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 […]

“Keep me as the apple of your eye…” “Now I can see…”“I came from darkness but now I’m in His light…”“I let satan have control but never again…”“I was nothing, but now I’m something…”“I know I can be a good mom…”“I should forgive my mother…” She wrote numerous statements like these that filled pages and […]

Can you solve this riddle? What is…? intelligent, holy, unique manifold, subtle, agile,  clear, unstained, certain,  unhampered, beneficent, firm,  all-powerful, all-seeing, pervading all spirits… “She penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity.  For she is an aura of the might of God, and a pure effusion of the glory of the Almighty… […]

Knock, knock!  I rolled my eyes and sighed at the all-too constant knock on my bedroom door.  Is there really nowhere I can escape to be alone just for five minutes?! I thought to myself.  The door opened without me answering. “Mama Kate?” Nokwanda came in the room without an invitation.  “What, Nokwanda?” I said […]

While on vacation in Mozambique for 10 days, I spent a lot of time in Scripture, Christian books, and in prayer.  Every day during the week, a thought kept coming to mind about dedicating a morning of silence to God to be still and listen for Him.  I kept pushing the thought aside, thinking Rachel, […]

“Mama Kate, where’s make(mom)?” Lucia tugged on my skirt one day. “She’s at her place,” I answered.“At her place…” she echoed, just as she repeats everything I say.  She looked at me with sad eyes.“Should we go see her today?” I asked.“Yes!” she jumped up and down. Isn’t it amazing how forgiving, pure, and loving […]