesterday, as I was getting ready and fighting back tears I was thinking about Christ.  And I thought about how he left his home in heaven, and a Father who loves him more perfectly than I can even imagine, to come to this miserable place we call home.  I thought about how much he must have longed for home.  Being from America, I tend to like the way things are here.  I enjoy the luxuries we have here which much of the rest of the world doesn't offer.  And I can't help but wonder at times why I'm leaving what is familiar and comfortable for what is completely unknown and much less luxurious.  This is not to sound like I am likening myself to Christ, by any means.  But, it helped me get out of my miserable sadness and think that, if Christ would leave what is better than I can even imagine for a life here to save me, how can I complain (even inwardly) about leaving what I know for His sake?  I don't want to leave.  These goodbyes are gut wrenching.  Living these last days feels surreal and my heart aches.  But, the sacrifice is immeasurable compared to that of my Savior.

I'm gonna miss my mama.  If I'm being honest, I'll miss her more than anyone.  I can't imagine life when I can't get ahold of her easily and ask her the questions I don't know how to handle.  For today, however, I am thankful that I've spent two wonderful years as her neighbor and 22 as her daughter.

~Abby