Karamoja Okkens

After much asking, Dad finally consented to a sleepover in the tent. It took him a while to warm up to the idea because all three kids and two friends were going to be involved and Dad got the privilege to be out there with them! Being the dry season, it was a nice breezy night which is good for keeping whatever malaria mosquitos might be out there. With only experiencing few interruptions to his sleep, Dad survived the night and the kids had a blast even though they woke up way too earlier for Mom and Dad's liking. Oh where was Mom during the night you ask? Nicely tucked away in bed...in the house!

Well, there is no freeze in the weather here, just more like in my writing! The holidays are over and we have begun the grind of school again. I must confess I am not the most enthusiastic home school mothers. It is a daily struggle that I have to give over to the Lord, and still feel like I fail miserably. But everyday is new, right? God is faithful even when we aren't. I'm not good at New Year's resolutions, but my prayer is that patience and love will be on the list this year!

Christmas greetings from Nakaale! It seems the dry season has finally come upon us which means wind! Yes, and some warmer temperatures. It is hard to believe that we are at this Christmas season again. It seems like so much has happened this year, but looking back, everything seems like a blur. We are thankful to God that He has given us another year.  This Fall was full with birthdays. Caleb is now 9 years old and still blond. People say he is looking more and more like his dad. I have to be honest and say that his 4 th grade schoolwork overall might not be his favorite thing, but he does enjoy History and Science. So, at the moment, it is all about Vikings and bats. His fairly constant companion is his Karimojong friend, Tony, who at the moment is on a school break so Caleb gets to see him more often. Megan is now 6 and enjoying 1 st grade. She still enjoys her dolls and her jewelry, but her two brothers definitely influence her interests. So we often see Iron Man and Cinde...

  Yes, it was market day in nearby Namalu and we decided to make it a family outing! It can be quite a scene on Wednesdays where everyone in the surrounding areas come out to buy and sell. I decided to do some 'window shopping' while David and the kids waited at a nearby 'hotel/restaurant' where we had some lunch. So, a little sunburn and a few things purchased and some lunch, we were on our way to a nearby tree farm to bring some little trees home. A day on the town!

Well, the rain continues. We thought for almost a week we were headed back into the dry season, but we were wrong. We just spent this week down country doing some shopping and spending some time with teammates and friends over Thanksgiving. I'm thankful we made it down through the mud and bumps and even made it home safely today, even though now the rain continues as I type. God is good and sovereign...and yes, praying the 'dry' would come and the Ugandan government would keep their promise and pave that road!

Found under the hood waiting to say good morning New friend Amina New friends - the Ward kids Caleb and Dad (taking pic) with the Wards for a hike