The world has shifted.  At least, my world has shifted.  I spent longer than a month in the USA.  Exactly 2 months actually.  During my time there, my world took on a whole new shape and gravity.  I got to Wisconsin on April 20^th and had a good 2 weeks with my Dad creating an environment of peace to help him across the threshold to his next journey.  He passed on beyond the veil on May 4^th.  I am so grateful I could be there with him and my brothers during this time of immense change as our worlds shifted.  I stayed another 6 weeks in the USA to help take care of all that needs taking care of when both parents are gone beyond.  It was a good 6 weeks.  Not all business.  We had a joint celebration of the lives of both my parents and it was beautiful.  A proper send off.  I also managed to make several trips.  Went up north to our cabin with my friend.  Communed with the local turkeys.  Spent Mother’s Day with my kids in Madison.  

Visited friends and relatives in southern Minnesota with my brother.  And the trip of trips this year, Vancouver and surrounding areas in British Columbia, Canada with my son, daughter-in-law and my daughter.  Amazing good time!  We saw a whale. Seals.  Seabirds. Beautiful mountains.  Fun beaches.  Cool museums.  Yummy places to eat.  Long ago friends.  Fun movies.  A trip packed to the brim with amazing adventures and fun!!!

So that little synopsis brings me back to Kenya where I am sitting now.  I left USA on June 19^th, so have been here over a month already.  Most of it spent resting and getting myself balanced again after the ups and downs and spinning arounds of the 2 months away.  Where to start? 

I’ve enjoyed being back in the wild, seeing interesting animals along the roads, like rock hyrax, ostrich, and other cool stuff.  The main big project that has just started is the approval of our Rotary Club of Maralal Global Grant with our two partners, Rotary Club of Peekskill, New York, USA and Too Young to Wed, an international organization with on the ground projects in Kenya as well as around the world.  The project we are doing together is called The Butterfly Project and is aimed at empowering girls through literacy and life skills.  We are just starting to get it going with a joint launch planned in the village where it is based happening this coming Saturday.  More on this project in the months to come.

The other big thing in my life at the moment is a round of goat birthing season.  The goat kids are so cute!  The first one that started this group off was born a bit early so too weak to nurse on his own.  He was born the night before I arrived back in the village, so I took on his care and helped him get up and nurse 4 or 5 times a day.  Within about 5 days he had found his feet and was up and about on his own playing and being sassy.  In the weeks that have followed, another 12 kids have been born with a few more expectant does in our herd still waiting.  I spend my days watching the babies as their mothers go out grazing.  The kids are so playful.  Jumping on everything they can and racing around.  So cute.  They do bring joy to my world.  As does my little dog Mouse, too.  

Life moves forward moment by moment.  Day by day.  I can do nothing more than move with it.  So, time to move.  In the middle of a Nairobi trip.  Travel seems to be the constant in my life.  Up, down and all around.  I plan to be back in the village in less than a week, then will see what August will bring to my life.  Most likely Maralal and back for Rotary work.  Until then, peace to all….