meet aria

Stef has a new best friend.

Everyday, little Aria comes to work with her mom (and our friend), Beauty. She then spends the better part of her day with Stef, pestering and hugging and talking and learning.

Aria only knows Tswana, her native African language, so Stef is slowly teaching her English. She sometimes points to her eyes and says "lips" or vice versa but she is making progress. The whole thing makes communication difficult, but Stef has learned some phrases in Tswana to help with discipline and Aria has learned some English phrases that get her applause.

She also has an adorable fascination with Stef's stuff, especially her hair and her sunglasses. She'll wear Stef's sunglasses (usually upside down) for hours and then will spend an hour just rubbing Stef's hair. White people's hair is a very interesting thing for her and not something she sees much of.

Among all of it, we have also learned maybe a sliver of what it looks like to be parents, albeit parents of a child who speaks a different language. We do our best to love her even when she has naughty days and we really see the beauty of God in her little eyes.

Stef has a new best friend. We have another blessing here.