Off to Sipi Falls!

Heading out on a road trip this weekend to a Sipi Falls National Park + Flashing back to Niagara Falls with some of my favorite people last summer!

Sorry not sorry for the 3409598 photos. It's beautiful and I'm reminiscing over fun trips + best friends + good food + fabulous weather. SUE ME.

But first let me take a selfie.

First view of the river by Niagara Falls.

Best.

River at Niagara Falls.

River at Niagara Falls.

Rapids at Niagara.

Rapids at Niagara.

Rapids at Niagara.

Rapids at Niagara.

Rapids at Niagara.

Selfie Life.

Putting my feet in Lake Ontario.

Rapids at Niagara.

River at Niagara.

That time we forgot we didn't have hiking skills and had to walk ALL THE STEPS.

But every step was worth it right? Or not.

Bests.

This view of the River right?

This view of the River Right?

At Niagara Falls!

At Niagara Falls!

Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls.

At Niagara Falls!

At Niagara Falls!

At Niagara Falls!

Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls.

Opposite Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls.

Bests at Niagara Falls.

Pre- hurricane deck, post a bird pooping on my neck. Life I tell ya.

Hurricane Deck at Niagara Falls.

Rainbows over Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls.

View above the Falls.

View above the falls.

View above the falls.

Hey Canada!

On the Canadian Side!

Selfies at Niagara on the Canadian Side.

Double Date Photos in Canada. My date is obviously Lauren. Or a taco, whichever.

Rainbows over Niagara, view of the Canadian Side.

Sitting on Lake Ontario in Canada at Sunset.

Sitting on Lake Ontario in Canada at Sunset.

Sitting on Lake Ontario in Canada at Sunset.

Sitting on Lake Ontario in Canada at Sunset.

Sitting on Lake Ontario in Canada at Sunset.

 Here's to hoping Sipi Falls, Uganda is even half as pretty!

Thankfully thankful.

Every week I try to look back and find something to be thankful for. This last week it's been pretty easy- I've been in a little piece of America that feels just like home.

You know when you meet those people and they just click? They say or do something and you're like yep, this is it. I've found my people. Well it was pretty much just like that with the Hurry's.

I met they both in passing early on in my stay in Uganda but didn't really get to hangout with them until a very memorable trip to the Lira Main Hospital in town.

I should probably prep it by saying that I am so not cut out for the medical field. Like not even a little bit. Keep it in, if it's bleeding go handle it cause I can but really really don't want to.

So I end up visiting the Lira Main Hospital with some friends from our Bible Study to pray for some of their family members that have been admitted. Now I know when I tell stories I'm sometimes guilty of exaggerating or embellishing but let me tell you this is just a statement of fact and not embellished at all: that hospital was one of the scariest places I've ever been. Now from many conversations with other Mzungus here [Read: Western Folks] I've learned that this is one of the better hospitals. ARE YOU KIDDING ME I COULD NOT EVEN WITH THAT PLACE. But even still it is definitely a third world hospital.

We went into the Men's Ward to visit Lucy's nephew and walked into an open room with hundreds hundreds of beds and patients. The ward was one open room with many partial walls to put beds against. The walls had number after number after number painted on them with a bed in front of each. If you didn't bring your own supplies/sheets/food/family you had nothing. I didn't see one medical professional in the whole building. As we made our way through the ward I tried not to make eye contact or look at anyone, all men in various states of dress trying so hard to get the attention of the Mzungu girls that had just walked in. We made our way to the back where Lucy's nephew was, he'd been in a boda (motorbike) accident. He was laying in a bed surrounded by 7 other male patients, beds pressed up against one another. His leg was swollen. So swollen it looked like 2 legs combined. Turns out he broke his femur and was in so much pain he was sweating. But medicine here is optional, and only then if your family can afford it.

Our hospital visit left me horrified if we're being completely honest. We stopped by a few more beds on the way out as we were grabbed to pray for people. Some of those people had been their for months. They had a bed but no money for treatment, no one to visit or provide linens or even clothes, and food? Forget it. The disease, the sense of despair, the hopelessness and smell all turned my stomach. I got home that night almost of the brink of some type of panic attack, I couldn't breathe. My chest hurt and I was irrationally yet understandably afraid of venturing out on any road- because what are my options? What happens if I get sick? What happens if I'm in an accident or injured? This was my medical option! I'd just seen it and it was horrifying.

Which leads me to meeting the Hurry's. Dr. Bridget is not only a doctor but also a mom and has been living and working in Uganda for 5 years. After some encouragement from someone back home [Shoutout to Julie!] I went Friday morning to see if she had some time to just sit. She didn't really but excitedly welcomed me into her home, sharing TV, a couch and ice water [all huge and exciting things in Uganda, trust me!] 

That day is imprinted on my memory along with the announcement made when I had dinner with them that this was "The year of bacon! We will figure out how to get bacon at the Cafe!"

How could these not be my people am I right? 

So thankful for a community here that understands the struggle and brings a little piece of America to Uganda. And wants to bring bacon, that’s the important part ;)

Scavenger Hunting with the Kiddos!

A little bit of Weekend.

Well today was rough. Rough because I had quite arguably the best. weekend. ever. For one, I love birthday's of people I love. And this weekend I got to celebrate this lovely lady's birthday!

I have the bestest momma in the whole entire universe.

And some amazing friends to spend the weekend with.

Happy Birthday Momma!

Basically it was an amazingly perfect weekend. With amazingly perfect people.

A little sampling of our very own Sangria! Thank you Pinterest. :)

Recap:

1. Got to roadtrip it up with some of my favorite people.

2. Have grown-up discussions on the current situation of Public School Education vs. Private School Education. [Who are we!?]

3. Drive with the windows down and the sun-roof open.

4. Almost but not quite break boy's car window as we borrowed it for driving around town [it was actually already open someone just didn't share that fact- picture a leeeeeetle bit of squealing!]

5. Coffee shop dates with best friends and second momma's.

6. Birthday Dinner[s]!

7. Birthday Blessings at Church.

8. Surprise visits from momma's best friend and old college roommate!

9. Take-out dinner's.

10. Bumming it on the couch.

11. Epic naps.

12. Enough Chick-Flicks to send boys to tears.

13. Day date's to see The Vow.

14. Making our own [non-alcoholic] Sangria!

15. Dinner dates with best friend's from all over.

16. Plans for quite an epic camping trip coming it.

17. DJ-ing the roadtrip all the way back to school [90's music galore!]

Does it have to be Monday so soon?

xoxo, Lo