My journey to Lola for new visitors

Welcome new visitors to my story. Some of you may have time to look through all of my various blogs over the past 2 years to come to understand Lola and my story, and others of you may just want to be caught up to the now as your hearing about my pending adoption. Looking through my blogs may be more fun because there are tons of pictures and lets be honest thats what makes a blog more enjoyable. PLUS the fact that I could just look at her all day long SO i'm sure you would like to do that too ... but i may be bias. haha

Now you can choose, the photo journal by clicking on various blog entries to the right

OR

Continue reading for the nutshell (that i am sorry to say is not much of a nutshell because it is quite a LONG story to be honest! I tried to cut it down but she's worth the read Trust me! :)

Here we go...


In 2010, I felt like I was being called to go to Africa. There were a lot of things that were going on in my life and many signs that I felt were leading me to Uganda. I knew that the trip would be life changing, I just didn't know how. The trip certainly changed my life completely and almost turned it upside down... For a plan and reason that I believe is far bigger than me.

On June 24, 2010 I met a beautiful little girl who completely captured my heart the second she smiled. I had a strong connection with her the minute I picked her up. I had such an overwhelming feeling. What I know now, but didn’t know then, was that it was the first time I knew she was mind. She was lying on a crib mat in the corner at the orphanage while 20 or so other babies roamed around and played. She isn't able to join them due to cerebral palsy. The next week came and when we got to the orphanage, she wasn't there. I was beside myself. I have never experienced that kind of panic. I was running around looking in cribs for "my baby." After a LOT of questions to a lot of people I was able to find out that she had been taken to Katalemwa, the rehabilitation hospital for kids with disabilities. This was great news because I knew she would be getting some much needed therapy, but I would have to wait another whole week to see her.

Finally the Wednesday came that we were going to Katalemwa and I couldn't wait. The whole time I was waiting to find her my stomach was in knots. I could barely stand still and I was so anxious. We were in a building at the top of a hill. As we started walking down the hill, we heard a baby crying. I knew the minute that I heard it, that it was her cry and I knew exactly which building she was in. I have NO idea how I knew it was her, but I felt it in my heart and all I could think was to get to her and fix whatever it was that was making her cry. She was crying her little eyes out and before I knew it I was crying too. I talked to her and sat there until it was time for us to leave. When it was time to go, I was SO upset. I did not want to leave. I ran up the hill to find my friend Ivan because I was completely distraught that no one would check on her when I left. He works for Empower a Child and I knew he would let me know how she was doing when I was gone. When we got back, she wasn't in the stander anymore, she was lying on the mat. I scooped her up and held her so tight. I told her that Ivan was going to check on her and that even though the stander hurt it was good for her. I kissed her little face and laid her back down. I felt like I was leaving a part of my heart behind on that mat. As I walked up the hill and out the gate I cried my eyes out, all while Ivan was trying to tell me that she would be fine. He probably couldn't understand why this crazy white girl was crying so hard over a baby I barely spent time with. I completely understand that because I was asking myself the same question.

From the minute I picked her up I thought I wanted to bring her home, but then I thought you crazy person, you can NOT do that. I told myself, you're young, single, you can't adopt a BABY! I thought that I would come home and that it would get easier. But it didn't get easier, it got harder... every day. All I could think about was this face. What therapy she needed and wasn't getting. Who was taking care of her, was it enough. I found myself researching more and more about Cerebral Palsy and therapies that could be done. In October my friend Craig said that she had been sent back to the orphanage because the money for her to be at Katalemwa had run out. I picked up a tutoring job so that I could save money to send for her therapy. I found out from Wilson, the director of Empower a Child, that I could use the pay pal account to send the money and make sure that it got where it needed to be.

I spent a lot of time praying about whether I was supposed to adopt this little girl. I felt something different the minute I picked her up but could I really do it. I decided that if I was going to consider it, I had to go back to Africa to be with her. There was no way that I would be able to make this decision without spending more time with her. SO I decided that I would definitely be returning to Africa.

Around March, she was taken for an assessment at Katalemwa and found that she needed services however she was sent back to the orphanage because of chicken pox. I was a wreck. I checked my email everyday for updates. Finally great news came that she was better and receiving therapy. I was thrilled. She was learning to sit and communicate through eye gaze for yes/no. She doesn't know how to talk yet BUT if she can understand and communicate answers to yes/no that is a start! Things were looking good. THEN I got an email that she was in the hospital with Malaria and Pneumonia. This was the worst news ever. I cried probably everyday for a good 3 weeks if not more. I have never prayed so much in my life! I had about a million conversations with God about her. The thought of her being in the hospital, so sick, without anyone to hold her was more then I could handle. I checked my email frantically hoping for an update. I even checked my email when I knew it was the middle of the night in Uganda and I knew there would be NO email. I felt so incredibly helpless because there was nothing I could do. I wrote about her on facebook and was overwhelmed by the amount of people who prayed for her. I prayed for help for her to get better, and the strength and courage for me to know what to do. A very good friend of mine talked with me about it a lot. She knew I was contemplating adoption before I told anyone else... she was encouraging and supportive. She text me the bible verse Philippians 4:6-7 and told me to read it. Reading it when she was sick was helpful. I prayed for help because I knew if she got better, that I had to pursue adoption. After many prayers and what seemed like forever, I got the best instant message on facebook of my life. Felix messaged me to let me know that she was getting better and back to receiving therapy but she was incredibly sick and regressed tremendously. This was SO much bigger than me and if this was truly God's plan for me I knew I couldn't do it alone. I asked God for help because Adoption is SO overwhelming and I didn't even know where to start. Reading Philippians 4 helped when she was so sick and didn't know what was going on, but I didn't understand it until a car ride home from church. When I specifically asked for help, I felt my anxiety wash away and completely content about my decision to adopt as a single parent. I was ready for it to be me and Lola vs. the world and not only was I ready, I was excited! That Sunday evening I googled adoption agencies in Illinois and found The Ark. I filled out an online inquiry and when I woke up the next morning I already had a response.

After a month of communication with the adoption agency I have been pre-approved to start the adoption process! At the end of April I had a meeting with the Ark to start the official adoption process. After my conversation with God leaving church that Sunday, the feelings of peace I had were enough to get me through everything right UP til the moment I was sitting to sign paperwork. THAT is when my anxiety shot through the roof. If the decision was strictly emotional, I would have brought her home already but I needed to make sure my ducks were in row to provide the kind of life I have planned for her in my head. My heart was 150 % in … but my head was where the trouble began coming up with ALL the reasons I couldn’t or shouldn’t or wouldn’t be good enough to do this.

The day that I sat down with the adoption agency happened to be the same weekend as my I-Challenge race in Champaign where I would be running a 5K Friday night and a half-marathon on Saturday. THIS would end up being a life changing piece to my decision. I prayed a good portion of the 2.5 hour drive down for a sign, or help, or something! I got that first sign at the end of my 5K race. I was privileged to watch an amazing mom push her adult son in a wheelchair across the finish line. She had pushed him for the entire race. This is something I would love to do with Lola. So while this could have been the sign I asked for, I chose to pretend that it wasn’t. A very similar sign to the one at my ½ marathon in Florida where I watched a mom run across the finish line holding her little girl who was wearing leg braces. I allowed my head to outweigh the feelings in my heart. However, as I have learned OVER and OVER again throughout this process, God will not take no and he will provide when you are unsure because the next sign came a little more obvious, and a LOT bigger… like a white Buick. Walking back to the car after my race, we were stopped rather abruptly by a white car that was backing up from a parking space, nearly hitting me. When I looked up, I saw the sign that was unmistakable… clear as day in the middle of the night, the license plate that said Lola. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! SO apparently God was looking to send a sign that I couldn’t miss, because had I missed it, I was going to be hit by a car. It was that moment that I knew for sure God was saying yes you can … despite your doubt.. do this.

About halfway through my time with her, I once again began to doubt myself. I was so overwhelmed with planning the future that I got too far ahead of myself. I was feeling stressed and confused. Once again I found myself asking God just what the heck I was doing and why was I there! I asked God for a sign that I was doing the right thing AND once again… God provides. I asked for a sign and boy did I get it. The next day when I went into her room at the orphanage, she looked right at me and smiled the biggest smile I had ever seen. A smile that meant I know who you are and I want you to come get me OUT of this bed. I will never forget that moment. From that minute on I stopped asking why me, and started believing why NOT me!

This little girl is the love of my life, and everything I never knew I always wanted. She has a captivating spirit in her eyes and is destined for greatness. She has brought so many positive changes into my life already and I cannot wait to have her home so that I can watch her grow and develop. Thank you SO much for reading and choosing to be a part of our story.

TU GENDE ... It's GO time!!!! :)

Well.. this has been a VERY busy and VERY quick 2 months since I have been home FULL of changes... but Praise God because it has also been a VERY AMAZING 2 months as well. I came home to a meeting at work where i learned that my job would be changing completely, and renting the townhouse that i wanted the whole time i was in Africa... pretty much all in the same day! Thus beginning the whirlwind of my life ALL 2 weeks before school started. Because if one thing changes, i mean hey why not just change it all. For the past 6 years i have been a resource teacher in both kindergarten and 1st grades, with the occasional 2nd grader thrown in... however this year we went down from 4 of us, to 3 and my grade levels all changed. I now i have some kindergarten, some 2nd, all of 3rd grade, and some 5th. A lot of which i have never done. This also meant that i had to completely change my classroom because Dr. Seuss just doesn't quite cut it anymore in 5th grade. The first week of August was spent setting up my new classroom because i knew the next week was my house, and the week after that school would be starting.

August 15 i moved into an awesome 2 bedroom townhouse, in the boundaries of the school i want Lola to go to someday. I picked this school for 2 very specific reasons but wasn't really sure due to Lola's disability if it would be a reality for us. As a result of her environment, she is significantly delayed in all areas of development. I knew that her environment was contributing to why she was SO delayed, but it is difficult to tell the severity of her disability at this point. I really felt in my heart that she was not as severe as she presents but couldn't be sure... until NOW!!! I am SO lucky and grateful for the AMAZING friends i have met in Africa. My friends Hilary and Amy have been incredible and Lola and I feel blessed to have them a part of our lives. They go visit her regularaly and Amy has been going with her to her Doctor appointments so that she is able to report back to me. She had an appointment with a neuropsychologist at a child's cilinic so Amy went with her. The doctor said that Lola's biggest concerns aside from the rigidity due to her cerebral palsy, is muscle and motor control in her mouth (a speech and language delay, which he said is a result of no one talking to her at the orphanage, and swollowing difficulties). He went on to say that she is a child who does not have a cognitive disability as far as he can tell and that she should definitely be in a classroom someday. He also added that with the proper therapy she should walk into that class as well. SO needless to say when i got that report i cried like crazy ... and am even MORE excited about the location of my house. It has taken a little while, but i am thrilled because it is now ready for my home study.

Here are my dining room and living room on the first floor as well as my bedroom.

AND ... most important and what everyone really wants to see... Miss Lola's room. Obviously has some work to do still but its on its way.

I received a stack of paperwork and will be meeting with my social worker next week for the first time. I am moving closer and closer to being able to bring her home. Many people have asked what they can do to help. There are many grants available as well but many of them require you to be working with an adoption agency in the United States. Since i will be using an attorney in Africa, I am uneligible for accessing that money to help with the cost. However, I am VERY excited because another friend Sarah, that i met in Africa sent me the link to an organization that helps families raise money to cover the cost of adoptions Just love coffee. It is an organization that pairs two things that are important to me fair trade products and helping orphans. SO it just made sense to take advantage of this amazing opportunity.

SO i am proud to announce the Grand Opening of my coffee shop at www.justlovecoffee.com/bringlolahome

All you have to do is click on the link and start shopping. Make sure that you look at ALL the options along the left hand side, where there are a variety of countries listed where you can choose to get your coffee, apparel, or package deal. Many people have asked if i get all the proceeds and the answer is no. I do not get all of the money, but i do receive $5.00 from each bag which is exciting! If you like coffee and would be buying it anyway, i would really apprecaite you giving it a whirl. OBVIOUSLY Lola and i recommed the coffee from Uganda because coffee is one of Uganda's largest exports and buying it ensures jobs for the people we love but if you'd like to support Jamaicans or Guatemalans we are great with that too because it ALL helps bring Lola 1 step closer to home.

For those of you who are not coffee drinkers I also have African paper necklaces and braclets that i brought back this summer. I have a variety of styles, sizes, and colors. They are really amazing and hand made by women to raise money for their families. If you would like to make a donation toward bringing Lola home and you like Jewlery not coffee that is another option. Hopefully it will also remind when you wear it how grateful we are for your support.

As you can see there are many colors and styles to choose from. SO if you are interested let me know and we can work something out! :)

Say Goodnight ... Not Goodbye...

This update is really hard to write, and was even harder to experience. It was the day i was dreading from the day i booked my ticket to go back to Uganda. Sunday after church Collin, Amy, Hilary and i head out to 1000 cups for lunch, the craft market for some last minute shopping, and then to Nsambya for what would be my last time. I had a great day, and it was awesome to be with amazing friends who just make me laugh. They knew exactly what i would need and that was SO wonderful!

We had lunch and a great conversation. I am pretty sure that their number 1 goal was to make me laugh and help me forget about what was going to happen shortly. Many things happened that just cracked us up... Like Hilary trying a kumquat for the first time... WHICH a friend of mine swears is such a great fruit. I have tried one, and know just how awful they taste, but i might have left that part out.

As you can see.. it was NOT a pleasant experience .. however it made me laugh. AND knowing the kind heart of this amazing friend ... she would have done anything to make me laugh or make the day less difficult. In fact.. she ate 2 of them JUST so we could document the moment with a picture for future laughing.. now THAT Is a great friend, because having tried the Kumquat ... i'm can guarantee that i'm NOT that good of a friend. haha.

After lunch we went to Nsambya. It was a very emotionally confusing day to say the least. I knew that if i didn't go home, i couldn't start the paperwork required to bring her home for good... but the LAST thing i wanted to do was to leave her behind. We spent the afternoon with her. She definitely enjoys the company. When i walked in she was in her room, with roommate Mick Paul, alone. She saw me and gave me the best smile immediately before she started crying as if to say you better get over here quicker and Pick me up! She may not talk but she certainly knows how to get her point across that is for sure. Uncle Collin was the DJ for our dance party. She already has an opinion about music too which is awesome. There was a balloon in her room so we were playing with that as well. I was helping her to hit the balloon with her hand and she thought that was pretty funny. She obviously has NO idea how to play since no one ever just plays with her, BUT i am confident that she is going to be great at it hopefully one day soon! She smiled a lot while we were playing! I had printed pictures of the two of us together, and pictures of my family back home for her to have on the wall by her bed. I showed her the pictures and told her who everyone was so that she can see us while she is waiting for me to come back. She was VERY interested in the pictures. Almost as much as when she sees a picture of herself... so that is pretty great because she LOVES to see herself! haha

We were planning to go to the cultural center sunday night. I thought it would be a really great distraction the night i was leaving. WHICH while that was true, meant that i had to leave her sooner. Before i left the babies home, the head nun asked me if i was going to spend the night so i could stay with her longer. I told her that if i could i would or i would like to just put her in my suitcase. We laughed, but it wasn't really that funny. I knew time to go was coming so i asked Collin to translate for me. He told her everything i said, which was that i had to leave her, but that i was going to come back. He told her that she wouldn't see me but that i loved her very much. It was really hard. I think it was hard for everyone because Collin said ok she knows and left the room. When i picked her up and turned around Amy and Hilary had gone down stairs too. It was then that it really hit me. I hugged her tight and kissed her a few more times. Then laid her down in her bed. When i put her down she immediately started crying. ALL i wanted to do was to pick her back up but i knew that it would happen every time and that i just needed to go. I was SO thankful because at this point one of the "Mamma's" from the orphanage had come in and she picked her up. It was obviously NOT what Lola wanted, but at least made me feel better. Leaving her crying was awful but i am telling myself it isn't goodbye, it is just goodnight for now. There is a song that i heard originally on Dawsons Creek, that i have found myself listening to A LOT lately. WHO knew that good ol' dawsons creek would once again bring me such comfort... hahaha. However, the lyrics are very appropriate to my life situation and remind me that it is just a small amount of time to wait until we are together for good!

Say good night not goodbye By Chantal Kreviazuk

Say goodnight, not goodbye you will never leave my heart behind.

Like the path, of a star i'll be anywhere you are

In the spark that lies beneath the coals, In the secret place inside your soul.

Keep my life, in your eyes. Say goodnight, not goodbye.

Don't you fear, when you dream. Waking up is never what it seems.

Like a jewel burried deep. Like a promise meant to keep.

You are everything you ought to be so just let your heart reach out to me.

I'll be right, by your side.

Say goodnight, not goodbye.

I was really thankful to have ALL of them there with me because that meant that i wouldn't have to take a boda home on my own. When i walked out the door, Collin was standing there ready to give me a hug. WHICH was awesome... followed shortly by Amy and Hilary. I know that if i was on a boda alone, i would have probably cried the whole way home BUT I am pretty sure that Hilary's personal mission was to NOT allow that to happen. She might be one of the funniest people i have ever met and that was brought to a whole new level on our boda ride. First of all, our boda man surely was wearing a cowboy hat. I'd like to note for the record that he may be the ONLY Ugandan cowboy i have experienced. He happened to be a Ugandan Cowboy with an equally awesome sense of humor. We spent the next 10-15 minute drive through town with Hillary yelling out to passers by .. Ole otia ... which pretty much means Hello how are you. The attempt was to see how many would wave back. After a while, the boda man was pointing out possible people to yell to and having a lengthy discussion about why Ugandans LOVE muzungus (white people). The fun just continued while i held on for dear life because i was laughing so hard that falling off could have been a possibility at that moment. JUST when i thought that it couldn't get any better.. my boda experience was complete. We ran out of gas!!!!! We all had to get off the boda and walk it to the nearest gas station. Now normally that would have been an inconvenience and frustration... BUT it was so rediculous that we found it completely hilarious! SO glad that Hilary was able to snap a picture of me with the boda man taking care of our little problem.

All in all the day was extremely emotional, but i was really proud of myself for how well i actually handled leaving. I know for a fact that it would NOT have gone as well had i not been with my 3 amazing friends. It is crazy to me how God works, as i can see through this whole adoption experience in general. However a year ago I didn't know Hilary at all, and Collin and Amy were just new friends i had met by what i thought was chance. What I didn't know then, was that they would play a signficant role in my life, and Lola's. I will certainly never forget the love and support that i felt on one of the hardest days of my life thus far. I know that the next few months are going to be very difficult and trying emotionally as well as stressful and filled with anxiety, but i also know that these three friends of mine will be checking on her weekly and THAT is enough for me to be able to spend my time focusing on what i need to do here rather then thinking about what is happening for her there. It will be a LONG road ahead i know, but coming home is the first step and she is the prize and the light at the end of the tunnel.

Saturday night ... out on the town!

SO after the sponsorship meeting... Collin, Amy, Hilary, and I head out of the house for the night. We were going to visit Lola and then out for pizza. We grabbed two bodas and head for Nsambya. It was the first time Collin had seen her in a long time. I was really glad that he came because obviously he speaks lluganda. He is the first Ugandan i have seen who spoke to her like she understands. He was giving her directions and he said that what he was asking her to do, she did. He said he really thinks that she understands everything that you say to her. WHICH is encouraging ... but at the same time frustrating knowing that usually no one talks to her other then to say her name or tell her stop crying. :( BUT that will change in a few short months!

Here she is with Uncle Collin... he said that he would be going to visit her for me!

Here she is with Auntie Hilary. They are going to be good friends .. i can tell.

Especially after this picture.. She is clearly a rockstar and Auntie Hilary was the first to fully recognize her level of awesome. She could not look any cooler then she did rockin' some ray bans! She smiled her biggest smile yet not too long after this picture. I didn't get a picture of it because i couldn't look away from it long enough to grab my camera. BUT it was the most awesome moment ever and i can't wait until i see that smile more often!!!

We hung out there for a while and she loved all the attention. She definitely loves to see people visiting her that is for sure. It breaks my heart that I know she was SO happy towards the time i was leaving. She usually spends her time alone but i know that Amy, Hilary, and Collin will visit and love on her for me until i get back. AND THAT is what will make getting on the plane a little easier. Her personality is really starting to come out. She is certainly spunky and has an opinion about a lot of things that she may not be able to say yet.. but she has some facial expressions that say a LOT! Some of the other muzungu's said that she MUST be my kid with her attitude.. not sure how i feel about that .. BUT i'll claim her. haha

After we left Nsambya ... we went to Garden City for Pizza! Lets use the term pizza loosely.. however for what it was it was GREAT! The pizza was fine, but the best was the cupcake. Hilary and i shared a banana cupcake with chocolate frosting! Amazing.. UNTIL we all went home and got sick... because we are apparently not used to Americanish food anymore.. BUT it was an awesome day none the less...

Here we are with our Boda partners... or our dates.. whatever.. hahah

Me and Hilary... Amy and Collin...

You know you're good friends with you are hanging on for dear life while flying down the road on a boda at 40 miles an hour ... with no helmet. 3 people should NOT all fit on a motorcycle.. but TIA folks.. This is Africa! AND we love it!

Sponsorship Meeting

Saturday was the sponsorship meeting for July. I was really excited to be a part of it because i see pictures online and get a letter in the mail but i was thrilled to get to see Gloria and Tracy one more time before i left. It was NUTS!!! There were SO many kids there. Barclays bank donated soap, pencils, toilet paper, sugar, and pens for each of the kids so we were able to hand that out. It was awesome! First when they came in we fed them tea and bread. Here are Liz, Jillian, Ashley, and me filling tea in mugs.

Next we got going with singing. Craig and Hilary led praise and worship. It was SO awesome! Then we had to introduce ourselves, including our favorite word in Lluganda. Mine was Qua ga la Noy. WHICH means i love you very much. I was going to do Ja kuku ba.. which means i'll beat you ... but someone stole it. hahah

Gloria and her sister Bridget sang for everyone. It was SO cute and i was so proud. She is an awesome little singer... and SO brave to get up in front of everyone. Amy gave both of Gloria's sisters (Bridget and Sherri) a dress and they were SO excited!!!! Seeing the joy on their faces was fantastic!

2 VERY busy days!

One day at the orphanage, they suggested that i meet the attorney that they work with. Felix called a few times to set it up and she was very obviously not interested in meeting with us. She was clear that her schedule was very busy. BUT She would be able to give us a little time on Wednesday morning. So i had to be ready to leave the house by 7:30 to get in the taxi with Felix and where we needed to be at 8 to meet Vicki, the Attorney. I was SO nervous. I didn't know when i packed that i might be meeting an attorney, so i was stressed about my clothes. Thank goodness Hilary (my roommate) had a cute shirt that matched my skirt, and i happened to buy a necklace at the craft market that worked too. Not only was i worried about what i was wearing but the tone in the attorney's voice on the phone did not lead me to believe that she wanted to meet with us AT ALL even though she gave us a time, so i was worried that it wouldn't go well. The whole way there i prayed and prayed that it would go well, that i would ask the right questions, and that basically i could win her over because if i didn't, that would be really bad! When we got out of the taxi we had to walk to find it. We passed a restaurant called Red Apple, which i should have known was a positive sign... for those of you who know thats my FAVORITE restaurant at home.

When we walked in, the secretary asked why we were there and if we had an appointment. It seemed like they thought we didn't. My stomach hurt EVEN worse now because i didn't know what was happening They said we could sit down. I was SO glad that Felix was there because he speaks both languages.

When we walked in, Vicki stood and shook my hand. She was VERY professional, and a little stand offish... I was just doing my best not to throw up! We sat down and started talking. She wanted to know who i was and where i was from, who Felix was and where he comes from.. etc. I started talking about how this was my 2nd year back in Uganda, because i met a baby at Nsambya babies home, and i wanted to adopt her. Felix said her name was Scholastika. Vicki asked if she was by herself in another room, and when we said yes, her entire demenor changed. She sat back and put her hand on her heart. She said that she had been praying for a family for her, and that she knew exactly who she was. THEN i knew it was going to be ok. She shared with me that she was going to be traveling back and forth to the United States and introduced me to some other attorneys in her practice who i may talk with. She said they would do whatever they could to help. She was sure that Nsambya would give me guardianship, and that i could take her back to the US and finalize my adoption there. She told me a little bit about the process and what court would look like. She said that as soon as i have my home study complete, that i should email it and as soon as she receives it, she would put me in the cue for a court date. Her estimate was that i could have a court date as early as december, but most likely by February. When we were leaving she said that she didn't really want to meet with us, but she felt like God told her just give them 5 minutes. THEN she said that i had made her day. I was thinking Lady!! Are you kidding me!~ I made your day... you have NO idea!!! BUT i just said thank you so much for your time! ha. GOD IS GOOD!!!

Today when i got to Nsambya, they asked if i wanted to go with her to Therapy. I was a little hesitant, because my last experience with "therapy" was traumatic, and it wasn't even her. SO i didn't know how i would handle it. BUT i did want to go. SO Lola and i boarded a BODA... and went down the street to the hospital. YES ... i said it... A BODA! I was totally freaking out about how i was going to hold on to the Boda, and Lola. I was thinking SO much more about crashing then i ever do when it is just me riding it. BUT i see little kids on Bodas all the time so i figured. TIA and when in Africa, do as the Africans ... so off we went. When i got there, the Nuns all knew who i was also, which was kinda cool. I was happy that i was able to speak with the woman who does her therapy. She clearly didn't understand when i told her what i do, because she tried to explain Cerebral Palsy to me. BUT i just listened like i had no idea. Therapy at the hospital resembles home therapy to me but something is WAY better then nothing. She hates it, but they don't talk to her while they do it either, so she just cries. It was definitely better "therapy" then the last time that i went at the other babies home, so i will take it!

In the afternoon i went back to Nsambya to hang out with Lola, and Sarah Fisher. She was in Uganda last year, and like myself, came back for another summer. She has been saying ALL along that i should adopt her, and so when she found out that i was coming back and would be here, she said she was coming to hang out at the babies home with me. So she has come a few times to see Lola with me, and also on her own. She has promised that she will check on her while i am gone too.. WHICH is very appreciated by me! We spent some time on her board. She HATES it because she has to hold her head up and the weight bearing in her shoulders hurts, since it isn’t something that is EVER done.. BUT she likes to read Dr. Seuss while she is there, and she tends to forget that she wants to complain if we sing or read a book.

She likes to help turn the pages.

Right now i have to help her.. but pretty soon she will learn to do it by herself.

After she had spent some time on her stomach, we took her and Mick Paul (her roommate) outside to the playground. Sarah LOVES him so we take him when we go! Lola likes to be there. I don’t know if it is that she likes it outside, or if she really likes the swings, but either way she is happy to be there. It was a really great day!

Here is Sarah and Mick Paul

I LOVE her face here! She really liked it ... i promise! Although this face looks like she doesn't!

Blessings in disguise

We have been spending a lot of time in the evening with no power. While it could be VERY easy to find it frustrating we are all learning just how awesome it can be. We have been learning a new meaning to the verse of John 8:12.

I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

We usually spend the evenings on our laptops (like i am doing right now) on facebook. The crazy thing is that we have come across the world to Africa, but find that it is incredibly easy to "go home" with the click of a button. This is certainly a good thing on days when you miss your family. However it is also a really easy way to keep yourself from fully engaging in being here. Sadly it took the power going out for us to realize how much fun we can have together... We usually spend the power outages playing "Mafia."

Mafia is a great game! There are 5 roles you can have, storyteller, mafia, doctor, police officer, and villager. The storyteller is the only participant allowed to talk. They also are the only one who knows which player is which part. They tell everyone to “go to sleep” (close their eyes). They wake each character up one at a time starting with the mafia. If you are the mafia, your job is to 'kill' off the villagers without being discovered. If you are the doctor, your job is to save the person the mafia ‘kills’ by guessing who you want to save. The police officer has to try and guess who the mafia is, then if they are correct, convince all the other villagers to vote that person out of the village. If you are a villager, your job is to figure out who is the mafia, all while trying to stay alive. If you talk too much you quickly become a suspect.. however if you don’t talk enough you’re a suspect too! The game ends when either the Mafia is discovered and voted out.. OR all of the villagers are out. This game is hilarious.. and you find out quickly that your friends.. are NOT … your friends! It gets serious .. ha

We have found that some of the best time we have had at the house happen when there is no power. We have been learning that we can enjoy each other more and have awesome discussions when the power is out. That we do not NEED our laptops and internet because hanging out together is a great time as well. We realized more clearly when the power came back, and we all went back to our own lives on our computers, that possibly we weren’t taking it seriously enough being here with awesome people, and getting to know them. We are learning that the light of life, really has absolutely nothing to do with luxuries you may think you need … like power. It has been awesome!

Back to herself... FINALLY!

Today was a great day! Lola was NOT happy when i got to Nsambya because she had just come back from Therapy. She was crying her eyes out, and clearly not happy. I took her out of her chair and played with her on my lap for a little bit. I got her some water, and changed her diaper. I also changed her clothes, because i had brought a cute outfit for her to wear! She was happier after that. She seems to like it when i dress her... i think she knows when they put her in an outfit that looks like a hot mess. I think this girl can appreciate a cute outfit, that is for sure! This one is from our friends at Red Apple. THEY are the best! :)

She actually did well with the water this time too which was exciting. I got out my ipod because i have the Dr. Seuss ABC book on it, and started to read it with her. I used her finger to turn the pages. She thought it was pretty interesting because she followed along the WHOLE time! It was SO cool! She sat in my lap and looked at it the whole time... I haven't seen her maintain focus for that long since i have been here. Probably because she doesn't have anyone maintain focus on her for as long as i do.. but i think it shows potential. When i got my camera out, she sat forward in her chair and looked to me like she was posing. She LOVES to see herself on my camera.

What i love about sunday...

Weekends.. MIGHT be my favorite. OK that’s a lie.. Going to the projects is obviously great, and it doesn’t get better then being with Lola BUT typically on the weekend is when we go out in Kampala, and have fun. Saturday morning 7 of us girls hopped on Boda’s and hit up the craft market. We were pretty much a parade of Muzungu’s going through town. It was SUPER fun. We are not supposed to be on Bodas because they aren’t exactly safe.. BUT doin’ bad things is Fun! Haha SO off we went.

Here are some of the girls (and Douglas and baby Abigail) who i spent most of my time with. They are awesome and i love them SO much!

Sunday after church we went out to eat at Café’ Java. It is a VERY American restaurant. The food even LOOKS American! It is totally expensive BUT totally worth it! It is the first time that I would even have considered eating meat in Africa… BUT I figure that since I haven’t eaten it yet, why start now.. SO I got this amazing bean and avocado wrap with fries. THEN came the best part.. dessert!! It was CRAZY the ice cream sundaes that we got. Two or three of us had to share them they were that big! It was awesome!

After we were done at Cafe Java, everyone came with to drop me off at Nsambya. Maggie and Mallory were leaving and they hadn't met her yet. It was a bummer because when i got there she was NOT happy. She wasn't feeling very friendly so it wasn't a very AWESOME time to meet her. However everyone thought that she was super cute! When i took her upstairs not only was it time for her to eat but she had a foul diaper too!!! I would have been crabby too! Once i changed her diaper and fed her she was like a new person. STILL not back to herself quite yet.. BUT we're on the mend!

Sports Outreach...

Friday we had a sports outreach. We played Volleyball at Margaret High School. Sports outreaches are a difficult thing for me because I am SUPER competitive … as many of you know.. AND sports in Africa don’t always have the same rules. What I mean is that the rules for the two teams.. aren’t always the same. It makes it harder when the students line the court and make fun of us. SO I get a little frustrated. BUT I am learning to have patience and enjoy the game. One of the MST's, Jillian, played division 1 volleyball at Texas A&M SO it was really fun to play with her. The first game was a train wreck but we got better as we went on. Sadly we lost in 2 games.. to young men in dress pants and shoes (or no shoes) BUT ... We will get better for next week i'm sure. Well I hope... haha