Mississippi State beat Murray State Saturday 38-6!!! I'm not sure what that's saying about our season but it was fun to be there and see them win a game! Here's my niece and nephews inside the building where we tailgate outside. I'll have to do a better job of taking snaps of us tailgating next time. It's good to be back at ole MSU! 

Still Learning Lessons

We got home on Friday night from Kansas City. It was so crazy how people were freaking out about gasoline saying there was none anywhere. We found that to be untrue. It's definitely limited but cheaper in Mississippi than in any of the other 4 states we drove through. It's now about $2.79 to $3 per gallon and the stations will only allow you to get a certain amount. I think most people are learning something I learned living in Kenya. You just have to condition yourselves to your environment and what is going on there. As I sit here in the comforts of my own home, in my bed with the fan rotating above me, there are people still without power or telephone lines and so won't even get that back for weeks or maybe even months. It's those things...people living in shelters with nowhere else to go...that weigh on me and drive me crazy. I keep thinking I'd rather sleep in a tent outside right now that in this house, but God has blessed us, I guess.
My mom's Emmaus walk weekend is starting on Thursday and I've committed to helping with that. I think after this weekend I'm going to go to Jackson and work with a distribution center there that is shipping out trucks daily to areas in need, shelters, etc.. I'm continuing to be humbled here in the states by the fact that I've been home a month and no lead into a job situation and other things. God is good and always knows how to put us in our place.

So here we all are! We had a great time with the McKelveys. We ended up staying 5 nights with them. We stayed glued to the television most of the first nights when Hurricane Katrina was hitting. It's crazy what has happened with that. So, we were in Kansas when our state was smashed by the storm. Erin's hometown suffered a lot of damage as it's only 45 minutes from the Gulfport/Biloxi area. We've all had to deal with it...from gas shortages to food shortages in the stores and shelters in almost every church in Mississippi, I'd say. It's amazing! 

Meredith and Carmichael are so big and grown up! Meredith is in 2nd grade and her teacher has been to Kenya several times working at Kijabe. It's so awesome how God provides. Carmichael started preschool this week. 

John and Amy and sweet baby girl! John always looks so happy! :) 

I mean...is she a cool baby or what? So in style! 

OK! So, the McKelvey's new little one, Mara Kate, is PRECIOUS! Poor thing was starting to get a tooth in while we were there. She was quite fussy but we still had a good time with her. Here she is in her swimming suit (costume...just for you Tom :) ) 

So Erin and I left Sunday, August 28th for Kansas City to visit the McKelveys who were the directors of Brackenhurst and our 'boss' the first 6 months we were in Kenya. We also got to see Nate and Zach, two of the counselors from Camp Brackenhurst this summer! We had a great time! We went to dessert at The Cheescake Factory in the Plaza area of KC! YUMMY!! We had a good time taking snaps while we waited forever for a table. The fountains there are so pretty. We were standing in front of one here. You can see the water specks! Thanks, guys for a great night on the town! 

Another cute one. We sat him up on the couch and he fell asleep! 

After Greenwood, was Macon...great little place and fun to help Melanie and Matt out a bit with Dean. He's sooo cute and quite pleasant. I really realized what work it is having a baby for sure and he's not even mine. I admire moms completely! He's now 3 months and get bigger by the day! 

I spent the week of August 22nd traveling around and staying with my sisters and their families. I'm so glad I did that! It was great fun to see the kids at school and in their uniforms and put them to bed and all. Landon is so funny. We read a book before he went to bed and after finishing, he asked me so many questions about 'living in Africa', as he says. He's almost 5. I wish they didn't have to grow up! This picture is from the morning after I spent the night there. We went to eat breakfast before they went to school. They live in Greenwood, MS and go to Pillow Academy. Sydney is 8 and in the 3rd grade and Landon is 4 going on 5 like I said and in kindergarten. Aren't they too cute!? Oh this was school day pics day!