Coming Home to the Farm

We were away from Africa for two months.  It was enough time to do all we did.  Enough time to celebrate Thanksgiving, multiple family milestone's including my mom's 80th birthday, attend fundraisers, speak here and there, connect with donors, revel in family and marvelous friends, work toward a second son's wedding, engage in Advent, give poetry readings, meet with our Board of Directors, enjoy (and also struggle with) Christmas in America, and finally, wonderfully, to help throw an outstanding wedding celebration.

Careening out of those packed weeks...

My Take on the Week

Morning in Africa

Sometimes I look at the week coming at me and see appointments, deadlines, get togethers, do-lists, work and play all neatly assigned to their days and times and locations.  I see the week as if I'm taking a quick glance at iCalendar. 

This week I don't even see day names, let alone specifically assigned time slots.  This week presents itself to me as follows...

Phase 1: Hug Byron goodbye/Hug Heather hello.

Phase 2: Hug Heather goodbye.

Phase 3: Enter no-man's-land/Watch movies/Watch more movies.

Phase 4: Hug my parents hello.

Phase 5: Hug Colin, Trevor and Karly hello.

Phase 6: Hug Byron and Heather hello.

Phase 7: Figure out how/when I get to hug Jesse and Annie hello.

I think it's shaping up to be a pretty good week :)  

(And what's 10,000 miles when there are so many good necks to hug?)

Life Breath

I thought the years had stripped too much away
that i would never gather that which had been
so casually scattered

It was my fault, I know
packing as if we could take what mattered
along with us

As if...

It was so long ago, that initial parting
and the flood of time
washed so much away

I missed the marker days
the seemingly small but, in actuality,
momentous occasions

You don't get those back, you know
they don't return to you
ever

But then, in just these last weeks
these un-trumpeted
unassuming days

There has been a feasting
every dear face before me
shining

Inhaling slowly
pulling each fragrance
as close to my heart as possible

I breathed your company
all of you, the greatest of
my loves

And now
from across so many miles
these memories enrich my blood

-lisa, 7 June 2013

December 24th, Well Before Dawn

On this cold morning
The list of that which is yet to be accomplished
Wakes and scolds and blames me

It's Christmas Eve
And there are better ways to rise
(In some other, more perfect world)

O my word
Did I remember curry powder?  I need an eggplant!
And when ever will we pack?

There is a departure on Friday
Nine thousand seven hundred forty five miles
Or the better part of two days

This time, I think
This time, we may actually not
Be ready

We may depart in disarray
Bags open or simply
left behind

The tightness increases
I obsess the details
Fawning over worries

Breathe
Breathe

I don't know how the meals will turn out
Or if the cinnamon rolls will get done
I don't know if we'll be ready, come Friday

But, do you know?
Accomplishing the list
Is a poor way to celebrate

On this cold morning
I know there is work to be done
(And that's just fine)

But I disarm the panic

Perfect meals and nicely organized transatlantic moves
Are lovely, I'm sure
But there is a far better reason to rejoice

-lisa, 24 December, 2012

First Photo

This is my first photo with my new camera.  It was just a quick, "Hey, line up!" point and shoot on the automatic setting, but I like it :)

Some of you will know we were ambushed and robbed in June.  The one thing I've missed (just about daily) has been my Nikon D80.  Well, I am the delighted and deeply thankful owner of a new Nikon 3200.

Some people get their knickers in a twist regarding what make camera is best.  They get weird about it all, as if everyone has to agree.  There are a lot, A LOT, of fantastic cameras out there.  Personally, I've had a Nikon for the last 30 years and it's what I'm used to.  I am happy.

Happy.  Happy.  Happy.

P.S. Many thanks to long-time friends, Ron Luxemburg and Rogier Bos, for their excellent professional advice.

P.P.S. You might be able to guess that I'm not just happy about the new camera.  I'm also a little over the moon about being with Karly, Heather, Trevor, Colin, Annie and Jesse :)

A Beautiful Blur

I was looking at my calendar a few short weeks ago and the weekends before me lined up like this:

Oct 19-21 With 24-7Prayer family in Germany, speaking, teaching, enjoying
Oct 27-28 Visit Heather at boarding school in Kenya
Nov 3 Belated 50th Birthday Party with 30 friends at our house (in Tanzania) for me (with departure for US on 5th)
Nov 9-10 Parents Weekend at Westmont (in California) with Colin, not to mention Jesse, Annie, Trevor and Karly  (Then squeeze in a couple days in Seattle with my sister and a dinner with missions folks at CCF over 12-14th)
Nov 16 Speak at Santa Barbara Community Church's Story Night, then travel to Bay Area on 17th to meet Annie's parents for the first time :)
Nov 23 (still feeling fat and happy from first Thanksgiving in US in 7 years) Byron and Heather arrive in California the day after his birthday and five days before Trevor's bday
Dec 1 Amid much final prep work toward the 9th, Trevor has a gig in SB. Hurray! AND Heather will be 14 on the 4th :)
Dec 9 JESSE AND ANNIE GET MARRIED!

Like I said, it's a beautiful blur.

I am blessed.  Yes, blessed.  So blessed.

Through the Night

And maybe now
with the space of days
i can whisper
that parting hurt

That night
when they left
and you realized
you wouldn't see them

Your tears
scalded little streaks
down your face
and didn't stop soon

It was late
and they still needed
to come
so we welcomed them

In the dark
we climbed under
our mosquito net
and huddled together

The four of us
with your quiet sobs
The only thing I knew to do
was sing

I sang the old songs
the ones that lulled
my babies
to sleep

I sang
shaking voice
shaking heart
shaking sobs

Your brother slipped out
and you slept

You found me
in the morning
curled at the foot
of my own bed

Rather than wake you
I let you be
and found a place
where there was room

You felt so bad
And I thought, "Really?
You think it bothered me,
that flickering sleep?"

Rest is relative
and on that night
there were bigger needs
to be met

We unpacked your things
at boarding school
just a few days
later

And it was hard
But, honestly,
it was easier for the way
we passed that night

-lisa, 11 September, 2012

As You Go

It rained last night
unseasonal, but perfectly suited
a quiet, constant drizzle
like a mourning

A mourning last night
expected, but patently difficult
a grey grief misting
like a rain

And I may worry as you go
so many little things
when trying to feel
at home

So many big things
rising in a heart
very far from
what it knows

But I don't worry
about you
who you are or
who you will become

You live well
and shine
soft, clear
strong

We send you
in amazement
in confidence
and with tears

A joy last night
sure, if understandably muted
a calm, constant knowing
like all that is good

-lisa, 20 August, 2012

Saudade

When I say
I miss you

I do not
speak lightly

There have been
a hundred goodbyes

Perhaps
a thousand

I have boarded
a million planes

Or stood at
security gates

And waved
a billion waves

And then
I have

Moved
on

There is no moving on
from you

You are
here

Roots wound
firmly

Through
my heart

-lisa, 18 March, 2012

And So We Celebrate!

I had my 2 week post-op check up today and the doctor said 3 good things. Number one, he observed that Byron is obviously taking good care of me. (As is my mum!) Number two, the wide smile of my abdominal scar is healing nicely. And, best of all, number three, the pathology report says all was benign. We're all so happy about that!

This evening I went out with Byron, Heather and my folks, leaving the house for my first outing since I arrived home from hospital on 15th. We went to the really delightful Technique Restaurant at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts here in Pasadena. Wow! It was a lovely experience! The food (we chose three course meals) was delicious. The students and staff were friendly, helpful and attentive. The setting was very attractive, yet informal, and the price was amazing.



Tonight I'm thankful for food and family, healing and health.

I'll raise my glass to all of that!

a few of you, so far away

if i could choose
i would not be this far
from you

the way your eyes light
and your laugh
spills out

there are days
when it makes sense
some how

the long flights
the enormous cost
the loss

i'm afraid, though, that
today is not among
those days

"These are the days they say we'll remember..."

A gift of days.
Days too precious to take lightly.
Days to be present in.

Byron and I came to North Carolina for a wedding. Not just any wedding--the wedding of very close friends. We came to celebrate Hunter and Tait's choice of each other. Byron gave the homily during the service. I was the Matron of Honor. And what an honor it was for both of us to be so intimately involved in it all. We linger in the warmth of all we were part of.

A gift of days.
Days too rare not to cherish.
Days to be filled with.

After the wedding, Byron flew back to Tanzania and I came on to LA. My sister came down from Seattle. We stayed up till midnight every night. We didn't stop talking... Not even once. We got time with our sisters-in-law and our younger brother. We enjoyed our parents, especially shopping with our mum ;-)

A gift of days.
Days too extraordinary to rush.
Days to hold onto.

Tomorrow I'll travel up to Santa Barbara to be with our older boys. There will be times with friends; times to tank up on. I'll meet someone I've long-desired to meet. I'll be at Jesse and Trevor's Tuesday night gig. There will be a book release party on Wednesday. I'll return to LA for a second book release party Thursday. My birthday will come. I'll celebrate by attending the Sufjan Stevens concert on Saturday. I'll pack up Sunday and fly home Monday.

These days, these days, these beautiful days.
I am aware--so very well aware--of the gift I've been given.

Bless Them as They Go!

This morning, bright and early, the family set off on a 10 day trip with a team of visitors. There are 15 of them all together and we've been pretty flat-out in prep for their time. It's been really good and really such a pleasure to host this group of students.

Now I'm looking around as the dust of their departure settles and making a 180 degree turn toward a whole different task. Much as I would have loved to join them on this trip, I am writing toward a deadline of the end of August and I can't actually afford the time.

They will have an amazing adventure, I am certain. They will see and experience and learn and grow so much. May it be beautiful; a lasting blessing in their lives.

Heather, above, blew me a kiss as they pulled out of the drive.

I'll be missing them so much!

Busy Being Happy

It's been quiet on the blog because I've been too busy to write...

Busy running back and forth to the shuttle drop-off, collecting various vagabond family members (and their friends.)

Busy hugging and smiling.

Busy trying to remember how to cook proportions that meet college-boys eating habits.

Busy keeping up with the dishes.

Busy making more pots of tea to accompany more conversations.

Did I mention busy smiling?

Now I'm tired, tired, tired. Not from all those good things to be busy with. No, I"m tired because it's 11pm and I've been peeling and slicing bananas for the last 90 mins with my husband who has gone completely round the bend with drying fruit. This fun little domestic project has turned him into a madman.

Never mind.

A Building Buzz

There's such a buzz in our family right now. I've been in England for a few days--a quick dash in and out for the 24-7 leadership meetings. Byron is in California for board meetings. Trevor is in Colorado with Darrelle's family. Jesse is in Belize. Colin and Heather are in Arusha with the Russell family.

But little emails keep flying around between us all.

"Can't wait to get home!"

"I'll be with you soon!"

"Hard to believe we'll be there in a few days..."

"Almost there!"

Everyone is on the move now toward home where Colin and Heather await in Tanzania. I'm most of the way there, having just landed in Nairobi and settled into the guest house for the night. Byron flies out of LA tomorrow morning and he'll meet Trevor in DC that afternoon. They will fly on together, arriving a couple of days after me. Jesse leaves Belize shortly after that and gets to us on 21st.

I think we're all getting a little wigged out with excitement.

So, if you're in transit somewhere, you might spot various Borden family members doing little jigs in airports around the world :-)

Round Here: A Photo Journal from Recent Days

Just to give you a few visuals from our Christmas break here in Tanzania... Remember that you can click on any image you would like to see larger.


Is there anything like the African sky? Correct Answer: No. (Photo by Jesse)


Some Borden and some Russell Boys. This band of brothers (Jesse, Skyler, Trevor, Colin and Chase) have all known each other since they were babies. This was during their motorcycle safari day out, aka Colin's birthday. (Photo by... I'm not sure... My Dad or Byron.)


An early breakfast of chai and chapati on the road to Tarangire. (Photo by Lisa)


Colin rules... And the rest of us get ready for our family photo. (Photo by Jesse)


While attempting to teach me how to use the white balance on my camera, Trevor takes this sweet photo of my Mum :-)


Still in "Instuctor Mode," he snaps this nice one of Jesse-the-Camera-Boy.


Trevor and Byron prepare to leave for an overnight motorcyle safari together. Happy boys, eh? (Photo by Lisa)


Now it's Jesse's turn for an overnight motorcyle safari with his Dad... (Photo by Lisa)


Byron and the boys made their saddle bags. Pretty neato. (Photo by Lisa)


"Girl's Got Curls" or "The Wonder of Sponge Rollers." (Photo by Jesse)


Our new puppy, Tesha. Her full name is Nalotuesha, which is a Maasai name meaning "She came with the rains." It was pouring the day we picked her up. And yes, she's a love. (Photo by Jesse)

We had some great days together. Yep, we did :-)

2008 Arrives!

Happy New Year from Tanzania, East Africa!
(From left to right: Trevor, Heather, Colin, Byron, Lisa, Jesse.)

Grand Folks

My parents are here :-) They arrived at Kilimanjaro International Airport (and into our huging arms) last night. Hurrah!

Friends and Family

I love this photo taken by the-girl-with-the-camera, Alexa Wan.
I love it for the warmth and joy.

Trevor and Jesse are being wrapped in welcome hugs by Dane and Carly Uhler. They were arriving for their Thursday night family/church time.

There is something really deeply good about friendships that are so life-giving and so close-as-family. These friends have known each other for many years and have something together that was forged with blood, sweat and tears... Not to mention much laughter and many good times.

But there is something else that makes this photo precious to me. You could easily trade out the actual persons in it for the parents of these four. It could very easily be me and Byron being welcomed into hugs from Marty and Carey. We also have years of friendship, forged with hard work, shared joys and miseries, goals, dreams and good times. We have broken bread together and wondered together at the mysteries of God. Though they are in Europe and we are in Africa, our friendship is not un-like what the kids share. And the kids have made our friendship richer.

What a good thing when two generations of friends are family.

Thanks for Prayers

Several of you have asked if there was news of my cousin, Brenda. (See post called "Brenda" two posts down.)

My uncle wrote us all today with the news of her passing. I will copy a portion of that below.

"Early this morning our much loved Brenda went peacefully to be with her Saviour. We are thrilled for her, no more pain, a new body, dancing with the Saints,couldn't be better. The pain for us is severe but it will not last. Please pray for her family today."

Thank you so much for continued prayers for her entire family, especially for her husband and children.

If I could think of something to say in response to the sadness of this loss, I guess I would write it.

Some times silence is best.