One of Those Days

You ever have one of those days where everything seems to go wrong?  My friend told me it's a "Africa Day."  Today I am having an Africa Day.  I woke up thinking all was going right.  I had a quiet time, got a bunch of emails and paperwork done, spent some time with Litte while the older two were at school (it's the last day of school; whoohoo!  I am SO looking forward to having them home for the summer!!!), pulled the Sticky Chicken off the bone and got the chicken broth fixings back in the corckpot, did my daily exercises (that seem to be going more like every-other-day exercises since life has been crazy lately), showered, etc.  This was a lot of encomplished for the morning for me these days! 

Then, I realized my house helper wasn't here....for the second day in a row!  I know, a house helper sounds like a luxury, and I sound like a total baby.  But, seriously I do now more here with a part-time house helper then I ever did as a full-time SAHM in the U.S.  You seriously can not imagine the dirt or how time consuming everything here is.  But, I digress...

Oh, wait the shower faucet is pouring water out of the bath onto the shower floor?!  Awesome.  Let's call the plumber who I explain the situation to at about a three year old level.  "Just come' and quick!"  Hand mothions always get the point across better.

So, now I have a bunch more to do today when I already had on my long list.  And, it seems like for every one thing I check off the list some sort of disaster insues that I must now clean-up or take care of.  I am exhasted and I still feel like I have encomplished nothing even though I've been working non-stop all day.

Somehow, this has all been down right hilarious to me today and even though today has seemed like a train wreck I have been laughing through all of it.

So, what am I doing now?!  I'm blogging while my sink soaks.  Of couse.  Because on a day like today....you might as well Shine Your Sink like Fly Lady taught you.  That way along with your train wreck of a day, at least you have a shiny sink.  Right?!

Off to finish shinning my sink and laugh at whaever else today throws my way.  At least there is only a few more hours. ;)

Update: I finished the shiny sink (picture up top)!  And, the plumber brilliantly fixed the link.  Things are looking up.  Oh, I also added the sign below to the kitchen.  Here's to hoping it works.

What do you do on "one of those days?"

Kind regards,

Three Great Things on Tuesday

1.) I made the world's best homemade chicken noodle soup complete with homemade egg noodles.  My family said so, so it must be true, right?  It was something that I have been craving so I was pleased. :)

2.) I made my first trip to the outdoor fish vendors.  My sidekick Little Sojourner and a good friend of mine tagged along.  I was brave.  I bought.  I came home with fish.  I am so excited about what I am going to make.  I'll share more about it later this week!

3.) I read this great blog post by a very talented lady who I always enjoy reading.  I think she does a wonderful job of portraying and defending biblical womenhood.  You should go check out her blog Boundless Treasures.

What great things happen to you this fine Tuesday?!

Kind regards,

Nothing says, "Welcome Home!" Like...

10 Hours Without Power.
1 Puking Kid.
1 Lost Luggage.

But, I'm so glad he's home!  8 days seemed like a month.

Kind Regards,

I'm Ready

7 Taxi Rides.
5 School Days.
2 Weekends.
24 Meals.
8 Bedtimes.
8 Nights Sleeping Alone.
1 Scare.
13 Visitors To Our Gate.
2 Days of Internet Fiasco.
8 Days Of 100 & Something Degree Weather.

I.  Am.  Ready.  I'm ready for Mr. Sojourner to get back from his trip.  I am ready to have my best friend to talk to again.  I am ready for the Little Sojourners to have Daddy home again.  I am ready to be driven around by someone whom I love and speaks English again.  I am ready to have "the man of the house" home again.

Me & Mr. Sojourner, July 2004

Kind regards,

My Friend: The Crockpot

So sorry I have been MIA for almost a month now!  I guess you have figured out by reading this that I am still alive.  It's been a busy month combined with nausea and fatigue (it feels like someone zapped all the energy out of me!).  I am hoping since my second trimester is quickly approaching that these things will magically go away.  A girl can hope, right?  And, really my nausea is getting much, much better.  So, that is giving me hope too!

Anyways, I have been doing a lot of crock pot cooking.  I usually use it at least once a week because of the convience and ease of it, but lately it's been more like a couple of times a week!  When you are nauseous it is really awesome to throw all the ingredients in and not have to deal with the smells very much!!!  When you are tired it is great to just have dinner magiclly ready without much work. :) So, yeah....the crockpot is really my friend right now.

One of our Africa friends was over one day while I was putting stuff in the crockpot and he asked what it was and I explained it to him.  He thought about it for a second and then he dubbed it "the lazy women's cooking pot" while smiling very big.  My friend: the lazy women's cooking pot!  It sure gave me a chuckle and hopefully it did you too.

So, I hope to be back to posting more regularly again.  Hope to "talk" to you again real soon.

Kind regards,

P.S. As I was posting the crockpot picture I ran across this picture:

It made me really want one again.  I think it has to do with the pickles.  We can't get dill pickles here and they just sound so tasty with that awesome chicken sandwich! ;)
P.S.S. Please excuse any spelling errors (of which I am sure there are MANY).  My spell check thinks I am French at the moment and is not being much help.

In honor of MLK Day (a little late)...

(And, because the cute little Sojourners say they funniest stuff.)

Middle Sojourner (to Little Sojourner): Today is Martin Luther King George Day!  He said a speech to millions and millions of people.

Little Sojourner: {blank stare}

Middle Sojourner:  Let's go play!  We'll pretend that you are white and and I am black  and we will put all the people together!!!

Little Sojourner: OK!

I overheard this while lying in my bed and dying suffering from extreme nausea.  It made my day.  I love the way kids think and process things they learn.  They don't always get it exactly right, but they retain the just of it.

On a serious note, Martin Luther King Jr. was a great man and I am so thankful that our country honors his life and memory each year.  His most famous speech is more then inspirational along with much of what he said and did.  (Below are a few of my favorite quotes.)

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. -Martin Luther King, Jr.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. -Martin Luther King, Jr.

Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness. -Martin Luther King, Jr.

How did you celebrate your MLK Holiday?

Kind regards,

Hello!

Me += horrendous nausea, not many blog posts, #2 on the 13 Before Thirty List (minus the big amount of weight loss first) & three ecstatic little Sojourners.

Thanks for your patience while I try to keep from puking!

Hair Experiment

This year one of my goals is to search for ways to cut our budget down.  Though you would think (I sure did before I moved here!)  that living in a third-world country in Africa would be cheap...it is not.  There are a small number of things that are local and inexpensive, but the majority of things are imported at a high cost.  Some things are luxuries you can live without (nuts, juice, sodas, canned mushrooms, cereal, etc.) and some things you can not (toilet paper, feminine products, hair products, cheese, etc.).  It is a constant balancing act of what we can do without in order to budget better our own finances and so we can help others more.

In the U.S. I was good at cutting costs to help our family stay out of debt and save for some big purchases; sometimes needs, sometimes wants.  In the U.S. I could shop sales, clearances, and second-hand stores.  I could cut coupons (oh how I miss that!).  I could know where kid's eat free on what days to make a cheap family meal out for our family.  None of those things work here.  Over the last year and a half this is something I have struggled with here.  How can I help my family be better stewards of the money that God has entrusted us with?  What does this look like here?  How can I creatively cut costs while still maintaining a place of rest and comfort for my family?  I have had some small victories in this area, but I have mostly just been discouraged.  I'm hoping a new year will bring some new perspective!

A friend of mine shared this interesting article with me recently on natural homemade shampoo and conditioner and I was thinking this may just fit into my new goal (though it definitely has benefits other then financial!).  I know I can get baking soda here.  I don't know that I can get Apple Cider Vinegar, but I can get regular vinegar and lemon so I might need to do some experimenting with those.

I'll be getting the ingredients this week at the store and hoping to start the experiment this week or next.  I'll keep you posted!
What are your thoughts?  Have you tried this before, or something similar?

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

Heading to the U.S. to see family, friends, and to be encouraged and refreshed (but probably not too rested considering we'll be in 5 states in 4 weeks); see you in a month!

Kind Regards,

I {Heart} Black Friday

I love to save, plot, plan, and research the best deals of things that we need or that I have had my eye on for a while.  I love the excitement.  I get a huge kick out of the people; both shoppers and the poor retail workers.  I really enjoy making a day of it with a friend or two.  I pretty much like everything about it.  Black Friday is obviously an American phenomenon and therefore last year I really missed it.  (I did snag a few deals online, but it was not quite the same.)  The year before we were in training for overseas living and also did not get to participate.  Needless to say, this year I am pretty stinkin' excited about it.

Mr. Sojourner and I have been scouring the ads and deciding what we need and what we can fit in our luggage when we head back.  I am excited to stock up on some birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, Easter basket goodies, etc.  (Since we can not get many toys and such here and the ones you can get are outrageously expensive and break within a minute of play.  I need to take some pictures of the stock of toys and our local stores so you can see.) 

But...I am already overwhelmed by the choices and I haven't set foot in a store yet!  In the capital city of the West African country we live in if you want cereal and you got to the store you may have five choices.  If you want a computer printer you may have two or three choices.  It's not like the aisle of cereal boxes or aisle of computer printers that we are used to.  After eighteen months this has become normal.  Now, as I look for an ipod speaker I see several choice at each store and they are all different.  Holy cow.  I am in for shell shock.  I don't know whether I will squeal with delight while skipping down the aisles, go into catatonic shock, or fall on the ground sobbing when I walk into a clean, beautiful, well-stocked store.

Do you do Black Friday?  If so, what stores are you planning to hit-up this year?  Or, what is on your shopping list?  If not, what are your Thanksgiving holiday weekend plans?

It Went Something Like This...

One of the discussions we had at the gathering spot in the village last week was about our upcoming trip. It went something like this:

Them: You are going to America?
Us: Yes.
Them: All of you?!
Us: Yes. All of us.
Them: The children also?!
Us: Yes. All of us.
Them: Your whole family?!
Us: Yes. All of us.
(At this they broke out into a discussion amongst themselves.)
Them 1: Do they have to pay for the children to go also?
Them 2: Yes, I think so.
Them 1: Do they have to pat for each of them?
Them 2: Yes, I think so.
Them 1: Even the little one?!
Them 2: Yes, I think so.
Them 1: Do they have to pay for a seat for each of the children too?!
Them 2: Yes, I think so.
Them 1: Are they the same price as them?!
Them 2: I don't know.
Them 1: It must be very expensive!
Them 2: I agree!
Them 1: [Shaking his head] It is not like a green machine* (Side Note: A green machine* is a van type public transportation that they stuff full and then some with things and sometimes people hanging off.)
Them 2: [Shaking his head] No, it is not like a green machine*.
(They then turn back to us.)
Them: You are all going?! Your whole family?!
Us: Yes, all of us.

Just in case you are unsure after reading that: we are, indeed, all going to the U.S. together.  All five of us.  Even our children.

Leavin' on a jet plane (in 112 hours),

What we're looking forward to...

Mrs. Sojourner's Top Ten:
1.) Family and friends.
2.) Worship in my heart language with other believers.
3.) Not having to think about every word that comes out of my mouth; functioning in English!
4.) Seeing my kids reactions to experiencing things in the US (especially Little; she really doesn't remember much, if anything).
5.) Not sweating every moment of everyday.
6.) Eating all kinds of food that we can't get here.
7.) Roads without potholes the size of our children (and bigger!).
8.) Not having to wash and treat every dish and piece of produce.
9.) Wearing clothes that are soft (not line dried and crisp). And, wearing jeans!!!
10.)Shopping and being able to fine whatever I want at a decent price and good quality in a clean and beautiful store.

Mr. Sojourner's Top Ten:
1. I get to see family and friends again.
2. One word: Food. Yummy, American food!
3. Two words: Fast Food. Mrs. Sojourner and I will not spend 2-3 hours a day in the kitchen on our vacation.
4. Going to church
5. Air Conditioning: Everywhere and all the time.
6. Cold weather: It may not be cold to you, but it probably will be to us.
7. Disney with the girls
8. Browsing: Not being attacked by 20 salesman, when I stop to look at something.
9. Christmas: Getting to see all the Christmas decorations and houses decorated.
10. Football. I have to watch at least one football game!

The Last Month

So the last month my posts have been few and far between, but I promise I'm still here.  The short of it is that our family is on the brink of (or maybe in the midst of; still not quite sure) what we call in overseas living "burn-out."  We're tired, we're homesick, and we're discouraged.  The last month or so we have been in survival mode.  Putting one foot in front of the other.  Taking it one day at a time.

We made the decision that for our month's vacation this year we would head home to the U.S.  (Probably not, okay most certainly not, the smartest financial decision.)  But, it came down to heading home before out job is done, or heading home for a time of encouragement, refreshment, and most importantly the love of family and friends whom we miss dearly.  We decided the later was the best choice so a month ago we booked our tickets and informed our family and friends.

This month I have felt a little like the "little engine that could" trying to make my way up the mountain.  Tomorrow will be our last visit to the main village we work in until we come back in late December.  Just like every visit this month, I am dreading tomorrow.  Last week I dreaded it as well, but at the end of the day was so happy to have gone and experienced all that I had, but simultaneously exhausted and drained within an inch of my life.  I am hoping and praying that when we get back from the U.S. this stage will be over because, frankly, I am not enjoying this roller coaster of emotions.

6 days.  In 6 days I will be stepping on to an airplane for the bazillion hour trip back the the U.S.  I can't wait.  But, at the same time, I have the feeling of sadness that it will be over in the blink of an eye.

Playing in the Rain

Rainy season is almost over.  The rains are coming far between now.  They may be over already, in fact.  (We're hoping for at least one more!)    If they are over, we won't see rain for around 9 months.  Things will turn brown again and we will miss the glimpses of green that we have savored over the last few months.

I recently took this picture of Little Sojourner in what may have been our last rain.  I love how much fun my kids have playing in the rain.  It reminds me of my childhood summers spent at my Grandma's house;  waiding through the gutters on her brick street after a rain.  I hope my children will look back fondly on moments like these playing in the rain, savoring the short season.

Do you have fond memories of playing in the rain?  I'd love to hear them.

Kind regards,

*Linking up to It's a Blog Party's "Say Cheese" Wednesday.

American Dreaming

There is a slight possibility that the Sojourners will get to go "home" to the US for a short vacation in November-December and to say that we are excited about even the possibility is quite an understatement.

We miss our family and friends a lot.  It's been 16 months since we have seen any of them.  16 months is a long time.  It's about 1/3 of Little Sojourner's life.  We hope that this slight possibility turns into getting to hug the necks of those we love very soon.  If it doesn't we'll be sad, but we will still rest in His love for us knowing that He will carry us though.

So, since this possibility presented itself the Little Sojourners and I have been singing.  It's not very pretty (we will not be the next Brady Bunch or anything like that), but it is a lot of fun.

Do you remember the movie An American Tail?  If so, do you remember the song "There are no cats in America"?  Well, the Littles and I have made our own fill in the blank version of that song that goes something like this: "There are no _________ in America and the streets are filled with ______________."  The first blank we fill with things that we don't quite appreciate about Africa.  (Please forgive us, we are in no way perfect.  Though there are many things we love about Africa, there are also many things that drive us crazy, or drive us crazy some of the time.  We chalk it up to culture shock.)  For instance: garbage, beggars, motos, pot holes, foreign language, to (pronounced toe; kinda like congealed bland grits), dust, malaria, etc.  Then, the second blank we fill with things we miss and can't wait to see/have.  For instance: family, friends, air conditioning, reliable electricity, clean running water, Chick-fil-A, Disney World, English speakers, shopping malls, McDonald's, grocery stores, Dr. Pepper, chocolate chips, bacon, etc.

"There is no garbage in America and the streets are filled with Chick-fil-A!"

At least like Fivel and his family we can pretend until our bubble is burst.

Dreaming of America,

Thirteen Before Thirty

Last night I was lying in bed thinking of turning thirty this coming year.  I know thirty isn't really old, but because it is going to be me...it seems very old!  I couldn't possibly be close to thirty.  But, then I realize I am about to have a ten year old and reality sets in.

Me; not long before my 29th birthday.  I still feel like the 18 year old newlywed (plus a few pounds and with the addition of three kiddos).

This led me to think about the things I would like to accomplish before turning thirty.  Not too far-fetched because I only have ten months and one day!  Attainable goals for the next ten months.

Before July, when I will turn thirty, I would like to:
1.) Lose some weight and figure out how to be healthier in my current situation.
2.) Be pregnant again.  I would  really like to have another baby.  Before I can do that I feel the need to finish goal number one for the health of the baby and me, because of the medical care where we are currently living, and because of the complications of the birth of Little Sojourner.
3.) Plant a garden.
4.) Learn to can (or canning?).
5.) Learn to make a cheesecake.
6.) See the last herd of desert elephants in West Africa.
7.) Make a quilt with African fabrics.
8.) Help Middle Sojourner to begin speaking at school and to her teacher.
9.) Visit the US and see family and friends.
10.) Read Radical by, David Platt and participate in the read along.
11.) Paint the different rooms in my house and get the house organized.
12.) Learn to re-create a Chick-fil-A meal for my family at home. (I think this and number 5 might work against number 1!)
13.) Learn to be frugal here in Africa. (I know that seems really silly, but I am great at being frugal in the US and just have not figured it out here.  Things are a lot more expensive and there are no sales and coupons.  I am going to need to get creative!)

I can't wait to get started on these new adventures!  I will keep you posted to my progress and share as I try new things.

Do you have a list of goals for the next couple of months or years?  I'd love to hear them!

Contemplating thirty,

*Linking up to Thursday 13.

Team Work, Poop Talk & Laughter

Yeah, you read that right.  Let me explain.  Oh, and apologize ahead of time; I'm sorry!

Ms. Sojourner buttering garlic bread, Mr. Sojourner working on the spaghetti sauce, picture me at the sink working on dishes {because that is where I was before and after the taking of this picture}, and Middle and Little Sojourners were behind me in the dining room playing, occasionally getting stepped on helping, and still adding to the conversation.

Last night it was a group effort to get dinner on the table.  (I love me some help in the kitchen by my awesome family!)  It always leads me to want to sing, "What's going to work?  Team work!" from the Wonder Pets.  (Did that phase ever hit your house?)  We were cooking some spaghetti and garlic bread, doing the dishes, and chatting it up.

"How was your day?"  "What did you do today?"  "What happened at school?"  "Guess what I did today!" etc. etc.  All the fun family talk.  Then, somehow, but not abnormal for here; the talked turned to poop, as it sometimes does.  There was talk of frequency which ended with this great interchange.

Middle: "I pooped at school last year but I haven't at all this year."
Ms.: "Oh, you only poop at home now?"
Middle: "No, neither."
Ms.: "You haven't pooped at all this year?!"

Which ended in about ten minutes of laughter by all of us.  Man, I love moments like that!  Even if it starts with poop conversations.

{Disclaimer: I have to explain a little more so you don't think we are crazy or worse.  It has been our experience that when you are a Western overseas worker living in a third world country you just begin to talk a lot of poop.  It happens. Somehow you lose your BM modesty and talk poop together.  It usually doesn't matter where you are or if you are eating.  This Western politeness loses out here.  For now, we are embracing this weirdness (that we never possessed before coming here, re-read that part one more time, I promise it's true); I'm just hoping we remember it when we go back!}

So, today I am unwrapping the gift of family time and laughter (even if it is about poop).  What small or big gift are you unwrapping today?  Come on over to Emily's and join us for Tuesdays Unwrapped.

Still laughing,

WVU vs Marshall University Rivalry

I have to preface this by saying I have never been much of an (American) football fan (I am more of the football as in soccer kind of fan).  But, my parents both attended Marshall University and so have many of their siblings, other relatives, etc.  This is likely to be my one and only (American) football post, but here it is.

Last night was the annual WVU vs. Marshall game at Marshall.  My Mom (because she is after all their number one {die hard} fan) was of course at the game, and I am positive she was decked out in green screaming her head off.  I was on facebook really, really late last night (here in Africa) because I had coffee way too late in the evening and I saw many of my friends and family back home posting about the game.  I look around online and found the live streaming audio of the game and listened in.  It was an awesome game!  One of the coolest parts for me was getting to interact with my family and friends via facebook and twitter about the game.

Marshall played a heck of a game and I really thought for the first time in 10 years they were going to pull through.  With seconds left on the clock WVU pulled through with a 2 point conversion, tied the game and brought it into overtime.  I was sitting on the edge of my seat folks!  It was c-r-a-z-y!  In overtime WVU won the game but it was a good, exciting, and very close game.  You can read more about it: here.

I am sure my Mom is heart-broken, but she will keep rooting for the Thundering Herd and hope for the win next time!  As for me, I crawled into bed about 3:00 am bummed over the loss.

Do you watch sports?  Do you follow a favorite team?

One Tired Cookie,