Secondhand Lions

I've decided, that when people talk about me I want them to come down to the final thought of: She went out with her boots on.

Now, when I come back from Africa and am back on the payroll of some company somewhere I can only hope and pray they're Spring '11 Manolo Blahnik black booties; but the thought none the less remains. I want people to think of me as the person who never went down without a fight - who grabbed life by the balls and shook it within an inch of its life. I want people to say that when adventure presented itself, I followed and when a risk came up I jumped and landed safely on the other side.

As I set off on a weekend that will be full of endless checklists, packing - unpacking - final packing, letting my mom go through my packing, and finally zipping up the bag, I wanted to leave a final (pre ocean crossing) word, nay, a challenge to myself.

When we're on that plane, flying to another continent and people happen to think about the Manolos on their way to Rwanda I want them to say - they didn't let a moment pass them by; they went out with their boots on.

When we post our first pictures of the first few days in Kigali, our house, our antics, our miniadventures I hope people open them up, look at them, laugh at us and then think - these two girls are living out loud and savoring the moment; they went out with their boots on.

When we overcome the first bout of homesickness, a moment when things seem to be falling apart or when we face our first problem millions of miles from home I hope our friends will say - they pushed through the mud, came up on the other side and made mud pies; they went out with their boots on.

After almost two months in Indiana, with countless episodes of 'country living 101' I can think of no better motto to put in my last post before crossing the ocean. My boots may have been Ugg boots this winter, but they were steadfast and strong when I was unloading truck fulls of wood, being a midwife for a dog in labor and loading a wood burning stove. I know that I won't have boots on per say in Africa (because it's warm enough for FLIP FLOPS!!!) but I know that spirit of determination and resilience will be radiating through my fingertips - ready to pitch the first log of challenge into the burning stove.

Friends, the first hill in the rollercoaster is almost over and the next week will be the headrush, eardrum pounding, speed thrill downhill thrust we've been waiting almost a year for - I can't wait to see you on the other side.

We're Going Out With Our Boots On!!