Need Some Input, Please!

I am looking for some input from everybody who reads this blog. Things have been very busy for a while, (that's life, I suppose) and I didn't have a camera for a while, either. Now that I have my camera back, I have lots of ideas of what I want to do with this blog. But, before I do anything, I'd like to know what you all think.
As for technical things, would tagging posts be helpful? an archive search? an RSS feed? (Not quite sure I know how to do all those things, but I could try!) And as far as subject matter goes, are you interested in Ghana? missionary life? food? culture? individuals reached through the ministry? church happenings? prayer requests? Are there some things you would really like to know about, but I've never written about? Would you like more pictures of family? day-to-day life? oddities?

I know there are more people who read this blog than ever post a comment. Even if you've never posted a comment or aren't even sure how to do it, please give me some feedback. You can comment anonymously if you don't have a blogger account. You can drop me a line on facebook. You can even email if you'd like! But please, please, let me know what you think!

I want this blog to encourage people to pray for our family and the ministry God has given us here. I also want it to spur people to think about Ghana's needs and the needs of all Africa!

Here are some pictures from this summer. Enjoy!




I'm looking forward to hearing what you have to say!

Another Decade Older

Strange how one day can change everything, isn't it?!?
I turned 30 yesterday.........

I know that there really isn't much difference from July 9th to July 10th, but it seems different somehow.
Thirty sounds old. Mature. Grown-up.

Not quite sure if I'm ready to be those things or not.

Guess I don't have much choice, do I?

Love of Two Countries?

Celebrating America's independence in another country is an interesting experience. The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. I have wonderful memories from many summers past. The heat. The anticipation. The food. The colors. The friends and family. The music. The list goes on and on.
Most of my Independence Day memories are from Saginaw, where I grew up, but I've also spent the Fourth in quite a few different places: Tawas, the Blackhills of South Dakota, Ireland, and of course, Ghana. Each place was different and special, but there is nothing quite like spending the day in the familiar places of your childhood.
It is hard for me to figure out the balance between love for my country and love for my host country. I do love Ghana; this is my home. But I love America; it is the land of my birth, my culture, my family, my memories, my values.
Last night we had a few people over for a small party. We had both Ghanaians and Americans. It was fun introducing our Ghanaian friends to American cookout foods: hamburgers (they wondered why they weren't made of ham), French fries (which they call chips), Boston baked beans (not British style beans in tomato sauce), deviled eggs (they wondered what they had to do with the Devil), and s'mores (which declared much too sweet), and roasted marshmallows (which were all promptly burnt to cinders). They wondered why we were all wearing red, and why I painted my toe nails with American flags. They wondered why we wanted to light off fireworks. They had so many questions, and I didn't really have a lot of answers. The answer to why we do those things is.... because! It's what we do!
That's the funny thing about culture; it's just what you do -- no explanation needed!
Do I not love Ghana because of doing those things? Nope! Do I love America less by living in another country? Nope! In the end, I believe I'm the most blessed. I get to love America, and I get to learn to love another country, too!
I guess my girls had the best idea of how to combine the two. Last night they put on their red, white, and blue clothes, and fun costume jewelry, and then they asked if they could wear their Ghana flag hairbows, too!
I wish you all a wonderful Independence Day!