I could have missed her...

and I would have missed

 a divine appointment with Mary. 

Today started out like most, with me really not wanting to get out of the bed.  It makes no sense how I stay up late to think for myself without interruption, like some force outside myself is defying going to bed (the one place I need to be more than anything) and then when I finally get in there, I don't want to get out.  What a stupid cycle that I want to crush in my life.  Aaanyway, I had to get up early to get showered and ready before my oldest gets up for school at 630am.  That is EARLY for this homeschooling "anti-morning" momma.  The shower worked, in spite of the up 4 times til almost 2am with 2 different kids with phantom requests and one bed wetter, I was rejuvenated and ready to tackle the day and actually run some much needed errands. 

2 kids fed, 1 on the bus, and 1 driven to preschool, we (me and the oldest of the 3 at home) looked all over the house for the stupid Redbox case that was needed to take a movie back.  My husband says I'm the biggest sucker and I am. I got the extra movie cause they lured me in with "get another movie for only 50cents".  I go for the deal EVERY.TIME. (gift with purchase anyone?? don't get me started:)  This was seriously killing my errand time before having to pick up daughter from preschool.  I was finally like, forget it.  Got 3 blocks away from the house and hubbie finally answered his cell to say, "yea, someone left it bedside by his alarm clock."  Ayiyi, I later get a complete confession out of one of my peeps to include the complete fabrication they gave me as to where they HAD put the case.  All made up, knowing where the case really was.  Mmm.mmmm. We were reminded about the consequences of lying.

Redbox retrieved from house, neighbors hear the whir of my diesel again and again as I make loops around the 'hood.  Sounds like a school bus taking off...a really cool one, ha!

So, the 3 of us make it in and out of library, got a stack of books on Egypt for big brother's school report. check.  Movies dropped at Redbox. check.  Now to Lowe's to return a wallpaper book my mom picked up for me, and to order an install.  Yea, don't just go ripping down the loose "Funhouse" striped wallpaper in your master bathroom, thinking that making a mess of it will be just the forced motivation to "get the project done." Especially if you don't know that God is about to blow the gates wide open on your adoption journey and you ain't gonna be doing any remodel stuff. tee hee. (Note to self about 1 year ago)

I get the book returned and learned that no they don't have wallpaper contractors nor can they suggest someone locally.  My attitude shifts deep inside, yuckiness. "Kind of hard to sell wallpaper that way," I find myself saying out loud.  Not nice, not her fault, mandi.  I know better...and as I push the cart heavy with 3 younguns going "Mom what are we doing now??" I let go of the frustration.  Unlike other times when it lingers and I let it cause more casualties of joy stealing.  I breathe, I smile...kind of hard not to when you have a Jeff Gordon cart full of giggling kids. The cart is too full and one of the wheels is making a "poot" sound as Freddie says.  It sounds like a circular saw and they giggle..."ewww."

Lowe's is empty on a week morning, so the woman who asked if I was finding everything on the way in, now asks if we are ready to check out.  I share that they didn't have the installer I needed, as I umph the 3 younguns back out of their race car.  A greeter is at the door as we approach the electric doors, I'm reaching for hands before the parking lot, Nuluu is enamored with the auto door..and I hear a voice say, "Bye, have a nice day."

And there is it, a recognition in my mind, in my soul in fact... I hear Africa.  Like a thunderclap that makes you stop and take notice.  In a split second, I'm thinking about the clock, the next stop at Walmart, gotta go...and then there it is.  The compulsion of something much bigger than me, prodding me to open my mouth and ask, "Where is your accent from?"

The corner of her mouth turns up ever so slowly. I see the usual hesitation (can almost see her thinking, "like she's gonna know") and then she says, "Cameroon."  Yes, I heard Africa.  My heart skips a beat... I CAN NOT EXPLAIN THIS....I can only say it is like when you first fall in love.  I am in love with Africa.  Her people, they have my heart.  How does this happen?  I do not know.  It is God. 

Then  we share our details, my children are from Uganda, just on the other side of Democratic Republic of Congo from Cameroon.  Both central African countries.  She sounds like Damali!!! I tell her this, (find myself blurting it out, my heart oozing with love for those that I don't even realize how much I miss them until moments like this) and then I explain who Damali is.  That she is the director of the baby home where my children were cared for and that she is my friend.  I just want to sit and listen to her talk all day.  I learn that she has lived here for 4 years with her husband and 15 yo daughter.  And she wants to have more kids, adopt even.  There is a kindred joy and spirit between us.  We share our Jesus.  Then before I know it she is hugging the kids, I've invited her to dinner Friday night and I say as I write down my digits, "man I could've missed this divine appointment to meet you."  She said, I just came on at 1030.  I look at the clock it's 10:40...and I tell her that we are an hour later than scheduled because of something we misplaced.  She smiles that knowing smile.  Meeting Mary made.my.day. 

As I walk out to the van with my littles, something stirs deep inside of me...the same question looms...Lord what is this love I have for Uganda?  There He goes again placing people in my path.  Brief encounters that stir an unexplainable longing.  What is this relationship you are calling us to?

General Tso's Chicken Strikes BACK

yes, that's what I wrote.  We have a regular routine now, of RUNNING to the Post Office to get African Adoption Dolls in the mail to precious people and little ones that have so awesomely blessed us by giving to our Adoption Fund.  When I say RUNNING, this involves, lots of  "Come on guys!"  "Does your sister have clothes on?"  "Put on socks and shoes!" " Someone carry this pleeeease"  "That's not YOUR shirt, that's your brothers..."  "What did you eat??  It's in your hair!"


Now, I'm a Georgia girl, and a southern girl through and through...my whole life (since I began wearing make up as a teenager) I've never left the house without some on my face.  Try as I may over the years, even with all my moving around, I've never been able to make myself just not care enough (pride) to just go.  Until recently...well, it's really not progress but just pure laziness on my part, ha! (truth hurts).  So today was one of those days.  After getting through several hours of homeschooling and calling USCIS to see if we'd been assigned an officer (the one who will one fine day, stamp our precious I-171H with APPROVED), I scrambled to sew the final touches on two dresses that I wanted to ship today.  As I raced right up to the time to leave in order to make it to the POffice, I knew in the back of my mind I had to change clothes, do something with my rather shiny (I'm being polite) unwashed locks and jump in the van...not to mention Lucy was still in her PJs (from this morning) that she conveniently napped in again. :)  Truth be told, Joel my number one helper, went upstairs to put "something" on Lucy...and to my amazement and delight it was a dress and flipflops and totally worked.  Okay, go-GO-Go, we just might make it!

Now as I dashed out, no makeup...the justifications are always present in the mind..it's like a mental checklist...I'm new to this town, what do I care?  I've never seen anyone I know from church at the PO anyway. We are just going there and straight home, no biggie."


WELL, we didn't make it... after squealing into the parking lot with the Van of Dreams on two wheels I bolt out, packages in hand, threaten my kids not to move, yank the door open to see the lovely ALUMINUM CURTAIN PULLED CLOSED...dunt dunt, DUUUN. Ohhh, maaan, 4:32pm - that last traffic light made the difference.  Oh well, after searching through every receipt and gum wrapper in my purse, in an attempt to give a stamp to the guy in front of me, who was begging the voices behind the curtain to give him ONE STAMP (bummer didn't find one)...I remember there's another place called Goin' Postal.  Yes, you read that right (I know not nice) and it's open til 6pm.  You aren't wearing makeup.  I know, I don't care..it's just the young guys that do the notarizations.


As I drive across the state highway, from behind me I hear those favorite words... "Mooom, Lucy's got to go to the potty!"  Yep, my fault...we always potty after nap and guess who forgot in our rush.  Hold on honey. No potty in here.  Hold it, okaaay?.  She gives very little warning.  We drop off the packages at Goin Postal and now I'm looking for any public restroom.  There's an empty laundromat beside us, door open, no one around, no potty.  Next spot is a chinese buffet, I know the buffet always makes me go ewwww.  Did notice they won a local award for restaurants, so that's good.  Hmmmm, I always feel so bad about walking throught the dining room of a restaurant, when I know I'm not about to sit down and eat dinner (or so I thought).  At this point I'm so frantic not to have Miss Pee Pants on my hands, that I open the door....did I mention that when I got everyone out (my 9,5 & and 3 year olds) to drop off the packages that I noticed that Lucy had blueberry stains all over her face from a homemade popsicle and something crusty in her hair?  I literally clipped the crusty strands out of her eyes and lick/scraped her face, (niiice).  The woman behind the counter asked me how many. I hold up Lucy's hand and tell her I was really just wanting to use the restroom, but I will take a take-out menu.  I'd thought about ordering "something" already.  We pass the buffet and my boys start asking to eat....huh, it's like 4:45pm. 

I mean we are here ahead of the Early Bird Special crowd.. and I HAVE ON NO MAKEUP!!!  We go.  They go.  We get ready to leave and Isaiah asks again in front of the hostess/owner to eat.  I cave.  What?  I know, we never eat out now (adoption budget) and I remember that Daddy isn't going to be home until late with a business dinner.  Alllright, we'll just all split something... WATERS for everyone! :)  I order 2 dishes..and from the moment they serve us Lucy is cranky...oh dear, without hubby backup, if she decides to have a meltdown this is GOING. TO. BE. UGLY.  I decide to let her sit and do whatever...the boys to my surprise and delight ate really well (thank you, less guilt).  Things heard at our table, "Mom, are these people spanish?  Mom, how long did it take to build the Great Wall of China?  Mom where did they get these paintings?  (had to laugh as Joel and I simultaneously answered CHINA ((where is most everything made?))  Isaiah had wanted a spicy dish, thus the name General Tso's Chicken.  One of his new things is demonstrating his manliness by showing how much hot stuff he can eat, like jalapenos.  Meal's almost complete...about to ask for to-go boxes and Isaiah says, "Mom I gotta go to the bathroom".  Right now?   Can you wait until we get home?  He gives me that look.  Okay, okay we are pretty close to the single room restrooms and I'll just take him to the womens.  I look at Joel and say, "Sit. Right. Here. And watch your sister"...all the while giving the look that says I'm very serious.  Joel yells out as we pass by the table, " DON'T WORRY MOM!.. IF ANYONE TRIES TO TAKE LUCY (getting even louder)...I'LL SHOW THEM MY REAL CHINESE MOVES!!!!! WhaaaaaAAAhh!!" (cue Kung Fu music) Isaiah and I about busted a gut laughing trying to get into the bathroom.  I love my life. 


Needless to say General Tso's Chicken put the digestive system on SPEED, ha ha!  After what seemed like an eternity...we returned to the table where the to-go boxes are ready and waiting...think we overstayed our welcome. 

Thank you China Delight, it was actually delish.  Can't wait til me and my three peeps are me and my FIVE.  We need to expand the Johnson family craziness...never a dull moment.

Thanks for sharing this crazy journey called life with us.
Blessings,
Mandi