The Diary Game [21/09/2025]// Sunday Strength.

Steem greetings guys from the motherland of Cameroon and welcome to another day with my lifestyle content. Today was one of those Sundays that just did not go according to plan due to a mix of exhaustion, surprises, and that ever-familiar Cameroonian unpredictability with electricity.

I had to accompany my husband to the bus station early this morning to collect a bag of food items we had sent money to his cousin to buy and send via the bus station. Honestly, I had planned for a restful Sunday after a busy week, especially since the kids were at home relaxed. I had looked forward to taking it slow, getting the kids ready for church, and maybe even attending service myself. But clearly, life had other plans, I never expected to stay long at the station because I was using a private car.

^{At the bus station waiting on the bus carrying my bag to arrive.}

The trip to the station was not too stressful because we did not use a public transport vehicle, but the waiting and the uncertainty that always comes with transportation in this country wore me out. The bus arrived later than expected, and when it finally did, there was the usual back-and-forth of confirming ownership of the bag, checking for missing items, and settling one or two things with the driver. By the time we were done and got back home, it was already too late to even think of church.

I felt disappointed not preparing the kids for Sunday service and I could tell they were a bit confused. They are used to our little Sunday morning rituals: bathing, ironing clothes, finding lost shoes, and dashing out in a rush. But with the late return and how drained I was, I just could not bring myself to do it all. I told myself God understands he he he he, sometimes, duty at home calls louder than expected.

To make matters worse, there was an unannounced blackout the entire day. No warning, no schedule, just darkness and heat which threw all my plans off balance. I could not preserve the fresh items we collected as I had hoped, so I had to get to work quickly. I cleaned, washed some of the items, and sliced vegetables and other perishables to keep them in containers, hoping the electricity company would show us mercy before they go bad.

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Then came the cooking for lunch, and resumed slicing later. I decided to make ogbono soup with some of the meat and stockfish from the food bag. I threw in some okonghombong leaves, ground crayfish, and palm oil, and it simmered beautifully and a thick, hearty pot of soup was ready. I prepared fufu and we all ate together. The kids were thrilled, and my husband, despite being tired himself, was grateful. That first scoop of soup made me forget how drained I was and a kind of healing that comes from good food shared with family gives a different feeling.

I resumed chopping the carrots, green beans, and bell peppers, carefully slicing each one into uniform pieces. Once that was done, I washed the cabbage thoroughly, letting the excess water drain before packing it into ziplock bags. I sealed the bags tightly to preserve the freshness and placed them in the fridge for future use.

I thought the Sunday would mean enough rest for me, but today reminded me that rest looks different depending on the season of life. I may not have made it to church today, but I served in my own way to my family. Until my next diary guys, it is goodnight from my end.