Grateful Fast Sunday XXXXXII

Our family over looking the Masai Mara at dusk.

I have pretty much decided that if I get this post done before the next Fast Sunday, I feel pretty good.  This month has been crazy with visitors, school starting (for the kids and me), and the normal requirements of life on the African continent.  I have been pondering of the past week or so what exactly I am grateful for.  Here is my short but not exhaustive list.

1.  School.  The kids went back to school in mid-August.  This has been a big year with AJP entering middle school and BLP in third grade.  I love the rhythm and organization that school gives us.  I will also need that organization because I started school the first of September.  I am taking two classes instead of the one that I have in the past.  So far it has worked fine but I am starting to get confused as to what I read for which class.  Their topics are not completely unrelated so we talk about some of the same things in both classes but come at it from a different perspective.  I will have to work to keep in mind the correct perspective for the right course.  I feel grateful that I can share a bit in the struggle of school with AJP and BLP.  I am grateful that we can mutually inspire each other.

2. Books.  They give me a great way to explore my own thoughts and learn new things.  I just finished the book, “The God Who Weeps” by Terryl and Fiona Givens.  It speaks about essence of what Mormons believe.  With all of the things that have been said in the media about my faith, it was very refreshing to read about what is really the most important facets of it – God loves us and wants us to succeed because we are His children.  This is the reason that He gave us commandments; this is the reason he organized religion; this is the reason we are here on this earth.

3. Visitors.  It is hard to have visitors here.  It takes a lot of my time to prepare and shepherd them while they visit.  However, it is nice that they can see what our lives are like.  We can give them a view of the joys and challenges.  I hope that when they return home they can better understand our family and the reasons we are how we are.