Sometimes I worry about our "YES" to remain in South Africa.

Chris and I wholeheartedly know God has authored every step of our story, and we are right where we are supposed to be. It is our joy to love and lead Southpoint Church.

I worry about the repercussions of my kids growing up without their grandparents, cousins, and extended family members. I wonder what it's like for foreign soil to be your only familiar soil.

I'm sitting in the counselor’s office at Lifa’s primary school…

It’s peak summertime in Cape Town! The news predicted that it would be the “hottest place on earth” over the weekend, but a city in Brazil beat us by a degree or two. This weekend (and last… and much of the week) was well over 100 degrees F by day, and sometimes in the upper 80’s at night!

Hurricane Ike devastated the Gulf Coast of Texas in September 2008. Three years prior, I lost the home I grew up in as a result of Hurricane Rita in the same area. The destruction of Hurricane Ike was record-breaking. I was immediately hired as a crisis counselor with firsthand experience in this unexpected kind of loss. I worked with first responders, school children and staff, churches, addicts, business owners, emergency services, homeless men and women, and everyone in between.

It was a warm winter's day today, so Benjamin and I sought a shady afternoon adventure. Lifa has started rugby practice at school again, and I wanted to keep Benjamin distracted with nature rather than despair. I drove to a park in the first Cape Town neighborhood we lived in.

There’s an update! There hasn’t been an update in a very, very long time! If you’re new here: YAY! I’m glad you’re here. You can catch up on the visa saga here.

Benjamin and I headed downtown bright and early on Monday morning, armed and ready with snacks, toys and passports in hand. We arrived in our immigration lawyer’s office on the 27th floor to sign some documents and get briefed…

remain safe, but many lives and livelihoods are lost to fire and fury of epic proportions. The nation, hearts and hope have been shaking for 7 days.

I carried tension with me everywhere I went yesterday. I didn't know I was doing it, but I found myself over-stimulated, extra sensitive, and compelled to check in on friends I haven't heard from much since lockdown started….

President Cyril Ramaphosa held a "Family Meeting" for the nation of South Africa on Sunday night to address the rapid rise of COVID-19 cases. The anticipated 3rd wave has arrived, and the government was quick and wise in their response! ALL social gatherings, including church and church-related activities, was prohibited for a minimum of 14 days.

Two years ago, the Ladd family was at the bottom of our barrel, in our lowest of lows. (Except for Lifa. He’s consistently wonderful.) Chris and I KNEW God directed us to build His church. Not just any church - a church that could reach the nations. We did all the faith-filled things people do. We labored for three years with nothing but failure and rejection.

The world seemed to get bigger and smaller at the same time when I moved to South Africa in 2010. Oceans made my family feel impossibly far. I felt like a foreigner wherever I was as I maneuvered languages, cuisines, time zones and currencies. While I learned to convert the horizontal expanse from miles into kilometers, something changed vertically.

Benjamin has been socially distanced for 11 of his (almost) 22 months of life. For HALF of his life, he has only interacted with masked adults. We tested the waters at a very small, absolutely wonderful play school for two mornings this week to help him socialize and unlatch from his mama jsut a smidge. (But please, only a smidge.)

It is harder than ever to make a decision in this age of unlimited access. Ideas and opinions fly from every direction, a thousand miles a minute. It’s not just family and friends putting in their two cents anymore. It’s the whole wide world. I can EASILY spend all the time I have to play looking up the best activity for kids. I spend all the time I have to read or write looking up helpful resources I’ll never utilize…

If you’ve been around me or my writing for more than a minute, you’ve probably noticed I talk a lot about the Help Club for Moms. I reached out to the leader, Deb, over a year ago and asked if I could bring Help Club to South Africa and “make it a thing”.

I’ve lost count of how many phone calls, prayers and encouraging discussions I’ve had with Deb and the Help Club team members since then. I’ve been honored to write regularly for the international ministry.

Because it’s Friday, and it’s fun!

Have you ever felt stuck in an unending cycle of tired with no rest in sight? If you’re a mom, yes. If you’re past the age of mandatory nap times, probably. Chris and I had THE BEST DATE NIGHT EVERRRRR on Friday night. We were celebrating a new season of life. God making ways for us in ministry that are incredible. We chatted about the ups and down we’d been through since we got married while we drove to the restaurant. While we parked, Chris said, “But you know what’s different about this season? For the first time, we’re not doing it alone.” It was the perfect setup. He didn’t know that I had arranged a surprise - friends were meeting us there!

I am so thankful for these beautiful men and this beautiful life. Every day isn’t sunshine and roses… in fact, there was such an extraordinary toddler meltdown all the way home I ended the day with a migraine. BUT it’s these photos, these glistening moments in a flowery field, I will turn to on the cloudier days to remind me I am loved deeply and fully by this fantastic, flowery family of mine.

The Two Oceans Aquarium has re-opened! Benjamin and I are annual pass holders, and I was thrilled to go back this morning. It was so good for my soul on a dark, rainy day to walk into a world of wonder. There were larger than life sea creatures that only the King of Glory could have imagined and spoken into existence.

It’s the first day back to school for Lifa after another 2 week COVID-inspired holiday. That boy is ready to be around kids his own age! His little brother will be sad to see him go. We’ve had a beautiful time together in our beautiful city. Cape Town, we love you!

Is there anyone else out there who thrives on schedule, rhythm and routine?

Does anybody live their best life within some good old fashioned structure?

And then 2020 happened!?!

It’s not that I’m anal or hyper-organized. (You could ask my husband about that... but don’t.) But I do thrive on order. One of the ways I care for my family is by bringing order to our home.