Joshua

Dear Babyboy,

Remember when we first met? You were scooting around the nursery in the walker, filling the room with the sound of your gasps and giggles.

You came over to the big house not too long after our chance meeting and I got to see a lot more of you--just what I'd been hoping for. You found your place in my heart in no time. Nope, no time at all.

It started out as a very very active friendship. You bounced while I stabilized.

Remember that evening when we got to look out the playroom windows together? I showed you the monkeys playing in the trees and you sighed with delight and wonder.

I love the way you squint your eyes and smile real big when I blow in your face. You are the most handsome boy I know--even, scratch that, ESPECIALLY when your snotty nose is all scrunched up and you have big alligator tears rolling down your cheeks.

Tonight you crawled over to me crying after Mark had taken your toy--again--and you wiped your nose back and forth on my shoulder then laid your head on my snot covered sleeve. I didn't mind.

I like that game we play where you sit in my lap with your head against my chest then all of a sudden sit up to look at me, smile, then throw your head back against my chest. It's one of my favorites.

I know I should guard my heart--I won't be with you forever. We only have ninety-some days left together. Let's make the best of it, mmkay?

All my love,

Dadadadadadadaaa

Favorite moments of the day in no particular order

Jackson, who is a new participant in the potty training game, coming up to me in preschool with an urgent and guilty look on his face exclaiming, “Danielle! Potty!!”

Tanz-Hand’s with ALL the lady volunteers on campus sharing embarrassing stories.

Simon bringing chocolate to our apartment just because we are 5 (Alison) ladies and chocolate is chocolate.

Seeing the banana lady outside of our gate…that’s always a highlight.

Recognizing Hidaya’s cry for the first time from the apartment and rushing downstairs to collect her in my arms.

Bibi Helen coming around the corner to find James crying in the meal room and quieting him by simply pointing at him, holding his eye contact, and saying, “Ssshhhhhhhh.” Such POWER that woman has.

Explaining the significance of the Northern and Southern states during slavery in America to Staci and her spontaneously deciding that she wants to live in the north.

Singing Phantom of the Opera with Alison.

Kissing our nanny Agness goodbye just like the rest of the kids on our way out the door to darasa.

Lazaro teaching James how to play Duck Duck Goose by running around the circle saying, “See James, see??”

Sorting beans.

Frustration...a lot of it

Maybe this is why I haven't blogged in so long...that silly picture won't move. Ah, me. At least there are words and pictures.

It started storming pretty hard 30 minutes ago. Lightning, thunder, and loud rain drops. I don't think I've ever felt thunder so close.

Usiku mwema, finally.

What's been goin' on.

The past 10 days…scratch that, 3 months (since I’ve blogged) have literally been all over the place. I had the wonderful experience of traveling in Italy with Matt to visit a family that is very dear to my heart and to see a little more of the world. For the most part, we both enjoyed the cold weather despite our lack of winter clothes. I was only back in Tanzania for a week when my parents came to visit. During their two week visit we went on safari, traveled to Zanzibar, my mom did her amazing mom-thing in the volunteer apartment (cooking and cleaning and loving), my dad used his fix-it skills around Cradle and taught the toddlers how to do somersaults, and we experienced the miracle of baptism. Seeing the way the children responded to my parents was great. Hope and Lazaro are twins that are probably our most mature kids here. I told them that my mommy and daddy were coming. When they first saw them Lazaro came running as fast as he could with arms wide open and shouted, “Mommy, Mommy! Daddy!!” My mom scooped him up into her arms (she didn’t really have a choice) and they laughed together. My heart was so full!! It took me a week or two to gain the trust of those twins so the fact that they were excited to meet strangers just because they belong with ME really meant a lot.

My patience is being tested so much this year…I spend three hours every morning teaching the director’s daughter first grade. I think I’m learning about just as much as she is! Of course there are good and bad days. It’s an interesting experience, teaching one-on-one. Both student and teacher view time in a totally more relaxed way. The biggest struggle for me is that those three hours tend to go so slow-ow-ow and I don’t know how to get things movin’. We’ve come a long way, though. She’s counting by tens, learning the differences between plains and deserts, memorizing Bible verses, and the hugest one of all: she is reading! I am so proud of her.

The preschoolers are rockin’ it right now! The class consists of Hope, Lazaro, Anya, Nina, Tessa, Jackson, and Mariah. Anya, Nina, and Tessa are triplets and yowza, quite the handful. Sometimes intense sister-fights break out when one steals the other’s blocks but for the most part they are doing really well! The preschoolers are learning the names of animals and the sounds they make, how to count in English and Swahili, and that crayons go on the paper and not in their mouths. Most of them can do puzzles on their own, and that is huge! We’re going to add James to our class within the week. I’m bracing myself for that transition… ;)

Knowing that I only have three and a half months left in Usa River I have been going all around the mulberry bush with my feelings. I don’t want to leave this life here. I don’t want the changes I’ve been experiencing to come to an end. I want the growth to continue despite the change in circumstances. I want to bring at least 5 children home with me, a few nannies, and our taxi driver. But I have 105 left here to soak it all up, take it all to heart, and appreciate it too.

My favorite picture from our time in Italy.