Clean feet and a fully charged battery

My time at home was as I imagined...refreshing, relaxing, and just what I needed.

I selfishly ate four meals a day, even when I wasn't hungry.

I spent much needed time with family and friends that helped me pick up the pieces of my brokenness as I prepared myself to love at full speed for the next two months.

I got off the plane in Accra, Ghana with clean feet and a fully charged battery to keep going with the other half of my life.

The transition was smoother than I ever could have imagined. I dropped my bags at the house and headed to the football pitch since my phone had already rang five times since I had gotten off the plane...I was an hour later than I had said...they were letting me know.

I spent Friday afternoon sleeping on the ash foam mattress in the Cantonments Club House. The boys were coming and going throughout the day and I just happily fell in and out of sleep feeling completely at home.

I am a lucky girl. Everywhere I go I get to reunite with people I can't imagine my life without.

My headache came that afternoon and lasted until Monday afternoon but I think that was just a sign to take it easy.

I slept 14 hours on sat. night and after church with Awuni and Ishmael I spent all day Sunday with my host family. Our neighbors were having a naming ceremony/party in the street for their newborn baby girl.

Monday was a holiday so I headed to the orphanage after saying a quick prayer for God to guard my heart...he did. For the first time since coming to Ghana in January I just sat with the kids talking for hours. It was just what I needed. I ignored all calls from Cantonments and gave my full attention to the ones who originally captured my heart.

Monday late afternoon I headed home and sat with Catherine in our room reading our books together. Her mom called us to the kitchen later for some sliced up mangoes and then we finished the night off by cooking together. It felt like summer days I used to have when I was about 10. Perfect.

Everything about the past four days of being back here has been wonderful. I have spent a good amount of time talking to our neighbors and having deep conversations about the difference between joy and happiness: the best example I could make was asking the man I was speaking to if he would feel the same thing when 1)his daughter was born and 2) he was watching Messi play football--sadly he said he would have the same feeling--its ok, he clearly has issues--for those of you who can't figure it out #1 is the joy and #2 is the happiness.

I explained that money may be able to bring you happiness but never joy. Happiness is temporary but joy is sustaining and what allows us to survive.

It is amazing what clean feet and a fully charged battery can do for a girl.

I am joyful.

Me and Okos/Elvis:




Me and Asa: