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.

A boy and a dog

Many years ago my family brought home a guide dog flunky named Buddy, a gentle loving dog who will tolerate all kinds of activity, especially from children. I have never had the time to tap into his therapeutic powers (except for our family of course.) Now that little E is in my life, I am putting Buddy to work.

I asked my African friends how they felt about dogs. They told me they had not had good encounters with dogs. Police dogs had chased them and kept them inside the camps while wild dogs had terrorized them and been used in guerilla attacks. Many dogs were used to hunt or contain livestock. They are not used to the fuzzy, loving pets that we keep in our homes.

Gingerly I brought Buddy out to meet the children. The adults stayed in doors and looked out the window. Little E was the one who bridged the gap. He smiled and explosively yelled out “Dock.” He leaned forward and kissed Buddy, and of course Buddy kissed him back.  
The other kids came around and trust was established. One of the men came out and joined in the gathering.

E was then able to snuggle with Buddy and laugh and just be happy.

No one was afraid of Buddy after that.

To people on the outside it appears that E is severely handicapped and unable to communicate.

From my perspective, I see someone who is longing to get his voice heard and look people in the eye. His Mom knows …….. and Buddy knows.

"Dock"

B and C

No surprise that Baby C's first utterance was "BBBBBB." She would follow Bea around like a mother duck playing with the sound B. Now she points to any letter she sees and sings "ABC" at the top of her lungs. She is learning so fast. As soon as she sees Bea, she picks up a book and shoves it towards her.

Bea's major job is to teach C to read and learn sounds properly. She is also supposed to keep her from missing Mommy too much while she is in church services. They are completely bonded.

Finding your identity at 14 is a challenge. Bea is funny, beautiful and has so many friends. She is a good friend and loves to make people laugh. She has an energy that cannot be explained.
As her mother, I often marvel at her effect on people.
Channeling that energy into blessings is the task most teenagers face. To me, blessings are providing service above what is convenient and making connections that allow another to thrive and feel secure. Getting outside the world of me and looking at we. We cannot turn our backs on those who we can support. In our school, our neighborhood, and our city there are so many ways to serve.

The IRC is an agency that has allowed me and my children to interact with the world in a way that is educational and community oriented. Helping others to adjust and find secure lives is a powerful experience.
So Bea and C mean so much. A teenager who loves to text and be with friends and a baby from another world who will be the hope and light for her family. Both are a light to me.

A snack at Decatur Presbyterian childcare.

A nap after snack. Bea is good at that.

C's favorite new word.... she -shoe

let me teach you how to text

I love you Bea

I could stay here all day