CairoKairos: I am still here

I am sorry I have been away so long. I must admit my motivation is lacking as I really began this blog for my mom to read and keep up with us. But as I have received a few comments I realize that there are others out there who as well would like to know of our life and activities.

I have tried 2x to load pixs of recent events and neither time has it worked so I will post this and then add pixs on another attempt.

So it has been almost 2 months since Mom's passing and the reality has settled in and found a peaceful place. I genuinely am happy to know that she is home and free of so many burdens of health that she had to bear day in and day out. I have had many moments of wanting to Skype her and ask a question or think of a story to tell her about what Caleb did or said. I hurt most for my Step Dad who really is having to find a new rhythm to his life and misses her terribly.

L-R Caleb, Iosef, Moi, Erin, Maren, Kelly and Elias

So what have we been up to in these last 2 months of silence? Well my biggest event was the visit of the Capps family and friend. Kelly and Erin and their growing family have faithfully come to visit every year and a half just to drink coffee and sit around and talk and catch up on life. This time we added an adventure out to the Fayoom. Along with the Turland family and GJ we headed out for a 3 day camping trip in the desert. They Fayoom Oasis is really only about 2 hours away, but for some reason it is a high security area. We drove and made one tourist visit en route to the campsite before the police caught wind of us and took over! The police bluntly told us that if we were just Germans and Australians then "No problem" BUT because some of us were Americans that was a problem! At this point the police attached themselves to us and NEVER left! Nothing like trying to get out of the city away from it all and instead find yourself in the permanent company of 9 leering soldiers all day and all night.