following the LEADER

Those of you who have known us since we’ve been married are very familiar with our Alaphetical State Vacation, but I want to explain it for those of you who have only gotten to know us here recently.  During the summer of 2003 (our one year wedding anniversary) Dave and I decided that we needed to take a vacation.  We had very little money, but we really wanted to do something creative and exciting.  I think it was Dave that came up with the idea that we should go camping in Alabama for a week.  The hitch was that we would commit to going to Alaska the following summer and then visit each state in alphabetical order, one a year, for the next 49 years of our marriage.  And so it began.

Family members and friends began to take bets at how many years this would last.  Many didn’t think we would make it to year #2, but we did.  In 2004 Dave and I hitch hiked across Alaska.  (Thanks Dan K for convincing us to do it).  We have successfully visited each state- some for just a few nights- during each successive calendar year.

In 2005, I took a 5 week trip to Niger.  We left for our AZ trip the day after I returned to the US.

We did AK in November of 2006, bringing Sam along.  Originally we had intended our trips to be done alone as a couple- without the kids.  We learned after Sam entered the picture that this is not so easy.  Especially when you’re a mom who is nursing.  In March of 2007, the three of us we made it to CA before moving to Niger in May.

Moving to Africa, we were afraid, would put a wrench in our plan, but when I got pregnant with Nathaniel and we decided to come home for the delivery, we saw our opportunity to take our 2008 trip to CO.  We did that with Sam and a 6 week old Nathaniel just before getting back on a plane for the Sahel.

CT was achieved by the skin or our teeth in December 2009.  And we were very thankful to be able to leave the boys with Grammy and Papa who live about an hour away in MA.

So, 2010 is the Delaware year.  And we decided that it should be done before the new baby arrived.  Because DE is such a small state, two nights would suffice.  We also chose to bring the kids and make it a kind of “family babymoon”, or last hurrah before our family of 4 becomes a family of 5.

Good choice.

We had such a blast with the boys in DE.

We left the house on Saturday and headed to Wilmington to the Brandywine Zoo.  I have to say that Dave and I thought the zoo was disappointingly small.  Sam and Nata, however, were fascinated.  The coolest thing was the Siberian Tiger.

After that, the sun was setting and we were all getting hungry, so we decided to take the boys to Chuck E Cheese.  This was a first and they both LOVED it.  Sam has not stopped asking to go back.

Then we found a hotel with a pool, took the boys swimming, and crashed.

The next morning we searched out Old Swedes Church aka Holy Trinity Church in downtown Wilmington.  When we got there, Nathaniel was asleep and the church was closed so we didn’t get to go in.  But it was very beautiful and old and cool from the outside. 

Next we headed on to the Air Mobility Command Museum at the Dover AFB.  I would say this was probably the big hit for the boys.  We saw some awesome old planes (that’s the Mama description for you).

After that we headed to the coast with a stop at Cape Henlopen State Park.  The Nature Center there was small, but the boys really enjoyed it.  The views from the Cape, although a bit cold, were amazing.

Thursday night we found another hotel with a pool at Rehoboth Beach. Friday was an awesome day of driving down the DelMarVa Peninsula and stopping in Cape Charles, VA to meet up with our friend, Juda Mason, meet her mother, and see her childhood home.  Dave and the boys were also very awe struck with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel which they had not ever seen.  It was an awesome trip, and we are thankful that we were able to do it.

We feel quite a large sense of accomplishment at having finished our eighth state.  Two other families that we are friends with have joined our State Vacation adventure.  Dan and Kelly are going backwards in Alphabetical order and plan to meet us in Nebraska.  Jay and Amy draw their states from a hat each year.  We love it that our vacation idea has become an addiction/ obsession for these families.  If you would like to join the adventure, we would love to talk to you about what has and hasn’t worked for us.

For more pics of our vacation click here.

sorry that I haven’t been posting.  Trying to process this month has left me feeling a little numb.  We have, however, had some very good times.  I thought less words and more pictures might help to catch you up.  I expect to be a little more contemplative now that the holidays are over and the baby waiting is really on.  We’re almost to the one-month-to-go stage.  I can’t believe it!

I can’t, in good conscience, give you the December highlights without mentioning that Dave and I stepped onto this shrine-to-all-that-is-great-about-baseball for the first time ever earlier this month.

The boys with Dad in their new car bed reading Burt Dow, Deep Water Man- a gift from Aunt Bob and co.

Sam named this guy Frosty.  And you would too if you were learning how to be an American.

our driveway, December 23.

Twas the night before Christmas.

I love this picture not only because it captures Nata in his Nata-ness, but also because the photo was taken by Sam.

Finally, I want to end with a very large and heart felt thank you.  In some of these shots, you have gotten a glimpse or two of the house we’re staying in.  This house has really become a refuge for us.  So many of our friends in the Richmond/Mechanicsville area have given so generously of their time and money to provide us with this little nest, and we are so full of gratitude to each and every one of you.  We really love being here and appreciate all that went into preparing a home for us in Hanover.  We have been so safe and warm and loved these last few weeks.  Thank you.  And please, ya’ll, stop by.  We love being walking distance to the front door of MCC.

Happy New Year!  We look forward to seeing all that God has in store.

Kate, our sweet tornado.

I don’t think that it’s really possible to explain the re-entry process unless you’ve been there and done it.  Coming back to America after being gone for so long, is quite a tornado of emotion.  We’ve been calling my sweet niece Kate “Sweet Tornado”.  I think coming back to America is its own kind of sweet tornado.  Dave said something like this to me today while trying to explain his emotional state.  He said something like…. I don’t know how to put it in to words, but I know you understand.

Dave and I have just come back from two nights away together in Connecticut.  Such a good time.  The first nights I’ve spent without any children since Sam was born in May 06.  We were able to take some time to reflect on where we are in our marriage, our ministry, our family.  And where we’re going.  We were able to ask ourselves some tough questions.  Two nights ago we sat together eating seafood by the sea in a candle lit room.  “What would Dankarami say about this?”  one of us asked.  All this luxury.  “I don’t want to think about it,” I answered.  It’s embarrassing.

And we’re faced with it again.  So much blessing.

Each time we come back to our homeland it strikes us in a fresh way.

Sunday at church I was unprepared for the emotion that overflowed down my cheeks.  Realizing, as the moment hit me, that I hadn’t felt so much freedom in worship- the freedom that comes with speaking your own language- in about a year and a half.  Overwhelmed with gratitude to be THERE in that moment standing with Dave and his parents and my brother and sister in law.  Enjoying the message given in English.  Not having to concentrate on translation.  The ability to relax and receive what God had for me that day.  A church service that included nursery for my kids.  And the Ghanaian woman sitting next to me in her pania dress.  Making me wish I had worn mine too.  I love Worchester First Assembly and their congregation full of Africans.

I am trying not to concentrate on the things I want to buy.  The pressure to look good that comes with being here.  Blow drying my hair.  Should I wear makeup?  Wanting new ear rings and a new pair of shoes.  How much time I spend in this place with thoughts revolving around my own vanity.  Where does that come from?  The other day Sam said to me, “In Africa you always wear a skirt, but in America you always wear pants.”  He’s learning about the dual roles we play.

And in all of this, there is an excitement in my boys.  The buses, and airplanes, and helicopters that they can spot at any moment.  Nathaniel is saying “AIRPLANE!” now as he spots them in the sky.  This afternoon as we headed back to Grammy and Papas Sam asked if he could go to Amber and Ashley’s house.  I knew what he meant.  He misses home.  Niger.

our funny American cousins

This transition is hard for each of us in different ways.  We love the adventure, the fun, the time with family.  But the longer we are gone from home the more we wonder where our home is.  And I’m reminded…. We are strangers, we are aliens, we are not of this world.

Tomorrow we will bury my father in law’s best friend, Bill.  He’s truly home.  I’m glad for the reminder.

our Johansson family

WOW!  We have been having some fun.  Here is the story of Sam’s ideal day, the day we had yesterday…..

Go to the hot dog restaurant “aka Le Gourmet” with everyone we love and work with in Niger and stay until 10pm.  Go back to the Teagues and put on your pjs.  Go to the airport and (finally) get your turn to actually go in and get on an airplane. Watch the stairs roll up to the airplane you’re going to ride on. Ride a bus to the airplane.  When Sam saw the airplane he started jumping up and down and screaming, “Look, Hopie, look!”

Get on the airplane and take off (3:30am and the kid was not grumpy, he was SO excited).

Sleep all the way to Casablanca.  Get off the airplane and then go on the first escalator you ever remember seeing.  Fall down and get rescued by Dad. Ride on a cool bus across the airport parking lot full of planes and buses.  Get on ANOTHER PLANE!!  Sit with Mommy and Daddy and Nata and watch movies on the ipod (which he can operate himself).  And eat cool airplane food including my very own yogurt and orange juice and hot tea (all treats).

Get off the airplane and get our luggage (except the stroller- not such a happy story) and ride in the car with Helen to her house.  And talk about all the fun things we’re going to do and see.  And talk about how much France strangley reminds of America because it’s modern and green.  And did I mention it was in the low 60s?  This made mommy a little giddy.

Go to MacDonalds on the way home and play and eat yummy food.

Go to Helen’s house and see the awesome child-proof house next door that we get to stay in.  (THANK YOU PERENTIS!!)

Go to the train station and see a really fast train leave for Paris.  Go to the beach and see Spain from the sand of France.  So beautiful, although the boys we’re a little terrified of the huge waves.

Go home and eat a yummy dinner Helen made.  Collapse in our comfy bed.

A very good day.   Thanks for your prayers for safe travel.  Sam did amazing.  And Nata, well, he made it.  *wink, wink, grin, grin*

These are pictures from the walk we took this morning to the awesome park by Helen’s house.  Biarritz is like paradise.  We are LOVING the fact that we are here.

We’re preparing for a 40+ degree change in temps around here.

Some how in between the suitcase packing, cleaning, and organizing, I’ve found some time for lots of crocheting and other crafting.  It’s helping me keep some calm in my days.

While the boys begin to discover fun things about Western culture.  Nathaniel doesn’t remember the stroller, but both boys are totally excited about the possibilities it holds.

And we’re enjoying our last few moments of 100 degree temps, and all the toys and fun at home that we love and will miss.

Mommy made blue and white hats for the boys and a very loud multi-colored one for herself.  And I’m working on a matching multi-colored scarf.  I’m sure they will all be prominently featured in our upcoming posts about our time in France.  In 48 hours we will be en route! (but who’s counting?)