Natural. Candid. Real. Beautiful. { The Blog. }

{ Exactly }

This says everything....

{ Africa, I miss you... }

I'm still foggy.  I'm still processing.  I'm still unsure of exactly what it is that I'm feeling.  I'm still aching for the people.  I'm still overwhelmed.  I'm still hesitant to even begin this blog post for fear that I'll begin to ramble and never be able to stop pouring my heart out trying to tell you, to plead with you to hear me, to try and understand.  I'm still paralyzed by what I saw and felt - and even more paralyzed to be back here in the US with all of the greed and disdain and chaos and disrespect and unhappiness and excessiveness - and just straight up negativity.  I'm still there - my heart, my mind, my spirit.  I'm still aching to be there now.

I've been back now for a week - and trying to return to some sort of normalcy.  But no matter what I'm doing - it's all still there.  In my head.  In my heart.  I'm so scared of forgetting.  But I wouldn't forget, would I?  How could I?  Seems as if that's impossible.  I want to keep it fresh.  And keep myself open.  What is there to learn?  What is to be gained?  Is there something that I can do for these people?  How can I just go back to my life and pretend that everything is "normal"? 

Some days I feel as if I just can't do this. 

But then....there's a little voice inside my head that says...it's OKAY.  Take your time.  Process.  Grow.  Change. 

So...I will take a deep breath and tell myself....one day at a time.....

Once again - thank you, thank you to those of you who have supported me through all of this.  I hope that you know how much it means to me - your kind words, your thoughts, your prayers - I appreciate each one of you. 

And now.....on to a few photos - more to come after the mad Christmas holiday photo rush! :)

First off - probably my favorite photo of all - just a group of kids on the side of the road that posed for me...

2 sweet girls at one of the schools that I visited...

Same school - 4 wild, crazy, fun boys hamming it up for the camera....

You know I love a jumping shot - and these boys were AAAAALLLLL over it....

The below photo - where's the teacher?  Can you find her?  She's buried under the students...

I was on the gardening team for a bit - planting spinach and cabbage gardens in the poverty-stricken towns.... here's just a glimpse of what it was like....

Below - A sweet little girl who lived in the above photographed community - I taught her how to say the word pretty.  Mmmmmm.  Missing her sweet little face as I sit here and type.  Her name was Anna.

Below is a six month old little boy that I met - my team planted a spinach and cabbage garden for his Mama.  I got to hold him and love on him for quite awhile.  How about those eyes?  Those cheeks....

Another of my favorites - the kitchen crew.  These gracious people started making our lunches at 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. every.  Single.  Day.  Not a grumble.  Not a complaint.  They were just happy to be serving us.  Craaaaaaaazy. 

We had the opportunity to go on an African safari - below is a shot that I took as we were riding along.  So beautiful and peaceful it was.

Zebra dude is like - you're soooo interrupting my lunch....

Mrs. Mama Rhino and her baaaaaaby....awwwww.....

Don't laugh - but I *adore* the below photo - and yes, it's shot from BEHIND the family of rhinos.  But I think it's soooooo great.....

More to come once the madness slows!  XOXO