April! Not only is it my birthday, but it’s beautiful. Every few days, we enjoy rain and our view, with clear skies, green plants, and blooming flowers. Although we didn’t have winter, we feel as though spring has arrived. A cup of tea in the cool morning breeze, sitting in a comfy wicker chair and enjoying a flower garden starts each day perfectly, no matter where in the world one might live and I get this pleasure each morning way out in Ndu.
Kribi! The tropical beach we visited in March stunned us with incredible white sand beaches and waterfalls pouring directly into the Atlantic Ocean replete with palm trees and fisherman in dugout canoes (just the right touch to remind me of my childhood in Indonesia). We used to camp out on the beach when I was a kid, but for me Kribi was even better as we exchanged tents for a classy hotel. Yes, the hotel was a highlight for me – with imported foods (like Parmesan cheese), no fluorescent lights, and even hot running water (all the time)! It was well worth the 12 hour drive just to get there.
My kids! Okay, I know they are with me no matter what country we’re in, but only for a few more years. When I consider what next year may look like, I realize that this is my last year to spend all day every day with my very cool kids. We’re going from home school to public and I’m going from having four kids around all the time to having none at home during the school day in just a few months. Have I ever mentioned that I have great kids? Who else has teenage girls who don’t complain about taking bucket baths every day for months? (This, of course, is an advantage for our son who prefers not to bathe at all.) Who else has a 15 year old who plays with her 4 year old sister without being asked? Who else has a 9 year old son who instead of playing game boy or play station, reads the encyclopedia by candlelight and thinks he’s having fun? My kids have pitched in with additional chores, done puzzles and played board games and thought of myriad other ways to spend their time in the bush and they’ve done it all in the spirit of adventure and without complaining. I’m going to miss spending my days with them.
New friends! Just last week another missionary family “stopped by” (you can’t really stop by Ndu, it’s not “on the way” to any where) for a few days just to visit on their way back to their home in the jungle. And this week I get to help plan a birthday surprise (dinner out, a “restaurant” on the terrace, without her preschoolers) for a lady who lives on campus here. Just as good-byes from either side of the ocean are the hardest part of missionary life, good friends all over the world are one of the greatest benefits.
Candles! My kids say candles certainly aren’t romantic anymore because we need them just to see most nights. But I disagree. I love the ambiance and even though washing dishes takes a little more time by kerosene lamp, the glow of candlelight always makes me feel warm and snuggly inside as we enjoy the cool mountain air each evening.
Brian! All right, I realize he’s not going to be left behind either, but I’m glad I’m not here without him. I’ll be the first to admit it – he’s the one with a sense of humor in our family. I’m quite sure I wouldn’t have survived this year without being able to lighten up about it and laugh through it all.
And as I think about those things that bring pleasure to my days, I realize again that it’s the simple joys that continue to brighten my life-these and the awareness that all good things are gifts from my Father’s hand.
Kribi! The tropical beach we visited in March stunned us with incredible white sand beaches and waterfalls pouring directly into the Atlantic Ocean replete with palm trees and fisherman in dugout canoes (just the right touch to remind me of my childhood in Indonesia). We used to camp out on the beach when I was a kid, but for me Kribi was even better as we exchanged tents for a classy hotel. Yes, the hotel was a highlight for me – with imported foods (like Parmesan cheese), no fluorescent lights, and even hot running water (all the time)! It was well worth the 12 hour drive just to get there.
My kids! Okay, I know they are with me no matter what country we’re in, but only for a few more years. When I consider what next year may look like, I realize that this is my last year to spend all day every day with my very cool kids. We’re going from home school to public and I’m going from having four kids around all the time to having none at home during the school day in just a few months. Have I ever mentioned that I have great kids? Who else has teenage girls who don’t complain about taking bucket baths every day for months? (This, of course, is an advantage for our son who prefers not to bathe at all.) Who else has a 15 year old who plays with her 4 year old sister without being asked? Who else has a 9 year old son who instead of playing game boy or play station, reads the encyclopedia by candlelight and thinks he’s having fun? My kids have pitched in with additional chores, done puzzles and played board games and thought of myriad other ways to spend their time in the bush and they’ve done it all in the spirit of adventure and without complaining. I’m going to miss spending my days with them.
New friends! Just last week another missionary family “stopped by” (you can’t really stop by Ndu, it’s not “on the way” to any where) for a few days just to visit on their way back to their home in the jungle. And this week I get to help plan a birthday surprise (dinner out, a “restaurant” on the terrace, without her preschoolers) for a lady who lives on campus here. Just as good-byes from either side of the ocean are the hardest part of missionary life, good friends all over the world are one of the greatest benefits.
Candles! My kids say candles certainly aren’t romantic anymore because we need them just to see most nights. But I disagree. I love the ambiance and even though washing dishes takes a little more time by kerosene lamp, the glow of candlelight always makes me feel warm and snuggly inside as we enjoy the cool mountain air each evening.
Brian! All right, I realize he’s not going to be left behind either, but I’m glad I’m not here without him. I’ll be the first to admit it – he’s the one with a sense of humor in our family. I’m quite sure I wouldn’t have survived this year without being able to lighten up about it and laugh through it all.
And as I think about those things that bring pleasure to my days, I realize again that it’s the simple joys that continue to brighten my life-these and the awareness that all good things are gifts from my Father’s hand.
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1 comment:
Hi, Stephanie,
I'm trying to get caught up on blog reading. I have been thinking about you all and your next move.
I love your thoughts about candles. I remember when I was in Haiti, we had one missionary family who ate by candlelight quite a bit, even though they had electricity most of the time. One of the boys said, "Yes, the Shoemakers eat in about half a candle." That brought a smile to my face.
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