Loved and Goldfish

Yall, this is a little embarassing, but I need you all to understand.  I have had this tub of Goldfish in my tote since I arrived here in May.  I was saving it, until I couldn't stand it any longer.  Well after I cried over chicken and dumplings, I opened it... and promptly finished it within two weeks. It was totally worth it.

Loved and Ishaka

Three weekends ago I got to visit Ishaka.  It is in the south western part of Uganda.  Its is about a seven hour drive. Which is kind of long when you are making it just a day trip.

We drove through Fort Portal... and saw some baboons.

Then we drove through a part of Queen Elizabeth Park

Some type of Antelope

Buffalo

Lake George

Antelope - we saw them fight it was cool

Cactus Tree

Drove into Ishaka, which is where we picked up a friend of the orphanage...

View from the road out of Queen Elizabeth Park

View from road out of Queen Elizabeth Park

Then turned around and drove back. Saw some more animals in Queen Elizabeth Park. 

Can you see the elephants?

Can you see the elephants/

Then stopped at the equator line (which we skipped on the way there).

It was a blast. 

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.