What's going on round here

It has been way to long since I last updated our blog, so join me as I recap some of our Shinar shenanigans: • We are preparing to get on a plane to Africa! May 21 is the day! The tickets are purchased and everything. There is sooooooo much to be done, it kind of makes my head spin.


• We sold almost everything we own! You might remember the “Contentment Tree,” well now we have a “Contentment Dresser” otherwise known as paper bags. We had a yard sale a few weeks ago so now our underwear and socks reside in Safeway bags, we eat all meals on the couch, have nothing on the walls, and find ourselves constantly looking for things and saying, “oh yeah we sold that.” But lest you think we are altogether holy and pious in our humble abode, we still haven’t sold our Ijoy chair. I fear someone will have to rip it from my hands the day we leave. I love that chair, so therefor it will be sold at the very last moment (unless we can find a way to get it on the plane)


• I am becoming a hippie. You have been warned. Please do not gawk when you see me. I have stopped dying my hair and my wardrobe is looking more pitiful every day. I have a lot of gray hair which is weird because I am hardly 21 (snicker)! Usually I cover the gray with whatever box dye is on sale, but a few months ago I started down the au natural path. I decided I didn’t want to scare the Africans when in a few short months I go from looking like Angelina Jolie to Kathy Bates. I doubt they have Loreal Haircolor in “Stary Night” or the concept of denying your age by covering up unsightly gray hairs so I worry that they might think I am sickly, diseased or cursed when I “age” rapidly. And my wardrobe. Sigh. It is depressing. After almost a year of being pregnant and wearing maternity clothes, another year of trying lose the baby weight and wearing whatever kind of fit, and the fact that in a few months I will be dressing like an Amish hiker- it is safe to say that I am a good candidate for “What not to Wear.” I also rarely wear makeup or dry my hair. Hippie.


  • We are trying to pack in as much family and friend time as possible. Charlie and I (Josh still has to work) went to Georgia to spend time with family and friends. It was so hard to say goodbye. In May, we will be going to San Diego with Josh’s parents to visit his brother and family. We also are trying to spend time with friends. If you want to hang out- let us know! I hate goodbyes and I am not looking forward to this part of the journey.


• We are still trying to raise our support. We have raised about $70,000 (thank you Jesus!) and still need about $30,000 more. If you planned on supporting us, but haven’t got around to it yet- NOW IS THE TIME! You can do that here. Just a gentle reminder :)


• I am learning about tropical diseases. Did you know water filtration is the best method to stop the spread of guinea worm?


• Speaking of diseases, we are going to every doctor we can. I think every part of my body has been poked, prodded, and examined. I even got my wisdom teeth taken out today. On the plus side, I got to read a lot of magazines in the waiting rooms.

• Up net on the to-do-list- pack everything we will need for 2 years, get malaria meds, rent our house, sell our cars, and the list goes on…..