Shae's log: Like Love

Here's the latest photo of my like and my love. I know you all have been wondering....

Shae's log: Cradle Cuteness

Over the last few weeks, I have been earnestly trying to visit the babies at Cradle of Love. Due to power outages and such, I have been unable to blog and share pictures. Here is a cute sampling of my visits over the last few weeks. The only one missing from this managerie of pictures is Paul Simango. I actually took a picture of him and I together when I got back. I deleted it because it was a little blurry and I thought "Oh well. I'll get us again next time." Little did I know that there would not be a next time. He wasn't my Happy or Pendo-- but he was a favorite. And I miss him. So much. I know that God has spared him from an uncertain future and I take some peace in that. But I still love him for the four short years he was on this earth. Thank goodness that there isn't an opposite to LIFE. We think in terms of "life or death" but honestly, life has no opposite. For believers, life lasts forever, just in different forms. Birth is the opposite of death. So for Paul, I am thankful for your birth. And I grieve in your death. But thanks to a compassionate, loving, and promise keeping Savior, there is a chance to see you in heaven one day!!! Until then....

Swingtime fun with Hope, Tessa, Peter, and Nina!!!! (Unless AliG can tell me its Anya!)

Ellie-- my first love.... and Rahim-- the only one who can consistently gives creepy eyes.



Amity decided that 30 minutes of snuggles was NOT enough. Oh Amity!


Rahema... the first baby I admitted while filling in for Davona and the first darling I fell in love with in the newborn nursery. She's finally grown into those big eyes. And she always love to snuggle with me when I visit and bat those beautiful browns at me!

Twinners!

This is Rahim. Volunteer Claire is implementing maji (water) time for all the children. They even have their names on all their sippy cups. I'm crossing my fingers for this new policy because the children have been neglected when it comes to water. GO HYDRATION!!!!!





DOTTO! ELISHA!

This little cutie fell in love with Simon on the spot and quickly fell asleep in his arms.


Happy in her old hood. They were all smiles and then this picture happened!!!!

Until next time.

~Shae

Happy's log: Hairdid

Listen people....growing hair is serious business. It took me almost a year and a half to finally have enough to do anything with. When I moved in with mommy about two months ago, I was just getting a full head. NOW LOOK AT ME! I have so much that I am getting a new style every week. Its so cool. Check it out.

Shae's log: Exciting employment!

So here’s the information that everyone has been waiting to know… WHERE AM I WORKING AND WHAT EXACTLY AM I DOING?

As many of you know, my heart belongs to Cradle of Love. I would have done anything to be back there and serving the babies at the orphanage. Cradle is in a time of turmoil as the state of its existence is in question. And I just want to jump in and help it out. But I’ve been asked not to. And I’ve accepted that reality. Still, I love going to visit the children and playing with the babies. I went on Saturday and my heart was full. But I digress…

Coming back to Tanzania without guarantees was unnerving. But I did everything that I could to get myself established and left the rest in God’s hands. I spent my first few weeks looking for cheaper housing and trying to establish myself with an organization to volunteer and get residency papers through. Little did I know that God had big plans for me!

I was forwarded an advertisement listing a need for a native English speaker to do some writing and proofreading for a new safari company. It offered pay or housing in exchange for 43 hrs of work. I thought it was a long shot until I realized that the contact email was of a woman that I had met last year. I immediately emailed her my CV and cover letter and just prayed and crossed my fingers. Of course, after days of email miscommunication (THANK THE POWER OUTAGES FOR THAT ONE!) we had an interview and I was hired! And I mean HIRED hired. No volunteer service. No baby Happy conflicts. No hesitation about my skills. I was IN! She would pay my outrageously expensive work permit, get my papers in order to meet Tanzanian standards, and help me with my housing. And, until I get a house girl (more on that later), I would be allowed to bring Happy to work. It was MORE than I had prayed for and definitely more than what I deserved. But after a few days of contemplation, I accepted and so here I am.

So, the deets: I work for safaris-r-us and their newly assembled team of safari bookers and accountants. There are four of us who currently book, bill, and organize safaris. The safaris-r-us office is located just outside the gates of the School of St. Jude (. Gemma Sisia, the founder, owner, and operator of our company had a vision to build an office and some housing for future employees. WELL, with only a few months into operation, the safari company is growing like wild fire and the need for employee housing is now. So, in three weeks, I will be moving out of my expensive apartment here in Arusha and into employee housing at my office. Currently, Happy and I ride the St. Jude school bus every morning and afternoon from my residence here in the city. It makes for early days but its good for Happy. She is still afraid of black people and being on the bus with students and teachers is helping her to relax and adjust. Happy plays in the office and is a fantastic napper so I am able to get a lot of work done. When I move there permanently, I will hire a house girl to watch after Happy and to help me cook and clean. I am a little nervous about having a house girl except that I will literally be a few feet away and can check on the baby every hour if I want. My boss Gemma has been so great about me having Happy in the office. I couldn’t be more blessed. And for all you SCT readers out there… you may find it funny to know that I am organizing files and creating charts to help tighten up operations of the safari company. ITS MY DREAM SITUATION. I’m totally qualified for this job! Who knew that all my anal retentive ways at SCT would land me the DREAM job in Tanzania. Score one for the Shae!!! Yay, baby!

Ok, so basically that’s the LONG version of how I got my new job and what I am doing these days. I really feel like all your prayers and support have led me to this place in life. I am doing great. Happy is doing well. As soon as we can get her back to her old friendly self and not racially profiling (can you believe that???) all will be fantastic. I’m really tired with this single parenting thing, no car, no power, full time job, and language barrier. But seriously, my life is still an embarrassment of riches. And I truly thank God for all these undeserved blessings that keep pouring in. He allows me to wade through the water but offers me a life preserver just when I need it. OUR GOD IS AMAZING.

~Shae

Shae's log: Awesome Alison

On Wednesday of last week, I got a package from my friend and former volunteer, Alison Quiring!!!! She is so sweet and thoughtful and included all the very best things that I love. She sent TWO outfits for Happy, lots of candy, awesome stuff representing Canada (and some of it I can eat!), and wedding invite information. I have to say that not only was her package a hit with Happy, but her package was a HUGE hit in my office. Both of the Tanzanian women in my office are recently engaged and loved looking at Ali’s invite. They immediately typed in the blogsite for Ali and her fiancé Jonathan, and read all about their engagement and impending wedding. My Tanzanian co-workers were asking lots of questions and “oohing and aaaahhhing” over everything they read and saw regarding Ali’s upcoming nuptials. It was so awesome to be sharing wedding culture from Canada, USA, and Tanzania. I loved it! Unbeknownst to her, Ali’s package brought me closer to my co-workers and that is really appreciated.

On a serious note, Ali’s package also stirred in me some thoughts and emotions that I had never anticipated. When I got to the St. Jude office and the administrative volunteer handed me my parcel, I almost cried when I looked down at the front of the padded envelope. There among the Mapleleaf tape and the postal codes was written the most beautiful words that I’ve actually never seen in mail before:

To: Shae and Happy Beery

We are a family, me and Happy. And its feeling more and more official everyday. You rock Alison! Thanks for sharing your love in the form of thoughtful gifts and a padded envelope. You are awesome!

~Shae

Happy is sporting her new clothes!

Shae's log: Coke is it!

This afternoon I was playing with Happy on the floor of our "kitchen". Remembering that I had rice cooking on the gas stove on the front porch, I quickly got up to check it and save lunch! It was only on my return to the kitchen that I remembered what I had left behind on the floor...

There sat Happy, gurgling down my cup of Coke. There was coke pouring down the side of her mouth and soaking her chest. As I tsk'd at her, she slowly pulled the cup away from her mouth and with menacing and mischievous application, she let out the loudest set of giggles she has ever uttered. My only regret is that my camera battery was dead and we didn't have power to charge it. A picture of this moment would have been steller!

Here's to a night of no sleeping. She's been sick all weekend but tonight she's kinda' bouncing off the walls. Thanks sugar and caffeine! You rock.

~Shae