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| A Cameroonian delicacy: Fufu, Njamanjama and Kati Kati |
Hello, lovelies — how is your week starting? Before I continue, let me ask any mother, especially those with toddlers: how do you manage it all? Sometimes I feel like every chore in the world falls on me. I’m often tired, always juggling something pressing, and occasionally worry I might lose it. Motherhood is demanding — exhausting and incredibly rewarding at once. It still amazes me that I find time to write blog posts. I draft so many posts in my head; the challenge is transferring them to the screen. If only my thoughts could auto-populate a computer…
This week I’m starting a new Monday segment called “Here’s What’s Up!” where I’ll share highlights from my week. I go through so many lovely moments that deserve documenting with photos, and I hope you’ll enjoy the new series.
Last week was eventful. Big news: I signed up as an independent beauty consultant for Mary Kay. I’m thrilled — I love makeovers. After attending a Mary Kay makeover I realized this was something I wanted to do. The products feel authentic and transformative; applying a good foundation genuinely changes your look instantly. If you’re local and want a makeover, let me know!
Speaking of Mary Kay, I recently had one of the most relaxing evenings I’ve had in a long time. My director invited me to a night of dessert and coffee at a historic restaurant. We took a photo outside before going in. A dapper gentleman in a black suit greeted us warmly and led us to a classy room where we chatted and had a chance to get to know each other. He told stories about the building, which dates back to the 1870s. The tales were interesting, slightly eerie but shared with a delightful sense of humor. He then guided us on a brief tour. See some pictures below.
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| The wine room in the basement of the building |
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| My choice: Chocolate cake |
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| My director’s dessert: a deconstructed banana cream pie |
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| A chandelier in the historic building |
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| My recruiter’s dessert: a caramel creation |
I also tried my hand at tennis this weekend. Initially I struggled to hit the ball, but with a few tips from Mr. N I finally got the hang of it. Playing well felt so satisfying that I didn’t want the game to end. Our oldest child remarked, “You and Daddy played tennis for a long time,” since she had been tending to her little sister while we played. Playing tennis with Mr. N turned out to be a wonderful way to reconnect as a couple. Here are some snapshots from our game.
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| We finished just as dusk fell |
Meanwhile, fall is officially here — the colors are changing and the air feels crisp.
At the farmers’ market I found fresh groundnuts that I boiled at home. They tasted exactly like the country peanuts I remember — such a comforting flavor. Next time I’ll buy more while I can.
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| Kontri groundnut (boiled peanuts) |
I also bought fresh njamanjama (Cameroonian huckleberry) at the market and used it in the stir-fry pictured at the start of this post.
At church this Sunday we began a new series titled “This Is How We Change the World.” Over the coming weeks we’ll explore practical ways to live more like Jesus. It’s an encouraging series and I’m looking forward to what we’ll learn together.
Here’s a photo of me at church:
Baby Y attended the babies’ church for the first time and adapted beautifully — no fuss at all.
All in all, it was a super week. How was yours?