Just one picture

From today.  Thank you for the encouragement after the last post, and I promise to come back and write something about my first mother's day, but here's one picture for now.  Our Internet is running slow tonight, but I'll come back and write more soon.


Prepare for cuteness overload:

Missing this place....

 

I miss the heat, I miss the sounds of prayer being called across the city, I miss the smell of sand and sweat and rain, I miss the sound of taxis honking, I miss the sight of that blue ocean, I miss my neighbors greeting every morning as I walked to school and every evening as I returned, I miss the sandwich shop, I miss fresh mangoes, I miss car rapides, I miss Lamine's family (oh, so much), I miss the sound of little kids calling "toubab," I miss my friends, I miss the community, I miss my life there.  

 Senegal was the place where Lamine and I first fell in love, and for that reason alone, it will always hold a very special place in my heart.  My heart is so full of love for this place. I miss it everyday.  

ETA: 

This is my final post from the blog I kept while studying abroad. I feel the same way right now.

hello, all.

not sure if anyone's still going to read this, but i felt the need to put a little bit of a closing note on this blog. i've been back in the united states for a few days and am missing senegal desperately. it's hard to describe how simultaneously easy and difficult it is to be back. i'm not sure what i expected, but i suppose i almost thought that i would have to retrain myself in some aspects. and that may be true, but it surprised me how easily i was able to slip back into this life-that i could wake up, turn on the coffee maker, look out at the snow....just the little things. in the same breath, it feels so empty here--so quiet. i miss the calls to prayer, the music that is everywhere, the sound of kids laughing and playing football. i miss inshallah's, alxamdulilay's, and ba beneen yoon's. i miss the sense of community-the greetings, the smiles, the handshakes that make any five minute trip to the market last at least half an hour. i miss it all. i know that the taxis honking and the eighteen marriage proposals per two block radius were tiring at times, but i miss it.

i miss speaking french, wolof, and manding each day. i miss the little kids who called me "aunt" and always had something exciting and new to tell me. i miss the car rapides and the sheer force of life in dakar-the millions of people crammed into one small area-just trying to make it day to day and trying to make it beautiful in the mean time. there's no possible way i can list the ways in which i miss dakar--no possible way that i can list the ways in which life was so beautiful there. i miss my friends and the community that i formed. it's so bizarre to think that in only four months, you can put down roots in a completely foreign environment. it's bizarre, but reassuring in a sense. it's reassuring to know that no matter where you go-no matter what languages are spoken-what traditions are held--people are people, and you can form relationships with one another that can transcend any cultural differences or language barriers.

To be your mother

I wrote this a couple weeks ago, and I don't remember why I didn't post it then.  Anyway, for what it's worth....I'll try to post pictures soon!


Has, to date, been my life's greatest joy.  This week, the sun shone brightly and warmly truly for the first time this year. I was home from work that day because you were sick for the first time.  Later in the day, though, you took a nap, and I put you in the car seat and brought you into the bathroom so I could finally take a shower.  I let the hot water flow and let the bathroom steam up so that maybe it would help you breathe a little easier.  I washed all the grime and dirt and baby drool of off me, and felt new again.  Through it all, you slept.  Afterwards, I opened all the windows and let the first warm air of spring pour into our little apartment.  Before you woke, I put on a skirt for the first time in months.  And then you woke-- slowly and peacefully, and you smiled as your eyes found mine.  I took you in my arms and walked barefoot out onto our porch and then the lawn.  Your big brown eyes took in everything as your head rested on my shoulder.  It felt so good, in that moment, to be your mother.  With the spring coming, I am so excited for the new adventures we will have.  I sense a new chapter opening, and I am so excited for what the future brings. 

Sam's new sound

Sorry for the long pause in blogging. My computer's still not fixed, but Bryce and Melissa have graciously allowed us to use their computer. Thanks, guys!

Sam has been chattering away lately.  Yesterday, though, he turned 4 months old (already? yikes!) and he started making this new sound.  Lamine and I were cracking up as he tried to reach his toes and talk at the same time.  Too funny! 

Ugh!

Know what's not fun? Having your computer crash. I hope we can save all of Sam's pictures! 

Sending up Prayers

For Cote d'Ivoire today.  I hope that they have peace very, very soon and that no more lives are lost.

He laughs