Nager

Is it hotter in Africa or Atlanta?
Atlanta says Mama N.
How can that be?
It is.....
Do you want to go swim?
Oui nager.

So I got together some suits and flotation devices and off we went.
















And guess who got in first?
Sweet Joni and Wren supported Baby C for her first time in the pool. She loved it. And the girls were so attentive. That kid was carried and hugged and kissed and fed and loved by all my friends at the pool.  Kim brought Olympic Cupcakes and many friends joined us for this monumental outing.

The next great adventure.... Let's put my man in the pool.

Please hurry up!!!!!!!!!!

OH Yeah   WATER

And for our next act, Hot out of Central Africa, Mama slowly and gingerly makes her way sporting none other than a Lakeside swim and dive suit.

Lots of friends came. Faith brought us a shark which is now the property of Mr. And Kenley and Maddie brought their swim expertise and loving smiles. Dana plopped in and made it complete.

Kim, Maddie and Kenley giving a bubble blowing lesson.

Joni taking charge. Wren keeping tabs on things.

Dan and Erin take a family photo. If these children go missing, I know where I am starting my search.

Well the coolest thing today was watching that boy who is usually  tethered by gravity on land. Once he hit the water, he turned and kicked and splashed, put his head under the water(sometimes not on purpose) and swam with HIS MAMA.

I slept really good after all of this. For a lot of reasons.

A bridal shower

One of  us is getting married and one of us wants to get married. The rest of us are happily married or too little to get married.

Beautiful, sweet, funny adorable Erin will be married to the cutest Atlanta policeman to hit the force (that would be Dan) this summer.

Mama N and the ladies from the church decided to throw a small shower in celebration of her and our love for each other.

We decided to over look the fact that we are in the middle of poverty and all that goes with it to create a happy moment for the bride.  i.e. Martha Stewart/Paula Deen visits the projects.

busy in the kitchen

The apartment was transformed while the children were scrubbed and lotioned. Sue,  Pam , and Angie brought in pink lemonade and finger sandwiches. Our hostess picked up some chicken wings and made her famous spaghetti. A pink tablecloth was laid out and voila!

We ate and opened gifts. Mr. E, the only male at our gathering made himself busy scarfing down pimento cheese and helping the bride remove tissue paper one piece at a time from each gift.

We all laughed and acted like a bunch of mother hens, cooing over children, admiring the gifts and then Mama N and I delivered our gift. We went all over Clarkston to find the perfect African cloth for Erin. We wanted something she could place at her dining table and think of us. We found it in a Somalian fabric shop.

It was a poignant moment when she opened it and the children spread it across the room. It was beautiful and Erin cried. Out of nowhere came a declaration from Baby C. “I love you.”

Wow.

Walk-a-dog

We are all coughing, noses running and red eyed.
No church today, but the kids need some company. Mr. E wants to take Buddy for a walk.
Mama N is now sick and lying on the couch. Let's give her a rest and get outside.

Alons y!!! Let's go. Sister is on the back of my walker and it's hard to move.
We walked and walked through the apartment complex.
Lot's of trash around. Plenty of junk for Buddy to sniff.

We passed a bunch of kids from Nepal kicking a soccer ball.
Can E take a turn. ....Well maybe for a minute. "Why does he drool?" the kids ask.
He can't control his mouth, but he knows everything you are saying and he wants to be your friend.

Another little girl came out of her apartment.
"Dog," says E. I'm scared of dogs, says the little girl.
Ok says E. I know he wants to explain that Buddy is friendly. He is so proud to be walking Buddy around his hood.

Walk-a-dog. That's what they say when you take a hot dog to go at the Varsity.
We just walked and walked till Miss thang (baby C) found a set of steps to play.
Some people can make a playground out of anything.

Yes, those are people's clothing tossed all over the place and trash spread around. I know we should be grateful for the chance to live in America but we are paying rent. Why does this place have to be so messy?

Okay! Time to go home. Love you E. Love you Buddy.

The adventures of wonder dog

Coughing!!! Coughing!!!! NO GOOD, says Mama N. Everyone is sick and stuck at home. No go to church. 
Oh well. Better bring Buddy over for a cheer up session.


I love seeing E's face when Buddy comes over. Lit up and all teeth. Check out some photos of the gang. 

Everyone is still in their pajamas and has what my Uncle Sam used to call an "open snot locker."
Buddy doesn't care. 
We played for quite awhile.

A new circle

Angie

A new friend is like exploring a country road. With each turn and stretch there is beauty and places that need attention. Angie is a senior member of the church who is enjoying her retirement years in spite of any issues that may drag her down. She does not dwell on the problems but celebrates the successes, and I love her. 
Angie is like a shiny new present everyday. She makes me laugh and also grounds me in my wild thoughts of trying to save the world. She is extremely practical in some ways and totally unpredictable in others.

She is also soulfully invested in our honorary members of Decatur Presbyterian.  She has been visiting almost weekly to teach English and check on things in the Refugee community. She gives the gift of her humor and love. Mama N takes full advantage and looks upon her with adoring eyes.

When Mama goes to church, she takes a mental roll call. Where is Sue , where is Angie, Julieann, Erin and Dan, Jan and Greg..... Pam? Someone always grabs her hand so she will not sit alone during the one time in the week she can pray and reflect on all she has survived. 

Erin

I guess one of the coolest things about reaching out, is the relationships you make. 
After attending church for many Sundays, I have made friends that I hope to keep the rest of my life. Erin is one of them. She is a young, beautiful woman, a teacher, and a devoted member of Decatur Presbyterian. Recently engaged to an Atlanta policeman, she is bubbling with joy and hope for the future. 

  She supports us in so many ways, not the least of which is prayers for their well-being. She is helping with language learning and upkeep of the apartment. She has found strollers and books and countless items to make life easier. She listens to my worries about the integration of the refugees into American life. She always knows the right thing to say.

I feel like she could be my sister.

So full of goodness and love………

Sue

The greatest part of life is being able to do for others. 
There comes a time when you have it together enough to spend your days finding ways to make your life a blessing. This is my friend Sue. 
She ministers to those who are at home, bringing comfort to those who cannot make it to church or need some special attention. She works tirelessly to make her church welcoming and viable in the community. So when a call went out to welcome an African refugee to church she was all over it.

Opening her heart to this family has brought her so much joy. She looks at Carole in a new dress and beams like an adoring  parent.

Her prayers are so appreciated.