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Our lovely friends Brandon and Abby just departed from the shores of Africa after a two week stay with us. We have never laughed so hard or created so many hilarious-only-to-us “one liners” in our whole lives. One of the lines that kept us laughing was courtesy of Abby. Every once and awhile (ok, daily)…
I can see it faintly in the cracks of my being. An ache to be more like them. It’s a longing for the carefree-fall-into-bed-exhausted-but-happy days of childhood, but it’s also more. My boys teach me by example that it’s better to just DO life instead of planning it to the hilt. Life should be an…
Thanks so much Sonya!
I’ve been reading your blog for a long time now. I even met you both once (in the years before children) one evening at Richard and Tracy’s house.
Your path is an inspiration…
Keep inspiring!
Sonya…x
For the love. For the love of authenticity and discovering FEAR as a friend and digging deep and UNEARTHING our truest selves and seeing GOD in life and understanding our own HEARTS. For the love of grace and goodness and sunsets and the pursuit of the unimaginable. For the love of all these things… LET’S DREAM….
I’ve read this three, four, five times, and I just love it. Thank you for sharing your gift of imagery, but also imagery through the weaving of words.
xo,
m
Making mistakes is inevitable. I’ve made a lot. I’ve second guessed myself, lost faith in projects, and answered everything under the sun with “I don’t know!” due to a paralyzing fear of failure. It can be so discouraging to “pull ourselves up by our bootstraps” when all we smell is the stench of failure and…
Deep breath in and slowly exhale….thank you always for having the most perfect words to calm the soul
I adore you Kate! Thank you 
Thanks for your bravery and for posting this. Keep going!!! Sounds simple, but I’m praying for you!
All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen. Ralph Waldo Emerson I started asking God for moments. I knew it was a selfish thing to do, but I asked anyway. I asked for moments that would mean something to to me. Moments that only God and I…
Oh wow people. THANK YOU. Growing beautiful things right over here!
Sometimes I think I could be your soul mate although we’ve never met. Both trips to Uganda have sent me topsy tervy on violence, injustice, poverty- I feel good there- there is a sense of communal living and joy despite some hard conditions but than I get angry at the abundance and waste and apathy here, it tears at me. I don’t think its really apathy though as I saw the community of Houston wrap there arms around my sister and her family since she was diagnosed and had surgery for breast cancer with complications. It seems just overwhelming sometimes to know how to help or what to do with limited resources. Writing and taking pictures are my outlet to sharing life. Maybe someday I’ll actually meet you either in Burundi or the US. Keep enjoying the adventure and sharing it with us, even the bad days. Sue J
“May the words we speak and write today heal, bring unity, and be inspired by the God who loves us.” Donald Miller
Just wanted you to know that your words do encourage, heal, and bring unity. Truly inspired by God, you are.
What we focus on GROWS. And you, dear friend, are choosing to grow moments of light, beauty, courage, gratitude, grace and transformation. May the *Sea of Goodness* gently soak and restore your body and spirit {moment by moment}. As Laura would say, Roll Tide Roll!
Beautiful. We all need these moments in order to press on. Lately I am relying on a poem Desiderata by Max Ehrman. It centers me and lets me continue on with what life is throwing at me.
by longmilescoffee
Burundi: Oh, We’ve Moved to Burundi - Muse Origins - [...] their personal experiences with living in Burundi, growing coffee, and working with local farmers. This will give you such an interesting insight into the country and the people living in it. Throughout, [...]
Eldon Carlson - Wonderful blog. Really enjoyed it!
Abby - Yep, I said that. And when re-capping our trip with friends yesterday afternoon, that was how I summed it up. “Everyday I would say, ‘you guys actually LIVE here!’” In that amazing, chaotic, beautiful, frustrating place.
But we saw that you’re not just living there anymore. You’re beginning to thrive there. And that is amazing. Thanks for letting us experience that too. We love you crazy Carlsons.
Dawn - Love this post. Thanks for sharing some practical ways that you make sure you’re moving forward that can benefit all of us. I need to tuck these away especially for when I am experiencing culture shock in Thailand and want to run away (not that a city in Thailand is like Burundi, but I realize that being in a drastically different culture will inevitably be a big challenge, especially b/c of the way I am wired). Thx for the continued honesty with which you write.
Katy - Gratitude and Celebration…I needed that beautiful reminder
Thank you!
Megan - I needed to read this. Living in Africa isn’t easy, and progress can feel snails pace sometimes. (Maybe most of the time.) And sometimes the crazy rig-a-ma-roll you endure makes accomplishments feel diminished.
Thanks for reminding me that the small celebrations are worthy of a living room dance party.