Chalk

Before we left California to come home, Bradley kept on reminding me to get sidewalk chalk. A dear friend of ours went out and got us some. The kiddos and I have spent lots of time outside drawing.

Green Grass

The grass is really green, except for 'feet spots' where the swing set is at.

Even though the rains came late this year, the maize has done well and so has our grass! The children love being outside and we've had at least two picnics in the backyard since we've been back.

Green Tea?

Today we stripped a couple paw paw (papaya) leaves from one of our trees in the backyard and boiled them in a pot of water (1 cup) for a while. Then we each had a turn taking a teaspoon of the greenish-brown bitter liquid. Why? Well, because we don't take prophylactics for malaria (long term stay), we decided we'd try this potion recommended to us by veteran missionary friends from Papau New Guinea. It didn't taste too bad and we only have to drink it once a week.

Home for one week

Today we've been here in Lilongwe for one week. The flights went fine and we were so happy to be back in our own beds! Thank you for praying. The children were up in the wee hours of the morning the first two nights, but have since adapted to Africa time. Brian is back into the swing of things too. He preached on Sunday and teaches his students at the college tomorrow. Yesterday evening while chatting to a couple from our church, a snake slithered out from under his chair and frightened the lady sitting opposite him-(they happened to be discussing fear and her face said it all). It was a small mole snake, not as dangerous as the black mamba our gardener killed in February.
I am okay, but had two not so good days this week. I had headaches and the body drain, but am much better today and think it will continue to take time to get better completely.

We love being back- seeing folk in our church and friends on the campus has been great. Hearing the birds and seeing open African skies reminds us of God's amazing creation. Climbing trees and digging in mud is high up on the kids' lists.

And when the power went out, Ben said, "Why did you switch all the lights off, Mom?" Praise God for the back-up generator.

One Sleep to go...

Nanny flies home to Opa in South Africa today! We have only one more sleep before we head home to Malawi. Nanny has been with us since Jan 8th. She has been a real blessing here. She has worked hard to keep the piles of laundry low. She has loved and looked after not only her four grandbabies, but Bied and me too. Viva Tostada! We love you.

Packing day!

THANK YOU BRUINS!

Denise, Amanda, Lisa and Steve

Today, friends from the UCLA Bible Study helped us to pack most of our stuff into bags and action packers. We can fly with ten luggage pieces, each weighing 50 pounds.

Ami and Amanda

Stanley lifting a bag to be weighed.

Steve typing up an inventory list for each bag.

Another bag weighing 50!

Counting down the sleeps!

We can't believe that Benjamin will be three in May. He was born here in CA and so the house we're in brings back memories of when he was just a baby. Time flies. He likes to cross out the sleeps on the calendar until we go to Malawi. He knows that he has to sleep on three planes before he gets home AND that he has to sleep four more nights before he has to do that :)

Rooikoppie?

Definitely a tinge of red.

Wondering if we're going to have a redhead? Allison is cruising along the furniture now. She has five teeth and three are cutting through. She is such a sweet and happy girl. She'll be nine months on Monday.
Please pray that the kids will do well on the long flight next Tuesday!

7 more sleeps

Tonight at bedtime Bradley prayed, "Thank you, Lord that it's only seven more sleeps to Malawi." We are really getting excited now.

He also told his nanny that he couldn't share his candy with her..."because you're not part of our family, you're just an old lady!" Seems like after his comments last week (about her lizard skin and her age of 100) that he has it in for his grandma :)

Get-together

Today, after church, we had a gathering at the mission house for Kondi. It was great. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing so many folks who know him and Kwacha.

Eric and Lorraine Floreen with Kwacha.

Kondwani in the background with Jay and Allen. Monica, Trish, Steve and Kwacha.

Lisa, Suzanne Anita, Sarah, Stephanie holding Allison.

Brian with the Taylors.

Sweet Sophie sweeping the kitchen floor.

Stalwart Stephanie is such a beautiful servant and a very good painter- she was the only lady on the construction team in 2008.

Getting going?

The Shepherds' Conference has gone very well. Brian, Kondi and Hanro have enjoyed it very much.

Nan, the kids and I have been sorting out our things- what to take, what to leave behind and what to give away. Brian likes to pack one or two days before we travel and I like to get things sorted and packed at least two weeks before (less stressful in my opinion). So this year, he received some good advice and he'll send us all away for a day while he and friends pack up the already sorted stuff and then weigh out all our luggage! Bied knows how it's done-he's been doing it since he was 14 and Teen Missions trains you well :)

Also, my test results came back absolutely normal. Thanks for praying! Please continue to pray for good health and smooth travel. May God be glorified daily in our lives.