Butterscotch and Beethoven...
Climbing her favorite tree...
Even when it meant our not-so-little-anymore-buck-goat-would keep her treed there...
(o'course, she also misses playing all day in nothing but her panties, too.)
Swinging on the tire swing...
Swimming at the pool - if not every day, at least several times a week...
These cats, especially our refugee-girl, Hera (the black and white one) just cause she was almost always sweet unless your name was Sasha...
And especially Sasha 'cause he'd roll over and ask you to rub his belly, just like the puppies did...
And Achilles because he was always into mischief and terrorizing the older cats... and she even said she sometimes tried to act like Achilles by pretending her big sisters were the big cats of the family...
Having all the boys in this family fuss over who was gonna marry Mary when they all grew up...
Dancing in dust storms...
Miss Mary and all three of those Johnson guys...
Madame Safana and her hugs...
Big girls that didn't just let her tag along but actually made her a real part of whatever it was that they were doing and thrilled in doing so, at least most of the time...
Catching chameleons, in the garden, very frequently...
(even when said chameleons got scary angry at being caught)...
The dorm guys (and girl) who'd come to the house to stay some weekends and grace-filled kids who would let her sit right there with them as they played their computer games, carried her on their shoulders, let her invade their guy-room and answered her many questions...
Sand and sand dunes and the games that you can play, the fun you can have, with those two in abundance...
Friends who were so very different from "she," but it just didn't matter...
I guess I figured she'd adapt quite easily, as all of my other little ones have so easily done. And she really is, adapting well, that is.
But she still wakes up every morning, asking when we go back to Africa...
...and then usually reminds us of at least one of the things she misses.
She doesn't cry, she's not sad all the time, she finds joy in her school mornings in Grandma Susan's class, Gammie and Gampy's trips to volleyball games with the cousins, her afternoons playing at the house with cousin Ada, getting to watch the Disney channel and Tom and Jerry - without it being a scratchy dvd...
But she's not calling this place her home.
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(writing = 5 minutes... adding pictures? much longer...)
Go ahead... you know you want to... join the fun today over at Lisa-Jo's,
Beautiful pictures and beautiful thoughts :)
ReplyDeletethanks for kind words and the visit.
DeleteThis is so sweet! Love all of the pictures and I feel like there is so much more to this story that I would like to know. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteisn't there always more to the story... questions we wish we could ask?
Deletethanks for stopping by and saying hi, today!
Africa must have made a wonderful impression on that little girl. Your pictures were amazing. Thanks for sharing. Followed you from FMF. Have a blessed day!
ReplyDeleteour life in africa has forever changed all of us. but for her, it is still home. :-)
Deleteglad you said hi today!
Oh what a wonderful adventure for a little one. I love how accepting children are of what comes their way. It's how we all want to continue to be!
ReplyDeletemy kids will never cease to amaze me, i don't think! and that is as it should be, right?
DeleteWhat a cutie! What spunk! I love love love the pictures. :)
ReplyDeletespunk! that is a perfect word for my little m&m. glad you enjoyed the pics and thanks for visiting today.
DeleteThere is always something special and solid about your homeland, but once you leave its comforts you learn to redefine the word home, and discover that many places can be 'home'. I think you realize most of all this earth is not our final home. You have an interesting story to tell...I love all the pictures and think posts with pics are better than those without. Are you on furlough? Are you going back to Africa soon? I'll look forward to reading more.
ReplyDeletewell, this wasn't a true 5mf - since i think the pics are what make this post, actually make it real.
Deleteour kids each define home in a different way - which has been interesting to see.
we are on furlough - but we don't know for sure the plans that God has for us - praying for wisdom and guidance during this furlough year and thankful that He knows those plans.
oh...this breaks my heart AND makes me smile all that the same time...the life of a tck...I looked at a picture of Quinn the other day dressed in traditional Costa Rican wear and waving a Costa Rican flag and thought, "yep, he's more Tico than not..." and that's wonderful and hard and makes me want to cry and smile all the the same time...
ReplyDeleteYou're so right, Liz. TCKs make great sacrifices, often unwittingly, and yet are some of the most resilient and amazing people I know. I LOVE that God has given me the honour of ministering to them, when in reality they minister to me in equal measure. God bless you and your little Tico! :)
DeleteWe missed our "home" when we were on furlough in our "passport country" last year. I feel for your sweet daughter (and all the others, too!) I pray God makes your paths straight and shows you clearly where/when/what he wants you to do. Blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteP.S. LOVE the sand dune picture the best! So fun!!
thanks for your kind and encouraging words. we know that this too shall pass and the ache for our passport land is there when we're not here - once the kids are old enough to remember it. so - kinda like always remembering that neither, really, is our HOME...
DeleteShe sounds a bit like me....sweet pictures and thoughts. There is no place the Niger....special place. Blessings on you all and all the great things here and there....
ReplyDeleteso true... there is no place like niger... with all the hard there is so much beautiful and we all miss being there. thanks for your kind words and for the visit.
DeleteSo beautiful - you're she - When we moved, I remember how the youngest always responded to the "new" home - because it wasn't - and how their hearts wanted to run away back to the old home:) What sweet sweet memories she has:)
ReplyDeletei certainly agree. she is beautiful. moves are hard on everyone... but for those for whom it is a brand new experience among so many other brand new experiences just because of their age??? good thing most littles are so flexible. one of her big sisters was just saying yesterday how our little she cried and cried as we drove away from the house to go to the airport last june - because that was when she truly understood that the animals weren't coming with us. makes me cry just thinking about her little-but-really-oh-so-big heart pain.
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