We took flight and off we were to the Nxamaseri Island Lodge were we would stay for 4 nights. Our longest stay in one place on this trip. As you can see in the photo above my son had a turn at the controls in the plane. He was so excited and I think scared at the same time. He really enjoyed it, yet didn’t want to do it again. This time there was not much more than a landing strip of grass. Landing in a small plane on a short runway definitely puts me on the edge of my seat a little more that I thought it would. Still fun all the same.

After we landed we walked to the boats that took us to the camp on the Okavango Delta. I immediately loved the idea that we can only come and go by water.

Nxamaseri was absolutely a little piece of paradise. Our chalet was opposite of the last camp, here our bathroom was closed in and the room partially open. There was a flap we could put down in case of rain…and you better believe it stayed down in case of monkeys! One morning my aunt asked if we saw the monkeys outside of our room, which we hadn’t. It turns out that we had a small family on our porch watching us sleep! The chalet’s were absolutely charming and this was my favorite camp we stayed at the entire trip.

For the first 3 days we had the place to ourselves perfect for spending quality time together and relaxing beside the water. My aunt brought the game Bananagrams and it ended up being a huge hit! We were all hooked.

The weather was great while there. So much so that I got fried the second day out on the boat. I forget how the wind can make it feel as though the sun has no effect on skin that has been covered all winter long. Hah! There is no such thing as too much sunscreen! We finally saw our first Hippo up close and personal. Too close for my taste. When we spotted them the driver slowed down and waited for the Hippo to go underwater. Then as we passed full speed ahead the Hippo popped up just a few feet away form the boat. Now I see why they try to pass as fast as possible. The hippos are very curious.

We set out on land one day and visited Tsodilo Hills. Other than these four hills Botswana is flat, so the sight of them was quite majestic. The hills adorn rock paintings showing animals that had been seen by settlers. The hills have spiritual significance to the people in Botswana as it is believed to be the first place of Creation.

There were small villages scattered along the way to the hills. Every time I saw a child out playing I had the urge to jump out and play but we didn’t have time to stop for long in one place. While at the hills we took a hike to view the paintings and had a picnic lunch before the long drive back to camp.

Up until about day three no one had actually caught a fish, except for my uncle who had one literally jump in his lap. It was quite unexpected! At lease it wasn’t a hungry tiger fish! The delta is full of scary looking sharp toothed tiger fish but luckily my son caught something much more tame. I loved that he was able to go out on a guys only fishing trip!

The morning we left was bittersweet. I loved being on the water literally in the middle of nowhere. I could spend months there without thinking twice. As we packed up and got our things ready to go this Momma and her sweet baby came out to say goodbye!

As our family broke up into little groups and boarded a few Cessna’s I was excited for the adventure ahead and even more so to be sharing it with my son.

As we flew over Maun, Botswana I was amazed by the views and the beauty.

Our first reality check of the next few days came in the form of a dirt runway. I think my son and I stopped breathing few a few minutes as we landed on the “air strip” near Xakanaxa Camp. The X’s sound like K’s but the bushmen actually speak with a click so your pronunciation of this camp’s name is just as good as mine.

As we arrived at camp we were met by staff and served cold drinks before checking out our rooms. We stayed in large fully furnished tents on wooden platforms. My favorite part about this camp was our bathrooms. They were attached to the tent but outdoor with no roof. When we were walked to our tent we were told to leave the bathroom door closed and not leave toiletries out as the baboons were inquisitive of new stuff in “their” rooms. Henceforth my son would not use the restroom without me close by for the rest of “outdoor dwelling” trip. The idea of a baboon paying you a visit in the loo was not favored by him at all.

During the 2 days at Xakanaxa Camp we went on a few photo safaris in the Moremi Game Reserve. We caught our first glimpses of antelope, baboons, hippos and zebra. Our wonderful guides pointed out different birds which I thought I would have little interest in but they were quite exotic and beautiful. We learned about native plants and berries like the fever berry which is medicinal if prepared right but is also used to kill fish when sprinkled in the water… easy fishing. The animals kept surprising us form very direction, just when we thought we might not see anything else a family of giraffes walked across the road. They are used to having visitors so they weren’t as scared as I thought they would be. It was amazing seeing them standing tall, proud and majestic.

After we saw the giraffes another group radioed to our guide that they spotted cheetah and shortly we were in hot pursuit over bumpy dusty roads. It was quite fun after our leisurely drive. When we pulled up two cheetah’s walked right towards us then veered off to check out a tree. It was amazing to see how tolerant they were of our presence yet at the same time the guides reminded us to be very still and not move too sudden. A gentle reminder that we were still dealing with very wild animals. This is one of my favorite shots from the trip.

The next day we packed up and went on one more game drive before we flew to the next camp. After seeing so many wonderful animals we were really hoping to get a glimpse of a lion and elephant. Sure enough the radio went off and we took of to see a lion and his mate. We learned an interesting fact as we pulled up… it was mating season and apparently lions will mate as frequently as every 15 minutes. SO as you can see from the photo above, we were there for about 15 minutes.

With only minutes to spare before we made it to the landing strip we saw a family of elephants hanging out and grazing on the foliage. I was so amazed at how close we could get to these amazing animals. You kind of have this feeling that you want to reach right out and touch one, then come to your senses and remember this is Africa not a petting zoo!!

The hospitality at Xakanaxa Camp was wonderful and everything there was so comfortable and inviting. This was only day 4 of the trip and I had seen so many wonderful things I would have been completely happy if that were it but we still had 12 amazing days left.

So here I am a month after my trip and haven’t written a thing. Who would have thought taking two and a half weeks off would throw me off so much? Well, actually I am working on something big and my mind has been reveling in God’s glory as I seek a new direction in my life. Plenty to come about that!

Our trip to Africa was amazing. I went with my 11 year old son and 8 other family members… aunts, uncles, cousins and my Grandfather who arranged this whole excursion. I am forever grateful to him for this experience and especially being able to see it through my son’s eyes. This trip also took care of two things on my List, traveling with my Grandfather and going on an African safari. My son and I left Nashville on December 15, 2011 carrying a backpack and one small carry-on to last us until January 1, 2012. I think packing was one of the most exciting things for me to figure out. And honestly we could have done without half of what we brought. I see some serious backpacking trips for us in the future. You have no idea what little you can live with until you live without it! And I liked it!

We flew into Johannesburg from JFK and I can’t say what a relief it was to be off of that plane! I think the anticipation of the flight there made it feel so much longer than the flight home.

After a several hour layover in Joburg we were finally headed to Maun, Botswana Where we stayed at the beautiful Sedia Hotel overnight to freshen up and shake off some jet lag. It was our first taste of the wonderful hospitality we would receive during the rest of the trip. I really looked forward to reconnecting with relatives and my son getting to know them more. We thought we would have Wi-fi at this hotel but it was not working… our first day of Internet free bliss!

During the trip we stayed at 4 more locations, so to make this easier and not run on in one loooong post I will write about each location so I can share more photos. Stay tuned! …

• It’s been quiet on the blog but I am back and ready to go! I went on a trip to Africa with my oldest son and 8 other family members. We had a blast! I will tell you all about it soon, but for now you can see all of my pictures here.
• A very Happy New Year to all of you! I missed Christmas with my family in TN and most of the season’s Christmas music. My cousin kept singing I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas and it got stuck in my head for the whole trip.
• In December I was interviewed for HerNashville. (Page 28) It was great to go back over our story from the last few years. I am looking forward to adding to that story in 2012!
• I spent two and a half glorious weeks with no Internet or to-do lists. I think it is important to unplug for a week or at least a weekend here and there. When is the last time you untethered?
• I am all about removing distractions this year. Twitter may be the first to go. Facebook will have to go on a timer.
• Going to Haiti with Soles4Souls in 2011 was a life changer for me. They just announced their trips for 2012. I suggest you check it out. Be warned… you won’t come back the same as you left. But in a really great way!
• This brings hoarding to a whole new “scale” YIKES!
• Happy New Year everyone! Let’s make it a great one!   “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.’ ~ Walt Disney

A peek into the old house.

Psalms 49: 16-17 ~ Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.

Lately I have found myself getting a slight pang of jealousy coursing through my body when I walk into a friend’s home. You know that natural human reaction you get when you see something bigger, shinier more spacious than that you have? It comes second nature to us. We were born into a materialistic society, constantly striving for more.

Our family decided to take a step backwards and a part of me mourns that loss. It’s quite an odd feeling to go backwards. I remember a time when all I wanted was to have “grown up” furniture and to have our home decorated just so. Ironically, when we finally got to that point we turned around and let half of it go.

It may sound silly to be in mourning over stuff but we had a beautiful home. We put a lot of time, effort and money into making it that way. Ultimately, it just didn’t fit the life we wanted. We decided instead on ENOUGH. Just enough house to provide comfort for our family and at the same time allow us to live a more abundant life out in the world.

So instead of mourning I decide to rejoice. Rejoicing in the fact that as a family we can share experiences rather than excess. I am thankful that we have been blessed with ENOUGH so we now have the opportunity to give back.

Looking back, I realize this may have not been the easiest thing to do but definitely the most rewarding.

While watching cartoons one afternoon my daughter stopped everything and with an inquisitive look on her face asked “How can I be a Doctor and Mommy at the same time?” My daughter just turned 5 but shortly after she hit that age of forming rational sentences she decided that when she grew up she would be a Doctor and a Mommy and hence the term Doctor-Mommy has become a constant around here. She has not wavered from this idea at all. No ballerina, gymnast or singer for this girl as of yet. She is totally preoccupied with her future Doctor-Mommy status.

When she asked how she can do both I simply reminded her that while she and brothers are in school Mommy works and that answer seemed to appease her. However I wonder what is going on in that mind of hers. I would love to see how she is envisioning all of this playing out. She also frequently contemplates different areas of practice. From the photo above you can see her dentistry skills at work. We were sorting out our Halloween candy and her brother had a seriously wiggly tooth that Daddy was coaxing him to pull. My daughter said she would take care of it. And while she was not the one that ultimately pulled it she did give it her best shot and loosened it just enough for Mommy to pull. If I would have known the tooth would practically fall out in my hand I would have talked her brother into letting her try one last time. Maybe next time.

I love watching my 5 year old trying to figure out her future and while I gave her the short simple answer I hope she will one day be able to read my longer version here:

Dear C, It won’t always be easy, being a doctor and a mom. Sometimes we mess up. You will have days that are harder than others, days that you flat out want to give up. Then there will be days that will fill your heart full of joy. Those joyful days are the ones you cling to and let guide your path. Do what you are good at and let the other stuff go. To be a doctor you will have to study hard, read tons of books and spend many hours at school. To be a mom, you get no formal instructions, you are expected to take this little one home and let instincts kick in. It is the scariest and most delightful moment you will ever have! Choose how you spend your time wisely, don’t take on more then you can handle and remember your kids will grow in the blink of an eye. You will always have tomorrow but make today the best that it can be. Listen to your kids and patients, really get to know them. They will surprise you constantly. You won’t get it right every time. Try your best but keep an open mind and heart. Don’t worry about what other people are doing, just be the best Doctor-Mommy you know how to be. And if nothing else works, call me, I can still make it all better with a big hug and a kiss! Love, Mommy

 

On both trips to Haiti and upon my return I heard people asking, “What is the poorest city there?” or “Is that the poorest country?” One thing was made clear on this trip. Poor is a relative term when it comes to people. How can you put numbers on this kind of poverty? I have visited Port-au-Prince, Cite Soleil, Montrouis and villages in between, no matter where you look there is dire poverty.

To most Americans poverty looks like the homeless man or woman standing on the corner. They might be homeless or just struggling to make it through a hard economic time. A panhandler in America can make anywhere from $10 -$100 or more a day. Depending on where they live that can even be hourly for some! Until you have been to a third world-country it is hard to fathom what poverty really looks like. Actually the kind of poverty I am referring to exists in America but how often do we go out seeking it?

In Haiti the average person lives on less than $2 a day! Nearly half of the people in the world live off of $2.50 or less! That is a small fraction of what a panhandler can make on the street in America. The kind of poverty I am talking about are the people that are spending each day just trying to figure out how to survive until the next.

We emptied out the penny jar recently and rolled them all up to take to the bank. The pennies were lined up and stacked in groups of ten, so my son could practice counting. As I counted by rows it hit me like a ton of bricks… .50, $1.00, $1.50 $2.00… Four rows equaled a person’s daily earnings. We had $26 worth in pennies alone. That covers 13 people.

Take a walk around your house, check under your couch cushions, in your junk drawers, and in those purses. We have spare change in nooks and crannies all over the place. You might find enough to feed 2 or 10 people in just a few minutes. Our spare change could save a life… seriously?

Yes! Giving can start with something small like your spare change. Do you keep a change jar in the house? Would you consider emptying it out to help feed the hungry? I found out about a great organization at the Together 4 Adoption conference called Kids Around the World. They are doing amazing things like taking playgrounds here, refurbishing them and creating playgrounds for communities in need. They also have a great food program, if you are ready to help feed a few families here is how you can do so.

So instead of wondering how poor is poor and what you could possibly do about it, start asking yourself “Where is my excess and how many can that feed?”

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” ~ Mother Teresa

• I am just settling in at home after 3 trips in 4 weeks. I think that is a record for me. Haiti was amazing, then unfortunately I had a funeral to attend in Florida, but ended with an inspiring weekend in Phoenix at the Together for Adoption Conference.
• October is always the beginning of the busiest time of the year for our family. From October – January not only do we have the holidays but all 3 of our children have birthdays.
• I’ve been reading up on articles about Steve Jobs and came across this quote, “Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful, that’s what matters to me.” Jobs was a brilliant man while keeping things as simple as can be. He will be missed by many.
• Speaking of wonderful…My favorite speaker at T4A Conference was Bryan Loritts, Lead Pastor at Fellowship Memphis. I can’t wait to listen to the recording of his session again but one thing he said really stuck with me… “Explaining materialism to an American is like explaining water to a fish!” Isn’t that the truth! We tend to eat, breathe and sleep excess don’t we?
• Losing someone close made me take a step back and think about where my priorities are or should be. Here is a great post by Marc that helps put things in perspective.
• I am finally a successful backpack traveler! I’ve been trying to take the minimalist approach to traveling. So it’s been a personal goal for myself to see how light I can get. I have never been big on lugging around tons of stuff but my last two trips were the first where I only carried a backpack and a purse.  To me it’s all about the experience, not the stuff!
• And, if you’re a tiny bit OCD like me and sort your M&M’s by color before eating them then you will love this, extreme tidying.

The orphanage gets me every time. I can’t help but cry when I leave and it hit harder this time. During my first visit to Haiti I made connections with certain children here at Maison des Enfants de Dieu and think about them often. When I walked in I went straight to the infant room to see if Stanley was still there. Not on the list. A toddler runs in and I recognized that sweet face! At the same time I realized someone was holding Daniel and I asked the Nanny where David his brother was. Whew, still there. I was worried these twins would get separated.

David and Daniel were only 6 weeks old when I first met them. I am so thrilled to see how much they have grown and thrived! I don’t know if they have been matched with a family or if they will stay together. I hope they do, and I sure hope that it does not hinder the adoption process for them. I know many families would struggle with the prospect of taking in two children and whether to even adopt one of them as to not separate them. Either way I pray that they go to a loving family/families and stay close as they grow up.

I wanted to see all of these sweet faces again, but at the same time I really hoped that they were gone to their forever families. It kills me to see these babies spending their first cuddly years in an orphanage. The Nanny’s are doing a beautiful job but you can only share so much love with each child when there are 20 babies. Close to 80 children in the whole orphanage.

Stanley is in fact an adorable toddler running around now. He was matched with a family when I first saw him, yet he is still there after 9 months. I haven’t learned all there is to know about the adoption process yet, but it frustrates me already. This little boy had the brightest smile when he was a baby and this time I couldn’t even get him to crack a grin. Almost as if his spirit was broken. I prefer to think he had just woken up from a nap. Maybe he was just having an off day. I cuddled him for a long time before I brought another child up into my arms, then Stanley sat next to me and laid his head in my lap.

These children definitely crave attention and it is such a blessing to just be able to sit and be with them, no matter how many crawl up in your lap! They are all precious!

Sweet Naika stole my heart! She is a beautiful smart little girl about 19 months old. I started making faces at her and she did them right back. A lot of spunk in her! It was another amazing trip for sure!

Shortly after I arrived home I received an update about the orphanage. They sent out a newsletter announcing that 50 out of the 80 children currently in their custody, have been matched with families! Amazing news! May God pour out his blessing on all of these children and their waiting families!

In two weeks I am taking off to Arizona for the Together 4 Adoption Conference (Twitter: @T4A ) I will be sitting in on sessions about Orphan Care and Advocacy. I am so ready to soak up everything I can!

As we traveled through Port-au-Prince there is a young boy standing naked on the front porch of a building. We think “Why in the world does that kid not have clothes on?”

The bus picked us up 30 minutes late because someone stole the battery and they had to stop and pick up a new one. We ask “Does this happen often?”

We drive 50 (seems like 80) miles an hour down a dusty road with young kids walking a few feet away. We ask “Where are their parents?”

Our showers at times had no water, and some would say “This is not acceptable!”

You see a person living in utter filth and poverty with a huge smile on their face and wonder “How can they be so happy?”

Now just to put things in perspective for you.

You see that little boy might only have two or three outfits and the only clean one right now is the special one he wants to wear for church. No one judges him here.

Those kids on the street aren’t sheltered by their parents, if they even have any at all. They have to help find food or work for food as well. They don’t have the luxury of sitting in their rooms playing Lego’s under the cool hum of the air conditioner.

Showers? most people here go to the well and pour buckets of water over their bodies to get clean. Or bathe in the waterways leading to the ocean… in front of everyone.

That woman who looks so ridiculously happy while walking down the poorest street in town… she is thanking God for another day. She might not have much but she has Jesus in her heart and hope for her family.

_  _  _  _  _  _

In America we are sheltered, spoiled, if you will. We complain about the smallest things. I do it too, I am not preaching to anyone but myself here if you don’t want to hear this. I really had to open up my mind and heart when I first went to Haiti.  After a while your perspective changes. Out of despair and desperation I now see hope and a simpler way of life. Truly blessed by all I have met and experienced there.