Author: Jenni at 100 Cups of Coffee

All I want for Christmas…

~ Jenni at 100 Cups of Coffee ~ Leave a comment

If you know me…you know that Christmas (to quote Buddy the elf)…is a GINORMOUS event in our family…and it has been for most of my life. 

We Ellis’ love a good Christmas season.  My cousin a few years ago had her Christmas wreath (or tree?) up the day after Halloween…we carry the same genes and are made from the same mold, and we like to stretch out Christmas as long as possible.  So I welcome Christmas music in early November and I often times have my decorations up through New Years Day. 

Every day of December I have a stocking that is filled with something for us to do to prepare for Christmas day.  A daily advent “stocking” activity: an act of service, cookies to bake, a musical to see, a present to wrap, a song to sing, a live nativity to experience.   I do miss those little stockings over the mantel, and haven’t quite figured out how to convert my family traditions to our UG apartment.  There are more reasons that I will discuss later as to why I have not gone all out and done Crazy Jenni Cockerham Christmas in Uganda…but the girl who goes BIG at Christmas time is a bit of  a Christmas minimalist this year! 

Minimalist at Christmas?  It can’t be??  Jenni, surely you can find other options and ways to celebrate and prepare!?!?  I actually think if I had realized we would still be here for Christmas I would have likely devoted an entire suitcase to be filled with decorations, treats, and Christmas comforts.  So there is that.  But here the Christmas decorations are a RACKET.  First of all–sorry–I try to only say positive–but this is my favorite season and I have very very high expectations for Christmas decorations.  These are honestly a bit gaudy, WAY over-priced, and remind me of something to be found in my grandmothers attic.   One wreath I found was 153,000 shillings which is about 60 bucks.  It was spray painted silver pine cones and some sort of twigs and branches twisted together!   Christmas lights are expensive, and I just keep thinking I don’t think I can pay for something I have back in the states and love for something that is SO expensive and uses a different socket than at home!   I did however find on the bottom shelf of a grocery store a wreath that you will see pictured below.  It was 7,000 shillings.  I made them do a price check twice because it is a plug in wreath that lights up and also flashes and does other crazy things.  Something I would have passed by at Target, but a GEM that is displayed proudly in our kitchen right now!   (This–to clarify was $2.75!)  What?  Thank you God for this little Christmas miracle!   Besides the wreath we have decided to go homemade this year.  We did an advent tree made of plastic plates so every day we count down to Christmas by checking out our tree that hangs in the window.  Also Kylee and I worked VERY hard to make these snowflake/Christmas stars ( paper snowflakes ) that hang over our kitchen table!  (Thank you Sarah Mullins!)  They were an absolute craft highlight so far…but there are more Christmas crafts to come!  

                                                       (Yep, a tad bit different this year!) 

                                  (These just make me HAPPY!  7 Snowflakes for the 7 Cs!)

All of this to say–Christmas is different this year.  One difference is without all my stockings, and shopping and other distractions the daily advent reading ( JESUS STORY BOOK ADVENT ) has been our Christmas focus each day.   Our advent time has been so very sweet to have a daily reading from something that EVERYONE can understand.  And to have discussion and prepare our hearts not just weekly with my beautiful purple, pink, and white candles…but daily has been good for my soul.   Thank you Sara Walters for suggesting it–it has literally been and will be our focal point for Christmas this year.   For those who are interested in a daily family reading between now and Christmas, check this out…her blog also has great ideas about how to do daily activities as a family to prepare your hearts and minds for Christmas…it is only the 3rd…they are short you can catch up quick!  (The author of this blog sounds almost as nutty as I am about Christmas…but I win…I just do.)

The biggest difference I have noticed about Christmas is the kids’ conversations.   Kylee is trying to figure out thoughtful homemade gifts for her friends.   About a week ago I overheard her say to her friend, “All I want for Christmas is my mom and dad under the same roof.”  Wow.  That will stop you cold.  And considering that I am sweating like crazy this December, this is quite difficult to do!  Coming from Kylee, whose love language is “gifts,”…she loves to think of thoughtful things to do and create for others!   She is always helping ME be creative and thoughtful with my gifts for family and friends.  My birthdays have exponentially changed for the better over the past 9 years because thoughtful Kylee ensures that my next birthday is better than the last.  This girl gives and receives love through gifts.  So for Kylee Cockerham to say, ALL she wanted was for her mom and dad to be in the same place about laid me out.  If I was hoping my children would have some perspective change while spending a few months in Uganda–I believe we are close to mission accomplished.  I know we all have many more lessons to learn while we are here–but I am truly truly thankful for the things that we are learning and the ways my children are maturing.  It was Mary who was told good news of her son and she “treasured them in her heart”…this mom is treasuring the life lessons that are being learned and the ways that He is transforming ALL of us from the inside out.  We will NEVER be the same! 

So THANK YOU Uganda for a more quiet Christmas.  For not having the Christmas displays that distract and cause me to go fill up my cart with stuff that will rust and pull my heart away from what really matters.  I am glad Christmas items are a bit gaudy and overpriced because it is allowing for hours of quality time with my daughter creating snowflakes and memories that will last a life
time.  

I am also thankful for the opportunity to spend this Christmas with new friends.  We hosted a December 3rd Christmas pancake breakfast at our place this morning–not fancy but the pancakes were green and reddish (pink)?!?   Our friends’ hubbies headed back to the US yesterday so our houses are all wives flying solo and I knew that the morning after Chris left I would have liked to have a pancake party!  Love these precious people and the things that I am learning from them, the fellowship for our children, and the ways that I have felt so supported during the time while Chris has been away.  

                              

                                                           Check out her “winter” scarf!!!

           Jonathan with his pancakes and honey–he doesn’t like any bread without it!

                    Smiles and clean plates from little boys with earaches make me happy!

  (I am sorry but please stop and get excited about our rockin’ wreath for $2.75!)


There are more Christmas blogs coming–it is a subject too close to my heart.  But I pray as this month begins that you will take some time to TRULY slow down.  That you would not let the glitz and glimmer or the “to do list” distract from what really matters this season.  Because the parties, friends, family, food, service projects, and the rest are good…but if they take away from the true meaning of this holiday…one that came from VERY humble beginnings with no glitz, glam, or glory.  Then maybe just maybe we need to re-think our GINORMOUS Christmas holiday. 

May You Be a Blessing and May Christmas Be a Blessing to You! 

Jenni 


    

Being REAL Thankful Even When You Don’t Feel Like It…

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You know today was a bit tougher than I had anticipated.  Chris is leaving to go be with my bro and sis in law and then on to see his dad for Thanksgiving.  Though we have wonderful plans and at this moment I can hear the children singing a song they plan to perform tomorrow for their Thanksgiving play…it is still hard to be away from my hubby.  I have cried a few tears today and cried out to God in understanding…but also disappointment. 

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Thankful Kids…

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At the beginning of week I passed out notebooks and told my children that these are their “thankfulness notebooks.” I asked them to write at least one thing per day that they were thankful for, but they were welcome to write more.  I have been so surprised by the response of all of my children, especially Kylee, as she will almost fill a page of gratitude each day.  (This is from my eldest who has the “most to miss” and is the most likely to become homesick.)  So to see her in this place finding so many things and people to be grateful for is inspiring.  

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Be Careful What you Wish For…

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I spent my 20s openly envious of several friends who moved to Africa.  (Or even friends who visited for a few weeks at a time.)   I would soak up their stories when they returned and want to hear all of the life-altering lessons they learned.  I lived vicariously through them.  I would ooooh and ahhhh over their African “gear” that they brought back: art work, jewelry and bags, envisioning the women who made them…longing to meet one in person myself.   

I would even pray that God would move me to Africa “some day”…

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We Invite You to Join Our Epic Adventure…

~ Jenni at 100 Cups of Coffee ~ 2 Comments

Me without words is never.  Whenever a painful or powerful moment occurs in my life, I immediately begin to write words in my head or scribble them down on the nearest piece of scrap paper.  A receipt, anything will do as long as I get them in word form.  Writing is therapy.  Whether it is descriptions of what He is up to–or how I might bring encouragement to others through a lesson I have learned…words flow constantly.   So to have to be radio silent for so long and mysterious on the matters of my heart and our home…well, it has been challenging to say the least! 

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Last Installment of Observations in Africa…

~ Jenni at 100 Cups of Coffee ~ 1 Comment
When I took on the adventure of following a similar challenge of Jen Hatmaker’s book 7 and drag along several of my friends with me…I was changed in how I viewed the world, our resources, and all things related.  But being here–I realize that Africa has some lessons to teach us on minimalistic living!!
People here live with very little.  And for the most part they seem pretty content.  I saw a woman today with her bra straps tied because unlike myself and all of my friends–when hers wore thin, broke, or she received this hand me down from another–she figured out a way to make it work!  Many Americans like being savvy, frugal, recycling, reusing, even thrifting and being thrifty.  But it is something that is more of an option not a necessity.  Clothes here are worn until they are down to threads.  I saw a man with shoes that only held the sole the rest of the shoe would flop on and off (strings, and the top part) with every step.  (It is doubtful that 7 items of clothing could be plucked from most closets.)  Homes are simple–people live with far less space and far more people.  They have small kitchens and turn off ALL their lights at night…if they have electricity.   Food is simple.  We have lived as a family off the same (or similar) meal for the past month.  Rice, beans, potatoes, and some sort of fruit or vegetable.  The beans are always in a delicious sauce–one that tastes unique or different with different spices–and the vegetables rotate with what comes up from the garden that day…but VERY similar food.  My children do not complain–and it makes me want to rethink the huge rotation I have at home.   Our guest house is powered by electricity and solar power–and sunshine is a resource they have plenty of–and so they use the sunshine and often switch over to solar when we lose power…and this happens quite often.  Speaking of using natural resources–the guest house also collects rain water from the roof and that is the water that is used for our showers each day.  Almost nothing is wasted…they re-use everything.
In our home they have avocados falling from the trees like rain drops.  The owners use those for meals–some are “borrowed” by the neighbors, but also the trees produce so many that they then sell the rest to a company in Kampala that uses it for cosmetics.  

The things you read or see and hear about in Africa are real.  The physical need here really is great. (Not for huge houses, electric stoves, or even cars.)  But for clean water and better medical clinics and stimulus of the economy.  With this lack comes an observable pain and brokenness.  (It is not that people are discontent–because amazingly many many are quite content and full of joy.  Their happiness is not based on material items.)   But there is suffering due to illnesses and lack of resources to care for those who are sick or dying.   There is lack that leads to little or no education, and this perpetuates a cycle of poverty and for some that means no food on the table.  The landscape of our pain in the US looks so very different but our threads weave similar stories.   We are broken in America too, our need is great.  There is still illness, broken relationships, and heartache.  There is a significant spiritual depravity in our country.  But those needs are often masked by prosperity and temporary comfort, by college football games and trips to the movies.  By haircuts, pedicures, new outfits, vacations, or fill in the blank for your own personal “treat” that helps to take the sting of pain away.   In Africa things are far more raw and real and pain is more on the surface.  Needs are more obvious.  There is a helplessness that I feel concerning the physical needs–but in the end, there are real world problems all over the world that money alone cannot fix.  

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Reflections From My First 20 Days in Africa: Boda Bodas and Java Divine

~ Jenni at 100 Cups of Coffee ~ 1 Comment

If you would like to read the history of these blog posts please see blog 1 of this series. 

I mentioned in my first blog that…
This blog’s length became so long that I decided to share it in several installments.  It is written in the way that I have lived life in Africa thus far:  Free falling, blown by the breeze.  Moving in and out of each experience touched by an incredible moment laced with extreme joy or intense pain.  Sometimes hit by something comical when all one can do is laugh.  But at the end of the day, there is little time for process and there is no way to wrap your mind around Africa, or tie it all up in a pretty pink bow…  

The travel here is super nutty and I estimate that 90% (maybe more) of all people of Fort Portal are without personal transportation.  So EVERYONE is walking…everywhere.  Including cows–unattended–down the middle of the road.   We walked 3 kilometers on Wednesday to the market but Roland told me that many people walk all the way from Fort Portal (in town) to the market–which is about 8-10 miles each way!   Continue reading →