After a week-long work trip for Miles, our family is happy to be together again. He returned bearing gifts- a paper fan, a bookmark, a Bible cover, an ivory statue of Saint Andrew, and lotion. The biggest surprise of all was a luxurious container of eye patches that came highly recommended at a cosmetic counter. On the side of the container, a small yellow label read “contains snail secretion filtrates”.
We were excited to receive an email saying that our Household Good delivery was processed through customs and that we could select a day for delivery. Soon we will have half of our shipment that contains decor, furniture, medicine, food, and our kids’ toys.
A highlight of the week was getting to join Miles for a work dinner. He spent the week hosting a group from Oregon. It was comforting to see familiar faces and to feel close to our roots in Oregon again.
I am starting to return to exercising. I mainly do the stairs in my building. I walk to the sub-basement, to the rooftop, down to the basement, and up one last time to our apartment. Once I get my strength up, I will strap Max to me and try to ruck the stairs using him as my counterweight.
I made an ambitious list of books that I would like to finish by 2027. I want to reignite one of my previous Lenten habits of listening to only edifying material. Many of them I had previously started but left abandoned, and several of them are new. My goal is to listen to 20 books in the 2 years that we are gone.
Reunions to look forward to for us include a visit from my dad in 2027. I am very motivated to get through the winter by the thought of seeing my dad again and getting to show him around Dhaka.
My mom had a wonderful tradition for every anniversary of my adoption. She would dress in the clothes she wore when we met and give me a book about adoption. I have 18 wonderful books with her inscriptions that I will cherish. Our daughter has many questions about death and her Nani. The first anniversary of her death is approaching. So, in Teresa Mape fashion, I am going to start the tradition of gifting her one book each year on the anniversary of Nani's passing. The focus of each book will be to explore what death is, what happens after we die, and how our faith offers a just and hopeful explanation of what is to come. I am going to write an inscription of the year, the anniversary number, and a small note just for her to cherish later. I think my mom would love it. It's an expectant and comforting way to look forward to our ultimate reunion with her at the end of our lives.
