Many of you following along with us know that we are heading back to East Africa in June. This has been a season of in-between for us, with featuring stages like: recovering from being evacuated, getting into a routine, waiting to have a baby, having said baby, then preparing to return. Now we are in the throes of planning to see people one-last-time (so much grief!) and packing (slightly easier when you’ve launched a family over the ocean once, by God’s grace!). I thought I’d share a little bit of what our time here has looked like…
1. Henry. We had that baby. Gosh he is the sweetest thing. Here, I’ll show you:
2. Family and Friends. We were so grateful and blessed to be welcomed back into the fold with our family and friends, who let us back in, or came and visited from far away (sometimes multiple times). We were home for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and a wedding. Obviously, this is the best thing about being home. We have the best people in our life and I am so grateful for them.
3. Work and School. Matthew had the opportunity to complete 9 credits at St. Mary’s Seminary Ecumenical Institute and really enjoyed it. He also worked as part-time faculty at his old residency at Franklin Square, doing some clinic, inpatient, nursery, and OB. It was a good mix for him. I completed a couple of bible credits through BSF this year studying the Gospel of John, and 3 credits towards my BSN.
4. Books. SO MANY BOOKS.
Many people have asked about what we’re doing for Naomi’s school this year and the answer is, mostly, a lot of reading. This is how I have felt about being near public libraries again.
Matthew and Maggie Loftus 