traveling across the zambian country, we approached a small marketplace — a collection of vegetables, woven baskets and livestock. men gathered in shade and children ran here and there, towing kites made of wire and plastic shopping bags. a woman — tall, strong, slender — walked happy through the commerce with a large crate atop her head, filled with flowers in every color.

victoria falls thunder, swallowing me & my camera.

lindsay & john, on the road between lusaka & livingstone.

in amsterdam, we shared an ice-cream and wondered how our months in mozambique would unfold -- who we would be when they were over. i cried a little and thought of home, of our island & the faces of my four-year-old students. i watched the rush of travelers and luggage, feeling american, feeling young and underdressed.

days before we left the island, trenton & i enjoyed a stormy afternoon at kahana bay--a hug & kiss from God.

tuesday & thursday mornings, shuffling feet at the door & an explosion of energy--dance, sing, play, create, destroy, hide, seek.

the ko'olau mountain range on a wet saturday afternoon--my heart is in these mountains, on this island.

i've set a goal to be filled with gratitude, to spend more quiet, thoughtful moments appreciating goodness in my life. there is peace in gratitude, there is power in looking to God with warm, happy eyes and saying, 'thank you for trenton's good laugh' and 'thank you for the color of the sea today'.

“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man, true nobility is being superior to your former self.” Hemingway