Balance

 April has been one of those turning points. I have figured out a few things to make my life balanced. 

One I gave the Bishop the money I would spend on needs in the ward and he talks things over with Comfort and they decided who has the highest priority and the timing. The Bishop asked if I wanted an accounting of where the money goes. Nope. I told him he is the judge in Israel.

 I do not need to do anything else in the way of needs in the ward -- of course if I want to......but I'm trying to stay on budget. So this works out so much better than finding out every little thing that people in the ward need and finding the funds going in a big melting pot. I would find myself gritting my teeth. To me there is the Lord's funds and doing-nice-things funds. Nice things have a big sliding scale. The Lord's funds are designated for specific people or reasons. 

Two, I leave on the sideboards things that are okay for people to take. I have some supplies in the pantry, but storage is in one of the bedroom closets and out of sight. So now I am not feeling like a bystander while people just walk off with stuff due to our cultural differences. I can have my food storage and they can take from the big pot or the abundance. 

Of course that has its problems too. I had made a batch of muffins for Bobby who was cleaning and the members who were cleaning the chapel in preparation for Stake Conference. Three ladies came over to work and bring things. All three wanted a muffin but they were Bobby's. They took them --- so  I had to go find some frozen muffins (that were a little too done so I wasn't going to serve them except in emergency) and this became the time to use them. Okay, sometimes my balance tips a little.

Three, I said no. My kids would all have been surprised, before they told me way to go. I stood up to a young man who just sees me as a mark. I told him no to his latest get-rich quick plan. I also told him I would archive all his texts. 

Fourth, Jeffrey and I are really enjoying the half hour every night swimming around the pool just at sunset. The air is perfect, the setting is beautiful, we share and enjoy life.     

Light and dark just before a storm

You. are allowed to mourn

 My sister in law Diann died on my Friday morning. I'm not sure what day it was in Utah.  I've been a little off my usual stride as I cry every once in a while and feel normal the next. But I've forgotten a few things - like bringing enough money for groceries. Luckily Eugene helped me out and I repaid him later.

In Africa there is a protocol for mourning and you are allowed to mourn. So on Friday I wore black and red and today I'm wearing black. I won't have to tell any of my friends that I am sad or that my relative has passed away because they will know. 

My sorrow is more for my brother because I know how sad and lonely he is and will be. I will miss Diann and I know David will miss her acutely. 

The last time I talked to her was on the cruise with my siblings around the British Isles. I am so very glad that David and Diann took especial care, time, and money to be with us. Diann told us stories about her knowledge of the miracles that God is sending to people. It is so very wonderful that we had that time together. Thanks go to God, Susie, and Laura. I am happy I got to see Diann when she was happy and joyful. I will miss her.

Quiet... and then a crush

 I had a quiet morning as the storm rolled across the sky. There were not many people out and about. I know markets close when the rain comes down. But.....

When the sun comes out, everyone is on the move. Juliet called to come over and would be a little bit as she was at home. Fifteen minutes later, the eggs had arrived at the area office. When I went out the gate, Juliet had just arrived. I told her I was going to get eggs and did she want to come with me? Just then someone said hello, and I realized the taxi that had just driven up had Comfort and Bertha who were coming to drop off Waakye and Jollof rice to my home. So I handed the key to the house to Bertha and said hello to Comfort as they went through the gate and Juliet and I went to the Area office.

Coming back with the eggs, Comfort and Bertha were talking to a service person who had come to fix the TV - I had no idea anything was out of order. Our whole complex is filled with men working on all types of things before the presidency comes back from conference - tomorrow.  Juliet went to run her errands.  I was home for a bit when Martin called to remind me it was his birthday today. I had told him two days ago that I would make him a cake.

"Chocolate, yellow, or spice cake?" I asked. Martin said chocolate.  I dumped the yellow cake mix in the bowl and added coco powder and a little extra oil to the ingredients. Bertha and Comfort were putting meals in the freezer and noticed the air-conditioner was leaking. This is the conditioner that had been serviced two days before. So I called Lawrence and told him about it. 

Comfort and Bertha helped me peel the paper and foil off of the chocolate kisses, while the cake was baking, because I need them to make frosting. I only had a little over half a cup of icing sugar and needed  a way to stretch it out for frosting. I added oil because the chocolate was dried out having melted and hardened again. Tasted a little powdery. They didn't melt very well even with the oil but enough to beat it up. I added butter, vanilla, and the powdered sugar and it made an acceptable frosting - though not great. Looking at the oven, I realized someone had turned up the heat to 300 - way too high! 350 Fahrenheit is around 175. Someone had been too helpful. I do remember muttering that I needed a 350 oven when reading the box.  I turned it way down and let it finish cooking. The top was burnt and the rising was just a little off. 

The air-conditioner maintenance men were on ladders in the kitchen fixing the unit, so I just went around them to pull the cake out of the oven and put the frosting in a clean yogurt container. I am never sure if people in Ghana want frosting or not. Some people like sweetness and some do not. So I was giving Martin a choice.

He and his friend came when I told them the cake was ready. I apologized for the burnt top and told them they could frost the cake or not.  I also gave them muffins, apples, and water. Later, I got a very nice text back with his thanks.

Then Comfort and I waited for about half an hour for Baaba to arrive. Bertha went to see a missionary at the MTC. With Baaba we had a planning Relief Society session. I sent everyone home with plenty of food. Jeffrey came home about 10 minutes after the last guest left. Good timing on his part.

It was so relaxing to go to the pool with Jeffrey just after the sun had gone down. Little bit of chatting, and sharing - just nice.

Good day. 

Juliet, Comfort, and Bertha.   Comfort brought meals and bananas 

Dishing up

Washing up

Fixing up

Martin with the birthday on the left and his friend

I had added eggs to Baaba's container and she gave eggs to Comfort. We put rice around Comfort's eggs so they wouldn't break on the way home.

Prepare

 This morning while exercising in the pool (by myself), I pondered on some of the things I heard and learned about at conference.

The sky reflected a little of what I was thinking. Grey clouds rolling in from the East and bright blue with fluffy white clouds in the west. I was in the middle with a few shafts of light coming down. Conference was like that. Enlightenment right now. Prepare for the future right now, we have a window of light - knowledge, covenants, service, whatever will fill our lamps of spirituality. A time to prepare, the future is rolling in. Days past will be a memory. 

After taking a shower, I looked out the window to see birds flying up on a ledge of the roof to get out of the wind. The storm had arrived. In my nice safe home, I watched the lightening, heard the thunder, and saw the rain come down. 

The birds prepared, stayed out of the wind. I couldn't help think of my friends with corrugated tin roofs and hoped that all come through safely. I am very blessed to be where I am. I'm hoping I will be prepared for the future.

The start of something new

 On Saturday, Jeffrey and I got talking and sharing and we decided to make just a few changes. I expressed an interest in going to the pool with him at night after he gets home from work. We went just after the sun went down but before it was full dark. Oh my! The pool was warm after the heat of the day. Much nicer than after the chill of the night. Of course it is never cold, just cool.

It was really nice to be with someone. I did my exercises and he swam up and down going with and against the current. You ask about a current in a swimming pool? Yup, the water coming out of the pipe is fast and furious and pushes about half way down the pool. The intake from the pool must be just as fast as the other half of the pool pulls you to the bottom end. So when Jeffrey would ride both around the pool he would go pretty fast. 

We watched the moon and the bats, chatted about various things and decided to do this most days. We have gone every night except Sunday. Last night the Wilson's joined us. She put her feet in the water and the other three of us did our things while chatting and enjoying the ambience. Life is good.

Inertia - Open the can of paint

This afternoon I was dithering on how my baby blanket was going to be sewn. All the fabrics are fine, but nothing jumps out and says, "this is great". I decided to go with the tried and true and I'm doing a nine-square that will be cut in half and turned. 

I had my squares on the table and then.....I went and did three or four other things.....then decided maybe I'd make banana bread (muffins). After getting out the bowls. spoons, and measuring cups, Sister Penner called and said she wanted to come over to return some things. Ok, though I couldn't think of what.

She brought thread, safety pins, and a bag I'd let her borrow when she was trying to finish a quilt. She ordered some elephant key chains from Wisdom, then walked over to the table where my squares were laid out. 

Sister Penner told me all about Jenny Doan's quilting class and showed me pictures of the quilts and also some of the wall pieces she is working on that will go to Antoinette's beauty salon, and to Marion in the Area office. It was so fun to see and share ideas with Sister Penner. 

She thought my fabric and idea was great and said she likes the delicate colors together. What a great shot in the arm. After clicking her out of the gate, I sewed up all the squares on the table and have set out some more.

She got me out of the inertia. Reminds me of the time I had the paint cans in the room, everything prepped to go....and waited...... then Debbie Penovich came over and said, "I see that you are painting, let me help." She opened the can and started painting....that was all I needed to move forward. The room was finished that night. My quilt won't be finished but it is started and going! Sometimes I just need friends.

One block with a triangle on the edge can be put in various patterns

In the Beehive

 I started the day out with a crick in my neck and not wanting to go. Jeffrey jumped up and went walking first thing. I got his lunch ready to go, scooped him out some granola and decided to skip the pool exercise this morning.

Then I found everybody else was on the move. Lawerence is making sure everything gets done this week while the Area presidency is still in Utah for conference. Ladders going on the roof, up to windows to be washed, air-conditioners being cleaned and or replaced, and routine maintenance on the dryer, washer, and dishwasher. Something tells me there is a schedule for every six month period. Lots of things happen this last week. But especially today.

I wonder if the Area presidency know how many people are in their homes while they are gone? There is no way Lawerence can be in every apartment getting serviced all at the same time. They did get the elevator up and going today. I'll bet the need went to a high priority as men were carrying air-conditioners, buckets, tool kits, tool bags, and ladders, while others had buckets of water, soap, rags, and squeegees. This is a happening place.

The energy had me cleaning, washing, and planning what to get accomplished for the day.

I visited with Baaba and a young woman who is getting her police report and preparing to enter the MTC on Thursday as a missionary.  Then Bertha came over to deliver the sobolo and muffins to the grounds crew and cleaners. Next week we will give to the Family History employees and the car wash crew. 

It's nice to be in the beehive. Everybody working. I was definitely inspired to get something done today. When the team is working hard, individual performance usually goes up. That's how it felt today.

Bottles of sobolo that Bertha gave out with the muffins this afternoon 

Maintenance on my washer and dryer

Want some Spoons?

 Wisdom came over last night to drop off some spoons I had ordered earlier. When he talked to me I could tell he is desperate to get money for his daughter who is getting her Masters degree - which costs a lot more than her previous schools. 

He brought an elephant family that he wanted to sell me for half price. I already have an excellent elephant family, but realized he is in need so I bought it at full price. Now I'll have to look for somebody who wants to buy it. Maybe I will try to promote more spoons and show the missionaries the ark, Nativity set, and order a chess set. Hopefully I will find some buyers - or my kids will end up getting some African presents.

Nice long handles for hot stews and rice

Actually these are awesome.  Susie uses them all the time.

Randomly on the street

 Eugene had a quick errand while we were out to pick up a package. He asked if that was okay and I had no problem with that.

When we pulled up to a rest stop and waited for just a bit. A lady came up with his package. I knew her! It was Prince's sister Grace. We took a quick picture and she said to send it to Prince. I posted it on Facebook  knowing he would see it.

Grace and I

Deep into the market

 On Monday I had a lot of fun going deep into the market to find ingredients for my granola. This market seem to have mostly Muslims as the women all had head coverings. We wound out way in and through small alley ways filled with beans, seeds, grains, and dried flowers. It was colorful and filled with goods and people. But more specific than Markola market where shoes and chicken pieces, baking pans and smoked fish, are sold side by side.  Eugene asked the questions and held the list while I enjoyed the ambiance.  

April 4 was the birthday day

 After the 4 pm session (which started about 25 minutes late) Shauna Braunberger got some of her friends together to go out to dinner for her birthday. It turns out that it was Pricilla's birthday also, so they took her along with them.

The place was a Mexican restaurant complete with lots of skulls and a Macho Libre influence. Despite the lighting and the very loud music, we had a good time celebrating birthdays. Wayne Braunberger had gotten Shauna a huge cake which she shared with all of us - and plenty to take home.

Pricilla with Sister and Elder Penner

Two birthday girls, Shauna and Pricilla

Coming in with the cake and costumes

They cut the cake together

Huge cake, huge slices

Sharing

The Shumways

I and the Findlays

The Wades

Maintenance and good food

 When we arrived back to the apartment and took in the things from the market - like rice and apples. We found the elevator still doesn't work. All the air-conditioners in my apartment were being cleaned  - a regular maintenance cleaning that happens every 6 months during the conference week.  While they were working on that and Eugene, Irene, and Dumevi had gone home, Comfort and Bertha came over with sobolo for next week and brought some things from the market. Bertha soon went to the temple for a session and Comfort made cabbage stew for dinner tonight. 

While she was preparing, the maintenance worker told her it was torture as the smells were so good. Comfort asked me if we could give them a lunch. Of course, I answered yes. She heated up some Waakye for two of them and Jollof Rice for the other from the premade meals in the freezer. All three were very happy.  It must be a good feeling for her to have people so happy with all of her great cooking talent. 

Happy Birthday Eugene

 I invited Eugene and Dumevi out for a birthday lunch after we went shopping today and they accepted. When Eugene got in the car and we were waiting for the other two, I told him he should invite someone else - like a girl. He immediately called and arranged to pick her up.

We dropped Sister Penner off to her apartment (she didn't want to go) and picked up Irene. Eugene said she was his wife! I didn't even know he was married. Evidently she works a long ways away and stays in two homes, one here and one in an unpronounceable name. I think that is a hard way to have a marriage but it is working for them. She is a midwife and he is a nurse. Both work in hospitals but different kinds.

We ended up at Moka's because the other place we went were not open until noon. I guess we were too efficient in our grocery shopping. It was a very lovely lunch. I learned more about Ghanaian culture and more about Irene and Eugene. Life is good.

Eugene and Irene

Brownies and ice cream