sun stroke

How often does one get sun stroke while Christmas shopping? :-)
It's a funny thought to me that i did just that, but i feel a bit queezy just now from the 2 hours i spent haggling in the sun at the Masai Market in Nairobi today. I reckon, though, that i got some good deals, especially the last purchase i made for myself from the man who declared himself my friend because i had bought Josh's birthday present from him a month before. The problem with market haggling, especially in Kenya as i've found out, is that you never know if they are really hosing you over with their price. I'm sure i've already mentioned how the market shopping here is way more of a "strain" because a) i can understand what they're saying and b) Kenyans are WAY more agressive than Malagasy. But, the market principles still stand, no matter how bullying the vendeurs: shop around for the best price without being bullied into buying the first product of a kind you see and 2nd, pay only as much as you are initially prepared to pay for a given item. No matter whether i think, after the fact, that the seller has ripped me off, if i've determined how much i'd pay for an item and i get that price, it's fine in the end, isnt it. We're not out to get THE cheapest price, only the price we're willing to pay.

Today has been a lovely day from the start. Most likely our last visit to the Kileleshwa Covenant Community Church (K3C) was an outpouring of blessing, for me at least. We were encouraged to walk out in faith and accept the blessings that the LORD has promised us. The pastor, at the end of the service, asked specifically for those of us battling a specific concern to stand up and receive the blessing prayer he had for us. I was blown away at how God, despite my blinding fears at times, knows me so intimately that He can speak directly to my concern and extend a promise that i can, in faith, reach out and grasp onto. Thank you LORD. It was a timely message for me as i prepare to face some of my biggest fears and battles in the coming months. It is truly amazing how, when we are able to let go of something and allow the LORD to hold it for us, how freeing and rejeuvenating it is.

Indian chicken leftovers, chocolate chip cookies, a Sunday nap, iced coffees at Dorman's while we escaped the sun outside in the market, and now a Sunday evening faspa of popcorn - it is a great day indeed. :-) Tomorrow is the last day of our long weekend and we will enjoy it together with the Plett's 'round the corner from us who have invited us for lunch. Tuesday finds us at the Aga Kahn for a last doctors' visit before the last few days of packing, a few dinners with friends and the MAF monthly BBQ prior to our Monday night departure. I cant tell you how excited i am to be back in Canada: to see my parents' new house!, to see "our" new home-assignment suite, to unpack wedding gifts i've used 3 out of 6 years of marriage, to enjoy fellowship with people who (i hope) know me well enough and for long enough (more than 3 years, like anyone on this side of the world) to understand when i'm being serious and when i'm being facetious. People who are known well enough to me to say things as they are. I'm looking forward to that. I'm looking forward to firesides with s'mores, and to showing Judah so many things for the first time!: camping, snowmen in the winter, a movie theatre, a toy store with a large percentage of good quality toys rather than junk, playgrounds within walking distance of our house, fireworks on Canada Day, biking in a straight line and to a specific destination rather than round in circles within a compound driveway, kid's meals at McDonalds (in strict moderation!), riding on busses, bath water he can drink if he wants! drinking from the garden hose!! drinking from something other than the water filter!! eating food straight out of the garden rather than bleaching it first... Wowzers, the luxuries of north american living! :-)