3 weeks to go

Now that we are down to the last three weeks, and are up at Bill's parents with all of our luggage, it is time to finalize what we are taking, weigh the bags, and list what is in each bag.
     
   I wonder what I'll forget this time?   Every time I move, we usually lose something.  And, every time we have gone to Tanzania, I have forgotten something crucial. 
  
  For example:
My computer power cord
My purse
Our toiletries

So, I wonder what I'll be missing, or have forgotten when we get there??

40 days and counting...

We won't be seeing any snow for a long time!

  This summer has just flown by, and I can't believe it but we have purchased tickets and we are set to return to Tanzania Sept 9th.  That is 40 days from now!  But, no pressure!!  Haha...
   Ironically, we are mostly packed to go already, because when we moved out of the apartment we just put the things we wanted to take back with us into tubs and have now taken those up to Bill's parents (we will be flying out of Chicago, from their house).  So, we feel really prepared. 
     TOO PREPARED!  Now, what are we supposed to do?  It's a waiting game now.  The ACM meeting is next week, then we will be visiting family and friends as much as possible before we head out.
    Bill was able to find a house for us while he was on his short trip, so we will be going straight into our house (or at least shortly after we arrive).  That will be nice, as I'm hoping to get back into our routine/homeschool schedule as soon as possible.  All of our homeschool books and most of the materials are already waiting for me over there, thanks to the Connect Christian Church team.

    Getting excited!
         

Moving Time

The family at our Lincoln Apartment.

 

 Well, we are packing house once again.  It seems like we do this a lot.  The packing can be frustrating, but it's the good byes that are hardest.  We've made some good friends while living here in Lincoln.  I'm a bit surprised, and grateful because last furlough we didn't make any new friends.
  
  As of next Tuesday, we'll be officially moved out of this apartment, and between then and when we arrive at our house in Arusha in early September, we're "between homes".  This is one of the hard parts of missionary life, the transition period.  I wish we could just magically "be there", in Arusha, in our new house, unpacked and ready for our next term on the field. 
   
   I am going to miss a lot about living in Lincoln: our friends, our church, the girls' school, conveniences, smooth roads, parks to name a few. 
   Onward to the next adventure!

Summer is Flying By!

Wow!  This summer has been non-stop for us, and it isn't going to get any slower before we return to Tanzania.
       We started with a week of camping with my parents.

 

 

 

   After that, Heather got to go to horse camp, and she won two blue ribbons!

 

 

 

Then, we had VBS at Hebron Christian Church.  So fun!

 

Halfway through the week, Bill left for Tanzania to lead a short term group from Connect Christian Church.

 

 

From there, the kids and I went to visit Bill's sister in LaGrange, IN.

 

After that, the kids and I returned to Lincoln, IL for their VBS.  (Sorry, I didn't take any pictures!)

 

 

Then, I dropped Katrina off at camp...

 

        ...while Jonathan, Heather and I went down to my parents for a week.  While there, we went to the Magic House with friends...

 

 

 

     ...to the zoo with my brother...

 

    ...and to the Botanical Garden with my parents.

 

 

   We then returned to Lincoln to pick up Katrina from camp.  Now, I'm packing up the house, and preparing to pick up Bill from Chicago... He'll be home in less than a week!!

          That is our summer so far!



 

 



 





 



 



Bill leaves for TZ

It's been awhile since I have written in my blog, sorry about that.  It seems like life gets so busy.  Since school let out, we have been living out of suitcases, visiting with family.  We want to spend as much time as possible with family before we return to Tanzania in a few short months. 
   We've really enjoyed our furlough time here in the States, and at the same time look forward to returning to our work in Tanzania.
   Bill is preparing to return to Tanzania tomorrow, for a month.  He is hosting a short term team out of North Carolina.  He will come back July 11th, and then we will prepare in earnest for our return to Tanzania as a family at the end of the summer.

  Things I will miss about America when we go:
1.  Our families
2.  Friends
3.  Our churches
4.  Libraries
5.  Parks
6.  Camps for the kids
7.  Conveniences (smooth paved roads, mail delivered to our house, stores with everything we need or want)
8.  Wal-mart
9.  Certain foods that we can't get overseas (chocolate chips, Gluten free brands of food, nice cheese...)
10. Ease of having the kids in activities like band, horse back riding, choir, etc.

                       Our time to return approaches!
For a list of things I miss about Arusha while gone, read my post: Why I love Arusha

Getting some answers

IBS

    That is my official diagnosis, after many tests, including a colonoscopy and endoscopy.  My doctor has prescribed prescription strength probiotics, and has told me to keep a food journal to keep track of which foods "set me off".  I feel better having an answer finally, but it does seem a bit "anti-climatic".  After all, IBS is just a big word to say "my stomach hurts when I'm stressed or I eat certain foods".  The good news is that it's not dangerous, and doesn't have any ill effects on my overall health.

   So, there you go!

Easter Message from a Child