Asante

The boys have left, and our life is settling back into the "normal" routine. 
I guess that's good.
Every time I walk past the kids room, I think about them.
I wonder what they are doing today. 
I wonder if their host family this week packed their lunches and drew smiley faces on their oranges.
I wonder if they are using the little tiny flashlights that I gave them.
I wonder if they are begging this weeks' family to let them watch "Bruce Lee", or "Jackie Chan" even though they are not allowed.
I wonder if they are going to bed on time like they are supposed to, or staying up late playing cards, and laughing, and eating popcorn.

Here's some of the stuff that I really want to remember:
 
Like for instance, sugar is a NECESSITY for tea...and lots of it.  Like, L-O-T-S and L-O-T-S...and tea is appropriate anytime of the day. Even when it's 100 degrees. 


 

And, don't bother with elaborate meals.  Nothing tastes more like home then Rice, Red Beans, Potatoes, Mangoes, and Avocado.
 
 
Also, a hug and simple "thank you auntie" pretty much makes the work of taking care of two more totally worth it.



Mzungu Mama was an affectionate term for some of us white hosts.  However...if you pronounce it wrong, it sent the kids into shocked laughter...so I'm assuming there is probably some other translation that isn't maybe so nice.....

Nothing changes the mood of a joyful dinner then finding out that they didn't know when their birthdays were.

The language barrier doesn't really matter when it comes to practical jokes, and tricks.  And always carry a spare pair of car keys in your pocket if you let a 14 year old boy with a spicy sense of humor sit in the front seat, near the door lock control.  Always.

Listening to belly laughs from kids while the hubs mimics Jackie Chan is pretty much priceless. 

Watching my kids give up their space, their room, and share their parents for a week and come out of it wishing they could do it more. 


Feeling gutted and broken when you find out little bits of what their life was like before the Asante school took them in.

Allowing them to cook breakfast for us just because they really wanted to.
 

Hearing their prayers for friends back home, to find sponsors, and be guaranteed one meal a day, and medical attention.

Hearing joyful chatter from 6 little bodies in the back of our van.
 
Willingly forking out crazy money for some "American" experiences like Mickey D's and Scandia.
 

 

Watching them perform on stage, and get standing ovations every. single. time.

Sharing tears with other families who participated in the experience with us, as we hugged them for the last time, and watched them drive away on the bus. 

 And finding a thank you card tucked under a pillow, meant for us to find after they were gone....

Asante means "thank you".
So "asante" to the boys who shared a little bit of time with us, and left a huge behind a huge impression.
  

Goodbye

Last week this time, I was nervously waiting to meet the two boys that would be staying with us for the week.
Today I'm hugging them one last time and waving goodbye. 

Ugh.

Patrick and Abdul

My house is so full right now.
My cupboards are full.
My fridge is full.
And my garage is full.

These boys are amazing.
Their smiles are bright, cheerful, and real.
They give out grateful hugs for everything from "hello" to "thanks for dinner".

I am feeling so overwhelmed, so blessed, so humbled right now to have had this opportunity.
My kids are learning so much.
I am learning so much.  Much more then I thought I would.
I mean, I've been to Africa.  I've spent a month surrounded by people who owned less then I brought in my one bag over there.  I experienced meals sitting on the floor of mud "houses" with people who gave up a months salary to feed me with rice.
I have shared in the joy of childbirth and the sadness of funerals with those people.
I've done it.

But now I'm here, and these boys are in my home, and so many things are different for me, but so much is the same for them. My heart is being tugged on, and I don't quite know why yet.

I asked Patrick today if he was going to miss us when they left.
He said that this was his favorite place to stay.
I don't care if he says that to everyone.
It still makes me happy.

I can't even begin to express in words how much this experience is blessing me.
My house is full, but my heart is fuller. 

Asante

Today we get to go get the Asante kids.
My kids haven't stopped talking about it since we let them know that it was this week.
We have two or three kids staying with us while they finish up their tour of California.  I don't know if they head back to Burundi after this, or take on a different part of the US, but either way, their trip has been full!

I'm excited. I don't really know what to expect!
I've worked my butt off trying to get everything ready.  Sheets washed, beds made, laundry done, menu planned (no hot dogs, no chinese food, no lunch meat, no raw cold veggies.....what?!?!?!), groceries bought, cupboards stocked.  I think I'm ready....

Cousins & Clearlake

In place of the annual Cousin Camping Trip, we went to Clearlake instead.
And it was so much more relaxing.
So. Much. More. Relaxing.

Instead of chasing around an almost 2 year old, cooking out of a cooler, running from yellow jackets by day, and mosquitoes by night, and trying to shush a crying kid in the middle of the night, we just stayed at the lake house.  The very nice, comfortable, indoor plumbing, heated and air conditioned lake house.

I'll say it again - So. Much. More. Relaxing. 

The kids had fun, played all day, stayed up way to late, fished, played video games, and played some more.  It was perfect.

I know eventually camping will be fun again, but for now, I'll take an annual Clearlake Cousin Trip over the Cousin Camping Trip any day!