The moment I explained the miraculous news to my girls that my father was coming to visit us in Swazi, Ayanda literally screamed and jumped up and down on her bed like a six year old.  After calming down and collecting herself, she beamed, “I knew he would come!  I dreamt he would!”  Never ever […]

Is there really a love that reaches Beyond my broken pieces  To hold me as I am  And give me strength to stand? Somebody, please tell me this is so Because I reach For a love that makes me whole. They said he might walk free, This man that stripped the life from me Because […]

Graceful Mess A structured chaos The stormy calm A salty pancake A silent psalm 15 “Mama Kate”s, but I’m just one Lucia’s on timeout; Benny calls me “Mom” A maddened clarity The cooling heat A muted melody A loud retreat Ayanda tells me I need a vacation Melissa asks me not to stay away again […]

Because sometimes songs can say it better… This is my rewritten version of Phil Vassar’s song, “Just another day in Paradise.” Lucia’s screaming, my ears ringingBenny’s laughing at the Sibussa cleaninghis rice mess – on the floorWho’s that? Someone’s at the door. Got a half hour, forget my shower Take some cereal but the soy […]

It has never taken me this long to think of what to write.  Yet, I still don’t know how to summarize what has been going on this past month and a half.  Major things have happened, like my parents coming to visit, Tenele’s mile markers, and starting my new teaching job.  There are just too […]