Our last days in Mali

Some of the memories of our last days in Mali...

When Silas climbed into the suitcase as I was packing, I had to take a picture because it reminded me of years ago...

when he was just a baby and we were packing to go to Mali. He doesn't fit like he once did. :)

 

About three days before we left our goat had a baby. I was so thankful because I was afraid we were going to miss it. It was a blessing that the new little one came before we left. His name in Max.

This was the last morning the kids were at the house. They spent the night with friends so it was only Brett and I for the very last night.

I wanted to get some pictures our yard and house, just for memory sake, since we won't live there again.

D getting some love with the dogs, whom we miss terribly (but are well taken care of with friends).

Our sweet Caroline

Miss Burkina

Both Brett and I went to take the boys to their last day of school. On the way Kenan randomly started to sing. As we drove down the road, our whole family joined in and sang, "Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other..." The next song they chose brought tears to my eyes, "You give and take away, you give and take away. My heart will choose to say, 'Lord, blessed be Your Name."  It was such a beautiful moment.

Silas and Anise on his last day at L'ecole Samuel

And we left him like we did many mornings, him running after us trying to leave. Joy of joys. And do notice that he is without shoes. He apparently was taking them off as soon as he got to school in the mornings so the last few weeks of school he went barefoot.

Saying goodbye to friends was no fun. These are our neighbors who have been so kind and gracious to us over the years.

The boys and their best bud, Joel

Fitting that the last picture I have of them all together is on the trampoline because the very first pictures they have together are on this same trampoline many years earlier.

Me and my dear, dear friend without whom I would have been lost the last few weeks as we packed up (not to mention many other times throughout the years). Words can't even express what Alison and her family mean to me. We will miss them immeasurably.

And before we knew it, the days were gone and we were in Bamako ready to fly out. We left with smiles on our faces, even if they were only watermelon smiles.