Fruit Salad

This time of year always gets me thinking about food, of course!  The other day, I was thinking about fruit salad.  I don't know about other people's families, but I remember eating fruit salad on Thanksgiving every year.  When I was a little girl, making fruit salad was always my job.  Don't be too impressed.  Fruit salad is just cut up apples, oranges, and grapes mixed with Cool Whip.  So, there wasn't any cooking involved in making this dish.  It's just easy and good!

Most years, I made fruit salad with my Granny (my Dad's mom).  We would sit at a table and cut up the fruit together.  Some years, my Granny and my Memaw (my Mom's mom) made fruit salad with me.  And, on several occasions, I'm pretty sure I remember my Aunt 'Cil helping too.  She was my great aunt on my mom's side of the family.  Her full name was Lucille.  But, if you know anything about great aunts from Mississippi, you know it's not disrespectful to shorten their names.  That's just what she went by.

So, this year as we celebrate Thanksgiving, I'll be thinking about fruit salad.  For many years after those three wonderful women passed away, I kept making fruit salad.  But, I don't think I will this year.  Because really, it's not the fruit I miss.  It's them.  And, while it is hard not having them here with me and my family around this time of year, I am very thankful for the years I did have to spend with them.  And, I am very thankful for the memories I made with them and the impact they had on my life.  Happy Thanksgiving!!!

It's a butt-kicker!

This typically isn't one of those blogs where you can find yummy recipes, cool crafts, or suggested reading.  But, recently, I read a book called, Kisses from Katie.  And, it was for sure a butt-kicker.  It REALLY made me think about my life and how I've been living it.  If you're not familiar with this book or Katie Davis' story, let me give you a little background information.

The book you should read.  :)

Katie Davis is a twenty-two year old, single, white girl from Nashville, Tennessee.  She lives in Uganda, Africa, where she is in the process of adopting thirteen little girls.  She is also the founder and director of a non-profit organization called, Amazima.  This organization feeds and sends hundreds of children to school, carrying the financial burden for their parents or guardians.  She has also started a beading group for Ugandan women to earn an income through making magazine bead necklaces.  In addition, Katie has helped countless numbers of people by bringing them into her home, providing them with food, giving them medical attention, and offering a bath and clean clothes to wear.  Katie only attended college for one semester.  She doesn't have a degree or any type of educational or medical certification.  Yet, she is making a difference in the lives of so many.

This book just made me think.  Alot.  Why can't I do that?  Why couldn't my life look that?  No, I don't want TO BE Katie.  But, I want to live like she is.  I want to know when I go to bed each night that I did everything I could do to serve the poor, widows, and orphans.  Why don't more people live like this?  Why is her story such a rare thing in our society today?  I think I already know the answers.  But, it doesn't make me feel any better.  Anyway, you should read this book.  You won't regret it.  

Oh, you're home?

Yep, I'm home.  I'm here in Memphis, whether you like it or not.  (I'm just kidding!)  But, that is the reaction I have gotten lately.  And, I guess it's understandable.  But, while I'm on that topic, I just want to clarify a few things.  First, this was the plan all along.  I was supposed to come home for the holidays because the family I have been living with / homeschooling their children is going home to Brazil.  Sorry, if you were confused or really wanted to be rid of me for longer.  :)

Another thing is that some people think I was supposed to be gone to East Asia for a year.  You know like 12 months.  Well, that is not the case.  I committed to a school year, not a calendar year.  And, in addition to that, I am home now.  I may be home for 2 or 3 months.  I don't know at this point.  And, it really isn't up to me.  So, I'm sorry to disappoint you.  You can go ahead and stop counting the months.  I have.  It may not even add up to 9 months by the time it's all said and done.  And, I'm ok with that.  I hope other people can be too.

Allen, Emily, Carrie, me, Brian, Tracy, and Jennifer

Having said all that, I've been home for about two weeks.  And, it has been a little strange.  I was greeted at the Memphis International Airport late Tuesday night on November 1st by my parents and a group of my friends.  And, it was weird.  It was great, and I felt so loved and missed.  But, it was weird.  And, I just want to say a few things about that.  I am blessed beyond what I deserve.  I couldn't do anything I do without the support and encouragement of my friends and family.  I couldn't.  I couldn't be a teacher this year in Memphis without people in my life, who love and support me.  I think most people would say the same thing.  We were never meant to live this life alone.

Dad, me, Mom, and panda

I've learned so much over these few months that it is difficult to explain.  If you've talked to me in the past weeks, you've probably noticed that.  I apologize for not being able to effectively articulate what I've experienced or learned.  I just have so much going on in my mind.  And, no, I'm not saying I'm more intelligent than everyone else.  It's just that I believe something is happening in me, in my life.  I'm not sure what "it" is yet.  I believe this time, this "year" has really just been a test to see what I would do.  It has been a test to see if I would obey what was being asked of me.  And, because of this test and my obedience, I am trusting that I will see something bigger, the next step.