Adequate Advocate

For some reason, earlier in December I told my husband that "it just didn't feel like Christmas" and I have often been thinking about how it does not feel like "the most wonderful time of the year" for so many people.  No, I haven't been a Grinch 😆, but I have just been more retrospective and thoughtful.  I guess God was preparing my heart to deal with some heavy stuff.  Since our last blog post, we have had a Christmas program, a school excursion, a birthday, a wedding and a death. We have rejoiced, laughed, celebrated, sobbed, hugged, smiled, cried, and surrendered it all to Jesus.  In some ways, I think this will be the best Christmas yet - it will really hit home to us how Christ's birth was a story that encompassed it all - rejoicing angels, weary travelers, scared and uncertain new mother, the pain of childbirth, the hope of Simeon and Anna, grateful magi, adoring shepherds, grudging innkeepers, caring and protective new father, and mourning moth...

Falling asleep sitting up 😚 From a rough week of dealing with a case of croup, to an exciting ending with our annual staff Christmas Party, it's been an eventful time!  This time of year, the Harmattan winds blow dry dust down from the Sahara desert and it is our version of "flu season".  Many respiratory illnesses make the rounds and cases of pink eye are also common right now.  Cyrene had a three-day fever and croup cough which lasted about a week and although some of the rest of the family have milder coughs and runny noses, we seem to be on the recovery. When baby has croup and wants to be held all the time, you put her in a backpack carrier and keep working.            Matthew and Benaiah love to come over after school and hang out with Gilead and Nile. Morning school fun  We are sooooo thrilled to finally share that Matthew and his mother have been able to move back into town and what a delight it is to daily ...

December seems to hold so many events and activities .... and wonderful opportunities for doing good and sharing Christ's love with your friends and family and community, don't you think? So far, the month has started off with a BRIDAL SHOWER for a soon-to-be bride, Blessing Abiba, which all the ladies attended.                       Abiba and her maid-of-honor, Margaret    There was more celebration with our dear Gilead's 5th birthday!  He is a shy kinda guy and rather than a big party he preferred to enjoy a birthday outing to play at the mall and cake and presents at family night.  We thank God for his life!  We pray for wisdom to train and equip him to share the Gospel and be a huge blessing in this world when he grows up.  In case you missed it on Facebook, here is a video we captured of him "preaching" in the living room to his siblings recently. We are also thankful for a chance t...

   Happy Thanksgiving from Our family!  The up-coming holiday called for some experimenting with new recipes to make some special treats with ingredients that were allowed on my (Jessica's) prescribed diet. The pumpkin muffins were a win for the whole family! And the pecan brownies were pretty good too.           We still had school each day, but at night the kids were enthusiastic to help with the food prep.    Precious family memories were made and sweetest of all was seeing some of our family around the world via technology for which we are so THANKful!                                    Tuesday was Ellis' birthday and we all celebrated his special day! Such a joy seeing him grow and remembering his birth which I was privileged to attend/help as Esther delivered  him right into his father's capable hands. ...