Loved and when you tell me you are following/read my blog

but really, this is exactly how I feel... and you know, I've always wanted to be a famous blogger or some type of internet sensation.

Loved and Chicken n Dumplings

This week, we had chicken and dumplings.  I cried. It made me miss my parents. It reminded me of cooking with them, gathering around the table, laughing in the kitchen. I miss having the resources I have at home to cook with. I also miss having my mom's cooking, there is nothing like it, she's an amazing cook.

I miss her meatballs, and sneaking them out of the pot as they simmer.  I miss zucchini chips and hamburgers (without the bun). I miss american food, but the food here is so much better for me.  Its all organic and I can pronounce all the ingredients on my processed food, which is kind of really awesome.

In America, we think about food a lot, types of food, amounts of food, etc. In America, food is a hobby, for almost everyone.  Here, you realize how much you must rely on food for fuel.  There are less options (especially where I live) and it makes you realize that food shouldn't be a hobby.

Not that I don't have a list of food I want when I get back. To start it includes: Chicken and dumplings (made by my mommy), meatballs (made by mom), taco bell, mexican restaurant food, my mom's mexican, cheese, a hotdog, and spinach.

That's my list, for now.

Loved and being 'set up'

Today we had a friend from town come over who does our sewing.  She brought her daughter.  "Come here" she said to me, "This is my daughter, I brought her to you so you guys could be friends."  We both laughed, clearly embarrassed because of the awkwardness, and the obvious language and cultural barriers that we would face. So we chatted a little, and it was sufficiently awkward for both of us, because we don't really have anything in common, but what made me laugh the most was that its a total "mom" thing that her mom did.   It was a unique experience.

Loved and being lonely

Sometimes, I have a little mental breakdown here, because sometimes its lonely.  Sometimes I miss having 'my people' close by.  Sometimes it sucks.

But those sometimes are far outweighed by the good things and the difference I feel like I'm making.

Every child deserves to be loved.  Every child deserves to be adored. Period. Honestly it is that simple - and if that means that I can't consistently have 'my people' around me, then its a small price to pay... because once one of those kids laughs in your arms, it all doesn't matter so much anymore, because you are getting a glimpse of untainted happiness, and it is beautiful.

Loved and Little Miracles

Yesterday, Leila started to walk - on her own!

I am unsure how long Leila has been here, but she is about three years old, and had not yet begun to walk, because when she arrived she was so severely malnourished that she was the size of a six month old baby (I believe she was actually about a year old... I think).

It is the little miracles though.  Her learning to walk is amazing.  Some of these children come from truly horrific circumstances, abuse, malnourishement but they are growing here. Not only growing, but blossoming into amazing children, who are learning what it means to be loved. Today, when we were on our way to pick up some visitors, the children were all standing together, singing and dancing. It was beautifully amazing. So much joy from children who have had so much hard stuff. I wish that I could remember to have that much joy, no matter the hard stuff.

Loved and Rain

Today it rained. It was beyond a blessing.

During dry season it is dusty. Not just a little dusty, a lot.

It rained, a lot. Which is great, everything just soaked it up. It was beautiful.  I don't think I ever appreciated rain in the states, not really.  Here though, water is life, and since you can't depend on city water to be on, (it was off ALL last week), rain means the fighting at the free wells will stop (as it begun to occur when city water was off last week.  The rain also means that when I walk uptown, I will no longer come back looking like a village child. The rain also means that during every day it rains, it will be cooler and windy while it rains. Its beautiful.

Loved and Liz & Christian this post if for you

Guess what I found at the store in Kampala (they have them for purchase in huge boxes too...)

Then, I promptly ate it on the way to the car. It was delicious.

If you are lucky, I will bring you some home.

Loved and soon (some of) my friends are leaving

I made some dear friends (so far) while being in Uganda.  I feel like they were put here in order to help guide me in the beginning, and to encourage me.

They are leaving soon... but last week, I had the privilege to go and spend time with them and I had a blast.  I love them and their daughter and will miss them dearly.

But, it would be selfish of me to not share what we ate last time I was there.  So you know how you can go to restaurants and get a cookie in a skillet.  I was craving that (specifically hot chocolate chip cookies) and so we made are own.  Unfortunately, I don't know how those are actually made, and we maybe didn't have all the "right" ingredients. But we mastered it(sort of) and it was delicious.

Loved and I am doing a very bad job of documenting in photos

Every time I sit down to write a blog post, I think, wow, I should upload a picture - but then alas, I have none.

I will do better (possibly) in the future.

Things are so beautiful here, that most the time I find myself staring in awe, unable to even think about taking a picture - and then it passes/I move/the light changes/my phone doesn't have battery.

I will try and do better. Just think I'm in a tropical paradise (that is currently covered in red dust), but is still beautiful.

Loved and tomorrow is Monday

I used to be good at Mondays, before I got to Uganda.  I would be so rested and ready for the beginning of the week. 

Now, I dread them.  I don't mind the rest of the week - but Mondays feel long and sneaky. I mean they literally sneak up on me. 

And I do stupid things like stay up late on Sunday nights which make Mondays a hundred times worse. 

Loved and Teaching

I have a glorious new respect for teachers, not that I've been playing 'teacher' for the past month.  I mean I only have 6 students, (and they are all in different grades). I respect you all more.

Teaching is hard.  I love my students, but sometimes they drive me crazy.  Somedays are great and they understand their material which makes me beyond thrilled. But, somedays I feel like I am a broken record of "Stop talking" and "Do your work" and "Why are you just sitting there" and of course my personal favorite "I don't understand why you don't understand"

Other things I am learning is a little bit of how my parents felt when I would just cry and be in tears and they would say "I cannot help you unless you stop crying" which in response I would just cry more.  I am beyond thankful for my parents patience, because that happened my 2 week. One of my students was crying over her math work.  I just got up and sat beside her and said "When you stop crying I will help you."

I am so thankful for my parents being incredibly patient with me, because I have some of that patience now and its helping me become a better individual.

Teaching is hard work... but so is learning.

Because I'm sure if I lined up all the things I (their homeschooling books and my awesome explanations) have 'taught' my students with all the things I have learned - I think I might have learned more.

I'm learning how to be patient, kind, calm, keep them on task, not break out into tears, etc. Its a lot, and its absolutely wonderful.

Loved and Uganda (again).

I just really need to put in words how much I love Uganda, which is hard because a lot of times its so overwhelming.

I wake up every morning and things are even more beautiful than they were.
I meet people who have such pure hearts and intentions that I help but love them.
Also, except for a 2-3 hours in the afternoon, the weather is basically a tropical paradise.

I have a very happy heart here.