A Long Week

Whew...what a time we've had lately.  Malaria season has kicked in...with the rains returning the mosquitos are also returning.  William and Benaiah had malaria first, then Katelyn came down with typhoid, then Talitha came down with malaria and some sort of bacterial thing going on, then Benaiah got malaria again, and Rebecca followed that with a tummy bug.  In the middle of all that, I ended up with a blocked kidney (but seemingly not from a stone) that left me in excruciating pain (way worse than childbirth) on Sunday and I spent the day in the hospital getting an Ultrasound and ultimately a CT scan.  On Monday, Talitha spiraled down further and we ended up in the clinic with her for IV antibiotics, antimalarials, and fluid.  Now Eric is playing catch up with the rest of us by coming down with malaria too.  In these seasons, we sure take comfort in God's mercy and compassion and also the prayers of very many saints.  I was listening to Paul Tripp's recent talk at the Gospel Coalition Conference on suffering.  His final point was that suffering happens in community as brothers and sisters in Christ pray for and support one another.  We really felt that last weekend as we walked through some difficult moments, but knew people around the world were praying for us.  

Towards the end of the week, the smiles finally came back out.  Praise God!

And the kids got a turtle as a gift. 

Today, I was able to run in a 5K for CURE hospital.  We have been very thankful for CURE hospital.  They specialize in pediatric brain surgeries...hydrocephalus, spina bifida, and brain tumors.  But they also have helped us out on more than one occasion with stitches, asthma attacks and this past weekend with my CT Scan.  (The radiographer even came back in after-hours from over an hour away to do the scan).  I was so thankful to be able to run today and support a great cause while I was at it.  And running in races here is just an overall great experience...late start times, dance party warm-ups, and dodging bodas and traffic... so much fun! I couldn't convince my family to join me this year, but it was a fun time to catch up with friends.

A Smattering of Pictures

Easter morning started bright and early with our traditional big Easter breakfast.  My big girls were so amazing this year.  I was pretty sick the day before and I didn't see how I could do it this year.  But the girls didn't give up so easily and did the whole thing themselves... breakfast casserole, cinnamon rolls and fruit smoothies.  So yum!

We had several baptisms on Easter morning.  Such a delight!

After church we had sodas and mandazis together.

Later in the day we still had all the kids over.  It was rainy, but fun!

Timothy helping to shelter his little friends from the rain:

School is carrying on.  We're having a lot of fun and getting a lot of work done.

The little kids and I are studying Apologia's Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day for science.  We started the year studying birds and are finishing the year studying flying insects.  We have quite a collection now.

Williams hen, "Chewbacca" had two little chicks...CP3O and R2D2.

Just an average morning run...

And speaking of runs, CURE hospital in Mbale hosted a 5 (ish) K race recently.  Most of our family plus a few friends from church participated in the fun.

We also enjoyed a visit from men from the OPC head office, as well as a URC representative.

While they were here we drove up to Karamoja for a day to meet with the rest of our team there.  It's always a beautiful drive.

December Photo Project: Day 6

Today did have some exciting moments to it.  We went to a home-school coop and got stuck in the mud (all the kids jumped out of the van and pushed us out) and while we were trying to do a craft that involved needles, the power went out.  So we completed our sewing project in the dark.  I was beginning to wonder where I was...

All of this would have made for a great post.  Unfortunately, I not only did not have my camera...I had left the house late and in such a hurry that I had forgotten my phone too!

So you are left to imagine the craziness of the day.

And enjoy this photo of my husband valiantly leading the kids and cousins in a PE running class.  

December Photo Project: Day 3

Today Talitha and I ran in a local race.  For Talitha, it was her first time ever.  They had a special small race just for kids ages 6 and under.  It's hard to believe she's the only one left in that category. It's a rare occurrence when we only have one child qualify to do something! And it can be very nerve racking for little ones that grow up in large families to do something new without the support of their many siblings.  Talitha was very brave today, but as you can see we stuck together until she took off running. :-)

In addition to running, she also learned the truth about Santa for the first time...

...more specifically, she learned about Santa for the first time.

It always makes me laugh when the younger ones have somehow missed major messages about life. 

It always makes me laugh when I realize one of my littles has missed a major message about life. 

Today, Talitha (age 5) learned, not just the truth about Santa, but actually about Santa. 

Yup. He came up to her and asked her what she wanted him to bring her this year. 

*Crickets* 

After he left I said (assuming she had been excited but too shy to talk),

"Talitha who was that?" T: "I don't know, who was it mama?" 

Me: "It was Santa"
T: Blank stare
Me (beginning to realize): "Do you know who Santa is?"
T: "No, who is he?"

(Enter one of many moments that we've had since returning to America that I'm sure if people are overhearing our conversation they might think we are crazy)

On the way home we had great fun filling her in on all the details about Santa, Rudolph, Flying sleighs, chimneys, etc..

At home I said: "Talitha tell everyone who you saw today"

Talitha very excitedly yelled: "Rudolph!!"

haha...still working out the details here...

PC--Rebecca Tuininga

I placed third in my age group! yay!  That was a fun surprise!

PC--Rebecca Tuininga

 It's been such a fun blessing to be able to do some road races in America.  I really love running and have had to learn to set my own goals in Uganda where races are few and far between and even then, have their own unique flavoring to them.  So, these days are great fun and quite rejuvenating.