Habari ya siku mingi! Do you remember me posting in the past of the Kenyan saying, “You’ve been lost” when you haven’t visited someone for a long time?
Well, I know that I haven’t visited my blog much in the last few weeks, but rest assured, I am not lost from it.
Life has been chaotic.
Moving three kids under 5 years half way across the world, quite literally, took a lot out of this momma & poor Ian who had his back go out just as he sat down on the plane for our awesome 16 HOUR flight from Dubai to San Fran. Can you imagine anything more torturous? How bout the fact that the airline seated us separately, so Ian had both kids while I was seated alone with the baby. Not ideal for either of us.
Saying a difficult goodbye to my dear Kenyan friends whom I have seen day, after day, after day was and still is hard. While the work was hard, I still do miss that knock on our door at 9pm, the girls coming to beg some sweets from Ian, seeing Ruben love on my flower garden, having Patrick give me a hearty wave to say Habari Asubuhi, and all of the rest of the sweet ways the staff and residents loved on our family.
Moving back home to a crazy, rushed and chaotic world is taxing on the system and the soul. Poor Ian had to soothe himself with some rice and beans right away. Eli says Asante Sana to the checker at New Seasons and wonders why she doesn’t appreciate that he’s thanked her for the sticker she gave him, Lucy tries to navigate coming into what pretty much is a 2nd culture for her…..we left for Kenya when she was just TWO years old! Poor thing can’t figure why we aren’t paying the police, putting trash in pits in the yard or waiting for the water to heat before it comes out of the tap.
And then there is sweet baby Ameena. My wonderful Kenyan gift. A daily reminder of our amazing midlife adventure.
I’ll post soon. I have so many thoughts swirling in my mind. So many things I want to share.
I’m processing.
Recuperating.
Recharging.
Mourning.
Rejoicing.
Breathing.
Praying that I’ll have the faith and wisdom to listen to what God has in store for our family, and that I’ll be obedient in my answer.