May 2010

We've been busy...

but it's been fun.

A decade of changes or who really got gypped

A little over ten years ago Drew was my only little buddy. We built lego towers, painted our legs, swung till we were dizzy at the park, fed ducks, colored sidewalks, blew bubbles, built forts, read for hours at a time, and the list could go on. I patted myself on the back. Aren't I a fun , creative mommy? With Stoney's arrival, things got a little more crazy, but I pushed forward, enthusiastically, with creative holiday plans, story times with two little ones, and swimming lessons and hikes, and trips to the park. I stilll manged to get a few stories in daily with each boy along with reading lessons and long rounds of UNO. For 5 years I managed to maintain my singular belief that I was, in fact, a fun mommy, that my boys would fondly recall all the creative genius of their doting mother. Enter Oli --Something happened with number 3. I can't quite put my finger on it. Mybe it was the older boys going to school, maybe it was his daddy going back to school. I think it had something to do with the exhaustion of being a single parent for 2 yrs. But we never played legos, I never played any kind of toys with him. We took long walks, but not becuase he smiled sweetly through them. He was usually screaming the whole time. Painting--to messy, forts--to messy, parks--well just for a minute because we have to get to here, here, and here all before dinner. Playdates--Do I have too? Something should be seriously wrong with this poor child, baby of the family, most neglected.
This last week I have watched Oli play"Smells like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana on guitar hero, play pocket god on an Ipod, and sing along with Taio Cruz. Last night he choreographed dance moves to Muse's "uprising". I have heard him discuss the finer points of Parcour, ask to watch "Signs" and be hurled around on a tire swing by Stoney, who may or may not have been trying to throw him off. I offered, half-heartedly of course, to play a more age appropriate stuffed animals game with him. He responded simply--I'm busy--then ran off to follow his brothers.

Randomness.

Yeah... I married him. Sad, isn't it?

Happy Easter!

Oli actually watched conference quietly this year! Yippee!

Drew finding an easter egg, or is he doing ballet?

These are bad pictures but they represent the only pictures taken in over 3 months. We didn't even capture Oli on his 5th birthday.

What have you been doing?

I wish I could bring her home...

This poor baby's mama died during the delivery, from a detached placenta. Tragic. Her father placed her in the orphanage so that she has access to formula.

Africa! We are back safe and sound.It was a grueling trip. Lots of work, very little play...

We've identified an orphanage/school that we would like to sponsor, which was one of the main purposes of this trip. Amazing how about 40 bucks a month can provide the necessities for a child.

Trip highlights below....

Opit--
This long red dirt road made me want to RUN!

Our final meeting with the women of Koro IDP camp, began with a rousing prayer.A young man pleaded with"our most holy father" to strengthen them in their afflictions, and to help the americans buy all their beads. Talk about pressure....

We bought as many as we could from them, but they had not filled the order we had sent.

When beads were unacceptable for quality reasons in one batch the would try to con us by sending the same beads around in another batch. It made purchasing from them time consuming and frustrating. Doing business in Uganda is always interesting...

Jason playing "I am a child of God " and "Ode to Joy" on a local instrument.

Everywhere you go children are caring for infant siblings all day long. I saw very few parents...ever...

Opit IDP camp

Ugandan schillings...
furthering our image of being rich white Americans.

Pabo IDP camp--It was like landing on the moon. Very surreal. Immense suffering and deprivation. The children were all initially scared of our white skin. Apparently, children here are told when they are naughty that the mzungus(white people) will eat them. Nice!

I am so tired of beads!

Newborn!

Three little boys--not much different then my own.

Overlooking the Nile

Reach out mbuya--Buying beads from HIV+ women in Kampala

Nsambya babies home--Hell on earth

Bon Voyage

We're off! To Africa! Well, at least we will be, after the holidays. But the journey begins now with a slew of shots and the making of ambitious plans with a scrappy group of 30 somethings who want to change the world right along side us. To read more check us out: http://www.africanpromisefoundation.org/