Merry Christmas!🎄

 Merry Christmas from our family to yours! 🎄🎁

Lights Before Christmas 🎄

December Stuff…

Basketball: 

Christmas-y things…

So much beauty!

Jalen shot his first deer! It was small, but the meat is SO good! 

‘Nuggles with Nana:

Family Christmases and overnight guests: 

Our Trip to Ethiopia, Days 9 and 10

 Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1, 2024

Our last day in Ethiopia and a travel day. Some things are just too hard and personal to share online, but let’s just say that spiritual warfare on a mission trip is a real thing and Satan will stop at nothing to discourage people from going back again. That is why prayer warriors at home are SO important. I usually recognize his tactics right away because he’s not very subtle. Something happens every time we go to Ethiopia, and this was my 13th trip. It took me longer to realize it this time, though, and the last day of this trip had me completely undone. So…please pray for long-term and short-term missionaries. They need your prayers. Back to the good things, though… 

My girls, Tarikua, Hiwet, Muna, and Genet came in the morning to spend the day with us. Then we headed back to Korah to do activities with about 100 kids. We brought coloring pages and crayons, balls, jump ropes, bean bags, a parachute, beads to make bracelets, etc. The kids had a blast, and couldn’t get enough of the candy we brought. In the afternoon, we visited some friends’ homes in Korah and enjoyed several coffee ceremonies. Some of the lifestyles and stories are absolutely heart-wrenching, but the people are so loving and giving. Afterward, we went back to the guest house to pack up, shower, change, and say our goodbyes. It’s always a sad time, and some of our friends just sobbed. 😞 We had dinner at Peace Tower on the way to the airport, then went through the normal multiple-security process and checked in for our flight. 

The flight was fairly uneventful. Malia, Lexie, and I were very tired and slap-happy, and kept giggling about the dumbest things. We finally made it back to Chicago, and thankfully made it through customs and baggage claim rather quickly. We caught a shuttle back to the hotel, picked up the van, and headed home. Now to get over the jet-lag!