Gratitude expressed in a photo a day in 2014-2015- Grace in the little things…
I am also doing a photo a week aimed at improving my photography skills by doing a challenge. You can find these photos here
2015 (scroll down for 2014)
03.29-Picking blue bonnets at sunset
03.28-face painting snuggled against tia
03.27-A fun day at the lake…
03.26-Ice cream date!!!
03.25-time with Tia
03.24-bedtime snuggles on our last night together
03.23-A day at the childrens museum
03.22-ice cream date with the cousins!
03.21-Teaching Neal to make South Sudanese coffee
03.20-a spontaneous dinner out when our dinner engagement was cancelled – such fun!
03.19-Coloring time with the cousins…
03.18-Coffee…really makes all things better!
03.17-A very bad day with a thrown out back…made better with this cuddler
03.16-Breakfast with these amazing folks
A date with this man…
03.14-Henna night with sweet friends
03.13-W-man playing with his new friend A.
03.13-A day at the zoo with friends
03.11-A fun day romping in the snow
03.10-Our third succombs to the flew-but we are all on get well drugs…
03.09-Exploring our nations capital
03.08-Energy enough to play with gifts from our “uncle eric” … rubber band guns and army men so fun!
03.07-Seeing our sweet “cousins” and loving on Mikey
03.06-Urgent care = quality medical care for this sick little boy and a doctor with the forsight to prescribe the anti-viral med proactively for our entire family. (yea!)
03.05 – Storytime with all the “cousins” with Uncle B…
03.04-Fun at the beach with friends in Charleston SC
03.03-Goodbyes are so hard…walking to the bus stop on our last day in FL before driving to SC
03.02-Fun with friends…
03.01 -A surprise visit from Uncle B. and Auntie M. was soo awesome!
02.28-On the road to FL rocking pink car seats 🙂
2.27-Dinner and games with some of our favorites. We love you G and S!
2.26-Puddle stomping in the slush/snow…seeing my kids in cold weather clothing is so odd!
2.25-Eating dinner with all these folks we loved and served with in South Sudan…love them!
2.24-Trying desperately to stay awake until 7pm…jet lag is a beast but playing games is fun!
2.23-Sleeping after the end of 36 hours…these poor dears were wiped out!
2.22-Waiting for leg one of our 36 hour flight to our passport country…these tired four were so good!
2.21-Playing a favorite game with friends
02.20-our director/friend came over and after our work took five minutes to ride with the kids…they loved it!
02.18-All the kids together playing games…such a great day!
02.17-They are back! They are back! and look at my full house of friends (happy heart here!)
02.16-Last day (for J–) of working on a carpentry project with the youth for a secondary school in South Sudan…grateful for a skilled husband
02.15-Someone gets stressed by packing so he curled up in his known blanket and read…good choice buddy!
02.14-Lunch with this sweet boy and his mommy.
02.13-Date night with this handsome man sushi and great conversation…
02.11-Playing Dutch Blitz with my girls and Auntie Bri…defeat by only 2 points…next time!
01.10- Sweet giggles and game playing with Dad spontaneously after a long work day. Love these five more then words can say.
02.09-“goggle eyes” an indication that lots of fun was had swimming in the water with siblings after a long hot school filled day.
02.08-A friend that’s been in her life for almost 3 years. This is a long time for our constant moves and their sweet giggles and conversations are such a sweet blessing to see.
02.07-Friends that make us laugh, play time and water to cool down in that is more blue then green…
02.06-Fabric shopping at my favorite haunt downtown five floors of bartering insanity (and lovely prints) plus a bus ride to boot (always an adventure here)
02.05-Time for blood draws and stool and urine samples, times six. I am grateful for my brave kids (and an extra set of hands)
02.04-Yup this unedited photo is the water my kids swam in…I am grateful for baths…
02.03-Brothers wrestling…
02.02-Aunties to hold hands with and chat with … and invite to live with us…we love you that much Evie!
02.01 – Bike riding and Aunty Claire time
01.31-Shilluk dancing at a celebration
01.30- exercising with mommy
01.27-another day at the pool to beat the heat!
01.25-Learning about the armor of God…
01.24- These boys were laughing and joking with each other…brothers
01.23 – Worshiping with this group of folks. Over 8 heart languages singing “God is so good”. Amen.
01.22- We are pruned but in the grace of God can still grow
01.21- Sleeping on the way to SLC…his older brother offered him his lap…sweet boy!
01.20-These crazies trying to help get us all in the birthday mood…
01.19-swimming in the pool trying to cool off
01.18 – Enjoying a warm drink before church
01.17- Birthday fun with this lovely lady for her birthday…
01.16-J– teaching the kids chess. They love it!
01.15-Fresh fruits and veggies to cook with. Such a huge gift!
01.14-Unpacking in a day (and decorating too). Too bad this isn’t a marketable skill set! Grateful to feel settled…
01.13-waiting for yet another red-eye flight and spending hours at the airport – but what fabulous travel buddies I have!
01.12-Jumping outside on the trampoline with friends
01.11-Living this crazy adventure of life with my man…
01.10-Flower-girl saving the butterfly from a spiders web…
01.09-Spotting this beauty so close to our car…
01.08-Fake hippos which are more fun then real and friends to play with
01.07-My man fixing the water tank in Uganda
01.05-Last day in the city we’ve called home for a year…
01.04 Hair cuts for the girls before leaving – how do they get so big so fast?
01.03 This crew of friends. And a morning playing together by the Nile
01.02- This dear soul that captured our hearts
01.01-Movie time after a long day of packing up the house
My gratitude journal 2014- Inspired by my sister one thing I am grateful for each day for 2014. Sometimes grace can be found in all the little things…
December
12.31-New Years game playing
12.30-Matching sisters
12.29-Someone is trying to look like Grandma…
12.28-Fun times with friends at school
12.27-Building legos with Daddy
12.26-this cutie playing games with me
12.25-Christmas with some of our favorites
Cooking a big dinner with this amazing woman
12.23-window clings to help remind us it is winter
12.22-celebrating flower girl at her school with some cake
12.21-Birthday girl!
12.20-snuggles with my boys
12.19-church with Uncle Chris
12.18-celebrating 10 years of marriage
12.17-these cuties
12.16-shopping with Dad for a new coat…movies!
12.15-These stockings that help us remember the season of Advent
12.14-decorating gingerbread houses
12-13-homemade eggnong
12.12-our own nativity
12.11-metro station riding
12.10-a fun weekend with this fabulous family
12.09-cutting out gingerbread houses
12.08-making gingerbread dough with these cuties
12.07-A day at the park
12.06-an all nighter at the airport and creative minds
12.05-a house full of family
12.04-A day sightseeing with family
12.03-Crafts at the Nuba cultural center
12.02-A beautiful sunset and this man
12.01-Snuggles with grandparents
November
11.29-Sightseeing with Poppa
11.28-Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations
11.27-A day a the market
11.26-Medical care when needed
11.25-A fun day trip
11.24-Lunch with mom and dad
11.23-A day at the beach
11.22-Poppa comes
11.21-Fish bake feast
11.20-coffee date
11.19-Exploring coptic Cairo with my love
11.18-These sweet boys
11.17-Care packages!
11.16-enjoying the Red Sea
11.15-late night ice cream date
11.14 -Grandma’s here
11.13-Dressing up in the park
11.12-falling asleep on brother
11.11-Dressing up for fun
11.10 -another birthday to celebrate
11.09-glowsticks in the bathtub
11.08-This sweet lady’s wedding day
11.07-diving with a friend
11.06-Thanksgiving Tree
11.05-game playing
11.04-birthday party with friends
11.03-this cutie pie
11.02-play date with friends
11.01- a fun imaginiation
October
10.31- love my sweet girls
10.30 – snuggles with kitty
10.29- sleeping in the taxi
10.28 – laughing really hard at silly shoes
10.27 – a day at the park
10.26- facemasks with grandma
10.25 – all being packed in one car
10.24- unexpected lunches
10.23 – playing scrabble
10.22- the Mediterranean sea
10.20 laughter at the park
10.19- out to eat with grandma and grandpa
10.18-getting to shop outdoors for veggies
10.17- sweet friends that make goodbyes so hard to say
10.16 my little girl looking so big
10.15- school time art
10.14- My four year olds drawing of the creation story
10.13- falling asleep in the taxi
10.12 – sweet flower girl showing her hair unbraided
10.11- coloring at the park
10.10- water seminar
10.09- sillies before bedtime
10.08- being too tired to watch a movie
10.07 – the kids thoughts on who our family is
10.06- time with this lady
10.06- water purification filter for water seminar
10.04- learning new things about culture all the time
10.03- Small gas engines class
10.02- a3id crafts
10.01 – Community meeting with these guys
September
31-W-man enjoying drawing
30-getting to study and work at school
29-paper dolls
28-meat buying at 3eid
27-friends play date
26-W-man his sweet kitten
25-this place I study and worship at
24-lego building
23-lego building
22-Sweet PJ wearing her SS necklace
21-everyone getting ready for 3Aed.
20-W-man sharing his favorite meal
19-creative PJ’s rendition of her as a princess
18-J– planking it
17-ancient sights in Aswan
16-language study with this lady
15-a silly story from a silly girl
14-science experiment on water quality
13-watching Dad row
12- My amazing artist
11-The money in J–‘s wallet … think he is a traveler?
10-a sick boy and a Dr to take him to
09-sweet cuddles with my baby
08-eggs ready to pain with Grandma
07-These superheros
06-W-man reunited with his elephant from South Sudan
05-a sleepover in the living room
04-A beautiful Juba sunset
03- seeing pictures of this beautiful lady
02- a gift of my favorite SS snack from a friend
01-seeing photos of kids playing in the mud
August
31-Seeing Marsa again
30-so tired he is fast asleep
29-Uncle Chris to play with
28- getting to visit our home in South Sudan
27-food to share in South Sudan
26-science experiments with Dad
25-fun ice cream dates
24-getting to school these guys
23- not combing Flower-girls hair for a week
22- a sweet friend to braid with
21-a quiet street to walk down
20-the cat getting used to folks
19-hours and hours of train time
18-a new cat
17-dinner out
16-a play time after church with friends
15-a husband who goes above and beyond
14-sweet friends to live life with
13-the sun streaming through leaves on my walk
12-this little water spout that sounds like rain
11- how bikes can carry anything
10-kids that take photos on my camera
09-sweet folks that greet me
08-anafora contemplation and quiet time
07-anafora exploring
06-fresh fruits and vegetables
05- another tooth lost
04-all dressed for ballet
03-sweet boys
02-a long train track
01-Amazing lighting in a restaurant with friends
July
07.01- lounging and reading
07.02-this big smile
07.03 – ready for holiday with new suits
07.04- baked a holiday cake
07.05-this sweet face
07.06-gifts for friends
07.07 – game night
07.08 – this big castle
07.09 – time with family
07.10 – time with grandma and grandpa
07.11- these sweet friends
07.12 – a lovely wedding
07.13- an amazing architectural tower
07.14- time with my sisters
07.15- loving time with familly
07.16- bridal shower fun
07.17- cuddles with my man
07.18-matching hats
07.19 – reading at nap time
07-20 these sweet faces shooting a self photo
07.21-celebrating the bride to be
17-22 loving loving little mans self portraits
07.23 – sweet sweet kiddos
07.24 – all ready for the beach!
07.25- just looking silly
07.26 – lovely day on the M. sea
07.27 – wearing matching outfits
07.28 – ballet practice
07.29 – team time
07.30 – super hero brothers
07.31 – studying luke
June
06.30-friends at school
06.29 free soda at the shopping center!
06.28-day at the moviees
06.27 – chai on the street each morning
06.26 One of my favorite boabs
06.25 – um…how is this comfortable
06.24- old town with friends
06.23- I love these gems
06.22 W—‘s drawing of people right now
06.21 J–‘s first rowing competition
06.20 – dancing at friends’ wedding
06.19 outside an embassy.
06.18 a play date with a friend…
06.17 this street is one of very few that has garbage baskets along the street
06.16 a chair on the street gets a facelift
06.15 a mahal down the road
06.14 experiment time with Dad
06.13- building on a street nearby
06.12 So many street kittens
06.11 little sister reading to her brother
06.10 A local butcher
06.09-school at the cafe
06.08-W— loves his kitten
06.07 kittens everywhere
06.06- my favorite vegetable seller
06.05 – so there is a big boy in our house who can *almost* get dressed by himself
06.04- dance recital
06.03 – we have indians in the house?
06.02- waiting for a taxi
06.01 the boys at a cafe
May
31-Beach day and D–man sporting some awesome sunscreen
30-The boys and their ben ten watches…
29 -Ngamelut playing with the kitty
28-The girls and I write messages back and forth in these books to each other. Love it!
27-election day here. Showing some local country excitement!
26-The kitten tried to eat boiling chicken and fried his whiskers. So sadly funny…
25-Ads delivered to our doorstop that crack me up!
24-A balcony to ride a bike on (he really does enjoy it…)
23-the baptism of our second born
22-Game night at our apartment with friends
21-NgaMelut learning to cook in her “cooking class”. Her first time baking a cake from scratch
20-the chance to study…as frustrating as it is at times I am thrilled to be making progress
19-Park day with my kidlings
18-Playing in the park with friends
17-a car cemented into the street instead of being towed…
16-Sweet little kitten (we love our MishMish)
15-celebration time with this dear friend..another month done!
14- Skyping with family
13-A special group of folks to serve alongside
12-A Dad who makes knight costumes out of pizza hut boxes
11-sheep on my walk to school
10-Kitty and J– sitting in a chair
09-A husband who makes these
08-Making icing people on our fingers with my dear friend B–
07-the girls reading to the boys on the couch
06-Snuggles with the kitten while I study
05-a lunch date with my hubby while the kids are in school
04-My kids reading Arabic script! So grateful for their school.
03-a tea party for 6-8yr olds celebrating Ngameluts birthday
02-our friends Jeff and Heather – they know why this symbolizes them we love you guys!
01-making invitations to a birthday party
April
30-starting our 3 day weekend off with a movie night with a dear friend.
29-ice cream from a roadside vendor for 25cents on a 40C day…yum!
28-A birthday dress from Grandma that she loves
27-celebrating 8yrs with Ngamelut
26-A 3d movie to celebrate Ngamelut’s 8th birthday
25-W-man loving his kitty
24-a day at the red sea…ahh!
23-the opportunity to formally study Arabic
22-snuggles with MishMish who has decided he loves Ngamelut
21-a new kitten to snuggle with
20-family time at Easter
19-my men in the morning watching cartoons
18-A band in my living room
17-Skype and family
16-hearing about the kids day at school
15-This view from my hospital room
14-Fort building
13-My littlest love for puzzles
12-Glow stick dance parties on the beach
11-The Mediterranean sea.
10-a train ride for a holiday away
09-New books to read
08-Dinner with the team
07-School time
06-Arabic Classes
05-A smoothie made at home
04-Fun drawings
03-A faluca ride as a family
- 01-dinner with new friends
March
31- love CC and the rhythm it gives to our school day
30-A superhero that defends me from anything that needs defending…
29-Amazon Prime and PBS shows that allow us to sleep in on Saturday mornings
28-A silly boy who prefers sleeping in his closet over sleeping in his bed
27-a beautiful view and family walk around the Nile
26-A preschool the kids love and cannot wait to attend each day – that is improving their language!
25-Dinner out with teammates just because we like being with each other.
24-Poppors Penguins before bed
23-stuffing shirts with felt food to make them look “full”
22-time with the other gals on our team to shop an outdoor market
21-Friends to play duck duck goose with at church
20-Dinner as a family to celebrate the end to a week
19-cuddles with Dad on the couch
18-a beautiful gift from my sister to help make our apartment home
17-memory with Dad … W–is getting quite good!
16-sleeping boys
15-a skype date with really dear friends
14-A picnic in an awesome park made of man-made caves
13-dance parties with Dad
12- a little boy who loves hats, and saying cheese…
11-sheets and a blanket for our bed (soo much more comfortable!)
10- homemade soft pretzels…mmm
09- good friends over for dinner and brothers that love each other dearly
08-a haircut for my little man – who actually can see again!
07-an evening with friends
06-duplos to play with – we are making houses with wheels
05-a new niece. I am so in love!
04-rice paper for making springrolls at the local store…and kids that love them. Delicious lunch alert!
03-found rootbeer for the first time on this continent at the store right down the street…mmmm
02-flowers for the deck (and a husband with an eye to pick them and arrange them)
01-pyramids and fun with teammates
February
28-worship day and matching beautiful kids ready for church
27-family dinner and the ability to host in our new home
26-a dinner out…seriously can you believe it?
25-dinner with dear dear friends
24-a bed to sleep in… and boys that figured out how to fall asleep in it.
23-we are all together which means we are home…Danny has found people watching a great hobby
22-on the airplane ready to see Dad…cuties
21-we leave tomorrow morning to see Dad…yea!
20-aprons and dresses made at the tailor for the girls
19-healing wounds of trauma facilitator training with my team
18-a pig playing in the gutter outside the car window
17-a ride to the healing wounds of trauma facilitator training.
16-SS bracelets for my girls that they never take off
Nap Mats that help tired girls fall fast asleep
14-my valentines day dates
13-tea with my friend Nyadeng before she leaves on HA
12-this man sitting on my lap snuggling after nap
11-toi market clothes since mine are in south sudan. Cannot beat 25 cent shirts!
10-no electricity so a quiet evening with tea, candles and a book
09-Matching suits for my handsome men
08-saturday date day a merry go round!
07-train building
06-dressing our baby like a south sudanese baby (with beadwork around the midsection)
05-creativity to give her dolly a place to call home
04-dental visits for the whole family…that went well!
03-yogurt for lunch every day
02-playgrounds at church and friends
01 stick dance party for family game night- glo
January
27 a chance to “talk” to my love countries apart
28-bracelet making kits to explode creativity.
26-cars to play with
25- friends to cry and laugh with
24-Truth from God’s word
23-Weather cold enough to start the day with coats
22-Family time
21-Brother hugs
20-Pool time together in the “summer” and lots and lots of giggles
19- Most of our teams mk’s all together watching a movie. So glad they have each other
18-Sushi with sweet friends
17-play time with friends and Nyadeng watching kids so we could have a year end review interruption free
16-Family game night – Sardines…
15-care packages that make us feel so loved and prayed for
14-an unexpected reunion of friends
13-Back as neighbors together. Really love this family and enjoying meals, laughter and conversation together.
12-An amazing sermon that spoke to my soul and grocery carts perfectly sized for a two year old
11-great friends, campfires and ping pong
10-that our family can cram in the back seat of a mini van to get driven home…
09-celebrating 33 years of life with Sushi and a move. Ruth is the hero of the day for babysitting!
08-a bath to bathe them in
07-Milkshakes with all four talking about “what is next” with our family
06-Affordable Nairobi flowers from my man.
05-the men in my life and what a great Dad He is…
04-listening to little hearts as I teach them to free hand crochet…the South Sudan way.
03-holding hands and going on a walk as 2yr old D chats about his day.
- Lunch with friends whose home and future is also unknown.
- 01- new year soccer/futball match with new friends and cheering on my husband with the kids.