Journal Updates 3/8-3/11

March 8th
Part 1

Today is “Women’s Day”, a national holiday, in Uganda, but I think we should call it “grandparents day”. In less than an hour my mom arrives- we call her Grandma Ya Ya. Also, Zane’s relatives including his grandmother and grandfather (which they call Jja Ja in Uganda) are also arriving around the same time. I can hardly take the anticipation. We’ve been
working hard all morning to get ourselves and the place looking nice for our family.

In addition, the probation officer is supposed to drop by and do a final home visit either today or tomorrow. Our hope is that next week our attorney will have all the necessary documents ready to turn in to the High Court. Then, hopefully we’ll be able to get a court date in line. As soon as we know this date then Isaac will book his flight.

I miss home. I miss Isaac and Riese. I miss my friends and family. I miss my bed. I miss being able to watch TV. I miss driving places. I miss lunch with Missy and Sophia. I miss church service. I miss wine and dinners out.

But with all that said, I know this is where God wants
me. And I’m grateful in a lot of ways to be here with Zane. There have been A LOT
of rough moments, but it is worth it. My goal that I set for myself two years ago was to put myself in hard situations so that I would have to fully depend on God.
This definitely fits into that category.

March 9th

Grandmother’s day yesterday was wonderful!

My mom arrived around noon and it was such a neat moment with tears of joy and lots of hugs. I
felt such a weight lifted off as soon as she arrived. It was so nice to have something familiar. I really didn’t know just how much I would absolutely LOVE every second of her being here and what a difference it would make! I mean, it’s a HUGE difference! I’m beyond grateful to have her here!

Less than an hour after her arrival, Zane’s grandmother, grandfather and two of his great-uncles came to visit. It’s about a four hour drive from their village on terrible roads, so it was an extra special treat to have them. We visited, ate lunch, and showed them recent pictures of Zane on my computer.

Then, in the afternoon we drove about 30 minutes to a waterwell that Holden Uganda just finished. It was such a neat time! We got to see the dirty water hole that was servicing hundreds of people prior to that day. This was a BIG day for the people in the area. You just can’t imagine what a life changing event this clean water will play in these people’s lives. I’ve got lots of pictures from the hour we were there. When we left, they gave Dr. Patrick a live chicken as a “thank you”. Thankfully, we had a staff member on a motorcycle carry the chicken back for us.

This morning my mom gave me a pedicure and it was the most wonderful gift! If you saw my toes
before you would know what a gift of love this was!!!

March 10th

Our plan this morning was to have a relaxing day in Mbale. First we needed to go see the
pediatrician, who only works on the weekends, in order to get a required medical check-up. Then, our plans were to go print pictures for Zane’s extended family, pick up a few items such as
bottled water, and then head to Mount Elgon Hotel to have lunch and relax by the pool.

I’m not sure what we were thinking?! The entire morning was spent at the medical clinic and boy was it an experience! I seriously would have never made it by myself. Thank goodness I had the sense to put this off another weekend until my mom could go with me.

If it wasn’t for Dr. Patrick talking to the pediatrician as he dropped us off, I know we would still be waiting there. Even so, we waited for what seemed like eternity both before and after seeing the pediatrician with all the sick kids and their parents in the “lobby” (which also carried over to the street at times).

The primary determining factor to his health was how chubby his checks were. The pediatrician
pinched th and slapped them around several times despite Zane not being pleased about it.

On the way to and from the fancy examination room, I carried Zane and my mom carried our diaper bag which was bigger than the aisle, so it was like parting of the seas as we moved around the office. I WAY over packed the bag because I thought we were going to have all this “free time” at the hotel pool. HA!

So after seeing the pediatrician we went to the “lab” which was an area divided off by partition walls next to the waiting room. They had to stick his finger for a few test. Sadly, we had to return about a hour later and stick him again since they forgot a test (ugh)!

But, thankfully, we’re finally done and home. And praise God, all the test came back “normal” and “negative”. He’s perfect!

One thing I can’t believe we forgot to get from the pediatrician today was his weight and measurements. Can you believe? This was actually the one thing I was sort of curious about. Oh well! We’re not going back!

March 11th

Every night around 7 when dinner is served and the sun starts to set, we get really anxious about the power going out. We start preparing for the possibility even before dinner by laying out our pjs, the flashlights and candles, washing our faces, etc.

The afternoons and evening are hot here, and so not having electricity guarantees a hot, sticky night ahead. Every time the lights flicker we hold our breath and then praise Jesus when it doesn’t go out. Well, last night was one of the nights we lost. The power went out and I thought we were both going to cry. Rather than crying, I laughed so hard, but I think my mom was holding back the tears (she’s gotten a lot less sleep than I).

We started watching the series “Downtown Abbey” thanks to Missy who sent us the DVDs. In the
middle of the show the lights came back on and we started praising Jesus. Immediately my mom went and got the fan from the bedroom and positioned it on us as we were seated on our lovely (hot, itchy) sofa in the living room. The second my mom got it all set up and pressed “on”- that power went out again! We couldn’t believe it, and again we didn’t know if we should laugh or cry or both. Unfortunately, the electricity didn’t come back on until the sun came up around 7am.

When we wake up in the mornings we’re always reminded what crazy life we’re living here. The first noises we hear are the call of the wild turkeys, the crowing of the roosters, and the chatter of the goats. This place is literally a zoo. We just shake our head at each other and laugh at this life.

Today we washed some clothes, took a nap together, and watched another Downtown Abbey episode over a cold bottle of Coca-Cola. It’s been such a wonderful, relaxing Sunday! No idea what tomorrow will hold.