To read the new blog:
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It's our new blogspot called Stewarts In Africa.
Enjoy!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Back To Life
We’re home! We got in to Kitale on Wednesday afternoon (early morning for you in the EST).
We have spent the last few days resting (trying to get over the jet lag), unpacking, seeing friends, training our new puppy and loving on our old puppy. Okay, so there hasn’t been that much resting. But we’re back to our life and we are happy.
We left Nairobi at 7:00am on Wednesday to head back to Kitale. Sean and I figured we’ve made it this far; let’s just get up early and go straight home. We had a friend arrange a shuttle for us and we paid for the whole thing – we had quite a bit of luggage and we just really wanted to get on the road. When we were close to home (the last 20 minutes seemed to take FOREVER), we called James and said we would be there shortly.
There was our gate and then there was James, to open it and welcome us home. Here is James’ face when he saw me:
Jack (our 14-month old German Shepherd) was excited to see us. He couldn’t stop running circles around Sean and me, tail wagging like crazy.
We walked in the door and I teared up. We were home. I went to every room of the house (well, skipped to every room) and smiled. I turned to Sean with a big grin on my face and said, “My heart is happy!” Home is definitely where the heart is.
We took James to town and met up with Mark, Derick and Eric and took them for lunch at our favourite restaurant, The Coffee Shop. It was great to see some of our friends in there and get the “Welcome Home” hugs.
After lunch, Sean, James and I headed to town for grocery shopping. We had turned our fridge off while we were in Canada to save on electricity so we had gotten rid of pretty much everything in the house except for a few non-perishables.
That night in our bed was wonderful; I have REALLY missed our bed. It’s seriously the most comfortable bed I have ever slept on.
On Thursday, we picked up our new puppy, Chloe. She’s a twelve-week old Rottweiler and is the cutest thing.
For those of you who don’t know the story, we did have a ten-month Rottweiler named Chloe, before we left for Canada but while we were in Canada, she was poisoned and died. So dear friends of ours here in Kitale, bought us a new puppy (from the same parents as the old Chloe) and were taking care of her until we got back home. We tried to think of another name for this new puppy but because we didn’t have old Chloe for very long – and I have ALWAYS wanted a Rottweiler – we decided to name the new pup Chloe as well. So Sean has spent the past few days training Chloe and getting Jack accustomed to her. She’s just too cute!
On Saturday, we had the Huffmans, the Huckabees (a sweet new couple who just moved to Kenya for a year) and Betsy over for dinner. It was great to have a house full of friends together again. I love cooking for people and setting the table all up and being all hostessy (yes, I know that’s not a word!).
We’re also house-sitting overnight two of Chloe’s siblings while their family is away (yes, that’s three twelve-week old pups – totally fun and cute). They slept well on our front veranda although we did wake up to quite the mess this morning.
Puppies getting ready for a nap in their crate
Sean cleaning up the lovely mess (what a man!).
The yummy puppy food (yes, that's a fish eye).
We finally have the internet up (our phone line was down when we returned) so we’ll be able to communicate with everyone again.
Anyway, that is our update for you. Again, I will try to do regular updates for those inquiring minds out there.
On an emotional side note, thank you Canada for:
1. Letting us see the green grass rather than the white snow (it had been six years of winter in Canada for me).
2. The smell of spring in the air (I love that smell).
3. The leaves on the trees.
4. The flowers beginning to bloom.
5. The beautiful blue jay birds that I got to see.
6. The longer days (daylight until after 8:00pm).
7. Our NAC family rallying around Sean and me and praying for us and loving on us.
8. The ladies’ cell group that I got to be a part of.
9. Our Stewart family for always being there for us and putting up with us.
10. Sean’s dad, who let us drive his Mustang convertible while we were there (sweet ride!).
11. Sean’s mom for her strength and love.
12. Being able to spend Mother’s Day with my mom since it’s been six years since I spent it with her.
13. The great talks that my mom and I had while spending time together.
14. My step-dad, for taking us out on the lake with his beautiful boat and treating us to Mexican Town restaurant (every time we come back to Canada) and cracking jokes with Sean all the time.
15. Time spent with our beautiful nieces and nephews.
16. Hanging out with our siblings.
17. Lunches/Dinners and wonderful/amazing conversations we had with people.
18. ALL OF OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY who always make it hard to leave because they love us as much as we love them.
Kenya is our home but our friends and family in Canada are never left behind. We are so incredibly thankful for your support and love. You mean so much to us. Please don’t ever forget that!
Much love,
Meredith (& Sean)
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Leavin' On A Jet Plane
It’s here; the time has arrived for Sean and me to head back to Kenya. It’s always a bittersweet time. We’re sad to be leaving our friends and family but excited to be heading home to our other friends and family.
This trip to Canada has been different than other years in so many ways. It’s been an emotional trip: sick family members, working on relationships that needed it, reuniting with old friends, opening up about struggles, grieving over losses and goodbyes, preparing for things to come and so on.
There were times of extreme physical, mental, emotional and spiritual exhaustion. There were times when a good solid cry (as my friend says, “the ones where it’s snot and all!”) was all that we could physically do. And all the other times, we just prayed.
I do have to point out that I have one incredible husband. He is the calmest person I know. He’s a man full of emotions (and not afraid to show them) but he’s also a man full of faith that God has it all worked out. I love and admire my husband for that; he’s a wonderful example and I’m honoured to have him as the head of our family.
On Monday, we’re leavin’ on a jet plane (its okay if you start humming the song!). Our trip will take us from Toronto to London, London to Nairobi and then Nairobi to Kitale. Sometimes I wish that I could just close my eyes, tap my heels together, and say “There’s no place like home; there’s no place like home!”....and voila, we’ve arrived. Do you think it will work? It did for Dorothy.
I haven’t been very disciplined with blogging. I hope to change that. There are many things that are going to be happening and we want to share the journey with you.
Thank you for sticking with us; thank you for praying for us. For those of you in Canada, we’ve enjoyed our time with you. And for those of you in Kenya, we can’t wait to see you all. We’re coming home!!!!
Check out our new blog: Stewarts In Africa
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