One Day at a Time.

I thought I was the one who would teach Lifa... but he's always teaching me. 

We've made a million memories, giggled a thousand giggles, cried buckets of tears, and practiced counting to 100 on the timeout mat. Wouldn't trade a second of them. I want to share and show off every part of this perfect little man. But the biggest lesson I'm learning from Lifa is how to say thank you for the right nows. 

So this blog is not about what I want for his future. Or what I think God says about tomorrow. Or solving all the injustices of the world. This blog is about Friday.

Jesus, thank you for every memory and moment of Friday. And for the memories and moments coming for Saturday. Amen. 

This is how we start every day. Talking and dancing with the animal map. 

We took some visiting friends shopping.... and he somehow even made shopping fun!

Next stop was the playground... all tangled up and giggly in a tire swing.

We got mama's river fix and Lifa got to explore when we took our friends to see some of the most beautiful scenery in South Africa.

Thank you Jesus.

Getting him ready for the Guadalupe River!

Happy, happy boy.

In this moment, all is well in the world.

Christmas in the Cottage - part 2!

Lifa left just days before Texas showered us with the most beautiful Christmas love we've experienced... well, since last year when you did the same thing! I've had to keep the treasures in hiding for two months, but it was worth it! He's now officially the most spoiled African baby on the continent.

It's always hard on Lifa as he adjusts back to "Mama's house" after a long stay at "Baba's house". Two completely different cultures do family in completely different ways. Your love through Christmas (again!) flooded him with memories, joy and reminded him that he is part of a big and beautiful Family.

Merry Christmas from Mona!

Merry Christmas from Mama! Every day is a safari in the cottage.

He even had a stocking!

Look at this happy boy :)

And he's just so gifted

Lifa draws Cheeto

What every good Christmas morning looks like

So many glowy, noise-making Christmas gifts... 

TWO HARMONICAS!

More from Mona!

Ahhhhh!

Bath time will never be the same!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for how you love us. We love you!

Blow Out the Candles and Make A Wish!

Two months of joy, delight, celebration, and experiencing the promises and roots of family run deeper and deeper.

It’s amazing.

HE made us a family and has overwhelmed us with miracles.

Abounding miracles.

A little boy who spoke only SiSwati and was plagued with night terrors in April is now completely bi-lingual and talks in his sleep about his friends and his mama… while he dreams in English!

Once marked “abandoned”, this boy called “the one who belongs” made the cottage a hot spot for the kids on base, took delight once he figured out the concept of sharing, and made this mama’s heart dance when he would shout outside to his friends, “I’m going to go ask my mom!” while bounding in and joyfully shouting, “MAAAMAA!!!”

But even more importantly, He gets Jesus. He loves to pray. He loves to worship. He understands that he belongs in a family. And that helps him understand Jesus more.

Over the months, he’s watched this cake-baking, paper-chain-making, party-throwing mama delight in the birthdays of those who’ve never been celebrated. Most children and adults in the SiSwati culture have never had a birthday party. 

His 4^th birthday is December 29^th. Lifa just went to stay at his dad’s house for Christmas and his birthday, but I had to give him a taste of his very own birthday cake. I wanted him to hear his name in a song. And I wanted him to be celebrated just for being him.

Once he got that… I could translate into 4-yr-old what Christmas is. Jesus’ birthday!

“Taste and see that the Lord is good…” Psalm 34:8a

Tshepiso getting in the pool with style!

Nicole and Josiah on water-gun duty.

Lifa-in-training. After summer rains, the pool started looking like the Guadalupe River . So I pulled out my tube to let him get some practice! The kids just weren't patient enough to let me blow it up all the way.

Abigail making birthday bubbles.

After celebrating him with family and friends, Lifa was ecstatic to have a birthday party for Jesus.

For our Christmas celebration, we put on party hats, had ice cream with sprinkles, and sang happy birthday to Jesus. We talked about how we give gifts when we love people. And that Jesus loves us soooooo much and we love Him soooooooo much that we give each other gifts to celebrate Jesus’ love.
 

Before we opened presents, he said we needed to pray. With arms wrapped around his ready-to-be-opened gifts, he squished his little eyes closed and said, “Thank you Jesus for ice cream. Thank you Jesus for presents. Thank you Jesus for birthdays. Thank you Jesus for food. Thank you Jesus for bathtubs. Thank you Jesus for you love. Aaamen.”

Thank you, thank you, thank you Jesus.

As you read this, say a “Thank you Jesus” and a prayer for His mysterious and miraculous comforting presence around Lifa this Christmas while he is with his father. And say it out loud. I prayed for the Holy Spirit to let Lifa hear all the prayers prayed for him aloud, wherever they come from and wherever he is.

End of the Year School Party

A whole new level of family happened with a cross-cultural bang this weekend as we celebrated with Lifa's preschool in Mbonisweni. Neither one of us had ever been to a celebration like this, and I think that even though our experiences were completely different, it was another seal of grace, joy and God's presence as a cross-cultural family learning to walk, talk and love together. 

Or click here to see the photos!

House music intermission between every part of the program. They couldn't help but dance.

Singing the South African National Anthem

Boys Traditional Dance

Girls Traditional Dance

Thankful

After spending our second Thanksgiving together, we are overjoyed and feel more and more solidified as family. Lifa prayed the most perfect Thanksgiving prayer, and we haven't stopped the "thank you's" since.

"Thank you Jesus for eating. Thank you Jesus for play, play, play. Thank you Jesus for kids."

Last year's Thanksgiving:

This year's:

Our special Brazilian/African twist! Roasted pig!

Pre-feast warm-ups. You can never be too prepared for Thanksgiving!

Man party. Please excuse the view. 

All of this beautiful food. Lifa says, "I wannnt chiippsss."

Our beautiful table, set for 26. Notice whose kid is already sitting and waiting for food.!

Caught in the act!

TWO pieces of pie later... too tired and full to hold his head up straight, or even to move the spoon. This is how Thanksgiving should be. 

Maybe I Should Just Be Grateful He's Not Trying On My Dresses?

What else do you do on a Monday morning in the cottage? 

Tandaza Mama

We love being in the car together.

It's our time to sing, giggle, and take naps. (Lifa does all the napping.) Every morning, we pray on the way to preschool together. First me and then him.

For the first time since he's been back, I heard the little voice over the blaring worship music...

"Mama... Tandaza. Tandaza Mama."

"Mama... Pray. Pray Mama."

So I prayed. And then adjusted the rear-view mirror to watch his little eyes shut as tight as they could and hear his first whispered words... just like I do it... "Jesus...." A few minutes later, a resounding, "AMEN!"

I told Lifa how much Jesus loves when he talks to Him. And how much Jesus loves him.