On the second day of Christmas...

This Christmas

This is a different kind of Christmas season for us. It is my first married Christmas that I’m not with Orcxance.

We have two children and he’s only met one of them. He’s missed her first smiles.

I should be down in Africa, but I’m not. We had planned to be “home for Christmas” and all together, but it hasn’t worked out that way. Due to delays with Eileen’s things, our dates keep getting pushed back.

The TN vital records office was the least of our concerns. After getting those mistakes resolved, we had the NC SSA to deal with. A near disaster which added more delays. After that, the difficulties with the passport. Hers and mine. Trying to get another driver’s license to replace my stolen one has taken almost 6 months. My passport had to be renewed. We still have to apply for visas and purchase tickets, which we cannot do yet.

We aren’t able to give each other gifts. Gift giving is so important to me, which only makes this time feel even more strange. And a little sad.

Every day is precious. We waited so long to be married and now we haven’t even reached our 3rd anniversary and we’ve spent almost half our time apart. I can’t help feeling like our time is short and I cannot take one day with Orcxance for granted. But here I am missing every moment with him. I can feel anxious, or like I’m missing out on the best, or that it was all a mistake to come to the US without him.

But I pray and I combat these feelings with thanksgiving. I am thankful we were finally able to get married. Some people don’t get the chance to marry the man of their dreams. I am thankful for our beautiful children that are a daily reminder to me of my adoring husband. This Christmas will pass and we will celebrate anyway; and thank God for sending Jesus. And as we wait for the final resurrection we will keep hoping that we will be together soon.

Pray with us. Pray for us. Rejoice that you are with your beloved and most of all rejoice that the Lord is King.

African village Gingerbread house

We made gingerbread houses... an African village/our house. Orcxance with an antelope he recently shot, Kate and Eileen watching from the door of the house, and Molly herding the chickens while elephants peruse the garden in the background.

Baking for Birthdays

Orcxance is becoming known for his baking skills and is the most popular man around town with the kids. He has made birthday cakes for several parties and was commissioned yesterday to bake some for a party.

Baking in Congo is a complicated and time consuming labor of love! He was up so late doing this that we were actually baking at the exact same time; despite the time difference. We didn't even plan it. I was doing gingerbread and he was doing cakes!

Eileen Shiphrah 2 months old

Christmas Lights