Reflections

Sitting in my favorite coffee shop.

Reflecting on the past three weeks. and what a time it's been

This is the longest I've ever been away from the States. 

Heck.. longest i've been out of the country.

and you know what, I LOVE IT! 

I love every new experience and new adventure I get to have. 

Waking up every morning to the sound of a rooster crowing (okay, maybe not every morning.. sometimes I wish he had been dinner the following night... but anyway, I digress) 

Walking outside and greeting a new morning and new day. 

Most of my mornings here have been dreary and rainy.. but you don't see me complaining. 

Listening to the rain falling , with a cup of coffee, over a good book or catching up with those back in the states... These mornings can't be beat.

and yet, sometimes I forget I'm even in Africa. 

It isn't until I open the gate and head out into the village that this reality actually hits me.

I walk down the dirt road, greet those who I pass, wave to children as they call out "Muzungu" and make my way onto the main road to catch a boda.

Bodas are something else and if you've never experienced riding on the back of one of these, you haven't lived. 

Zooming in and out of traffic. Dodging cars, other bodas, people walking in the road, and the occasional goat or cow.

All while holding on for dear life and praying you don't flip off the back. (bet you totally wanna ride one now huh?)

As terrifying as they sound, bodas have become one of my favorite parts of my day. 

Sitting on the back, watching the Ugandan countryside passing by. I've found myself breaking down on the back of one.. in awe of where I am.  I'm humbled... truly humbled that I get to be even a small part of such a big story.

I've never been a girl who has been scared of much...

I always put on the brave face and keep moving. But, coming here. Moving my life across the world. Leaving everything I know, everyone I love... This scared the crap outta me. And I was afraid about what that would mean when I got here. 

But this place is teaching me. Teaching me that it's okay to be afraid. It's okay to not know what the heck you are doing. and in times when you don't know what you are doing, sometimes you just gotta wing it and pray it works.  It's okay to let others in and to let others help you. Cause you can't do everything alone girlfriend.... 

So to all of you. Those of you who feel like pursuing that dream. No matter what it is. No matter how big or how small. 

Do.not.stop. 

Do not stop pursuing that dream.

Chase after it with all of your might. 

If that means, moving across the world, DO IT! Don't let your fear stop you. 

I'm so glad I didn't. Cause I had no idea what was in store for me on the other side of that fear. 

And I'm so glad I decided to take that leap...

I wouldn't trade it for the world. 

Heart on overflow

Uganda.

I've walked your red dirt roads for a week. 

1 week. 

A week that has felt like a lifetime....

I feel something deep inside myself for you. I can't quite put my finger on it 

Your beauty

Your people

Your rich culture

mornings filled with coffee, raindrops falling from the heavens, and deep smiles greet me when I wake.

Goodnight from the Pearl of Africa...

My home.

My heart is full tonight. 

Overflowing..

My life in Instagrams

Welcome Home

Welcome Home :)

A little look at my new home while I'm living in Kampala. 

Living outside the city, in the cutest village

One word- Peaceful 

Simply Beautiful

There's something simply beautiful about this image. 

Something that captures my heart all over again when I look at it. 

Maybe it's the tiny hands that burrowed their way into my heart. 

or the bright smiles that captured my attention the minute I walked into a village 

This is a day I will not soon forget. 

I think this was the very moment I fell in love with the continent of Africa

I fell in love with the simplicity

The people 

and the red dirt that covered me from head to toe

To the place my heart loves..

I will see you soon.

Love BIG.

   To a place that burrowed its way deep into my heart

   I fell in love with the rain drops falling in the morning

   I fell in love with little hands and little faces bright with smiles

   I fell in love with red soil covered feet and running barefoot through the village streets

As i write this and look back, I can't wait for the day I set foot back onto that beautiful soil of yours.

No matter where I travel in this big ole world.. Africa will always hold something extra special.

Something you can't quite explain.

Something undeniably beautiful

Something almost magical.. 

   People go to change this place and make a difference.. but do I dare say it's quite the opposite.

   It changes you. Down to your very core. In the very best way possible. 

   So..... to the place I love

All I have to say is, Thank you. 

Thank you to those incredibly precious young ins who showed me what true love really means

Who taught me that possessions and money matter CRAP when you have each other.. and a newspaper soccer ball really is the best toy.

   I miss the sounds of little giggles coming from the village houses as I walked by

   Little hands pulling on my skirt saying "Azungu, azungu"....  and only moments later.. "auntie play      with us." 

I'm counting down the days til we meet again. 

and I pray that every soul on Earth finds their way onto your soil to experience what I've fallen in love with.

   These moments here. Sorted through thousands of photos to just choose my favorites. these   moments. frozen in time forever can't even begin to show what happened during those 2 weeks in  October. But, they begin to unravel a beautiful story. The beginning of so many stories. Their stories... 

   So... to my beautiful Africa. 

You touched my soul. Little hands buried their way into my heart forever.

Thank you for showing me how to live simply....but love BIG!

I am forever grateful...