WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR CAN MAKE

Exactly one year ago today, our whole world changed.

We brought Becky and Billy home to officially become part of the Berrytribe on U.S. soil.

Since that time, we've had a year of firsts, especially for Billy and Becky. Here's a small list of what they had to wait almost 6 years before experiencing or getting:

• fly in a plane
• have a mom and dad that live with you
• have 3 older brothers
• actually pet an animal and discover they won't eat you
• go to the dentist
• go to an amusement park
• ride in a boat
• ride a train
• have their own big bed
• experience Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Independence Day, Halloween, and Birthdays as family traditions.
• go camping
• watch a movie on TV
• own your own clothes.
• have a pair of shoes that are not communal property.
• use a phone
• play a video game
• go on a picnic
• drink a slurpee
• drink clean/safe water straight from the faucet
• ride a bike

Tonight, in celebration of this year, we told stories of the time in Uganda around a dinner table and I made a traditional Ugandan feast. Shannon thought I had school, but by providence, tonight was a night off and we were able to grub down and celebrate with some traditional food I learned how to make while in Uganda.

My sweet Jake saw all the food on the table and said, "Wow Dad, this is a feast." I said, "Yep, straight from Uganda." Jake then said, "Oh man Dad, I feel bad for all the people there who don't have enough food to have a feast." I said, "I agree Jake. We are blessed." We thanked God for all he has given us and the bounty of life and food around the table and dove in.

Here's some pictures of me learning to cook with my Ugandan mentor, Prossy- our host in the Ugandan guest house who cooked meals for me for like 6 weeks of my life in 8 months time.

Here's the feast 10,000 miles and 365 days later. Chapati, Rice, Beans, Cabbage, and Roasted Chicken. I think I'll leave this to an annual experience. I spent 3 hours gathering and making dinner tonight since I vowed to not use any resources that Prossy didn't have- minus fresh water from the sink- so no electric mixers/food processors and no short cuts allowed. I can't believe Prossy did this daily for us.