Yellow Fall

I still remember my first fall. 2005 in Yosemite National Park. It was amazing. I would walk to work early just so I could take my time and take all the colors in. There were leaves everywhere! I couldn't figure out if my hometown had "fall" and the colors that can come with it, and may be I just was blind to it all those years?? But that particular Fall changed that season for me forever.

Then I moved eventually to North Carolina. Wow!!! Nothing compares to the eastern trees during this time of year. Every color imaginable is painted over the forest. The colors change daily. You don't have time to even blink because you WILL miss something incredible. 

Now here we are in Colorado. It is definitely different. There is a fall. But you have to be looking. Your eyes have to be open. It won't be something that just hits you in the face, but it is there. Sometimes early in the morning when the sun is coming up, and you get those first rays on the trees, it can make them look almost on fire. It is just something else. You also can get a great alpine glow on the mountain range. The entire thing can look hot pink soaking in the sunshine. 

My reason for moving to Yosemite was to work with Pastor Steve Hughes and his ministry in the park. One of the best moves of my life. The way I grew, what I learned, who I met, it has just molded me into the person I am now. God fixed many hurt places inside of me while living there, running and hiking in the Sierras, climbing up the perfect granite walls. I could say SO much about my time there. BUT, Steve actually lives in Denver now with his wife Karen, so for the first time in several years we have been able to spend some real time together. 

Steve took me hiking up about 45 minutes from our house about a month ago. It was just great. It was a beautiful day, with great weather, but just being able to spend some quality time with Steve made my insides happy. I am so blessed to have so many great friends and mentors in my life. They have come and gone as God has had me all over the states and world, but I do carry so much in my heart so many lessons from each of them. 

So here are some pics of the day. Bryce couldn't come because he was on a rock climbing trip with a local school here. And notice the boy isn't with me either!!! Thanks to Grammi and Papa!

Enjoy!

Kenya...un-pause

Well, all the excitement and movement with the fires paused our Kenya journey and posting in general. I am having a hard time getting back in the routine of posting after not for so long. 

My Canon Rebel is also partially out of service. My smaller lens broke months ago and I have been using it some with the larger lens. But it just doesn't take the close ups like I like. We took just our point and shoot camera to Kenya, which really made me not take any pictures. I think you can get good shots from a point and shoot but both of our are 6 or 7 years old and that is a lot of years for a point and shoot in my opinion.

As soon as I locate my cord to my Canon I will download newer pictures. I still have a few things to share about our trip, but another morning:)

Cap had his feet buried in the mud one day

after a good rain at Mattaw. Bryce was trying to 

find some rain water to wash them off in before heading

home. One of the house moms insisted on 

cleaning his feet and shoes in this bucket of water.

I walk outside to see this. 

It was pretty funny.

We went to an awesome waterfall not to far of a drive from Kitale.

It was a super short hike in and just beautiful. 

Cap and George following the dog at Mattaw.

Cow milking time. I never got a chance to try it. Darn.

Crossed the equator on our way to our Safari.

This was after the longest car ride Cap has ever been on.

5ish hours. The way home the next day he did not look so happy.

I dont think any of us did:)

He would have loved to have hopped on this one and gone 

for a ride!

Bryce throwing a doll back and forth to Lucy.

She has the best smile!!!

The boys playing, I mean destroying some sort of evangelism cube thing.

Blessing

I briefly mentioned while in Kenya a little 2 year old named Blessing. We were there to be part of rescuing her from a very bad situation in the slums and bringing her to a new beginning with the Mattaw family. There is a LOT to her story, but I wanted to just share what has been stuck in my head.

A couple of hours before going to get her, she was in her doorway, no clothes on, asleep and covered in her own poop. It was not a pretty situation.  When we walked intoj this tiny mud hut there was a social worker holding Blessing. She was listening to worship music while sitting  on the bed with Esnas, Blessing's mom, who was barely living at the time. When Kim asked her how it was going she said this, "We are just worshiping the Lord."

It was simple and true. You could tell she meant it. You could see that is what she was doing...worshiping the Lord. Yes it was a bad situation. HIV, sex for food, generations dying from trying to survive, yet she was worshiping the Lord.

A lot of things go through your mind in bad situations. On Tuesday, I went from having a fun run, hanging out with my family, Skyping my parents, to packing what you can think of very quickly as you saw the fire coming down the mountain, fighting the smoke and ash to head east away from danger along with 32,000 other evacuations, to hearing the news reports of 346 houses burned from the fire and wondering what I should have grabbed and how hundreds of lives will be very different tomorrow.

Thinking everything you own could be burned in flames really lets you know where your heart is. Though at first I wished I would've brought Cap's first footprints, or hospital bracelets, or even his first painting, my heart then went to freedom. Everything we have would fit in one car. We were free to roam. Though no matter what lies in our household, we are free, it just became different. My treasure lies in heaven where dust and moth can't destroy it.

I guess what rested in my mind was 'worship the Lord'. Yes the situation isn't good, but I will worship the Lord for He is most worthy of praise!

Last night our house made the ' you may return to your house' list by one street. Since it was late, we spent one more night at the hotel and came this morning. It felt surreal coming back, looking at the mountain and houses and smoke still arising in some areas. The smell of smoke triggered many pictures in my head of that evening getting out of our place.

We are so thankful to return to a house and bed and lots of rocks for Cap to play with. Our hearts are sad for the 346 families who lost their homes one of those families going to our church with us and others working with my in-laws. We are so sorry for your lost.

Thank you for your prayers. May we worship the Lord through the good and the ugly!

Home?

While in Kenya, everyone wants to know where you are from. They would ask, we would answer Colorado. Colorado? We moved there 9 days before heading to Kenya. Moved into our basement apartment just days before leaving. Could this be home? When we first got to Kenya, Bryce was answering the where are you from question, but he said,"Well, Colorado, but we have more friends in Kitale, Kenya than back home."

So now here we are sitting in our apartment we have been up what feels like forever. Thank you jet lag.  But we are here. Here in a new time zone, new state, refreshed hearts and minds, a new family. Honestly it has been a very different month than we expected. Still pondering and chewing on what God is showing me. Excited to share and start getting my hands dirty here. It will probably take several weeks to share our trip with everyone. Eager to do so.

Here are a few pictures to start out with. Enjoy.

this was the whole, "what are those." question with 

my answer of "oh, fat rolls"

 good thing they had dirt and sand in kenya!

Cap helping me wash clothes

 and of course he has found a brush/broom

 he fell in love with this bath tub even though he got

may be 4 or 5 baths the entire time we were there!

 this is Violet who helps the Huffman family with their kids

and household chores. she is super and we enjoyed getting to know her

while being there. Cap loved her too!

this picture sums up our trip back to the states. Cap became

the social butterfly and was eating all the attention up.

mr. George, Cap and Lucy playing out at Mattaw

Lucy was loving Bryce this day.

More to come later!

My chubby boy

We were spending time out at Mattaw the other day, playing with the kids outside, and Cap in the middle of it all, when I got asked a strange question. "what are these?", a little one asked with his hands on Caps arms. I didn't understand and asked, "what his arms?" He said, "no, these." as he moved his little michellion arms back and forth. I then realized what he was referring to. I said, " we'll, we call those fat rolls." he looked confused. I was shocked at the thought of Cap being considered fat. I looked around me at all the children gathered around us and I didn't find any fat rolls. They touched and poked his arms as to somehow straighten his crinkles out, but with no luck. That conversation for some reason has stuck in mind for days now. Especially as I pack morning and afternoon snacks for Cap, because I don't want him to get hungry. It is these little things throughtout the day I am trying to pay attention to. You know what's funny, it isn't a calling necessarily to feed the hungry and take care of the widows, it is a command. As followers of Christ we are commanded to take care of the least of these. Lord help me to love, clothe, and feed the naked and hungry. Help me to obey Your Words.

Given much

Here we are, sitting in Kitale, Kenya, listening to the rain fall on our metal roof drowning all the mysterious sounds out as our little boy sleeps. It has been a nice couple of days relaxing and getting settled here in the guesthouse of our missionary friends here. We have been out to Mattaw Childrens Home twice now and also to the new girls home which is rescued girls from sex trade. We also were part of rescuing a 2 year old from the slum who has too long of a story to share on here. Her name is blessing. She looked 8 months old and felt lighter than Cap as I carried her out of her boxed home. There is a lot to think about, a lot to process, thankful for those with the heart to rescue the weak and those giving there money to help do so. Story after story, child after child waiting for an earthly rescuer. Thank you for your prayers. They are felt. Cap is doing amazing! Sleeping 14 hours at night and transitioning to 1 nap very well. So thankful he is adjusting so well. We won't have pics till we get back and that is only if we use our camera! Love Jesus, Love life, Ball family