Today I am thankful for the life of my grandmother, Roberta E. Hill, or GM as I always referred to her in writing.

I am thankful that last summer I was given the opportunity to fly back from Ghana and spend a week with GM as her health changed.

I am ever so grateful that all my children came to know and love their “great grandma”.

She passed away on June 1st, 2018.

We feel the loss.

Today I am grateful that our family could come together and cry, weep, laugh and remember GM…together.

Remember the 65 years of marriage she and my grandfather (or GP) celebrated shortly before his death.

Remember her love of music and travel.

Remember her love and devotion to caring for her family.

Remember some of her quirks that were so uniquely her…and chuckle once more.

It is truly the end of an era for me. An end of escaping to the safety and rest of Arizona and into the care of my grandparents.

And I will miss it deeply.

I cherish the memories.

I am so grateful for them.

Last summer as the kids and I said goodbye, my mom led all of us in reciting Psalm 23. It was beautiful and apt to get to recite it with my kids as part of the memorial.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life and you shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Amen

For anyone interested, I’ll be preaching at UCC in Davis, CA on Sunday (8, 9:30, 11) and then sharing more about our time in Ghana after church (12:30pm). You are all invited!

315 Mace Blvd

Davis, CA 95340

Fun picture…

Today I am grateful to have an adventure with my kids. (Matt’s still working and will join us later.)

I am grateful to be well again and have the energy to take on this crazy idea of mine.

I am grateful for the extended layover that allowed us to spend this day in New York City.

I am grateful I got to take my kids to see the Statue of Liberty,

And Ellis Island,

And the 9/11 memorial.

I am grateful for the courage in myself to take this on. And I am grateful my kids are older and now experienced enough travelers that we could handle this together. (Because honestly three jet-lagged kids, one tired mom, and one sprawling new-to-us city could really spell disaster at almost any other time in my life as a parent.)

I am grateful that through the challenges of our lives, we are growing.

I’m also grateful as we giggle together and marvel at all the small things we are being reunited with – drinking fountains!, trains, Doritos, English Muffins, bagels, graham crackers, fresh strawberries. It is really a delight.

And I’m grateful to have such a hands-on history lesson to add to our homeschool and life-learning. 🙂

This video gives a pretty good glimpse into what I do here in Ghana.

Supporters, you are making this possible!

Outreach and Engagement team, you guys are the best!

Thanks to Selorm Tamakloe for making the video!