The Lund Life

I apologize from updating for so long. I am not sure where to start. I think they call it writers block. I sit down to the computer and my brain just shuts off. I forget everything and everything that I should or need to say.

We are meeting with the ACM board of directors the weekend of August 20th. We will be discussing with them the possibility and the opportunity to be working with them full time in Uganda. Although, we can’t bring our kids with us that weekend so we are sort-of at a loss of what to do with them.

I painted Eden’s toe nails today. She hated every minute of it but I got them all done. I’m sure she will grow to love it. Maybe I shouldn’t have started out with magenta as a color?

Arley has been working crazy hours lately, picking up any shift he can so he can support his family. He drives 26 miles to work most days. There is an opportunity opening up in Park Rapids (8 miles from home) to work with the same company that he applied for this last week. The posting closes tomorrow so we are praying that he will be chosen. It would also mean no more overnights!!! Mostly afternoons and mornings. And more scheduled hours so he would have to pick up shifts to fill his hours. And did I mention the gas savings! He could go to work and back and to work on one drive to his job right now.

We are starting to look for a van or something that can seat 6 people. Because in January, we will be a six person family If anyone has something available for “next to a missionaries budget”, let us know! (This might be another reason for the writers block).

Abraham will be turning 4 years old in a few weeks. Just four days before Arley and I celebrate our 8 year anniversary. I can’t imagine going a day without him.

The boys are in rare form lately. They have found each and every single button to push on each other! It has been a long, loud summer in that way. But it is half way over which is ridiculous.

 We have been doing a lot of tree moving and tree planting and de-brushing and Arley has been hard at work taking down a shed near by to put up a wood shed for the wood this winter. He is also putting up a shed that we brought with us from North Branch in his “spare” time. I am not sure he has taken a full day off since we got back from Uganda. And it doesn’t look like he will be, since he will be starting cutting wood as soon as the shed/woodshed are finished.

Eden is starting to hang on the things and walk along. She can climb the stairs and likes to do it on the way to bed.

My hammock which I purchased in Mexico during a high school youth missions trip has finally bit the dust this year. I was blessed to be able to replace it with another in hopes of many afternoon naps. Although not today because of the misquitos and that it is past afternoon and I really need to think about what to make for supper.

So this is my attempt to clear my head in hopes that I might have some more room for stories about our time in Uganda. Thanks for listening.

Let’s try this again. I have been unable to get online since updating the computer, but it seems that I found a way in now! Africa posts to come…. slowly. One huge thing since I got back is that I really don’t like being on the computer as much as I thought that I did. This proves difficult and brings out that nasty procrastination bug that I try to suppress. But I am trying and I will try more, to write and post, in the near future. I am also beginning the large editing project ahead of me with all the 8G’s of pictures I took and getting out another prayer letter. All while bringing the kids on picnics and trying to get out and walk a little, and maybe even swimming if the weather takes a turn from rain to hot and sun! Now, off to make a meal and then to bible study. Our group is attempting to keep our bible study going strong through the summer (why cancel just because it is summer?). I have been to one since we got back. Bad me. At least I can say 2 after today. Good week everyone, and happy national hollerin’ contest day!!!

I am finally starting to feel like a have ahold of myself. That I have found a footing. My brain has de-filed or de-composed or de-breifed or whatever it does when you get back from something like this. And I am hoping to compile some posts about what our time was like over there. Our house, the ranch, what we did, who we met, ect ect… if Eden will let me that is She is becoming her own personality and we are creating a monster (Not really)!

It has been raining here all but two days since we have gotten back. Maybe it has not rained all the time, but it has been very cold and cloudy all but two days with a lot of rain mixed in. The sun came out and we were able to get some things done around the house! Christmas lights finally taken down, yard toys cleaned up, the lawn mowed, planning where we will reassemble the shed that we moved up here last fall, and the likes. It was so good to get out and do! But, it makes me not want to go to sleep in case it will be back to the same rain game tomorrow. I forget that real people read my blog! Thank you for the support that you have shown me. I used to be and still am a very private thinker, and I have been trying to place that in God’s control and start getting my feelings out there a little bit more (very baby steps) and so when people were asking me how I was doing and how things are going, I was taken aback since this would be something that I would let only myself and God into! It has been good though. God is showing me that it MIGHT be ok to talk about deeper things. We will see Eden’s party was supposed to be tomorrow, but we have two sick boys so we are canceling it until further notice. Too bad I will have to eat all those strawberry cupcakes ALL myself. Well, maybe I’ll share a couple with Eden… and the boys… and Arley…..

I am having a hard time sitting down and writing anything. I am having a hard time wanting to talk to anyone. I am mourning what has become my home away from home. I am having a hard time getting into a conversation with anyone about anything. I am having a hard time answering questions. I am having a hard time coming up with things to say.

Solomon wished that this was the last day of school as he is missing me while he is there. Eden has been sick since we got home and I started malaria treatment today because she is sleeping a lot and has a fever that comes and goes. It could be a cold and I am sure it is, but it doesn’t hurt. Arley is heading back to work today, after spending the last 2 1/2 days clearing and cleaning his garage. It’s hard getting back into reality. Abraham was who I feared for , that he wouldn’t adjust well when we got back, but it seems that he is the one taking it best.