this morning i drove to dunkin donuts on the wrong side of the road. almost made it there except for a car coming straight towards me as i rounded the corner with a wide right hand turn. the man serving me donuts was from ghana... and i felt connected to a friend and so glad to talk to him about africa. i ate double chocolate and felt satisfied being spontaneous like sam and jeanette.

i'm moving on to talking about entering in the other side now... i guess it is still a south africa blog, but it feels more like a just rebecca blog. read on at your own risk.


my friend tami came up from new york city today to see me. we had a great talk by the river as the sun went down and i was so pleased to note goose bumps on my arms from the cool breeze. thank you god for fresh air and easing my transition with the weather. i feel blessed by time with tami to talk about many things... she is an old old friend, and her perspective on how God continues to change me is so valuable. sometimes you need a long time friend to say... five years ago...

reflections on that time.... i'm getting older and feel it in strange ways. i feel surpirsed by new spiritual muscles that i'm using timidly, as if they cannot hold weight, but even as they shake, they are stronger than i expect them to be, and i am encouraged and a bit scared of a rebecca that emerges under His grace.

my dad and i walked with the dog through puddles and cannons that scare off the crows from the corn. it is beautiful here... green everywhere and misty mornings that make me feel like having more tea. my parents new old house has personality and warmth. i look forward to being here to celebrate life and holidays in many years to come. wonder if i will bring my children here to grandma's house, if they will sleep of the third floor in the small rooms with slanted ceilings that feel fun for children's minds.

my brother is here with his wife mariah and my neice. look forward to seeing them tommorow. abigail looks like me as a baby with zornig ears... it's cool to see them becoming parents. so glad they drove 13 hours to see me.

my africa memories are spread out on the desk in the dining room... pictures arranged in an album with no flowers on it. i feel glad to be able to show people things... proof of the fact that i actually went to this place, had these experiences. if feels very distant already... but i am comforted knowing i have time to remember and to share.


thank you kafi for arranging the welcome for me. i am comforted knowing that i am loved.

questions you would like answered on my blog? email them to me... it's always good to have help to sort out many thought as i return!