touches of Africa

Its hard to believe we have been home three months now... Seriously?!! Close to 100 days. Wowza! :) The transition and adjustment has been slow; difficult in some ways. I'm not ready to write about it yet. Still processing... 2 1/2 years worth. That is A LOT. I will put some of it into words when I think I can do it without tears rolling down my face because of the overwhelming flood of sweet, sweet memories...

But one of the things that has helped ease it, is bringing a little bit of that dear continent into our home since moving back into our house and settling in. The memories... mental images... everything... I still think about EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. I hope I always will. And I think having these added "touches" in our home will be simple reminders to the eye on a daily basis.

These are not just "souvenirs" from a memorable trip/vacation once taken that's now in the past. Nope, to us, these are our favorites from a place we once lived, breathed, and experienced for a short 2 1/2 years that will forever remain in our hearts...

Brought from Africa (Benin, Togo, South Africa, & Sierra Leone) to our home:

Ebony wooden elephant from S.L on our living room mantel.

I love Sierra Leone from Sierra Leone :),

Hand-painted card of the country of Benin from Benin :)

(From our window sill above the kitchen sink)

Photo I took from an outdoor restaurant in South Africa.

(Kitchen counter)

Safari pics I took in South Africa.

(Dining Room)

My fave!! The African woman/momma... from Benin.

(Hallway Wall)

Photos of coconut I took in Sierra Leone... love, love, LOVE :)

(Another wall in same hallway)

Table runner from scrap fabric leftover from a skirt I had made in Togo.

(it needs to be ironed) :)

Fabric from Benin to hopefully be made to cover these leopard throw pillows.

(Basement Family Room)

Photo I took from Togo's arrival ceremony. Words are from a friend :)

(Office desk)

Love design not from Africa, but I fell in-love with it when I saw it...

printed it and then framed it.

(Mudroom towards basement)

My "overnight bag," water bottle carrier, and coin/cellphone purse :)

(Mudroom)

... Thanking God for these treasures.