Oh friends! This has been a great day of blessing from beginning to end! Today we had a celebration of all the kids Birthday’s. We walked with the kids to the dry river bed and played all day! We had bags of different surprises that we revealed once we arrived. It was a very relaxed time. I think the kids loved being in the open spaces outside the Haven walls. They were content to just play around in the sand, building houses with bamboo sticks and playing make-believe games about running hotels and such. We also played soccer and frisbee, had bubble blowing....and the craziest water fight! For lunch we had packed a picnic and cooked game meat sausages over the fire. It was quite tasty. We came home and rested for the afternoon.....
After dinner we locked the kids out of the eating area and closed all the windows as we prepared a special surprise Birthday celebration. They all knew it was their Birthday and knew something was coming that would be soo fun, but they were all so delighted to find the darkened room with candles lit and all the usual Birthday layout. The kids all felt so loved, you could see it all over their faces and in their words too. Justine sweetly thanked us with more words than I’ve ever heard from her. Grace kept telling us how she loves us so much. Desire gave hugs. All the kids were saying cheers with their kool-aid drinks-so cute!
At the end of it all I laid down on the brick in the courtyard and looked up at the mass of stars overhead. Linus came and laid on me looking up with excitement, knowing how I love the stars! It’s so easy to recognize the Lord in such a setting. When I look up at all these stars, heaven is so much nearer than ever. I am aware of my smallness, also how mighty must my Lord and King be! I wanted that moment to last forever, and I never want to forget it! One by one, others joined us until we were all in such a crazy pile that no one could actually see the stars any longer! That was memorable in it’s own way of course!
My time is ending quickly here, and I am sad to think of it! But it does mean I will be with you all that soon as well, and for that I am glad! I love you!
3 comments:
So things are happy once again. Sounds like a full and magical day. I wish I could have seen the stars. Mama is here visiting. She and I have been doing yard work and of course shopping for the girls, she loves to dote upon them. They will be very sad tomorrow when she goes home, and I will be wiped out cause I have a cold and it will be just me until Sean comes home on Sunday. I really wish everyone would move here, the girls miss everyone so much, although everyone goes there separate ways, some day you might stay away. Well, I'm going to bed, I love you, Tricia
hey sweet amanda. now that you are almost home, i discover how to write to you on the computer, didn't know we could before. or didn't know how. sent you a card, got your card thank you. Your adventure sounds so amazing. I love to read all about it and look forward to hearing more of your adventure when you are home. Miss you so much!!! Soooo proud of you. have fun in germany.
I am really enjoying these beautiful babies over here. Hazel is Alicia and Opal all mixed into one, soooo beautiful and precious. Eva is most certainly a little tricia, Opie so sweet and Alicia is even more studious and smart. reading second or third grade level. back to kc tomarrow. Will be praying for you. Love and kisses, mama
hello my dear dear friend!
Since it seems a bit of snail mail will not reach you before you take leave of Africa, this will have to suffice...I am sorry this is the first that you're hearing from me...between Isaak and my absentmindedness I'm never finding a time to write or the right words to say. I just recently got all caught up on your blog entries and have LOVED reading them all. I love reading how our Abba is working in and through you....that has been both humbling and encouraging for me. You have such a beautiful heart for God and your joy is intense and so contagious! When you left I felt led to pray Colossians chapter 1 for you, particularly verses 9-14:
"And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to HIS glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints of light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
As I read your entries it seems to me God has been doing exactly those things for you. God is so amazing!!
I wish I could say "I look forward to when you come home and I get to hear all about your time there!" I'll expect a bit of a written word about it if your busy schedule ever settles down :). Even tho you're always halfway across the country from me now, I still miss you more now that you're in Africa!:o)
Well m'dear I must go before Isaak wakes from his nap. I will continue to pray and smile as I read your blog and think of you. I love you sweet pea!....sending a huge hug.
Cait
p.s. we just found out that we're expecting little one #2!! woohoo!
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