Packing, Moving, and Randomness

So I added tabs to the top of the blog, and I am unsure if they are actually working correctly because our internet has been super crazy the last week (3rd world country and all of that...).  So, is it working for you?  Thanks for your help.

Don't forget to get in on the Kazuri Earrings Giveaway!

We are moving.  Just across town; nothing major.  I counted it up.  This will be our 9th "home" in 10 years of marriage.  My 12th "home" in the last 13 years.  (Ok, well my 12th home period because I lived in the same home for my first 16 years of life.)  I am hoping this one sticks for at least the next 2 years and one month or 758 days (I am not counting or anything) until we head back to the US for a few months.

I have a bunch of home projects I can not wait to attempt once we get situated.  It will be very interesting with the supplies I have to work with here.  I have been blog browsing for some great inspiration amongst the amazing "green" DIY's for upcycling and re-purposing ideas.  Stay tuned!

I will be MIA for a few days until we get settled.  See you then!

Back to packing,

French Bread Pizza

Growing up Mr. Sojourner's family loved these.  He asked me if I thought we could re-create something like that since he was really missing them.  I took the challenge!  (Well ok, it really wasn't a challenge per say; it was more like a gift.)  A quick, simple, relatively inexpensive, family fun meal?  That is a gift here in these parts!

The ingredients:

• 
  
  French Bread (you could be super women and make your own, but when I can get a huge & awesome loaf for 50c; I'm taking it!)
• 
  
  Mozzarella Cheese (if you can get it you go with the pre-shredded kind or you can bribe ask your circus monkey sweet, obedient, perfect child to shred it for you)
• 
  
  Toppings of your choice (pepperoni, bacon, ham, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, etc.)
• 
  
  Pizza or Spaghetti Sauce (you can use your favorite jarred sauce or you can use the recipe below)

Pizza Sauce:

• 12-15 oz can of tomato paste
• 2-3 cups of water (depending upon how much tomato paste and how thick you like your sauce)
• 2 tsp. garlic powder
• 2 tsp basil
• 2 tsp. oregano
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. pepper
• 2 tsp. sugar (you may want to add more if you like a sweeter sauce)

Mix together a viola!

Cut the French loaf in half but lengthwise and widthwise.

Let everyone make their own choosing how much sauce and cheese and which topping they would like.

(This is the part loved amongst all the Little Sojourners.)

The finished product.

The happy faces.  (Except that is more of a scary face then a happy face.)

*This reminds of English Muffin Pizzas I used to make as a girl.

Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday: Rainy Season

Let Them Eat Cake!

Last night we had a friend over for dinner (she is finishing up her time here in Africa and will be heading back to the States for a new season in her life).  The most simple way to say it is that things did not go as planned.

When she arrived I had dinner in the oven and I was finishing icing the cupcakes for dessert.  We sat down and talked for a while, helped the girls do a puzzle, chatted some more, and then I went to check on dinner (thinking it should be about ready).  It was not ready.  In fact, the gas had run out and I think it had in fact been out a while.  Mr. Sojourner headed out to get a new gas bottle.  While we waited me, our friend, and the Little Sojourners played a few board games, chatted some more,

and then thought; is Mr. Sojourner ever coming back?!

He finally made it back after a long adventure of going to two ATMs (because the first one was out of cash), going to two gas places to get gas (because the first was out), and sitting in LOTS of traffic.  So, then we still had to wait for the food to finish cooking!  I decided to do what any crazy cool Momma would do in that situation and so we ate dessert first (while we waited for dinner to finish cooking)!  I think I have now procured my place in the Little Sojourners' minds as the "best Mom ever."
 

We finally ate dinner at about 8:30.  It could have been a disaster (ok maybe it was a disaster!), but we chose to embrace the set-backs and eat some cake! 

What is your Tuesday Unwrapped?  Check our other pleoples' Tuesdays Unwrapped here:

*You can also read about my huge praise from this week.
**Don't forget to check out my latest giveaway that ends August 6th!

Kind regards,

Big Step

Middle Sojourner went this whole passed school year with only one single word (accidentally) spoken at school.  This summer we have been having some of her friends from school over to work on seeing some progress.  On Thursday we had one of the little girls from her class over to play for the day. 

They played, and played, and played!

They even got to play some Wii.

They had lunch on the patio with some of our neighbor kids too.

And, after lunch I did some exercises with Middle Sojourner and her friend that our counselor taught us.  (Basically, games with one word communication.)  The first couple of the games were without eye contact and Middle Sojourner did well whispering the one word answers.  (A big step!)  The the last couple of games her answers got a little louder and she was having more eye contact.  (An even bigger step!)  After the games I told her to work on answering her friend's yes or no questions (verbally) for the rest of the day and that next week when she came over we would work on more.  To my surprise, by the end of the day Middle Sojourner was talking a mile a minute in her normal voice to her friend just like she does to us!  (A HUGE step!!!)  We are so thankful for this breakthrough and hope that we continue to see progress this summer with her friends so that next year we can hopefully see her talking (or at least whispering) in the classroom.  This week we are greatly encouraged and continue to seek the Lord's

guidance in how best to help Middle Sojourner overcome this fear.

To celebrate this big victory Middle Sojourner was aloud to plan a day of festivities.

She wanted a big breakfast so we had a feast.  She wanted Asian Noodles

(one of our favorites, I'll have to share that next time I make it) for lunch so that's what we had. 

She wanted to play Clue so we all spent an afternoon trying to solve a mystery.

Who did it?  In what room?  With what weapon, Middle Sojourner?

Little Sojourner may have figured it out.

Mr. Sojourner makes an accusation.  He was wrong.  I made an accusation.  I was wrong.  Ms. Sojourner made and accusation.  She was wrong too.  Middle Sojourner makes an accusation and she got it correct!  We finished off the day with one of her favorite dinners: hamburger and gravy over mashed potatoes.

It was a great day of fun and celebration!

*You can read more about Selective Mutism, Middle Sojourner's story, and our journey to help her overcome it by pressing the "Selective Mutism" tab at the top of the blog.

Marriage Minute: "Let Me Count the Ways I Love You"

Mr. Sojourner & Me as high school sweethearts.

Last night while Mr. Sojourner an I were lying in bed waiting for sleep to come we exchanged "I love yous" as we normally do.  Mr. Sojourner added a playful and quick "Why?" response.  Then, since I was in a silly mood, I proceeded to sing-song "Darling Dearest let me count the ways I love you..." Which was followed by a list of many of the things in which I love about him.  It was a lot of fun.  But in the process I realized that I simply don't tell him all the things I love about him and how very much I appreciate him nearly enough.  I sure do love that man!  

Still very much in love over eleven years later.

Picture by Jenny Monier.

So here is a "Marriage Minute" Challenge:  Why don't you consider telling your husband or someone else you love all the things you love about them this week too?  You could do it in a silly song like me or you could think of some other way.  Be creative!  Maybe a note or a series of texts; let your creativity flow.  I think I am going to try this with the Little Sojourners this weekend too.

Did you try it?  How did it go?  What creative way did you use?

Thanks for stopping by,  

Fabulous Friday Giveaway: Adorable Kazuri Earings!!!

Sporting my blue pair of Kazuri earrings at The Tower Bridge Experience in London.

As I shared in Flashback: July '09, I have gone from a "one pair of stud wearing momma" to a "lover of all beaded jewelry momma".  Living in Africa is not helping with this new found obsession!  Especially when we visited Kenya in January and I discovered Kazuri.

At Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guard wearing my "lost one an hour after this picture" dazzling purple pair of Kazuri earrings.  If you are someday walking through Green Park and happen to find it please return it to me.

I think I browsed 4 different Kazuri stores while we were in Kenya (including the factory) and bought a bazillion pairs of earrings and two necklaces.  I brought a pair back for all my co-workers here.  I sent several pairs home as gifts to family members, including a necklace and earrings set for my Momma.  I kept a few pairs on hand for future gifts.  And, I kept one necklace and a whole bucket full few pairs of earrings for me.

Decked out in my fabulous red Kazuri necklace and earrings after a hot date with

Mr. Sojourner to Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's London Restaurant.

Now, I would like to share a pair with one lucky winner!  To enter simply post a comment of which of the below pairs of earrings you would choose.  And, for a bonus entry you can post about the giveaway and post the link in a separate comment.  (Check out the giveaway button in the sidebar for an easy way to post about the giveaway on your blog.)  I will announce the winner Friday August 6th.

Pair #1 is more of a deep or burnt orange (think Texas Longhorns).

Pair # 2 is an adorable shape with grey background and
silver details all with a iridescent shine.

Pair #3 is very natural with an olive green sort of color.

So, which is your favorite pair?

Thanks for participating!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Muffins

Paper City