saying bye....again

its that time again. time for goodbyes and lots of emotions. its hits me like a mac truck a few days before coming or going. i hate this feeling, i wish i could aviod it, but im not sure how. my sweet friend hannah says it'll always be like that. maybe it gets a little easier, but it will always be hard. i fly back home to ghana tomorrow. im so excited to get back. some of my favorite people are there. i cannot wait to see my kids. i miss my church, i miss ghana. my heart is there, and its home for me, but there is always something hard about leaving.

its been an amazing time home. ive spent a lot of time being with people i adore. there is nothing better than close relationships. friends and family. its been a really sweet time here.

ive got to spend time with an incredible guy, someone i wish i could always have in my life. if only the timing were right. if only we lived on the same continent. if only "life" didn't happen. life gets in my way sometimes and has a brilliant way of making things hard :)

two of my best friends since childhood had babies while i was gone. it was so fun to meet them and love on them. anuty tayler loves these babies.

baby gunner

baby sydney

i wish i could take people with me. my life is in ghana, but there are so many incredible people here that i want in my daily life. friends like melisa and hannah that just knowing them makes me a stronger person. amber who's faith and transparency inspires me. julie who ive known my entire life and things are still as sweet as they were when we were 6. katie who i only see once a year and when we are together, its as if no time passed at all. alicia who loves me for me and is such a faithful friend. i wish i could take them all with me. i know they are always in my heart, but i want them in my life. i guess that's the negative thing about living an international life, i have friends all over the world and that's such a sweet thing, but im always leaving people. wont heaven be incredible because there will be no more leaving...

.

my sweet mom and dad who love me through my crazy life. emotions, comings, goings, ups and downs...they will always be here for me and they love me for me. even when the "me" is at home in africa. and for that i am eternally grateful and so blessed.

see you next in ghana ♥

there's no place like home

i made it home to texas safely! thanks for all of you who were praying! its always an exhausting trip, but i feel well rested this morning!

straight off the plane mom and dad and i went to see one of my best friends new babies! he was born while i was in ghana...ive even skyped with him...a few days old and already skyping!! gunner is beautiful and i love him so much! what a joy it was for me to be able to finally meet him. its times like these that make living overseas hard, i miss weddings, babies and my friends....but what sweet fellowship when i get home!!

saturday i got to see my sweet sister, whitney and my aunts mandi and pam. i even went straight to the theater yesterday to see the new narnia movie! popcorn and soda and a good ole movie with the parents....so fun!

yall, im freezing here. ive been wearing like 3 shirts and 2 pants....i cannot get warm! i know i said i was really looking forward to being cold, and i am so thankful not to be sweating, but its really cold!!!

cooking breakfast....i was looking for the matches to light the stove. even asked mom where the matches were...haaaa i think i forgot where i was!

my sweet dad. our first christmas coffee together! what sweet times to be home with my family. i am so blessed!!!

my sweet babies kai and oski....im so happy to be with them again. kai wasn't so sure about me at first, but she has come around :)

can i tell yall how fun it is to be able to straighten my hair...im loving no humidity!! i also had my first hot shower in 4 months! so fun. i love being home, but i do miss me some ghana.

i have so many friends to see, i cannot wait to spend this christmas season with people i love...each day is new and from god, and in that i rejoice. i love him with all that i have and im so thankful to him for all the people in my life...

xoxo

tis the season

merry christmas everyone!! im traveling home TOMORROW!!! i am super excited to see my family and friends. there is something so sweet about spending christmas at home. i cannot wait to see my mom and dad, my sister, matt and their boys! i cant wait to eat holiday food. i cannot wait to sleep in my bed and i cannot wait to see the girls! i have SO many friends and family to see...and a few new babies to meet!!! its going to be so much fun to be home for 3 weeks. oh yeah, and one thing i cannot wait for is the COLD WEATHER!!!!! ghana is 5 degrees off the equator, so you can imagine how hot it is here. and its coastal....needless to say i have big texas hair. haaa...

im really going to miss being here too. im going to miss my kids at school, my church family, my sweet sisters here...but this is the season, and im super excited to be headed home in less than 24 hours....wow.

we found a box of christmas goodies and decided to decorate our heads..haaaa

having lattes at our favorite coffee bar

santa in front of our grocery store....while christmas music plays let it snow....haaa

see you soon texas ♥