Wednesday Randoms <3

Random #1

I was able to go to church this morning to see the Kenya team off. I am always thankful when I can attend the prayer circle for the teams and have been blessed to be “sent off” three times in my life. 

As we stood watching all the families saying their goodbyes, I mentioned to my pastor/friend that I was very thankful I was waving them off and not getting in a van.

Being more than a surface guy, and thus the reason he is also my friend and not just my pastor, he asked me why. 

This challenged me to think why I had expressed such a thought and I would have to say that since my first trip 13 years ago to my last trip a year ago this month, it has to do with the wear and tear on the both the body and the heart. 

The length of time on the airplane is brutal for me as I get older. Sitting for such a long time and then standing up and straightening out the limbs is getting harder. 

I will say God is a wonderful giver of surprises and when I did the trip last year, I had been suffering with a chronically sore and swollen knee. Miraculously, I experienced no stiffness or swelling while there so that was a blessing. 

Also, I found last time I suffered a profound homesickness. I missed Caroline’s actual birthday and Father’s Day and watching my husband in the local pickle ball tourney. While everyone carried on just fine without me, it was hard to miss these times. 

We have a lot going on right now and I was thankful that I was not vacating the schedule of life here this time around. I have loved every visit and I am so happy for those who are traveling but it is not my time and there is a peace in knowing that <3

Random #2

Since I am reminiscing about Kenya, today I posted a pic on my personal Facebook of one of the women who touched my heart on the visits I was able to make there. 

Afandi worked for our dear friends who served as missionaries there until last year. She cared for them and for their home and was more a family member to them than an employee. 

Each team that visited was lovingly cared for by her as well. 

Last year as I traveled with two friends to bring our dear sister home following the death of her husband and the closing out of their ministry there, we worked for most of the week finishing the packing and storing of all the remaining possessions. 

Afandi would come each day and work with us.

On the last day before the house inspection, we had errands to run. The house was empty of all our friend’s belongings and the massive wood floors showed the dust and scratches and debris of all our labor. 

While we took care of business at several locations, Afandi would be sweeping and mopping. As we left, one of us said that was quite a job she had ahead. Her response is engraved on my heart. With a smile as bright as the Kenyan sun, she made a dancing motion as if she were holding her mop and said…’Oh, I just go swish swish swish.”

There is not a time I go to clean our floors that I don’t smile and think of her. She has forever changed my attitude towards this task and my heart is lighter for it. 

Random #3

I have about a hundred recipes saved on Instagram that I want to try. I am not good at reading recipes off a phone so of course I have to hand copy them onto paper. 

Side note – this might be why I complain I don’t have enough time to get things done and am always wishing for a few extra hours in a day. 

As I was jotting down a couple the other day as I rode shotgun for our day up north, it occurred to me how recipes are written in the finest detail. 

For instance, one recipe called for dry ingredients to be mixed in a bowl. The next step was to set the bowl aside. 

Oh thank you.

I had planned to hold the bowl of dry ingredients in one hand while I commenced to whipping the butter, sugar and vanilla into a nice fluffy state in a different bowl. 

Seriously, one of my favorite tasks is condensing an actual recipe down into a shorter version. 

Sigh. The only place on the planet where for me with words, less is more. 

Random #4

Speaking of cooking, yesterday afternoon I was in Rachel and Zach’s kitchen getting their “first dinner” ready for the shift that was heading to practice early. 

I had sausages browning and was breaking eggs into a bowl for French Toast when our Sweet Caroline came in from playing. When she saw I was cooking she scampered off to wash her hands so she could help. 

She set to work stirring the egg, milk and cinnamon mixture and was assigned the dipping task while I retrieved the soaked bread and got it on the griddle. 

We soon had the table set with food and drinks and called her brother in. As we fixed plates I said something about how we needed to remember to give thanks and Caroline obediently said, “Thank you Lola for making the French Toast, and thank you also to me for helping.”

Oh my gosh. 

I laughed so hard I could barely get out a “You’re welcome and yes thank you Caroline.” 

And then I reminded her we should also thank God of the provision. 

Random #5

I am working on some books to read this month, but have had an odd situation occur. 

There are at least three that I started and realized I have no interest in reading. Either the time has passed for the reason I bought it, or I read it once a long time ago and after skimming I have decided I don’t need a refresher. 

So I am burning through a few books to pass along, but not actually reading anything to report on. 

I feel I must land on a book or I will come up empty for June! Time to finish the second Lord of the Rings, my friends! Pray for my heart to get through the rough stuff. 

Have a great Wednesday! 

You are loved <3