let's chat.

so, you know when you have a lot to say, but no time to say it?  that's me, friends.

so, i'm going to rattle off to you like we're sitting over coffee.  me first and then

i promise to listen to you.  i actually LOVE to listen and not to talk.  so, lemme

go and then it's your turn.

the Busoga well project is blowing me away.  things are happening behind the scenes

right now and i'll let you know as soon as something is in place. every time i get close

to 'i don't want to blog anymore.', God blows me away with something really, really

awesome and i remember that this space isn't mine anyway.  what's happening in

Busoga?  really, really awesome.  [in large part because of many of you.]

tomorrow, we have family pictures.  family pictures every year are really important to

me.  they truly are my most prized material possessions.  it's been tradition for the 

last few years to have them in october.  well, on top of our last few months being

really busy, i think i've tried to put them on the back burner.  

many of you may know that our young, vibrant, super compassionate, friendly, 

funny & mega-talented photographer became a great friend.  we shared a love for

positive thinking, kids & adoption.  when she went to be with the Lord

this summer, i grieved for many things.  i was sad because i miss her, for all her 

loved ones and also all the moments she would never be able to capture on film--

for our family & others.  she 'got me' and our family more than i could ever express.

well, i realized that the last thing she would want me to do is not have

family photos.  so, here we go. i remember samantha blogging about there

being empty spaces on this bed to fill.  so glad 2 are filled.

i love our big ol' family of nine.  i had to run to the store yesterday

afternoon and i was quickly pushing my cart back out the van.

i caught myself smiling really big.  i was thinking about picking our

girls up at school and having our family together for the evening.

we gather in the kitchen area.  doing homework, drawing, remote control

cars, dancing, drinking tea, sitting on the island and watching, snacking,

doing puzzles, building blocks, practicing ninja moves. 

just being.

i want you to know that that doesn't mean that everything is always perfect.

there is squabbling and even fighting.  there is selfishness and irritation.

there is tired and whiny.  sometimes there is all of that.

 sometimes it is coming for nine of us and i start to wonder what on earth

we are doing.  what we are messing up.  but, oh for grace.

for picking it back up and sucking it up and forgiving and moving on.

my house is in unpacking shambles, but today [every day] is so much good, too.

do you keep a grateful list?  i need to on paper again, i think.

today brought:

3 happy girls off to school prepared and on time.

2 sick, but snuggily babies.

chai with our biggest boys.

the boys skyping with their friends at the orphanage!

coffee delivery from a friend.

the time to start of the many hills of laundry piled.

okay.  your turn!