Another week has gone by, my African adventures seem to be coming to a close faster and faster. I'm excited to come home and see everyone again but I'm so sad to leave this lifestyle and my friends behind. I've decided to reclaim why I originally came here and take some time exploring and having adventures for myself that doesn't involve kids. Call me selfish but being a mom made me go crazy. I've decided to travel up to Northern Ethiopia since I haven't had a chance to do so yet. Alyssa and my mom told me there was no way I could travel alone so I've been trying to track down someone trustworthy to travel with and who could be gone for an extended period of time. I was getting desperate and considering just asking some street bum with dreads to please accompany me but instead decided to ask one of my friends who was working on the farm if he wanted to go on a road trip. I had little hope he would be able to get off work not to mention make it up to Addis from the farm. Surprisingly, he told me he quit the job and would be in Addis in a few days. Maybe I shouldn't be happy he quit but I almost think of it as a tender mercy for me. Me and Nati will be leaving on a ROADTRIP across Ethiopia tomorrow. The plan is to visit Lalibella and Axum. Lalibella is known for it's old beautiful rock churches and Axum is said to have the Ark of the covenant. We are going to be completely spontaneous and live life as it comes. We'll be traveling by bus and sleeping is places there is no question i'll get eaten alive by bed bugs and most likely get lice too. Yay for adventures :). Peace out for awhile everyone.
Just to make this post a little more interesting, I added a picture. Last night I passed out glow sticks to kids on the streets. It was amazing to see them so happy, I love them.Since Thanksgiving is coming this week and I won't be celebrating it this year I thought It might be appropriate to make a thankful list instead...
I'm thankful for...
1. The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. Family.
3. Friends.
4. Music sung in English.
5. Hot showers.
6. Milk and all dairy products.
7. My car for giving me the freedom of transportation.
8. The convenience of Walmart.
9. Nati for quiting his job.
10. My own bedroom.
11. Receiving emails.
12. Dish washer.
13. Not to be a mom.
14. To be in Ethiopia.
15. For adorable little kids that sell me soft.
16. Skype.
17. The boys that play soccer in the street.
18. The homeless who greet me by name.
19. My pillow.
20. My dog Tramp.
21. Fast internet.
22. Soccer team.
23. My mother's cooking.
24. Running.
25. Sleeping in silence.
26. Clothes.
27. Sidewalks.
28. Efficiency.
29. Paved roads.
30. Road trips.
31. America.
32. Clean hospitals.
33. Fast food.
34. Powder sugar.
35. Adventures.
36. Open markets.
37. Duece Bar for making American Burgers.
38. For the old guard who directs traffic and is always smiling.
39. For the women who made my dread locks for me.
40. For our gatekeeper, Happy, for opening the gate for me everyday with a smile.
41. Glow sticks.
42. Holly and Les Whitt for truly being Christians and helping in every way possible.
43. Marti and Mitch for feeding us American Sunday dinners and allowing me to have adult conversations.
44. Shelly Baum for spending two weeks in Addis.
45. The Ethiopian man who gave me a much needed massage.
46. Etetu for making amazing meals, bread, cakes, and cookies.
47. Tigist and Thige for helping us keep our house liveable.
48. The hundred of men who have given me their phone number.
49. My laptop.
50. My orange backpack that holds everything.
51. My Cannon T2i that helps me capture what I see.
52. Getting Pedicures for three dollars.
53. The sunshine.
54. Electricity.
55. Eyesight.
56. Miracles.
57. Flowers that make the world more beautiful.
58. To have a house to live in.
59. The kids being in school.
60. Airplanes so I can travel.
61. Deodorant, though I wished more people wore it here.
62. The few words and numbers I know in Ahmaric.
63. Marbles, because they keep the boys busy for hours.
64. My parents. I know I already said family but I definitely have a new appreciation and gratitude for my Mom and Dad.
65. Colorful fruit stands.
66. Alyssa for coming back to Ethiopia.
67. Mulu, Teddy, and Dareeba for being good drivers.
68. The boys that ALWAYS want to sell me phone cards and mastika which as a result they have become my friends.
69. Flipflops.
70. Clean running water.
71. To be healthy.
72. Bed sheets without bedbugs.
73. Books to read.
74. Blogs so I can feel cool that people might be interested enough in my life to read it.
75. Harry Potter.
76. The power of prayer.
77. Avocado juice.
78. Ice cubes in drinks.
79. Spontaneous people.
80. Larry Prescott for being a crazy photography teacher, thank-you.
81. Camping.
82. Chacos.
83. Sisters.
84. Colorful painted walls.
85. Facebook for letting me stock people on the other side of the world.
86. Levi and Jessie who have devoted their time to orphans.
87. Swiss Cafe banana bread.
88. Sports bras.
89. Stars.
90. The fact that I'm almost got one hundred so I be done with this list.
91. Spell check.
92. My toothbrush and toothpaste.
93. The beautiful moon.
94. Grandparents.
95. Dan Dummar for teaching me about soccer and life.
96. Fresh air.
97. Memories.
98. My hands.
99. To be adventurous like my amazing Mother.
100. I'm thankful to be alive.
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