Update: Baby Boy & Coming Home

Baby Joshua--God's miraculousness in a tiny bundle!

Wow, where'd time go?! I can't believe that August is almost over with! So much for blogging at least once a week! Things have been incredibly crazy here in Liberia! There are only two of us on the ground, so we've been working long hours, trying to get everything taken care of. Combine that with plenty of sick kiddos, and one baby that just wouldn't come.

SO...first of all, baby news. After more than 60 hours of labor, no sleep, and finally a c-section, Jogma delivered a healthy six pound baby boy on August 16th! He's lovingly called "Small Joshua", but his name is Joshua. He's so little (but big, for Liberian standards), and does plenty of sleeping! Jogma is recovering from the c-section, and is still in pain, but she's doing well. I have loved watching her be a mom! I've spent alot of time laying in bed, or sitting on the porch with her since she's been home from the hospital. I cannot wait to see her as a mom a few months down the road! But, more on Jogma and Joshua in another post.

Speaking of down the road...

I am still in Liberia because I was waiting for the baby to arrive. I really felt like I needed to 'finish the journey' with Jogma. Even though I swore off being here in August, it has been really great! God is still holing off the rain to help me stay sane, and He's just been teaching me so much over the past month or so! But, since Joshua is here, it's time for me to head home. It is hard to believe that I've been here for 6 months and that I'm still this healthy, energized and feeling good overall! It's such a different world being in Liberia and feeling this good! But, it's time for me to go...even though I wouldn't mind staying longer (as long as this crazy beautiful weather keeps up, ha!). So, I'm leaving Liberia on Friday!! Yes, I know...it's soon! I have a huge to-do list, and I need to have a healthy wrap up/prepare-for-life-in-America-again period. But, most of all, I just want to soak up these last few days with the kids and with my ORR family. A few more days to soak up beautiful weather, sunsets, the ocean, laughter, listening to God's voice (of the Liberian-English variety), Ma Mary's cooking, my best friend Momo, and everything else that I love about this crazy place.

Honestly, thinking about being home in a few days doesn't seem real. In the weird Liberia time-continium I feel like I've been away from home for forever, but I feel like I've only been in Liberia for a few months. I don't think I'm prepared for America--total weirdness, being a face in the crowd (yes!), closed doors and windows, no walks to the beach (boo to being land-locked!), being unable to communicate with my eyebrows, not speaking Liberian-English, not being woken up every morning with Momo at my window, the hum of the generator (ok, I can handle silent electricity!), and being with the kids day every day!

But, there are also so many things that I'm looking forward to--family, friends, my bed, spinach salad, hot showers, peace and quiet, ice cream, sweet tea, my sewing room, my church family, driving on real roads, walking around Target, blending in, walking barefoot on carpet or in the grass, wearing normal clothes, fast internet, geocaching, garage sale-ing, Braves games, my mom's cooking, cooking my own meals, grocery shopping...with choices, veggies straight from the garden...alright I'm getting carried away.

These are some of my random thoughts tonight. I have so much to share with you, but it might just have to wait until I get stateside. Please pray for me in these last few days--that I would finish well. Thank you all so much for your prayers and support over these last 6 months!

(And, for those of you who want to know, yes...I will be heading back to Liberia in a few short months!)