What?! Leanne posted a blog?

I know hard to believe, right?
I personally have been realing at the news of Envision closing in Gabon.  At this point I am numb.  I have gone through a wide range of emotions in the last few weeks and at this point I am exhausted.
We have finally sold all our stuff, not technically our things but things Envision has amassed over the years.  Yard sales are a little different here and a little more stressful.
Well I have my plane ticket home.  I am going to stop by and see Rose, before I head back to the states.
Sorry this is just a boring email.  I feel like there are probably a lot of emotions inside me, but too busy or too exhausted to process through them right now.

Realistic

So i did start off the summer believing that i would blog every friday, but i have since seen the light! I barely have time to go to the bathroom, and in fact the other day i was discussing plans with someone while using the toilet... Too much info? Anyway, i think it is time to be realistic. While teams are here i will not be blogging every friday, lets just come to that understanding. But every now and then i will try.

Olivia

Have I ever told you about Olivia?
Well she was our first intern when Hannah and I came out in Jan 2011, so she holds a special place in our hearts.  She was great and patient with us as we tried to take French and figure out this Envision thing out (we're still working on that!).
She came out again this year and we got to celebrate her birthday with her!

Just so you know for informational purposes... if you are three whities walking down the street, and one of you is blindfolded and another is filming with a video camera, people will stare at you.  Just so you know!

Olivia had to stand up and give a speech... whenever you have a group gathered someone usually stands up and makes a small speech... thank you all for coming, I'm honored, etc. etc.

We had a great time celebrating Olivia's life!

a straw

I want to go on record... I love each of the Straw kids equally.  They are each unique, but all of them fun to be around, and easy to love!

The Straw family is the other missionary family here in Libreville, Gabon.  Steve Straw flies for Bongolo hospital... see his blog here.  While Alace Straw (her blog) runs the guesthouse for Bongolo.

They have three awesome kids... Joe, Meg, and Sam.  This is Joe playing the ukulele that he got for Christmas in the back of the truck on the way back from the beach.  Can I tell you that there is nothing better than sitting on the beaches of Gabon with friends listening to a live ukulele.  Nothing.  

I just appreciate Joe - in general, because he is a great guy.  But more specifically because he has learned to play the ukulele!  

Home

Christie in foreground, Andrew her oldest next, and then her hubby Chad 

I recently came to the states to help my momma, who by the way is doing great!!
But while I was there I stayed a little with Christie, my sister, and the rest with my dad.  I went to Christie's son Caleb's soccer game.

Caleb throwing the ball in

Caleb going up against the other team!  Go Caleb!  

Trying it left-handed

I also found out that my dad is playing in a softball league!  I think it is an over 60s league.  He is the fastest runner on the team, thanks to his jogging most days.  He also claimed that he couldn't hit the ball, but proved himself wrong by hitting it twice.  First left-handed and second right-handed!!  He got on base both times and ran home once!

Hitting right-handed which is how he writes

He would be the blur in the middle of the picture!

Shiny object

My mom has lost the ability to concentrate. Wait...have I lost that ability too? TV - no problem, ask anyone who has seen me around one and they will tell you that I can definitely concentrate on tv. Maybe because they change the screen at least every 6 seconds. Have we lost the ability to concentrate on one thing longer than 6 seconds? I know for me, if I want to really think and concentrate on something I usually have to isolate myself. Have you ever seen the movie "Up"? You know the dog that would always get distracted by a squirrel? That's me! Is multitasking really that great if we lost the ability to concentrate? I have just lost concentration on this blog...so it will end, for now.

Sam's purse

Olivia in the middle of her mamas

Mama Christine, neat and strong woman

Love the smile in the middle

Are you going to eat that?

Getting down!

Mama Josephine's smile

Bunch of kids there

The regional Sam's purse director, papa Jean Marc

Jeremy, Mama Jeannine's grandson

Mama Jeannine and Mama Edith

Grace on the far right, she is leading the dance troop!