What to post?

It has been over 2 months since my last post. Honestly, I have been unsure of what to post. Do I share of our “mundane” day-to-day living here amongst the poorest of the poor? Hmm...I am pretty sure I have shared that already. Do I tell people how we get to live like kings amongst paupers? That’s been done. Do I share about how hard it is to communicate in Fulfulde? Pretty sure everyone has heard me complain of that already too. Do I want to share that our family was completely spoiled with a trip back to Canada over the Christmas holidays? Hmm...don’t want people to think badly of us...well...just don’t want them to judge us! But why not share? Why not share with our family and friends that our home church graciously bought us tickets to go home and spend Christmas with our families for the first time in years? That we got to take family photos (with BOTH sides of the family) and that my sisters and our families were together in the same place for the first time in five years? That I got to meet a new niece for the first time?

I am not entirely sure what has caused me to hesitate sharing these photos. Possibly the guilt of having been home, maybe feeling bad that we did not get to connect with everyone that we had wanted to connect with. In the end, I guess it doesn't really matter why I hesitated. I am posting now.

We were SO very thankful to our home church for bringing us home over the holidays. For letting us borrow/have winter gear to survive the cold. For letting us spend time with our families and not bombarding us with requests and demands of our time (though we loved sharing with our church family all that is happening here as well!)

So I leave you with pictures from 2 months ago. Sorry it took me so long to get over the guilt. Thank you to family that flew in from far away and to family and friends that came from close by; for spending time with us. Thank you to church family that sacrificed to have us come “home” for Christmas. We were truly blessed.

J and N get to play outside in the snow with their cousins. First time in 2.5 years they got to see snow!

Kids at our home church were very excited when I had a chance to share with them about life in Niger

J got to hold her newest cousin

Korean traditions on New Year's Day

Tobogganing with Uncle Randy

N had NO idea who these super heroes were before we got to Edmonton, but he was quickly updated (and brainwashed!) by his younger cousins

so many fun games with cousins!

My parents now have 10 grandchildren!! 

My sisters and I with my parents...wonder what it was like for my parents to raise FIVE GIRLS?!?!