Alive and Kicking

We've arrived safely here in JoBerg, with kids still working out sleep schedules (can you say 12 a.m. requests for dinner?) and Katie trying to figure out internet connections (EXTREMELY finicky) grocery shopping and how to gingerly explain to our wonderful friend Evie that I don't mind doing a dish or two (Evie is the kind and lovely woman who "comes" with the house. She lives in the apartment attached and is "ours" from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Never had so many clean clothes so speedily cleaned in my life. I can't decide if I love it or hate it...more on that later). We've taken two days to stand in line at the computer store, buy groceries and more groceries, outfit the rest of the crew with tennis rackets (literally the only toys we have here, yikes) and set up this amazing Mac computer. Between trips out with our friend and driver JonClaude to get a lay of the city and get the house set up and cooking dinner with Ms.Evie eagerly eye-ing the dirty dishes she will swiftly clean as I set down I've had a tiny bit of culture shock. Just this second I'm kind of missing my nightly yell at the kids to get the dishes into the dishwasher and help me sort the laundry. Like I said, I must be in shock...

The plane ride went as smoothly as 25 hours of flight time with 6 kids can go. Everyone slept at least 4 hours of that 25, and probably 2 of those hours were simultaneous. We never had to use the "back up clothes" which means that no one threw up or blew out; a formidable accomplishment for a group this size with constitutions this weak. How thankful we were for the two kind men who escorted us from the airplane through the passport queue to the luggage carousel and onto customs. Too bad I had no SA $ (called RAND) with me, and John very little, so those angels from heaven were poorly compensated for all their hard labor. 16 pieces of luggage, 6 of them over the weight limit; those guys deserved medals of valor along with their measly tip! Seeing John's clean cut smile as we came through customs brought true tears of love and joy to my eyes; absence from the one you love doesn't just make the heart grow fonder; it also causes one to block out feelings of longing and connection. Then when reunited those feelings flood back to the heart and an overwhelming sense of appreciation, love, and longing overflow to tears.

Now that connection and love will learn to survive late nights at the office and early mornings after jet lagged kids keep one or the other of us awake to the wee hours. Just last night John was forced to stay late at the office. It was Stake priesthood meeting, so I walked Mason to the church (just down the road from us about 2 blocks) and sat in the foyer while he attended his meeting. What a blessing that hour was for me. I met a wonderful woman from Zambia who had come to support her husband as he participated in the meeting as well. Our conversation was sweet and I felt God's love for her and me as we spoke. A needed gift as I walked home in the dark with Mason wondering when John would arrive. Speaking with her as she explained the sun-up-to-sundown life she and her husband live to provide a life for their family it put all things in perspective. John came home safely to explain he'd stayed to help his client through a difficult problem. My admiration and appreciation for his integrity grew, and I felt I could handle longer nights as long as I could remember and respect his role as our provider and one who desires to do his best in all things.

A note about Jess, our traveling companion and true friend/sister. She has been stellar. Just two nights ago she took the late shift; managing a South African microwave to conjure up hot chocolate to sleepless children in the late of the night. Stuck here at the house today while I explored the world of Internet connection possibilities at the shopping center, Jess had kids napped, lunched and well entertained. Not every HR professional would travel across the world and then humbly take a morning to baby-sit instead of sight see. I so hope this experience is defining for her in some way. That it isn't just a chance to help a big sis and brother in law, but that in the end she feels seeing this country and its people has made life richer for her. It was awesome to see her at the botanical garden yesterday, working to recall names of plants and studying the sounds and looks of the birds around us. We sat on a park bench as an ancient and huge turtle made its way around us, and walked a trail to a lovely waterfall. Then it was off to the garden's book store so Jess could find a plant identification book and a bird watching book; what a great perspective she brings as she shares her incredible talents with me and our children. I feel so deeply blessed to have her along. It is a gift I've wished for, time with J., and I feel so lucky to have been given such a gift. To those of you who know Jess you understand what I mean; she is priceless and lovely, unique and fresh, faithful and joyful; and she is with us for this time!

To family and friends in Utah; we long for you and truly miss you. Heartaches are regular occurrences around here right now. "Ella would love this" or "I wish I could show this to Jenny" are comments we here daily. Please know that your love and friendship means the world to us (as well as the love of those we know in Boise, Dallas, and even Sweden). Truly moving around has taught us that home is where we are together; but life is made up of those in our midst. You've been the best part of our life these past two years; we thank you for making our time in Utah rich and wonderful. Thank you for the last few weeks of support and help as we've packed up and shipped out. Angels in my midst I tell you; that's what you've been!

So off to shower/bathe the kids and hope for a good night's rest. While all 6 were up on Sunday night, only 2 were up last night (Wednesday). Maybe that means the jet lag will ebb come tonight and the whole house will sleep.

Look for regular posts, as long as the Internet connection will hold. This little blog is the window I have to show you the world we are part of. As we passed a "township" or Shantytown yesterday I turned the kids attention to it. There is so much of need in this world, and we must remember it is there. So that when we enjoy the comforts we have we can think of one small way to improve the condition of others who live with nothing; literally nothing to their names. I hope to show you some of them so you and I can remember to do those small things that lift others out of their hopeless conditions; a smile, a kind word, a forgiving heart. All these can bring others and us to a higher way of living. Something lofty to strive for as we go about our daily lives.

Love from JoBerg for now; see you all soon.