Birthdays

I finally downloaded pictures from my camera... and thought I'd share a few of the kid's birthday party's.

Isaac turned 4 in June- We got to celebrate his Birthday in Nebraska with some family this year.

He wanted a dinosaur birthday

He also got to go "water skiing" on his birthday

Rachel turned 8 in July - She had a space party before we went to the states with her friends and then had a princess party with my parents in England. (in a real castle!)

Her world cake

In Rose Castle's Tower

Levi turned 3 in September - We had a Pirate birthday for him here in Uganda w/ some good friends.

Until next year :)

Introduction Ceremony

One of Jesse's co-workers is getting married, and we got invited to the "introduction ceremony". This is a traditional ceremony of the two families meeting. I believe that traditionally after this ceremony that the man and woman would be considered married, but now that's not the case. They will still have a "wedding" in a church in December. Check out Scott's blog for a low down on how the ceremony went. (no use in repeating what a much better writer has already written right?!)

Here are some things I love and not-so love about the introduction ceremony

1. I love that there are African drummers and dancers that perform throughout the ceremony. Jesse & I told Rachel that she should have that at her wedding. She just looked at us and said NO. But seriously it would be AWESOME!!!!

2. Didn't so much love that it was supposed to start at 2:00, but didn't get underway till 3:45. Awwww African time.

3. Loved the dresses of the women of this tribe. They are from the border of Uganda and Rwanda, and their dress is sort of sari like. very pretty. Unlike the traditional dress of the Buganda tribe, which is what we see around Kampala.

Some of Jesse's co-workers

4. Didn't love so much that it lasted 7 hours. A long time to sit there.

5. Loved that I got to try Ugandan food again. It's something I'm really glad I don't have to eat every day, but it is pretty good to have once in a while.

6. Didn't love once again standing out as the "muzungu" (foreigner) But what are you going to do...yes, I'm white. We even got to stand up and say our names :)

7. Loved seeing all the traditions, and knowing that although it's a "show" now, you can really imagine what this was once like, and still is in the villages.

Gerry & her "King" Martin

8. Didn't really love what I had to wear... see #3 above. I had no idea what to wear, and I have a lady who cooks on Saturdays, and she said that I had to wear traditional clothes..so she ran home to let me borrow hers. Well hers was more of the Buganda version... actually the fabric was beautiful, but really no one can look good in that dress.

9. Loved seeing Jesse wearing the men's traditional dress.

10. Loved seeing Gerry & her man... she had the biggest smile on her face, and just looked beautiful!




Overall it was a really neat experience. Don't think I'd like to go to one every weekend, (see #4) but I am really glad we went to this one, and am really happy for Gerry & Martin!

Reason #472 Why I Love Christine

Christine is our "house-helper". Man, it always feels weird calling her that. There are many terms people use here for the people who help around the house, but I can't seem to come up with one that really fits, and feels right. Because really she is so much more- she is really apart of the family now too.

Not only does Christine, help clean the house, do the dishes, iron the clothes, make the beds...etc, but she will also watch the kids for me if I need to run out. I mean can you believe it! I get to go to the grocery store without kids!!! It's amazing!

Well anyway, Rachel is starting 3rd grade this Wednesday, and so on her request we were going to go get a pedicure this afternoon, while the boys napped. When we got back, Christine told me that Levi had taken off his diaper and pooped in his crib... gross! But did I have to clean any of it up... nope. She already had the bed changed, and had washed out the dirty sheet. Wow, I love her! & yes, I know I am soooooo lucky! :)

Man, I suck at blogging....

... is it time to just throw in the towel?

Back in the States

Jesse & I are back in Virginia for about two weeks. We are back for this. If you've never gone to this before, you should. It's already sold out for this year....but keep it in mind for next. : ) & you can follow it online this year... just click here.

We left the kids in Uganda this time. We were very fortunate that my parents were able to come down to watch the kids for us. So the kids are having a blast w/ their oma & opa, and Jesse & I were able to fly alone for the first time in a very long time. It was wonderful. I miss my kids and all, but flying with 3 kids, does not make for a relaxing trip.

We are staying at my sister's beautiful home.... if you've never been in her home, it's like walking into a magazine. Seriously she has some very incredible decorating skills! So we are trying to recoup, although Jesse's schedule is packed full, so it's a little harder for him.

We've already been able to see some friends, which is always wonderful to reconnect. Already went to the dentist (had my first cavity- not fun!) -- i blame this on having to drink bottled water all the time (no fluoride in the water). Got carded... that made me feel good after I just turned 33 this past week. The Uganda weather must be good for me! : )

Still need to do a lot of shopping. Isaac kept telling us that if we go to America we better bring him Lucky Charms. & try to fit in seeing some more friends. Busy times, but always a great time to also feel refreshed.

If you wouldn't mind, please pray for my kids while we are gone. Talked with Rachel yesterday, and she was in tears. I know it's hard for us to be away, but I know they are in great hands! Also pray for my parents, that they will have the energy to keep up with two very energetic boys. Thanks!

FotoFriday

FotoFriday

Can I hear a Hallelujah?!

FotoFriday

See Uganda is not that different from the states.

FotoFriday

I'm going to try something new. I don't think I post enough pictures of life around here. I often forget what seems "normal" to me isn't to everyone else, so maybe this will help you get a better idea of life here in Uganda. So every Friday I will try to post a picture, it's much easier on me than trying to write something clever :)

So without further ado, here is the first picture of fotofriday....

This is the organized chaos of the Taxi park - downtown Kampala

update

Just a quick update on the elections. Museveni was announced the winner (he's the current president & has been for the past 25 years) which was a surprise to no one. Everything has been very quiet. I was expecting some protests of the elections, but there has been nothing. Not that I blame anyone. There are military everywhere. & they would shoot if anyone tried to protest, even peacefully. (I love freedom of speech!)

So life seems pretty much back to normal. Although I am glad that we did not have to leave or were in harms way, I'm a little sad that nothing is going to change anytime soon. Praying for patience. :)

& just to prove life is back to normal, i got pulled over today, and within 2 minutes of the police officer talking with me, he asks me "so what are you going to give me?" I tell him I won't give him anything, I don't pay bribes, and he just smiled, and tried to explain to me why it's not a bribe, it's just a gift. After trying to convince me for 15 minutes, that he would take me to court, he let me go on my way. Awwwww, gotta love the law enforcement.

Elections

Today is the presidential elections here in Uganda. For the past months there has been campaigning. And many, many posters...

That's a good reason to vote for someone right?!

These were stuck on our wall outside our house. (they don't come off very easy)

This is one of the oppositional candidates. He probably has the best chance against Museveni.

Many, Many, Many posters, everywhere!

The process here is very different then America that's for sure. Click on this website to get an idea of what Ugandans are saying about what's going on here. Lots of corruption, violence, and threats. Many don't see the point in voting. Which I completely understand. But it would be an amazing thing to have a fair election here.

I've gotten asked if i'm worried, especially since what's all going on in Northern Africa & the middle east. And I'm not too worried. But again, you never know. My guess is that there will be some riots, but that they won't get too bad. The results don't even come in till Sunday night, so if anything does turn south, it won't probably happen till then.

I've done a tone of shopping, and we are just planning on staying home for the next few days. Rachel is out of school till at least Wednesday, and the IJM interns are coming over today to hang out & watch a lot of movies. : ) (of course our dvd player died this week, thankfully Ray (the guy living with us) has one we can use!)

But we'll keep you all updated. Thanks for the prayers!

...or flying cars

Transitions

We got back to Uganda one week ago, after being in the states on our first "official" furlough. We had a month long rest of being with family. It was wonderful. We spent 2 weeks in Nebraska with Jesse's family & 2 weeks in Colorado with my family. I'll post some pictures soon.

Coming and going is never easy. But I don't think i realized how hard it actually would be on me. Right before we were going back to the states, you start to get annoyed more quickly about how things work here. Driving & shopping are at the top of my list. I become less patient with everything around me. So by the time you get on the plane you are ready to leave. But then you reenter the states. And you forget how different it really is there. Everything is clean, and orderly. And the choices... oh the choices. It is really quite overwhelming.

For example, there are restaurants on every corner, how do you choose where to eat? Here it's easy, 1. is it open? 2. do they have food that's edible? okay let's go there. Then we go shopping at Walmart. Oh Walmart. I know that many people hate Walmart, but i have to say to go to one store and get what you need is AMAZING! I really need to do a post on grocery shopping soon, b/c it really deserves it's own post, but let me just say i usually have to hit at least 3 stores to get what i need. But anyway I digress, what I was going to say was that we go into Walmart and we need to pick up some toothbrushes.... there is a whole aisle of toothbrushes. I just stood there staring. How do you know which one to get?! it's all just very overwhelming.

The other culture shock that we deal with going back into the states, and just the amount of materialism there is. And I'm sad to say that i fall so quickly back into it. I look at others homes, and look at their decorations, and such, and i end up wanting, wanting, wanting. Looking to buy our kids toys for Christmas, i just want to get this & that & that & that. It's hard to be around that at all and not start wanting more. Now don't get me wrong even in Uganda, I still deal with this, but it is on a much lesser scale. It's harder here to want things when you see the kids in your neighborhood with no shoes on their feet, or the man begging on the street, or families of 7 living in one room houses. It's hard to see so much excess when you also see so much need.

Then on the flip side you come back. And I don't know why it is, but I always feel in kind of a funk after I get back to Uganda from the states. It could be the jet lag, or it could be culture shock again. But i always feel off. So transitions for us are not always easy. It's hard to live in two worlds. And I'm not sure my body knows how to do it well. Anyone else ever feel this way?