Here I sit, comfortably in my pjs, writing in my blog. Last year we were at my sisters with friends of theirs, playing pictionary (boys vs. girls, girls managed to win!). This year, at home, Tom's on the computer/xbox/something shooting something, I'm almost done with a book, and the girls have friends spending the night. And I'm in my pjs, so it's a GREAT evening (and I'll make it up to 12, but not far beyond that!). Life is great, God is most generous (especially to this undeserving soul), and I adore my family. Can't ask for anything more in 2011.....
Christmas was GREAT for all of us. Tom's cataract surgery was a success. Vision is definitely a blessing -- can you imagine life without it? The day afterwards, he and my dad went to see "True Grit" while the girls and my mom enjoyed "How do you Know?". That evening we all went to Muriel's on Jackson Square for dinner. That's my new favorite local "fancy" restaurant. WOW!
Friday (Christmas Eve) saw me at the gym for yoga and a relaxed day afterwards. This was the first year that all participated in the stuffing of stockings. Side-note -- in my family, I believe that the stockings are the high light of Christmas. While there is nothing included of "great" value, this is where we spend the most time, on the shopping, wrapping (yup, we wrap them!), and enjoyment of everyone unwrapping them. We go in order from young to old (sorry, mom!) and I really enjoy all of this -- even the unwrapping of toothpaste!. I have my childhood stocking, the girls have the ones their grandmother made, and Tom has one my mom made 'specially for him. We tale a break in the middle to heat up breakfast (cinnamon/sugar monkey bread) and enjoy that while we finish stockings. Then onto the gifts. The older I get the more I enjoy seeing the smiles on people's faces when they open their gifts! There is certainly a great joy in giving. We had turkey and all the fixin's for dinner and a relaxing day over all.
"Boxing Day" had us visiting my aunt and cousins and their kiddos. I haven't seen my cousin Ted and his wife for several years, although I'd briefly seen their two kids this summer. And although my aunt, cousin, and her family live less than an hour away, the longer we live here, the less often we see one another. So that was definitely a treat.
On the 27th the girls, mom and I headed to Foley, AL for outlet shopping with the cash from Christmas and birthdays burning holes in our pockets. We checked into the hotel, grabbed some lunch, and headed to the outlet. This particular one is arranged in 2 "rings". We hit the outer one that day, had dinner and spent the night and did the inner ring in the morning. Maggie and I are in negative cash-flow, while Abby has some left. A blessing to have money to spend, and time to spend with family. Meanwhile, Tom and my dad finished painting the ceiling in my kitchen (who got the better end of that deal?).
We returned Tuesday afternoon and showed all our purchases and had a relaxing day. Wednesday saw us heading to the French Quarter. Had a nice lunch, did a bit of shopping, and attempted to get beignets at the Cafe du Monde. Line was QUITE prohibitive, so we headed to the branch in Metairie and had our donuts there.
Mom and dad left Thursday before I was awake. Talked to them a couple times on the road. Tom took the girls to see "True Grit" while I enjoyed (?) time alone to finish laundry and iron.....Today was yoga and a couple small errands. The girls have friends over to share New Years with while Tom plays a computer game and I blog and read. Typical new years in Metairie!!!!
Praying that 2011 is the best for all of us.......
Friday, December 31, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Christmas 2010
Merry Christmas to all!
2010 year in review….
Happiest of holidays to you and your family and friends! All is well with the Webbs and we had a GREAT 2010.
Tom was (as usual!) busy working to keep us afloat. A few trips overseas, MANY to Houston, and some other fascinating places in the world. He’s gotten back into karate and Maggie is encouraging him to go to the gym with her in the early evenings.
The defining moment for my year (aside from the great things the 4 of us did together!) was a trip to Mali last January with my dad. Dad had gone in 2009 with his brother with the same organization (Tandana) and I was so intrigued that I got signed up to go myself. Truly an incredible experience. We did some touring of the country, then spent a short week in their “adopted” village where we helped the villagers plant hundreds of fruit trees and build a rock wall around (to keep the sheep and goats out). Reports state that some fruit is growing, and dad will be returning again this year with an update!
Maggie’s big event for the year has been making the transition from grammar to high school (private high schools start in 8th grade for the most part here). She quit dancing and ran cross country this past fall and is looking forward to track in the spring. She has made many new friends (going from a co-ed class of 42 to an all-girls class of about 125!) and is also succeeding academically.
Over the summer, Abby participated in swim team and the JCC – man, can she swim breast stroke! In the fall, she started upper school (5th grade) this year – first year where there are MANY different teachers (one per subject) and changing rooms for each class. She ran for student council, but didn’t win (at least the boy who one is a friend of hers!). She also played intramural volleyball and it turns out she’s quite a server! She continues with violin and I am astounded by her progress.
As a family we made several great trips this year. Over the Mardi Gras break, we took the train to Tom’s favorite place in the world – Big Bend National Park in west Texas. My second no-make-up-vacation of the year! We were both really impressed that the girls were able to complete a 12 mile round-trip hike that included a 4000 foot elevation change. We hiked for 4 days and enjoyed coming back to the lodge in the evening for comfortable sleeping and someone else making supper! We enjoyed it so much we’re heading back again this year…
During the summer we flew to North Carolina to visit my family and enjoyed a week in Pigeon Forge with them as well as my sister and her family. Did the tourist items, including Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede which was a hit with all. Tom flew home after that trip while the girls and I stayed an extra week.
Over Thanksgiving we went up to see Tom’s mom and Lou. Picked Maggie up at school on Tuesday afternoon, drove to Memphis and arrived in Arkansas on Wednesday. GREAT meal Thursday (even with the freezing rain storm) and nice relaxing. Too bad it was a short visit….next time!
2010 year in review….
Happiest of holidays to you and your family and friends! All is well with the Webbs and we had a GREAT 2010.
Tom was (as usual!) busy working to keep us afloat. A few trips overseas, MANY to Houston, and some other fascinating places in the world. He’s gotten back into karate and Maggie is encouraging him to go to the gym with her in the early evenings.
The defining moment for my year (aside from the great things the 4 of us did together!) was a trip to Mali last January with my dad. Dad had gone in 2009 with his brother with the same organization (Tandana) and I was so intrigued that I got signed up to go myself. Truly an incredible experience. We did some touring of the country, then spent a short week in their “adopted” village where we helped the villagers plant hundreds of fruit trees and build a rock wall around (to keep the sheep and goats out). Reports state that some fruit is growing, and dad will be returning again this year with an update!
Maggie’s big event for the year has been making the transition from grammar to high school (private high schools start in 8th grade for the most part here). She quit dancing and ran cross country this past fall and is looking forward to track in the spring. She has made many new friends (going from a co-ed class of 42 to an all-girls class of about 125!) and is also succeeding academically.
Over the summer, Abby participated in swim team and the JCC – man, can she swim breast stroke! In the fall, she started upper school (5th grade) this year – first year where there are MANY different teachers (one per subject) and changing rooms for each class. She ran for student council, but didn’t win (at least the boy who one is a friend of hers!). She also played intramural volleyball and it turns out she’s quite a server! She continues with violin and I am astounded by her progress.
As a family we made several great trips this year. Over the Mardi Gras break, we took the train to Tom’s favorite place in the world – Big Bend National Park in west Texas. My second no-make-up-vacation of the year! We were both really impressed that the girls were able to complete a 12 mile round-trip hike that included a 4000 foot elevation change. We hiked for 4 days and enjoyed coming back to the lodge in the evening for comfortable sleeping and someone else making supper! We enjoyed it so much we’re heading back again this year…
During the summer we flew to North Carolina to visit my family and enjoyed a week in Pigeon Forge with them as well as my sister and her family. Did the tourist items, including Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede which was a hit with all. Tom flew home after that trip while the girls and I stayed an extra week.
Over Thanksgiving we went up to see Tom’s mom and Lou. Picked Maggie up at school on Tuesday afternoon, drove to Memphis and arrived in Arkansas on Wednesday. GREAT meal Thursday (even with the freezing rain storm) and nice relaxing. Too bad it was a short visit….next time!
Friday, December 24, 2010
cataracts
So this past Wednesday Tom had his right cataract removed. As you can imagine, he was a bit apprehensive about the procedure. As a "veteran" of two separate Lasik surgeries, I was a bit more confident and while concerned, attempted to be the positive side of the equation.
We left the house to arrive for the 8:45 appointment to the concierge surgery center. They checked Tom's name, ID, inquired which eye (put a sticker on it), and asked birth date -- apparently this was repeated to him often enough that whenever anyone would enter the room he'd recite it.....They took him back from the waiting area at about 9 and I sat and "caught up" on all the People magazines (not my normal, but certainly a time-passer!). About 10 they came to get me and, I assumed, he was done and that I was going to the recovery area. Nope. Instead I went into a small inner room where I was able to watch the surgery via tv with on of the nurses talking me through was was happening (quit reading until the last paragraph if you're squeamish!). Quite interesting, actually. The view I had was of his eyeball -- it took up the entire tv screen. It was the same view the doctor had -- the microscope she used had the camera attached. First they made a small incision, then came in with the large incision maker (about the size of a toothpick). Then the put in the tool that breaks up the lens with ultrasound and vacuums it all out. It was really interesting to see how after the lens was shattered, you could see the cloudiness more from the "pieces" and watch them be sucked out. Basically took less than 10 minutes total. The doctor came in to talk to me, letting me know that it was considerably thicker than she'd anticipated but it all went well and he'd be in the recovery area soon. He came home and rested for the afternoon and I "babysat" him.....Mom took the girls for mani-pedis and then mom and dad took them to a movie (the Focker one which they don't recommend). Mom and I then left Tom with dad and went to the grocery to get the stuff we hadn't gotten on Monday.
Yesterday, Tom took dad with him for his 6:45 appointment. They then went to breakfast and came home. We all vacated the house at 11 as it was to be cleaned. The girls went to see "How do you Know?" (cute, light, not one I'd say run out to see) and the boys to see "True Grit" (which they DO recommend to go out and see). Home again for a bit before our fancy dinner out -- Muriel's on Jackson Square. Tom had been there for work functions before, but the rest of us had never gone. YUM! I had a spinach salad, grilled fish, and sorbet. The girls had steak (Abby ate the entire thing). Maggie had room for dessert -- flourless chocolate cake. Mom had a crab appetizer, salad, lamb, and bread pudding. Dad has oyster appetizer, salad, fish, and creme brulee. Tom enjoyed a pasta appetizer, salad, and bbq shrimp. No one went away hungry and the girls and I will certainly go back! Today we're doing the pre-meal prep for tomorrow -- stuffing is cooking, potatoes baking, pie will be baked, table is set, mushrooms are sauteed.......Merry Christmas!
We left the house to arrive for the 8:45 appointment to the concierge surgery center. They checked Tom's name, ID, inquired which eye (put a sticker on it), and asked birth date -- apparently this was repeated to him often enough that whenever anyone would enter the room he'd recite it.....They took him back from the waiting area at about 9 and I sat and "caught up" on all the People magazines (not my normal, but certainly a time-passer!). About 10 they came to get me and, I assumed, he was done and that I was going to the recovery area. Nope. Instead I went into a small inner room where I was able to watch the surgery via tv with on of the nurses talking me through was was happening (quit reading until the last paragraph if you're squeamish!). Quite interesting, actually. The view I had was of his eyeball -- it took up the entire tv screen. It was the same view the doctor had -- the microscope she used had the camera attached. First they made a small incision, then came in with the large incision maker (about the size of a toothpick). Then the put in the tool that breaks up the lens with ultrasound and vacuums it all out. It was really interesting to see how after the lens was shattered, you could see the cloudiness more from the "pieces" and watch them be sucked out. Basically took less than 10 minutes total. The doctor came in to talk to me, letting me know that it was considerably thicker than she'd anticipated but it all went well and he'd be in the recovery area soon. He came home and rested for the afternoon and I "babysat" him.....Mom took the girls for mani-pedis and then mom and dad took them to a movie (the Focker one which they don't recommend). Mom and I then left Tom with dad and went to the grocery to get the stuff we hadn't gotten on Monday.
Yesterday, Tom took dad with him for his 6:45 appointment. They then went to breakfast and came home. We all vacated the house at 11 as it was to be cleaned. The girls went to see "How do you Know?" (cute, light, not one I'd say run out to see) and the boys to see "True Grit" (which they DO recommend to go out and see). Home again for a bit before our fancy dinner out -- Muriel's on Jackson Square. Tom had been there for work functions before, but the rest of us had never gone. YUM! I had a spinach salad, grilled fish, and sorbet. The girls had steak (Abby ate the entire thing). Maggie had room for dessert -- flourless chocolate cake. Mom had a crab appetizer, salad, lamb, and bread pudding. Dad has oyster appetizer, salad, fish, and creme brulee. Tom enjoyed a pasta appetizer, salad, and bbq shrimp. No one went away hungry and the girls and I will certainly go back! Today we're doing the pre-meal prep for tomorrow -- stuffing is cooking, potatoes baking, pie will be baked, table is set, mushrooms are sauteed.......Merry Christmas!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Almost Christmas!
First, a photo from Thanksgiving of us and Tom's mom:
So we're continuing to get ready for the holidays. Most of the shopping is done and gifts wrapped. Abby's done with school, and Maggie has 2 more exams tomorrow (sigh). Today we were up at 6am and disappointed (but not surprised!) that no one came to see us.....
Mom and dad arrived last Wednesday and have had a busy time since then. Thursday we headed to Abby's school for the 5th grade play and holiday sing-a-long. Friday mom and I took Maggie and 2 other girls to/from school for their exam. We spend the time strolling Whole Foods, having a cup of coffee, then checking out Chico's across the street. After coming home and a quick lunch, Dad, Maggie and I headed out to equip mom's stocking with gifts. Saturday was piano lessons and some relaxation (ahhhhhh). Yesterday we enjoyed Abby's violin recital followed by an afternoon of quizzing Maggie for her exams, and watching both the Steelers and the Saints lose....Today I took the girls to school and headed to the gym. After a shower, mom and I went to the grocery (of course, there's already 3 new things on the list!) and right now Tom's on his computer, mom, dad and Abby are at Walgreen's and Maggie's studying.
Tom has his first cataract surgery scheduled for Wednesday -- be considerate and say a prayer for him, please!
Enjoy the holiday ramp-up......
So we're continuing to get ready for the holidays. Most of the shopping is done and gifts wrapped. Abby's done with school, and Maggie has 2 more exams tomorrow (sigh). Today we were up at 6am and disappointed (but not surprised!) that no one came to see us.....
Mom and dad arrived last Wednesday and have had a busy time since then. Thursday we headed to Abby's school for the 5th grade play and holiday sing-a-long. Friday mom and I took Maggie and 2 other girls to/from school for their exam. We spend the time strolling Whole Foods, having a cup of coffee, then checking out Chico's across the street. After coming home and a quick lunch, Dad, Maggie and I headed out to equip mom's stocking with gifts. Saturday was piano lessons and some relaxation (ahhhhhh). Yesterday we enjoyed Abby's violin recital followed by an afternoon of quizzing Maggie for her exams, and watching both the Steelers and the Saints lose....Today I took the girls to school and headed to the gym. After a shower, mom and I went to the grocery (of course, there's already 3 new things on the list!) and right now Tom's on his computer, mom, dad and Abby are at Walgreen's and Maggie's studying.
Tom has his first cataract surgery scheduled for Wednesday -- be considerate and say a prayer for him, please!
Enjoy the holiday ramp-up......
Friday, December 10, 2010
more friday 10 december
The house (well, the entry, living room, and half bath! are decorated for the holidays. Abby helped me put up the tree, string up the lights, and put out the ornaments -- Maggie did as my sister did as a child and put two ornaments on the tree and left us to it. Tom's contribution was to add new batteries to the Feliz Navidad dog and the Homer Simpson character. Sigh. Another Friday afternoon/evening passes at the Webb household.....
A great weekend to all!
A great weekend to all!
Friday 10 December
I'm way behind on this -- BUT I've got all my major holiday shopping done and wrapped, mailed out the cards, and once again got my car fixed -- new struts -- dang that Earhart Expressway! They've finally opened new (e. g. SMOOTH) lanes east bound, so it's getting there........
In other news, we had a GREAT Thanksgiving -- a very short visit with Tom's mom and Lou. When we made the plans to go there, I thought Maggie had the entire week off from school as she did in grammar school. Nope. Just early dismissal for Tuesday. So we picked her up Tuesday afternoon and took a long drive to Memphis, arriving at the hotel a bit after 9pm. Tom had a teleconference in the morning, so the girls and I slept in and we left the hotel a bit before noon for the rest of the drive. Made it to their house late afternoon and enjoyed Chinese for supper. Thanksgiving was cold (down below freezing) and rainy all day. A bit of concern regarding the roads for Friday morning as we'd hoped to start for home then. But we enjoyed our big dinner and the roads were clear for departure Friday. Home Saturday in time for me to get to watch the second half of the OSU/Michigan game (of course, the guys in red won!).
Now we're onto Christmas planning. We'll be home this year, and I still have to get out the decorations to put out -- Tom's moved them down from the attic, so it's time for me to get that done! I bought the turkey and the bread for the dressing today. Also we'll have roasted chestnuts, green beans, potatoes, and whatever else we think of between now and then! Mom and the girls and I will be heading to the outlets in Gulf Shores the week after Christmas for some fun.
Meanwhile, the girls are getting ready for exams -- Abby's are Monday-Thursday next week, with the late morning on Thursday being dedicated to the 5th grade play and holiday singing. The following Sunday she's playing in her violin recital -- she's really become quite accomplished and is learning the last piece in the second Suzuki book now. Maggie has exams next week Thursday and Friday, then Monday and Tuesday the following week. She's going to the information meeting Monday afternoon regarding track team. Time for another round of mom-driving-all-over-all-the-time!
Tom and I managed a movie-morning-date to see Harry Potter -- the girls had both made plans to see it with friends, so Tom and I headed out together. Last Friday we had a "double date" with a friend of Maggie's parents. Her winter formal was last Friday and as we were driving, we thought it'd be nice to meet up with her friends' parents. Apparently they all had a good time, especially as we sat completely away from them....her friends father commented that he doesn't have to do anything at all besides just being to be embarassing -- truer words.....
Tom will be having cataract surgery on one eye the week before Christmas. Please keep him in your prayers!
Best to all over the holidays.............
In other news, we had a GREAT Thanksgiving -- a very short visit with Tom's mom and Lou. When we made the plans to go there, I thought Maggie had the entire week off from school as she did in grammar school. Nope. Just early dismissal for Tuesday. So we picked her up Tuesday afternoon and took a long drive to Memphis, arriving at the hotel a bit after 9pm. Tom had a teleconference in the morning, so the girls and I slept in and we left the hotel a bit before noon for the rest of the drive. Made it to their house late afternoon and enjoyed Chinese for supper. Thanksgiving was cold (down below freezing) and rainy all day. A bit of concern regarding the roads for Friday morning as we'd hoped to start for home then. But we enjoyed our big dinner and the roads were clear for departure Friday. Home Saturday in time for me to get to watch the second half of the OSU/Michigan game (of course, the guys in red won!).
Now we're onto Christmas planning. We'll be home this year, and I still have to get out the decorations to put out -- Tom's moved them down from the attic, so it's time for me to get that done! I bought the turkey and the bread for the dressing today. Also we'll have roasted chestnuts, green beans, potatoes, and whatever else we think of between now and then! Mom and the girls and I will be heading to the outlets in Gulf Shores the week after Christmas for some fun.
Meanwhile, the girls are getting ready for exams -- Abby's are Monday-Thursday next week, with the late morning on Thursday being dedicated to the 5th grade play and holiday singing. The following Sunday she's playing in her violin recital -- she's really become quite accomplished and is learning the last piece in the second Suzuki book now. Maggie has exams next week Thursday and Friday, then Monday and Tuesday the following week. She's going to the information meeting Monday afternoon regarding track team. Time for another round of mom-driving-all-over-all-the-time!
Tom and I managed a movie-morning-date to see Harry Potter -- the girls had both made plans to see it with friends, so Tom and I headed out together. Last Friday we had a "double date" with a friend of Maggie's parents. Her winter formal was last Friday and as we were driving, we thought it'd be nice to meet up with her friends' parents. Apparently they all had a good time, especially as we sat completely away from them....her friends father commented that he doesn't have to do anything at all besides just being to be embarassing -- truer words.....
Tom will be having cataract surgery on one eye the week before Christmas. Please keep him in your prayers!
Best to all over the holidays.............
Friday, December 3, 2010
a random pepsi can
I like Diet Sierra Mist as a soft drink. Not quite as acidic (to me!) as sprite, so it's what I buy. The other day I opened a new twelve-pack box in the refrigerator. The first can out was sierra mist. Then, a random pepsi one can. Now, I know that they are both made/bottled by PepsiCo, but it's a silver can amidst a bunch of white ones. Maggie was in the next room, so I showed it to her. She wondered what drink it had inside. Since pepsi one has caffeine and I don't do caffeine, I wasn't going to find out. Subsequently, we told Abby and Tom about the random pepsi can (sitting on the top shelf of the refrigerator). Last night Maggie decided she wanted the pepsi -- the moment of truth -- what was inside the can? Sierra Mist.......looked like it, tasted like it, just in the wrong can.......
Thursday, November 18, 2010
November 18 Ramblings
As I believe I've posted before, this year our Bible study is looking at the "God of the Bible" -- exploring God himself, all his facets and characteristics. It's quite fascinating. I recognize that I truly believe in the truth of the material in the Bible -- that is my starting point. I also recognize that in no way, shape, or form, do I behave as God would like me to. In his wisdom, he allowed free will and, for me, I seem to abuse it all the time. Which brings up a common question -- how can God be sovereign yet allow man to choose? Isn't it more like we're chess pieces and he's just moving us around in order to achieve his end goal? And if that's the case, why on earth do "bad" things happen? In my heart I understand this, yet cannot really explain it. In yesterday's lesson, however, the video had a good explanation that helps. Picture yourself on an airplane. During the time you are on the airplane you can choose amongst many ways to spend your time -- talking, reading, working, dreaming, sleeping -- yet at the end of the trip, you've reached your destination (I know the skeptics and cynics are out there saying "what if you're grounded due to weather?" or "what if you're hi-jacked?" -- kindly leave the room and we can differ in viewpoints). THAT's how God's sovereignty works -- no matter the choices we make along the way, we'll get to the endpoint as God intends. So there.
In other news, life here is good. It's nice to have a break between Maggie's sports seasons and have her home in the afternoons. She's taken to going to the gym a couple times a week in the afternoons to train a bit. The weather is thinking about moving towards fall temperatures, although sandals adorn my feed with some regularity! And Maggie's mid-term grade report was excellent (haven't gotten Abby's yet). Tom's home from Houston today, so life is just grand.
Oh, and it was quite convenient yesterday when my crown fell off my tooth while I was having them cleaned. Easier than making a second appointment to have it re-cemented at another time!
In other news, life here is good. It's nice to have a break between Maggie's sports seasons and have her home in the afternoons. She's taken to going to the gym a couple times a week in the afternoons to train a bit. The weather is thinking about moving towards fall temperatures, although sandals adorn my feed with some regularity! And Maggie's mid-term grade report was excellent (haven't gotten Abby's yet). Tom's home from Houston today, so life is just grand.
Oh, and it was quite convenient yesterday when my crown fell off my tooth while I was having them cleaned. Easier than making a second appointment to have it re-cemented at another time!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
me again -- 6 november
Perhaps you thought I'd gone away or something. Nope, just wrapped up in kiddos and driving all over the place -- QUITE thankful that not only was Tom in town this past week but that he was able to help me out with two conflicting schedules.....
Actually, what sparked today's entry was not only what we've been up to but something I read in a novel this past week on faith vs. hope. The character in this book ("Never Wave Goodbye" by Doug Magee) is a Presbyterian minister whose son has been kidnapped. She comes to her church as normal on Sunday morning to offer her sermon, despite the turmoil she must be feeling in her heart. She talks of how she's always offered "hope" to people to comfort them and how it's given her comfort in the past when she's be in the midst of difficult circumstances. But she'd come to the personal realization that hope was, to her, something like fear -- reflecting "an anxiety about the future...(and that if she were) hoping for an outcome, (she) was doubting God and his perfection." Instead, she believes that FAITH in God is what will help her during this crisis -- faith that God is in control and that, even if her son is not returned, her faith will not "wither in hope and fear." As an example, she refers to Abraham -- he did not (in her -- and my -- view) "hope" that God would send a new message when Isaak was about to be slain by his father's hand -- rather Abraham had FAITH that God was in control and whether or not Isaac would end up dead, God had a reason for it. So, do we want hope, or faith?
In other news, the past week or so has (as always) been busy. Maggie enjoyed celebrating Halloween with a friend of hers. The fashioned "shoe" costumes which were adorable -- hi-top Nike shoes with bright pink and leopard print. She's completed cross country with a personal-best time this morning and will have a couple months off before track season starts. Meanwhile, she plans to go to the gym in the afternoon.
Abby and her friend went out in our neighborhood -- Abby was a witch and her friend Alice in Wonderland. I enjoyed visiting with her mom as we walked and Tom directed us with his trusty flashlight.
I'm still busy with the same old activities but looking forward to a less-hectic after-school time for a short while!
Enjoy fall - it may have FINALLY arrived here -- two days in a row I have socks on my feet..............
Actually, what sparked today's entry was not only what we've been up to but something I read in a novel this past week on faith vs. hope. The character in this book ("Never Wave Goodbye" by Doug Magee) is a Presbyterian minister whose son has been kidnapped. She comes to her church as normal on Sunday morning to offer her sermon, despite the turmoil she must be feeling in her heart. She talks of how she's always offered "hope" to people to comfort them and how it's given her comfort in the past when she's be in the midst of difficult circumstances. But she'd come to the personal realization that hope was, to her, something like fear -- reflecting "an anxiety about the future...(and that if she were) hoping for an outcome, (she) was doubting God and his perfection." Instead, she believes that FAITH in God is what will help her during this crisis -- faith that God is in control and that, even if her son is not returned, her faith will not "wither in hope and fear." As an example, she refers to Abraham -- he did not (in her -- and my -- view) "hope" that God would send a new message when Isaak was about to be slain by his father's hand -- rather Abraham had FAITH that God was in control and whether or not Isaac would end up dead, God had a reason for it. So, do we want hope, or faith?
In other news, the past week or so has (as always) been busy. Maggie enjoyed celebrating Halloween with a friend of hers. The fashioned "shoe" costumes which were adorable -- hi-top Nike shoes with bright pink and leopard print. She's completed cross country with a personal-best time this morning and will have a couple months off before track season starts. Meanwhile, she plans to go to the gym in the afternoon.
Abby and her friend went out in our neighborhood -- Abby was a witch and her friend Alice in Wonderland. I enjoyed visiting with her mom as we walked and Tom directed us with his trusty flashlight.
I'm still busy with the same old activities but looking forward to a less-hectic after-school time for a short while!
Enjoy fall - it may have FINALLY arrived here -- two days in a row I have socks on my feet..............
Monday, October 25, 2010
Second quarter of school
The girls have jumped right in with both feet for the second quarter of school after performing GREAT for the last one. We are quite pleased with their performance and know that while they both have an aptitude for it, they both also work diligently. Maggie's goal for the year is to accumulate enough As so that she is exempt from 4th quarter exams. Nice deal, no?
Maggie's cross-country season is coming to a close. She's really improved over the season and seems interested in doing it again next year. I learned of a summer running camp at the meet last Friday and she's excited about the possibility of attending it in July. One of her coaches participates as a staff member, as do other area high school and a couple LSU coaches.
I was able to attend Abby's fall event/party at school last Friday. It's a "tradition" that the 5th graders make scarecrows in the fall and display them in various classrooms for a week or two. They bring in old shirts, pants, hats, and scarfs and make a "head" from a paper back, stuffing everything with newspaper. It was fun when I did it with Maggie and it was just as fun with Abby. She's continuing to excel at violin -- it's amazing how quickly she's become quite proficient. And she and Maggie both continue playing piano.....
Tom's been travelling again with work, and may be back in Houston this week. Last week his work team were here, so late nights were the "norm". This week he's looking forward to going back to karate.
My car is still at the shop -- the new doors were to arrive there today and those will need to be installed. Plus the other dents taken out and MAYBE a new wheel. Amazing the amount of damage for such a slow-motion accident. I've received confirmation from the other driver's insurance that they've accepted liability and will be reimbursing our company for the costs. Just a hassle.
As for this week, it looks to be somewhat "normal". Maggie has cross country most days -- her school hosts their open house Thursday afternoon/evening and then they have Friday off school (we have tentative plans to get our nails done...). Abby has violin tonight. Tomorrow we run the cross country car pool and Wednesday we take the girls to practice. WHEW! All I do is drive.....
Enjoy your fall (although with 85+ temps here for the better part of the week, I'm not sure it'll ever arrive).....
Maggie's cross-country season is coming to a close. She's really improved over the season and seems interested in doing it again next year. I learned of a summer running camp at the meet last Friday and she's excited about the possibility of attending it in July. One of her coaches participates as a staff member, as do other area high school and a couple LSU coaches.
I was able to attend Abby's fall event/party at school last Friday. It's a "tradition" that the 5th graders make scarecrows in the fall and display them in various classrooms for a week or two. They bring in old shirts, pants, hats, and scarfs and make a "head" from a paper back, stuffing everything with newspaper. It was fun when I did it with Maggie and it was just as fun with Abby. She's continuing to excel at violin -- it's amazing how quickly she's become quite proficient. And she and Maggie both continue playing piano.....
Tom's been travelling again with work, and may be back in Houston this week. Last week his work team were here, so late nights were the "norm". This week he's looking forward to going back to karate.
My car is still at the shop -- the new doors were to arrive there today and those will need to be installed. Plus the other dents taken out and MAYBE a new wheel. Amazing the amount of damage for such a slow-motion accident. I've received confirmation from the other driver's insurance that they've accepted liability and will be reimbursing our company for the costs. Just a hassle.
As for this week, it looks to be somewhat "normal". Maggie has cross country most days -- her school hosts their open house Thursday afternoon/evening and then they have Friday off school (we have tentative plans to get our nails done...). Abby has violin tonight. Tomorrow we run the cross country car pool and Wednesday we take the girls to practice. WHEW! All I do is drive.....
Enjoy your fall (although with 85+ temps here for the better part of the week, I'm not sure it'll ever arrive).....
Friday, October 15, 2010
Busy Week!
What a crazy week here. Maggie had her first quarter exams, Tom was in Houston, and Abby had basketball try-outs. Whew!
Started on Monday -- Tom had a 5:30am flight to Houston and, as you can imagine, I was unable to sleep while he was getting ready (don't get me wrong, he IS quiet!). I took Abby to school at normal time, Maggie didn't go in until later (exam started at 10:10). I picked up two of our carpool people (the other two are in 9th grade and had to go earlier) and dropped them off. Spent the time at a coffee shop (yucky coffee and had to pay for street parking). Picked up Maggie and a different girl to take to cross country practice. They ran, I walked. Took Maggie and a third group of girls home. Quickly ate some lunch, went to get Abby. Home for a bath (finally!) and then to take Abby to violin lessons. That was that.
Tuesday morning Maggie went with the "normal" carpool. I took Abby to school and enjoyed going to the gym -- rode the bike for a bit and then went to zumba class. I still haven't fallen on the floor.....Quickly home for a shower and back to get Maggie and other girls to take to practice. She had a different ride this time for home, so I went to the grocery and then enjoyed a bit of a break, especially as I didn't have to go get Abby until 4:30 as her basketball tryouts were then. And that was Tuesday.
Wednesday morning Maggie had standardized testings (kinda odd, having them in the middle of exam week). I picked up all 5 normal carpool people, took them to school, back to drop Abby off. Home for a short work-out and bath. Then to Bible Study. The cross country team were "allowed" one day off from practice and Maggie chose Wednesday. So she came home with the carpool and she and I went out for lunch together (chinese food). Afterwards we headed to a coffee shop -- she set up her laptop to study and I worked on my study homework. Finished that up about 2:45 and headed home. Relaxed a bit and I headed to get Abby from the second day of try outs. Stopped on the way home for Popeye's and had to wait as they didn't have "mild" ready. Home and DONE (well, aside from quizzing Maggie for religion and science classes!).
Thursday Maggie again had a ride to school, so I took Abby and headed back to the gym again. Ran to the library and home for a bit. Went to get Maggie to take her to cross country practice and then home. She came home with another mom, a bit before I went to get Abby. Home to iron and await Tom's return! He made it home about 8 and we were so glad to see him!
This morning I took Abby to school and then returned home to take Maggie and two of the carpool girls for their 10:10 exams. After the lackluster coffee experience on Monday, I just sat in the car and read. Took 2 girls to cross country practice, enjoyed a short visit to Starbucks and went to pick up 3 girls (including Maggie!) to take them home. Got them all home and went to drop Maggie off to meet another friend at the mall and quickly grab some lunch. So much for that plan -- as we were heading through the traffic light an on-coming car decided to make her left turn right into my car. Sigh. Both cars were driveable so we headed into a parking lot and I called the police. The other driver (an elderly lady) and I sat in our cars. Maggie called her friend and her friend and her mom walked over to collect Maggie. The police came, took down all the information and (correctly) determined that the "fault" was the other lady -- not only did she fail to yield the right of way, but there was a "no left turn" sign on her side of the street. Tom, meanwhile, came to meet me. He took my car to the shop and picked up a rental while I went to get Abby. It'll be a pretty painful repair -- almost the entire driver side is damaged (including the electronic door). But there are many things to be thankful for -- no one was hurt, no one got angry or yelling, both drivers were kind to one another, Tom was able to come and provide a LOT of help, the weather was pleasant, and so on. I went to get Abby and we came home where I enjoyed a much-delayed bowl of soup for lunch. Later, Tom took both girls to the mall and he and Abby are currently flying helicopters in the tv room -- have to go check that out -- so bye for now! Hope your week was a bit less-eventful than mine.....
Started on Monday -- Tom had a 5:30am flight to Houston and, as you can imagine, I was unable to sleep while he was getting ready (don't get me wrong, he IS quiet!). I took Abby to school at normal time, Maggie didn't go in until later (exam started at 10:10). I picked up two of our carpool people (the other two are in 9th grade and had to go earlier) and dropped them off. Spent the time at a coffee shop (yucky coffee and had to pay for street parking). Picked up Maggie and a different girl to take to cross country practice. They ran, I walked. Took Maggie and a third group of girls home. Quickly ate some lunch, went to get Abby. Home for a bath (finally!) and then to take Abby to violin lessons. That was that.
Tuesday morning Maggie went with the "normal" carpool. I took Abby to school and enjoyed going to the gym -- rode the bike for a bit and then went to zumba class. I still haven't fallen on the floor.....Quickly home for a shower and back to get Maggie and other girls to take to practice. She had a different ride this time for home, so I went to the grocery and then enjoyed a bit of a break, especially as I didn't have to go get Abby until 4:30 as her basketball tryouts were then. And that was Tuesday.
Wednesday morning Maggie had standardized testings (kinda odd, having them in the middle of exam week). I picked up all 5 normal carpool people, took them to school, back to drop Abby off. Home for a short work-out and bath. Then to Bible Study. The cross country team were "allowed" one day off from practice and Maggie chose Wednesday. So she came home with the carpool and she and I went out for lunch together (chinese food). Afterwards we headed to a coffee shop -- she set up her laptop to study and I worked on my study homework. Finished that up about 2:45 and headed home. Relaxed a bit and I headed to get Abby from the second day of try outs. Stopped on the way home for Popeye's and had to wait as they didn't have "mild" ready. Home and DONE (well, aside from quizzing Maggie for religion and science classes!).
Thursday Maggie again had a ride to school, so I took Abby and headed back to the gym again. Ran to the library and home for a bit. Went to get Maggie to take her to cross country practice and then home. She came home with another mom, a bit before I went to get Abby. Home to iron and await Tom's return! He made it home about 8 and we were so glad to see him!
This morning I took Abby to school and then returned home to take Maggie and two of the carpool girls for their 10:10 exams. After the lackluster coffee experience on Monday, I just sat in the car and read. Took 2 girls to cross country practice, enjoyed a short visit to Starbucks and went to pick up 3 girls (including Maggie!) to take them home. Got them all home and went to drop Maggie off to meet another friend at the mall and quickly grab some lunch. So much for that plan -- as we were heading through the traffic light an on-coming car decided to make her left turn right into my car. Sigh. Both cars were driveable so we headed into a parking lot and I called the police. The other driver (an elderly lady) and I sat in our cars. Maggie called her friend and her friend and her mom walked over to collect Maggie. The police came, took down all the information and (correctly) determined that the "fault" was the other lady -- not only did she fail to yield the right of way, but there was a "no left turn" sign on her side of the street. Tom, meanwhile, came to meet me. He took my car to the shop and picked up a rental while I went to get Abby. It'll be a pretty painful repair -- almost the entire driver side is damaged (including the electronic door). But there are many things to be thankful for -- no one was hurt, no one got angry or yelling, both drivers were kind to one another, Tom was able to come and provide a LOT of help, the weather was pleasant, and so on. I went to get Abby and we came home where I enjoyed a much-delayed bowl of soup for lunch. Later, Tom took both girls to the mall and he and Abby are currently flying helicopters in the tv room -- have to go check that out -- so bye for now! Hope your week was a bit less-eventful than mine.....
Friday, October 8, 2010
Bible Study and update
Once again, I am participating in a Bible Study. This year we are exploring the "One True God of the Bible". And it is fascinating. I've finally gotten an explanation around why the Bible provides validation for so many types of justification (thanks for trying, Tom!) as well as how they are all true, yet grace remains the foundation -- truly a gift from God. Whew! I knew I'd never be capable of doing it, even with His help.....
We've had lessons so far on God the Creator, God the Communicator, Worship, God's Holiness, and Grace. I'm constantly amazed as what I don't yet know. And fascinated to learn more. For me, a big reason I love the church I belong to is that it motivates me to go further into the information we hear on Sunday mornings. This study also does that for me. I am not too much a "give me more information person", so this is different for me. I was surprised when I first realized that I was receiving this gift at church (hadn't found that at other churches I'd attended or visited) -- the desire to go further -- which prepared me for the same desire as the result of this study. Fascinating to me how God's working to bring these parts of my life together right now. Definitely a blessing.
On the more trivial parts of our lives -- Abby's survived her first quarter of school, complete with her first "real" finals' week (during which regular classes are not attended, just exams are taken). No school for her today, so two friends spent the night. Interesting to listen to 10 year old girls interacting! They're on that verge between still being little girls but moving toward young ladyhood. Sigh. Maggie has exams next week. She's continuing to improve her cross country times and getting involved more at school. She wasn't home until 8 last night -- after cross country they headed back to school to watch the volleyball team (unfortunately) suffer their first defeat (required sudden death overtime!). I'm amazed at how well she's made the transition.....
Last week we enjoyed visits from my parents and Tom's dad and Kay. Maggie had grandparent's day on Friday with a performance and reception at school. I was most thrilled at how excited the girls all seemed to be to host their grandparents. The gym was truly packed with people. Maggie also had her "induction" last week where the new students are officially welcomed into the school. She was part of the processional (yikes!) where the senior big-sisters came in in cap and gown followed by the new students in their uniforms. Can't believe she's that old! Abby was in the championship game for intramural volleyball at school -- they made the finals, but lost in the 3rd, sudden death game. Abby really enjoyed it and improved over the year. Next week she's trying out for the 5-6 grade basketball team that will compete against other schools.
On Sunday we took Tom for his birthday show to see Cirque Dreams Illumination which we all enjoyed. Amazing talent as well as ability of the people -- I consider myself pretty physically flexible, but am nowhere near what these acrobats and contortionists are! The only problem we experienced was that where we were sitting we couldn't hear the vocalist over the background music very well. So while there was an underlying "story", we didn't really get too much of it.......
Quite a week -- family, school activities, birthday celebrations. When's the next holiday? I'm thankful for a day to sleep in tomorrow.......(no cross country meet!)
We've had lessons so far on God the Creator, God the Communicator, Worship, God's Holiness, and Grace. I'm constantly amazed as what I don't yet know. And fascinated to learn more. For me, a big reason I love the church I belong to is that it motivates me to go further into the information we hear on Sunday mornings. This study also does that for me. I am not too much a "give me more information person", so this is different for me. I was surprised when I first realized that I was receiving this gift at church (hadn't found that at other churches I'd attended or visited) -- the desire to go further -- which prepared me for the same desire as the result of this study. Fascinating to me how God's working to bring these parts of my life together right now. Definitely a blessing.
On the more trivial parts of our lives -- Abby's survived her first quarter of school, complete with her first "real" finals' week (during which regular classes are not attended, just exams are taken). No school for her today, so two friends spent the night. Interesting to listen to 10 year old girls interacting! They're on that verge between still being little girls but moving toward young ladyhood. Sigh. Maggie has exams next week. She's continuing to improve her cross country times and getting involved more at school. She wasn't home until 8 last night -- after cross country they headed back to school to watch the volleyball team (unfortunately) suffer their first defeat (required sudden death overtime!). I'm amazed at how well she's made the transition.....
Last week we enjoyed visits from my parents and Tom's dad and Kay. Maggie had grandparent's day on Friday with a performance and reception at school. I was most thrilled at how excited the girls all seemed to be to host their grandparents. The gym was truly packed with people. Maggie also had her "induction" last week where the new students are officially welcomed into the school. She was part of the processional (yikes!) where the senior big-sisters came in in cap and gown followed by the new students in their uniforms. Can't believe she's that old! Abby was in the championship game for intramural volleyball at school -- they made the finals, but lost in the 3rd, sudden death game. Abby really enjoyed it and improved over the year. Next week she's trying out for the 5-6 grade basketball team that will compete against other schools.
On Sunday we took Tom for his birthday show to see Cirque Dreams Illumination which we all enjoyed. Amazing talent as well as ability of the people -- I consider myself pretty physically flexible, but am nowhere near what these acrobats and contortionists are! The only problem we experienced was that where we were sitting we couldn't hear the vocalist over the background music very well. So while there was an underlying "story", we didn't really get too much of it.......
Quite a week -- family, school activities, birthday celebrations. When's the next holiday? I'm thankful for a day to sleep in tomorrow.......(no cross country meet!)
Monday, September 27, 2010
Looking forward to a great week!
Yes, it'll be busy, but it'll also be a fun week.
This afternoon I get to go to Abby's volleyball game and later we'll go to her violin lesson.
Tomorrow, mom and dad are driving down for a short visit. They'll be greeted with an empty house as it's "my" day to drive the cross country girls. AND mom will be put in charge of expediting supper (ok, so it'll just be steaming the veggies and re-heating the rice!). We'll get home a bit after 6.
Wednesday morning I've got Bible study. Then mom and dad and I will get lunch somewhere. In the afternoon we'll go to the volleyball championship for Abby. Maggie is out of school early and expressed an interest in coming as well. Wednesday evening is Maggie's induction to her high school. Not sure exactly what this means, but we'll see.....
Thursday (I assume!) Kay and Ray are arriving from Houston. Abby and I actually will be home directly from school, Maggie has cross country practice.
Friday is Maggie's grandparent's day. She'll be hosting 4 of them, along with mom (unless they don't allow me in in which case I'll go somewhere else -- sob sob). After school is my turn to drive cross country again, so we'll see that as well. Mom will get to heat up supper/start the spaghetti noodles.
Doesn't sound like too much, except also consider the extra people in the house, the fact Abby has exams next week, and Maggie's Saturday cross country meet is in Baton Rouge. OK, so your week is busier.........
This afternoon I get to go to Abby's volleyball game and later we'll go to her violin lesson.
Tomorrow, mom and dad are driving down for a short visit. They'll be greeted with an empty house as it's "my" day to drive the cross country girls. AND mom will be put in charge of expediting supper (ok, so it'll just be steaming the veggies and re-heating the rice!). We'll get home a bit after 6.
Wednesday morning I've got Bible study. Then mom and dad and I will get lunch somewhere. In the afternoon we'll go to the volleyball championship for Abby. Maggie is out of school early and expressed an interest in coming as well. Wednesday evening is Maggie's induction to her high school. Not sure exactly what this means, but we'll see.....
Thursday (I assume!) Kay and Ray are arriving from Houston. Abby and I actually will be home directly from school, Maggie has cross country practice.
Friday is Maggie's grandparent's day. She'll be hosting 4 of them, along with mom (unless they don't allow me in in which case I'll go somewhere else -- sob sob). After school is my turn to drive cross country again, so we'll see that as well. Mom will get to heat up supper/start the spaghetti noodles.
Doesn't sound like too much, except also consider the extra people in the house, the fact Abby has exams next week, and Maggie's Saturday cross country meet is in Baton Rouge. OK, so your week is busier.........
Sunday, September 19, 2010
for mom
Mom wants an update, so mom will get an update! All is fairly well here. The girls have both made GREAT returns to school this year. Abby's adjusted to changing teachers/classrooms for all her subjects and looks so old, graduated from the jumper to the plaid skirt! She's playing intramural volleyball with the girls in the 5-8th grades. She's the only 5th grader on her team. Some of Maggie's friends are also on the team (the grammar school goes thru eighth grade, so some of Maggie's friends are still there. Others, like Maggie, chose to move up to high school for 8th grade. Trust me, this is the STRANGEST place I've ever lived!). She is REALLY excited and enjoying it. Tom's been able to make as many of her games so far as I have. And she really enjoys having him there as well.
Maggie has made quite the adjustment to high school, not only in terms of her grades, but also socially. She's maintaining friendships she's made throughout the years, but also making new friends. She's joined a couple clubs and is running with the cross country team. And she's really getting used to being part of a MUCH bigger school -- her class in grammar school was about 42 students, 13 of whom were girls. Now she's got about 150 eighth graders around her, ALL of whom are female. Quite a change!
Maggie finished her first cross country race this past Saturday. I took a photo but she says it's HORRIBLE and that I should delete it (I think that while it's not the most flattering picture of her, it's NOT horrible!). At this particular meet the kids from her grammar school also participated, so we both got to visit with a bunch of people we know from many places. After the meet I took her and two friends to cafe du monde for beignets. Interesting to be with 3 young teenagers! I am so thankful that she has kind friends (and they let me sit with them!).
Tom is back to travelling again. He spent this past week in Washington DC with various people at a conference with the US Energy Department. This week he's in Houston for training. He's back taking karate again as well. Never a dull moment.
Today I am suffering from a cold, but maintaining a positive outlook. While life hasn't "settled down" by any means, I am more comfortable with the new routine (that constantly shifts!). I enjoy the extra time alone with Abby when Maggie's carpool takes her to/from school/cross country. And I enjoy the time with Maggie like yesterday when we spent most of the day together. And I sneak in time with Tom whenever I can......
Ready for fall weather, but I think I'll have to wait a couple more months for that to happen. Sigh.
Maggie has made quite the adjustment to high school, not only in terms of her grades, but also socially. She's maintaining friendships she's made throughout the years, but also making new friends. She's joined a couple clubs and is running with the cross country team. And she's really getting used to being part of a MUCH bigger school -- her class in grammar school was about 42 students, 13 of whom were girls. Now she's got about 150 eighth graders around her, ALL of whom are female. Quite a change!
Maggie finished her first cross country race this past Saturday. I took a photo but she says it's HORRIBLE and that I should delete it (I think that while it's not the most flattering picture of her, it's NOT horrible!). At this particular meet the kids from her grammar school also participated, so we both got to visit with a bunch of people we know from many places. After the meet I took her and two friends to cafe du monde for beignets. Interesting to be with 3 young teenagers! I am so thankful that she has kind friends (and they let me sit with them!).
Tom is back to travelling again. He spent this past week in Washington DC with various people at a conference with the US Energy Department. This week he's in Houston for training. He's back taking karate again as well. Never a dull moment.
Today I am suffering from a cold, but maintaining a positive outlook. While life hasn't "settled down" by any means, I am more comfortable with the new routine (that constantly shifts!). I enjoy the extra time alone with Abby when Maggie's carpool takes her to/from school/cross country. And I enjoy the time with Maggie like yesterday when we spent most of the day together. And I sneak in time with Tom whenever I can......
Ready for fall weather, but I think I'll have to wait a couple more months for that to happen. Sigh.
Friday, September 3, 2010
friday september 3
Another busy week is sort of coming to an end. Maggie has survived Cross Country practice -- time trials early Saturday morning, practice after school (in the rain) every day this week. Today they'll be getting their uniforms after school and the first meet is EARLY tomorrow morning. I'm so thankful for Labor Day when I can (perhaps!) sleep past 7am.....we'll see how that one works out!
Abby started intramural volleyball on Wednesday. Tom was able to get there for the beginning and saw her score 3 points while serving. I had carpool duty to take the girls to City Park after school, so was late to the game and saw about 1 1/2 practice games. I drove Abby home afterwards (Tom headed to karate) and she was just so excited about both volleyball and school in general. Fun to see/hear her enthusiasm!
As for me, it was another pretty busy week. Drove morning carpool Monday an Wednesday (normal schedule -- AND for the first time I actually had ALL the girls in the car on Wednesday -- one is on swim team and has practice Monday mornings). Managed to fit 6 girls plus all their bags in my mom-car. Tuesday I had double-duty after school -- taking the girls to/from UNO for practice. Abby and I went and had coffee/snacks at a coffee shop which was nice. She was able to do most of her homework. Reminds me a bit of when they were younger and we'd go to Starbucks during ballet rehearsals! Wednesday was Bible Study plus morning and afternoon driving. And I managed to see some of Abby's volleyball. Yesterday was pretty restful. Tom got the b-day cake he'd ask for -- pineapple upside down -- and it's ALL HIS as none of the rest of us like it. Today I'll pick up the girls after school/getting uniforms and later take Maggie to a b-day party for one of her friends. EARLY in the morning is the cross country meet, so I'll be picking her up for that in the morning. I am thankful that early mornings are generally my friend, whereas evening are my crash time.
Life is busy but good and for that, as always, I am thankful.
Abby started intramural volleyball on Wednesday. Tom was able to get there for the beginning and saw her score 3 points while serving. I had carpool duty to take the girls to City Park after school, so was late to the game and saw about 1 1/2 practice games. I drove Abby home afterwards (Tom headed to karate) and she was just so excited about both volleyball and school in general. Fun to see/hear her enthusiasm!
As for me, it was another pretty busy week. Drove morning carpool Monday an Wednesday (normal schedule -- AND for the first time I actually had ALL the girls in the car on Wednesday -- one is on swim team and has practice Monday mornings). Managed to fit 6 girls plus all their bags in my mom-car. Tuesday I had double-duty after school -- taking the girls to/from UNO for practice. Abby and I went and had coffee/snacks at a coffee shop which was nice. She was able to do most of her homework. Reminds me a bit of when they were younger and we'd go to Starbucks during ballet rehearsals! Wednesday was Bible Study plus morning and afternoon driving. And I managed to see some of Abby's volleyball. Yesterday was pretty restful. Tom got the b-day cake he'd ask for -- pineapple upside down -- and it's ALL HIS as none of the rest of us like it. Today I'll pick up the girls after school/getting uniforms and later take Maggie to a b-day party for one of her friends. EARLY in the morning is the cross country meet, so I'll be picking her up for that in the morning. I am thankful that early mornings are generally my friend, whereas evening are my crash time.
Life is busy but good and for that, as always, I am thankful.
Friday, August 27, 2010
slow down!
I thought I was busy from about mid-2000 thru mid-2001. During that time I had a 3 year old and a baby. I was working full time. And I had (still have!) a wonderful husband whose job at that time required him to be overseas for 28 weeks out of that year (including weekends). I made it thru and lived to tell the tale.
However, this first week of school is about killing me! I am so thankful that I DON'T have to go into an office every day. Here is goes:
Monday: cook dinner (yes, that was the first thing I did). drive AM carpool to high school. drive Abby to grammar school. go to yoga (OK, that was fun!). go to the grocery. put away groceries, shower, have lunch, relax for about an hour. go pick up Abby. go pick up Maggie (who stayed after school for a cross-country meeting). go home. take Abby to violin lesson. collapse.
Tuesday: Tuesday actually wasn't so bad! take Abby to school. go to the gym. come home, finish laundry, and relax for a bit. get Abby from school. go pick up Maggie and another girl from cross country practice (at UNO campus, not exactly convenient!). come home thru rush hour traffic. collapse.
Wednesday: drive AM carpool to high school. drive Abby to school. come home for a quick work-out. shower and go to Bible study (first session of the year!). go to the post office. go order new shoe inserts. go to the mall to pick up something. grab some lunch. go pick up Maggie and her friend (2pm dismissal for staff meeting). go to pick up Abby and allow Maggie and her friend to visit with their friends who stayed at grammar school for 8th grade. drop Maggie's friend off. pick up Chinese food. go home. (note -- we were actually scheduled for an orthodontist appointment which got cancelled. rescheduling that was involved as well!).
Thursday: get up extremely early to fit in some exercise. drive Abby to school. go to car dealership -- AC not working when car's not moving, brakes are making squealing sound. get shuttle back home. finish laundry. iron. take Tom's car to the grocery and drug store (thanks to Tom for working from home that morning!). get call from dealership -- problem is with the fan for the AC (or radiator or something, although the car never was overheating) which needs to be ordered and renders the car undriveable. also needs new brakes. call Enterprise and order rental. hitch ride from Tom to get car. get home, have lunch. chill for 45 minutes. go pick up Abby. chill for an hour. go to cross-country parent's meeting. go to high school parent's club meeting. go to high school open house. visit each of Maggie's teachers/classrooms. come home, collapse.
Today (so far and what's coming next!): take Abby to school. go to yoga. come home, make dinner (well, I'll eat it for lunch!), shower, and relax. then I'll go pick up Abby, drive to pick up Maggie and another girl and take them to City Park for cross country practice. Abby and I will stay and then bring everyone home about 5:30. about 7:45 out again to pick up at least one of Maggie's friends and take them to the back-to-school dance. thankfully she's got a ride home!
Tomorrow morning cross-country has time trials, so we'll be at UNO for 7:45am. Piano in the afternoon.
Sigh. I'm so thankful for carpooling, Tom being in-town and able to work from home Thursday morning, yoga class, Bible study, and God who's in control when everything else is falling apart.
Have a great (busy/relaxing?) weekend!
However, this first week of school is about killing me! I am so thankful that I DON'T have to go into an office every day. Here is goes:
Monday: cook dinner (yes, that was the first thing I did). drive AM carpool to high school. drive Abby to grammar school. go to yoga (OK, that was fun!). go to the grocery. put away groceries, shower, have lunch, relax for about an hour. go pick up Abby. go pick up Maggie (who stayed after school for a cross-country meeting). go home. take Abby to violin lesson. collapse.
Tuesday: Tuesday actually wasn't so bad! take Abby to school. go to the gym. come home, finish laundry, and relax for a bit. get Abby from school. go pick up Maggie and another girl from cross country practice (at UNO campus, not exactly convenient!). come home thru rush hour traffic. collapse.
Wednesday: drive AM carpool to high school. drive Abby to school. come home for a quick work-out. shower and go to Bible study (first session of the year!). go to the post office. go order new shoe inserts. go to the mall to pick up something. grab some lunch. go pick up Maggie and her friend (2pm dismissal for staff meeting). go to pick up Abby and allow Maggie and her friend to visit with their friends who stayed at grammar school for 8th grade. drop Maggie's friend off. pick up Chinese food. go home. (note -- we were actually scheduled for an orthodontist appointment which got cancelled. rescheduling that was involved as well!).
Thursday: get up extremely early to fit in some exercise. drive Abby to school. go to car dealership -- AC not working when car's not moving, brakes are making squealing sound. get shuttle back home. finish laundry. iron. take Tom's car to the grocery and drug store (thanks to Tom for working from home that morning!). get call from dealership -- problem is with the fan for the AC (or radiator or something, although the car never was overheating) which needs to be ordered and renders the car undriveable. also needs new brakes. call Enterprise and order rental. hitch ride from Tom to get car. get home, have lunch. chill for 45 minutes. go pick up Abby. chill for an hour. go to cross-country parent's meeting. go to high school parent's club meeting. go to high school open house. visit each of Maggie's teachers/classrooms. come home, collapse.
Today (so far and what's coming next!): take Abby to school. go to yoga. come home, make dinner (well, I'll eat it for lunch!), shower, and relax. then I'll go pick up Abby, drive to pick up Maggie and another girl and take them to City Park for cross country practice. Abby and I will stay and then bring everyone home about 5:30. about 7:45 out again to pick up at least one of Maggie's friends and take them to the back-to-school dance. thankfully she's got a ride home!
Tomorrow morning cross-country has time trials, so we'll be at UNO for 7:45am. Piano in the afternoon.
Sigh. I'm so thankful for carpooling, Tom being in-town and able to work from home Thursday morning, yoga class, Bible study, and God who's in control when everything else is falling apart.
Have a great (busy/relaxing?) weekend!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
previous first days.....
1st and 4th grade:
2nd and 5th grade:
4th and 7th grade (can't seem to find 3rd and 6th!):
2nd and 5th grade:
4th and 7th grade (can't seem to find 3rd and 6th!):
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!
Maggie's made 8th grade (at high school), Abby's in 5th grade (upper school at her grammar school). EEKS!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Winding down the summer.....
Thursday is the first day back to school for both girls. Maggie will be starting at high school, Abby will be entering 5th grade (upper school) at her grammar school. Where's the time gone?
Aside from the fact that they were just at each others throats (ahem), we've had a pretty enjoyable last couple weeks before school starts. Finished cleaning out all the dressers and closets. Saw 4 more movies -- Dinner for Schmucks, The Other Guys, Charlie St. Cloud, and Eat Pray Love.
We enjoyed lunch with one of Abby's friends and her family -- the mom is from Taiwan and cooked for us -- what a treat! Their older daughter is going into 10th grade, and she and Maggie were able to find at least something to occupy them both. So it worked out to be enjoyable for all of us.
We visited the Southern Living Idea house (I'd gone with my mom while she was with my aunt) as well. We were able to visit with my aunt as well, which made for a nice way to spend a day.
And the girls both enjoyed visiting with their friends on Sunday -- Maggie went to Laser Tag and Abby to a roller skating party.
So tomorrow starts the school things -- Maggie has registration tomorrow. On Wednesday Maggie goes for orientation and Abby gets to meet her new teachers. Thursday they both go back. So check back in a couple/few days for photos!
Aside from the fact that they were just at each others throats (ahem), we've had a pretty enjoyable last couple weeks before school starts. Finished cleaning out all the dressers and closets. Saw 4 more movies -- Dinner for Schmucks, The Other Guys, Charlie St. Cloud, and Eat Pray Love.
We enjoyed lunch with one of Abby's friends and her family -- the mom is from Taiwan and cooked for us -- what a treat! Their older daughter is going into 10th grade, and she and Maggie were able to find at least something to occupy them both. So it worked out to be enjoyable for all of us.
We visited the Southern Living Idea house (I'd gone with my mom while she was with my aunt) as well. We were able to visit with my aunt as well, which made for a nice way to spend a day.
And the girls both enjoyed visiting with their friends on Sunday -- Maggie went to Laser Tag and Abby to a roller skating party.
So tomorrow starts the school things -- Maggie has registration tomorrow. On Wednesday Maggie goes for orientation and Abby gets to meet her new teachers. Thursday they both go back. So check back in a couple/few days for photos!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
back to Mali -- 30 January, back on land
After thoroughly enjoying the 2 days spent doing nothing on the pinasse trip down the Niger River, the cars met up with us at a small village. As usual, we split into the three vehicles. Two of which encountered no outstanding problems, but one had a bit of difficulty (of course it was the one with both our "leaders"!). First, they got stuck on a sand dune. The other two drivers helped get them out of that and going on. Then, they managed to get lost and, after turning around, they had a major tire blow-out. And, of course, were without any cell coverage at the time. We did manage to meet up with them again before reaching Segou. We were staying at a hotel at which we'd enjoyed a meal on the trip to Konsango. The rooms were very nice with large bathrooms (considering we'd spent a week without running water, this does not mean they equate with the Ritz, but that they were spacious with hot water etc.). Nice dinner at the hotel with a early night for me as I was still battling a cough. Dad said I didn't keep him up -- he's a deep sleeper, thankfully!
As an aside -- a note on travelling with my dad. When I first became interested in the trip it was largely due to my dad's enthusiasm the previous year. Those of you who know him know that he's not loudly enthusiastic, but I could tell how much he both enjoyed the experience and how much it touched him. I wanted to share that. When I approached Tom with my interest, his first thought was that he'd hope our girls would one day want to travel with him -- quite frankly, I hadn't really thought about travelling with my dad at that point! Over Christmas 2009 when we went shopping for my gifts, dad helped me with choices and knowledge of what I'd be doing -- sleeping pads, water sanitation, etc. He's told me that while he was thrilled that I was going with him, as a parent knowing the environment, he did have some concern. Being a parent myself, after experiencing the trip I appreciate the concern, although I am an adult (hee hee!). He's also told me that he enjoyed seeing the expressions on my face during the trip, especially when situations were similar to what he'd experienced the previous year. And it was great for me to have a "safe" environment in the evenings to escape to -- I'm a person who really needs to have quiet and solitude to re-group and it's difficult/impossible to do that if you're always with people you don't know so well.
The next morning we were heading back to Bamako. The car that had had problems the previous day was still having problems, so we repacked with all the luggage on top and put all the people into the other two vehicles. Beginning to look like a Mali bus (this is a photo of a mock-up of a bus, the real ones are even more crowded!):
All three vehicles made it to Bamako. We went back to the restaurant "Relax" (popular with the expats -- we'd been there when we first got to Bamako a lifetime ago!) and had some lunch. Anna'd received an e-mail from our travel agent that she'd secured flights home for us a day later than originally expected -- not the best of news, but good to know when we'd be heading home. That evening (31 January) a celebration/farewell dinner was planned as about half the group was heading home then (as dad and I were originally scheduled, sigh.....). Stay tuned -- we're almost back to New Orleans!
As an aside -- a note on travelling with my dad. When I first became interested in the trip it was largely due to my dad's enthusiasm the previous year. Those of you who know him know that he's not loudly enthusiastic, but I could tell how much he both enjoyed the experience and how much it touched him. I wanted to share that. When I approached Tom with my interest, his first thought was that he'd hope our girls would one day want to travel with him -- quite frankly, I hadn't really thought about travelling with my dad at that point! Over Christmas 2009 when we went shopping for my gifts, dad helped me with choices and knowledge of what I'd be doing -- sleeping pads, water sanitation, etc. He's told me that while he was thrilled that I was going with him, as a parent knowing the environment, he did have some concern. Being a parent myself, after experiencing the trip I appreciate the concern, although I am an adult (hee hee!). He's also told me that he enjoyed seeing the expressions on my face during the trip, especially when situations were similar to what he'd experienced the previous year. And it was great for me to have a "safe" environment in the evenings to escape to -- I'm a person who really needs to have quiet and solitude to re-group and it's difficult/impossible to do that if you're always with people you don't know so well.
The next morning we were heading back to Bamako. The car that had had problems the previous day was still having problems, so we repacked with all the luggage on top and put all the people into the other two vehicles. Beginning to look like a Mali bus (this is a photo of a mock-up of a bus, the real ones are even more crowded!):
All three vehicles made it to Bamako. We went back to the restaurant "Relax" (popular with the expats -- we'd been there when we first got to Bamako a lifetime ago!) and had some lunch. Anna'd received an e-mail from our travel agent that she'd secured flights home for us a day later than originally expected -- not the best of news, but good to know when we'd be heading home. That evening (31 January) a celebration/farewell dinner was planned as about half the group was heading home then (as dad and I were originally scheduled, sigh.....). Stay tuned -- we're almost back to New Orleans!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Vanity......or ode to shape-ups?
I believe we all have something we are vain about. Personally, I don't care if my hair is growing white highlights, I go to the grocery and run other errands after my trip to the gym, before the shower, my house is not neat, my car is certainly not clean (inside or out!), and I still own (and wear!) clothes that I've had FOREVER.
BUT, I do care about something, and that is my fitness. A combination of health and weight maintenance, but I exercise almost every day (unless I'm really sick or we're travelling or something similar). I usually don't succumb to those "get fit quick" schemes, preferring to stick with the tried and true (yep, I STILL have my original Jane Fonda workout ca. 1984). I've never owned a treadmill or a stationary bicycle. I do own small handweights and MANY videos/DVDs. And I just bought a pair of shape-up shoes. While we were in North Carolina my mom bought a pair at Rack Room (instead of paying $120!). The next day I was shopping with my sister and decided that I'd try them out as well. And then I wore them to go walking the next morning. It took a while for me to get used to the "rocking" motion, but I quickly noticed different muscles working -- particularly my calves, upper inner thighs, and rear end. MMmmmmmm, I thought, perhaps there's something to these shoes? The next day I could "feel" that I'd worked something different and wore the shoes again. I've now worn them at home a couple times walking (on the flat ground here rather than the hills of North Carolina!) and continue to feel the different muscles working. Whether or not these parts of my body will become "toned" is still up for debate, but I am happy with my new shoes............
BUT, I do care about something, and that is my fitness. A combination of health and weight maintenance, but I exercise almost every day (unless I'm really sick or we're travelling or something similar). I usually don't succumb to those "get fit quick" schemes, preferring to stick with the tried and true (yep, I STILL have my original Jane Fonda workout ca. 1984). I've never owned a treadmill or a stationary bicycle. I do own small handweights and MANY videos/DVDs. And I just bought a pair of shape-up shoes. While we were in North Carolina my mom bought a pair at Rack Room (instead of paying $120!). The next day I was shopping with my sister and decided that I'd try them out as well. And then I wore them to go walking the next morning. It took a while for me to get used to the "rocking" motion, but I quickly noticed different muscles working -- particularly my calves, upper inner thighs, and rear end. MMmmmmmm, I thought, perhaps there's something to these shoes? The next day I could "feel" that I'd worked something different and wore the shoes again. I've now worn them at home a couple times walking (on the flat ground here rather than the hills of North Carolina!) and continue to feel the different muscles working. Whether or not these parts of my body will become "toned" is still up for debate, but I am happy with my new shoes............
Thursday, July 22, 2010
what i forgot
Duh. I forgot a fun day! We spent Monday at Carrowinds amusement park. It's owned by the same people who own Cedar Point (for those of us Ohioans) and the newest ride there is a "scaled down" version of the Millenium (called the Intimidator) -- this information is from mom and dad who were at Cedar Point a year or so ago and rode the rolling coaster. In any event, we arrived as the park opened and were able to ride the Intimidator without too long a wait. Mom sat out with Taylor who's not quite tall enough for the ride. She'll have an opportunity to ride it again later in the year with their season pass. The rest of us (me and my girls, dad, Kris, and Mackenzie) all rode it. FUN!!! We were at the park until mid-afternoon, riding coasters and other rides, ending up on the river ride on which we all got soaked (just in time to get in the car wet for the drive back to mom and dad's house).
I probably forgot something else, but for now, this is it!
I probably forgot something else, but for now, this is it!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
July 2010
Yes, it's been a while. No, I don't have a good excuse. And I'm typing on my mom's keyboard, so excuse any typos.....
For a summer in which the girls didn't go to camp ALL summer, it's been incredibly busy. They did participate for one week in camp at Dominican High School (where Maggie starts in the fall). Maggie's age group selected activities in which to participate, Abby's age group had assigned activities. We carpooled with two other families -- one of Maggie's friends from school and an acquaintance of mine who live near-by. Worked out nicely in that no one had to drive all the time. I went to the finaly program (Abby did a dance and a cheer) and got to see all the artwork they'd made during the week -- some pretty nice stuff!
Abby really improved on her swimming with the team. She learned how to dive and flip-turn and her strokes are stronger. She really seemed to enjoy it and wants to both be on her school's team this fall and probably do it again next summer.
I completed a Bible Study on my own -- some of the women from my church meet during the week in the evenings, but it doesn't fit with my commitments right now. This summer they were doing a study on "Becoming a Woman of Worth" that interested me -- studying 8 women in the Bible and how they are examples of traits to be emulated today. Even though I didn't participate in the group, I did the study on my own. I missed the discussion like I get with my school-year day-time group, but did find a lot of value in the study in terms of how I want to develop myself.
The girls and I are currently at my parents' house in North Carolina. We flew up with Tom 2 weeks ago and then spent a week in Pigeon Forge with my sister and her family (unfortunately, my brother-in-law threw his back out and was unable to come -- in fact, Kris drove home for 2 nights to be with him and get him to an MRI before returning). We had cabins across a small lane from each other and all had a great time. Tom and I took a driving trip to the National Park and went to Cades Cove. We also enjoyed massage on our deck one morning during a rain storm -- pretty neat! We hit the Dollywood splash park and had fun on the water slides. And we enjoyed the Dixie Stampede together. Did some touring of Gatlinburg and some went to the Aquarium, some went to a Science/Discovery museum, etc. Dinners at the cabins which each had hot-tub (my dad actually got in one!), jacuzzies, pool table, air hockey, etc. LOTS of fun for all!
We got back to mom and dad's Friday and Tom headed for home Saturday morning. Sigh. The girls and I have managed to keep a bit busy. We've done some shopping (girls with gramma, a few trips to Target to replace broken flip flops and other fun things, shoe store with sales). Abby thought she wanted to try water skiing again so we headed out yesterday. I hadn't been for 12 years and managed to get up on my second try (not quite enough "oomph" to the acceleration on the first try and my rear-end was stuck in the water!). Stayed up a short while and demonstrated to Abby how easy it is to simply drop the rope and "fall". Mom then took a go and also got up on the second try and stayed up much longer than I (this after celebrating a birthday Sunday!). The boat was acting up (probably the starter) and Abby decided she was a bit apprehensive, so we decided to take a ride instead of her skiing. Which was fun until we were almost back to the house and it started to rain. For some reason, they all thought it funny to see my hidden completely under my towel to stay dry until it rained more and then mom and Abby did about the same (Maggie took shelter under the dash board). The thunder waited until we we'd docked the boat -- thankful for small blessings!
Today was our regular shopping trip. I'm really not much of a shopper -- I go to buy what I need, and don't like to "go shopping" to look around. I like to go with my sister -- we have a system -- we go into the store together, split up to find what we like, meet at the dressing room, and continue on. This year we included Maggie for the first time -- she's wearing "people" clothes and so she got invited (much to the dismay of Abby and Mackenzie -- her sister and cousin). Kris and I managed to buy a couple of the same things and all three of us bought the same shirt -- a dark purple knit tope with flowers on it. We managed to change before we got back to the house so that we could all walk in in the same shirt......
The girls and I head back home Saturday -- mom is flying with us as she's going to my aunt's house to help out after her surgery. The girls will go to a week of scrapbooking camp next week and then we've only 2 more before school starts. Yikes!
Hope your summer is going well and that you're enjoying it!
For a summer in which the girls didn't go to camp ALL summer, it's been incredibly busy. They did participate for one week in camp at Dominican High School (where Maggie starts in the fall). Maggie's age group selected activities in which to participate, Abby's age group had assigned activities. We carpooled with two other families -- one of Maggie's friends from school and an acquaintance of mine who live near-by. Worked out nicely in that no one had to drive all the time. I went to the finaly program (Abby did a dance and a cheer) and got to see all the artwork they'd made during the week -- some pretty nice stuff!
Abby really improved on her swimming with the team. She learned how to dive and flip-turn and her strokes are stronger. She really seemed to enjoy it and wants to both be on her school's team this fall and probably do it again next summer.
I completed a Bible Study on my own -- some of the women from my church meet during the week in the evenings, but it doesn't fit with my commitments right now. This summer they were doing a study on "Becoming a Woman of Worth" that interested me -- studying 8 women in the Bible and how they are examples of traits to be emulated today. Even though I didn't participate in the group, I did the study on my own. I missed the discussion like I get with my school-year day-time group, but did find a lot of value in the study in terms of how I want to develop myself.
The girls and I are currently at my parents' house in North Carolina. We flew up with Tom 2 weeks ago and then spent a week in Pigeon Forge with my sister and her family (unfortunately, my brother-in-law threw his back out and was unable to come -- in fact, Kris drove home for 2 nights to be with him and get him to an MRI before returning). We had cabins across a small lane from each other and all had a great time. Tom and I took a driving trip to the National Park and went to Cades Cove. We also enjoyed massage on our deck one morning during a rain storm -- pretty neat! We hit the Dollywood splash park and had fun on the water slides. And we enjoyed the Dixie Stampede together. Did some touring of Gatlinburg and some went to the Aquarium, some went to a Science/Discovery museum, etc. Dinners at the cabins which each had hot-tub (my dad actually got in one!), jacuzzies, pool table, air hockey, etc. LOTS of fun for all!
We got back to mom and dad's Friday and Tom headed for home Saturday morning. Sigh. The girls and I have managed to keep a bit busy. We've done some shopping (girls with gramma, a few trips to Target to replace broken flip flops and other fun things, shoe store with sales). Abby thought she wanted to try water skiing again so we headed out yesterday. I hadn't been for 12 years and managed to get up on my second try (not quite enough "oomph" to the acceleration on the first try and my rear-end was stuck in the water!). Stayed up a short while and demonstrated to Abby how easy it is to simply drop the rope and "fall". Mom then took a go and also got up on the second try and stayed up much longer than I (this after celebrating a birthday Sunday!). The boat was acting up (probably the starter) and Abby decided she was a bit apprehensive, so we decided to take a ride instead of her skiing. Which was fun until we were almost back to the house and it started to rain. For some reason, they all thought it funny to see my hidden completely under my towel to stay dry until it rained more and then mom and Abby did about the same (Maggie took shelter under the dash board). The thunder waited until we we'd docked the boat -- thankful for small blessings!
Today was our regular shopping trip. I'm really not much of a shopper -- I go to buy what I need, and don't like to "go shopping" to look around. I like to go with my sister -- we have a system -- we go into the store together, split up to find what we like, meet at the dressing room, and continue on. This year we included Maggie for the first time -- she's wearing "people" clothes and so she got invited (much to the dismay of Abby and Mackenzie -- her sister and cousin). Kris and I managed to buy a couple of the same things and all three of us bought the same shirt -- a dark purple knit tope with flowers on it. We managed to change before we got back to the house so that we could all walk in in the same shirt......
The girls and I head back home Saturday -- mom is flying with us as she's going to my aunt's house to help out after her surgery. The girls will go to a week of scrapbooking camp next week and then we've only 2 more before school starts. Yikes!
Hope your summer is going well and that you're enjoying it!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
2 days cruising the Niger River
Not anywhere close to any cruising I imagine any of you have done (aside from my dad and uncle, of course!). The first is a shot of the entire boat, taken actually where we docked on a sand shoal to spend the night (in tents). The second is a close up of the toilet -- basically an enclosed hole leading directly into the water. Hey, it worked! And you had to walk along the exterior of the boat in order to reach it.....
Before we'd gotten to the boat, we'd had breakfast with Mac and three girls from the Peace Crops. Interesting to hear what their experiences have been. Breakfast was VERY familiar looking to any American -- pancakes, french toast, maple syrup (REAL!), tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. After breakfast a small group of us went to see the bead museum -- lots of history on the beads. Then onto NO PLANNED ACTIVITY for 24 HOURS!!!!! Given that I was suffering pretty badly with what turned out to be bronchitis/sinus infection, I really needed the R&R. I basically spent the entire time on the pinasse (fancy name for the boat) horizontal, with my head propped up so I could breathe. Fun to see some of the activity going on down the river -- various villages and settlements, people riding down the river on other boats, women doing wash in the river (euw!). And nice to just lie there with my eyes closed, decompressing after an intense period of time! The next photo shows them cooking lunch -- 2 men "manned" the pinasse, one "driving" and one doing everything else. Cooking was on an open fire (safety shmafety).
We simply cruised along all day. A bit before dark we landed on our shoal and the boat people got out the tents. There were plenty, allowing most of us to have our own. Nice for dad as he didn't have to sleep with the "coughing wonder" that I'd become. And I didn't have to feel bad for tossing and turning all night. Up the next morning to continue along our way to meet back up with the cars to continue to Segou.
Despite being sick, I truly enjoyed the relaxation offered by the trip down the river. It also allowed a different view of the country than over-ground, especially with regards to the rather poor roads. We'd had quite an intense "immersion" in Konsango, and this 24 hours gave us all an opportunity to de-compress and assimilate it into ourselves as we transitioned back into "modern society".........
Before we'd gotten to the boat, we'd had breakfast with Mac and three girls from the Peace Crops. Interesting to hear what their experiences have been. Breakfast was VERY familiar looking to any American -- pancakes, french toast, maple syrup (REAL!), tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. After breakfast a small group of us went to see the bead museum -- lots of history on the beads. Then onto NO PLANNED ACTIVITY for 24 HOURS!!!!! Given that I was suffering pretty badly with what turned out to be bronchitis/sinus infection, I really needed the R&R. I basically spent the entire time on the pinasse (fancy name for the boat) horizontal, with my head propped up so I could breathe. Fun to see some of the activity going on down the river -- various villages and settlements, people riding down the river on other boats, women doing wash in the river (euw!). And nice to just lie there with my eyes closed, decompressing after an intense period of time! The next photo shows them cooking lunch -- 2 men "manned" the pinasse, one "driving" and one doing everything else. Cooking was on an open fire (safety shmafety).
We simply cruised along all day. A bit before dark we landed on our shoal and the boat people got out the tents. There were plenty, allowing most of us to have our own. Nice for dad as he didn't have to sleep with the "coughing wonder" that I'd become. And I didn't have to feel bad for tossing and turning all night. Up the next morning to continue along our way to meet back up with the cars to continue to Segou.
Despite being sick, I truly enjoyed the relaxation offered by the trip down the river. It also allowed a different view of the country than over-ground, especially with regards to the rather poor roads. We'd had quite an intense "immersion" in Konsango, and this 24 hours gave us all an opportunity to de-compress and assimilate it into ourselves as we transitioned back into "modern society".........
Friday, June 18, 2010
Summertime
And the living's a bit easier. Sleeping later, relaxing more, no packing lunch. Still a bit busy, but not like during the school year! And we've managed to finish SOME of the cleaning that's required this summer. Still have the black-holes of the girls' bedrooms (popularly known as closets). And the disaster that our coat closet in the foyer has become. Sigh. One step at a time.
Abby has managed to participate in two more swim meets. The first was on the West Bank (although in regards to the varied travels of the Mississippi river we traveled EAST to get to the WEST Bank and, on the way home, taking a different route, went NORTH to get back on the EAST bank. Check out a map, get used to the geography). It was HOT. And the pool only had 4 lanes. She swam like a champion and managed to not get discouraged by not winning any ribbons (they didn't have her name on the roster and she ended up in the early heats where the REALLY strong swimmers go). On the way there I'd missed the turn and gone about 1/2 mile farther than necessary. On the way home, we went a different route and I made a DIFFERENT wrong turn (despite the fact that I actually am a pretty good map reader and had even directed someone else on how to get home who'd GOTTEN IT RIGHT!). So Abby and I ended up going thru a tunnel under a canal (didn't know that there were tunnels!) into Belle Chasse, then had to turn around. Of course, the OTHER way didn't have a tunnel but a bridge and the drawbridge was up. Thankfully a nice truck driver let me in. So we were only out 20 minutes. This week's meet was in Destrehan which is about a 20 minute drive from here. We got there in plenty of time, but it was thundering and lightning. So they were delayed. They started warm-ups a bit after 3pm (when the meet was supposed to start) but had to pull the kids from the pool again when it thundered again. Another 10 minute delay. The meet finally started about 4pm and I was quite impressed by the precision with which this club ran the meet. We were done by 6pm (the other two meets we were there 3+ hours). Abby even made it onto the roster this time and again won one of her races -- breast stroke. AND dove without belly-flopping. AND executed flip turns. She's really enjoying it as well.
Maggie, meanwhile got signed up for the "teen fit" program at the JCC where she had 4 personal training sessions and then took a test to be "certified" to use the equipment at her age rather than waiting until 16. She enjoys it and went to work-out with me yesterday morning. Today she chose to sleep in.....since it's only 5 minutes from here, I can easily take her pretty much when she wants.
Today we managed to get Abby her school uniforms for next year. Although Maggie is a small person, Abby's even tinier. So, smaller skirts, new blouses, new socks, and new shoes. She doesn't like the fact that the skirt comes down to her knees.......but that's what's necessary. Sigh.
And, since Tom's not here, we've been renting a watching chick flicks. As well as hitting the theaters after church. So far this summer we've seen Shrek, A-Team, Just Wright, and Prince of Persia in the theater and The Notebook, The Proposal, and Did You Hear About the Morgans? at home, with Duplicity and Leap Year cued up. Tonight friends are sleeping over, so we'll go buy some ice cream for dessert and then order pizza.........and wait for the rain storm that looks like it's coming......
Have a great weekend, all!
Abby has managed to participate in two more swim meets. The first was on the West Bank (although in regards to the varied travels of the Mississippi river we traveled EAST to get to the WEST Bank and, on the way home, taking a different route, went NORTH to get back on the EAST bank. Check out a map, get used to the geography). It was HOT. And the pool only had 4 lanes. She swam like a champion and managed to not get discouraged by not winning any ribbons (they didn't have her name on the roster and she ended up in the early heats where the REALLY strong swimmers go). On the way there I'd missed the turn and gone about 1/2 mile farther than necessary. On the way home, we went a different route and I made a DIFFERENT wrong turn (despite the fact that I actually am a pretty good map reader and had even directed someone else on how to get home who'd GOTTEN IT RIGHT!). So Abby and I ended up going thru a tunnel under a canal (didn't know that there were tunnels!) into Belle Chasse, then had to turn around. Of course, the OTHER way didn't have a tunnel but a bridge and the drawbridge was up. Thankfully a nice truck driver let me in. So we were only out 20 minutes. This week's meet was in Destrehan which is about a 20 minute drive from here. We got there in plenty of time, but it was thundering and lightning. So they were delayed. They started warm-ups a bit after 3pm (when the meet was supposed to start) but had to pull the kids from the pool again when it thundered again. Another 10 minute delay. The meet finally started about 4pm and I was quite impressed by the precision with which this club ran the meet. We were done by 6pm (the other two meets we were there 3+ hours). Abby even made it onto the roster this time and again won one of her races -- breast stroke. AND dove without belly-flopping. AND executed flip turns. She's really enjoying it as well.
Maggie, meanwhile got signed up for the "teen fit" program at the JCC where she had 4 personal training sessions and then took a test to be "certified" to use the equipment at her age rather than waiting until 16. She enjoys it and went to work-out with me yesterday morning. Today she chose to sleep in.....since it's only 5 minutes from here, I can easily take her pretty much when she wants.
Today we managed to get Abby her school uniforms for next year. Although Maggie is a small person, Abby's even tinier. So, smaller skirts, new blouses, new socks, and new shoes. She doesn't like the fact that the skirt comes down to her knees.......but that's what's necessary. Sigh.
And, since Tom's not here, we've been renting a watching chick flicks. As well as hitting the theaters after church. So far this summer we've seen Shrek, A-Team, Just Wright, and Prince of Persia in the theater and The Notebook, The Proposal, and Did You Hear About the Morgans? at home, with Duplicity and Leap Year cued up. Tonight friends are sleeping over, so we'll go buy some ice cream for dessert and then order pizza.........and wait for the rain storm that looks like it's coming......
Have a great weekend, all!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
end of year activities
Although the girls have been out of school for almost 2 weeks now, we haven't yet slowed down. I THINK that will happen next week, but I'm not sure. Last week we were still busy with rehearsals for recitals (Maggie's ballet was meeting 5X a week for her various dances, plus piano and violin), but we did manage to get parts of their rooms cleaned! Emptied bookshelves, donated/stored/replaced books for both, and got one of Abby's dressers cleaned, inside and out. Personally, I think the closets will be the WORST in that that will also entail emptying all the various bags in them......sigh.
Mom and dad arrived Sunday to enjoy all the festivities here. In addition to the rehearsals, we've seen several movies -- the girls and I saw "Letters to Juliet" last week, on Sunday morning Abby and I saw "Shrek", on Monday we all saw "Prince of Persia" and yesterday Maggie and I saw "Just Wright" while Abby, mom and dad saw "Date Night" (Maggie and I had already seen it). Maggie's ballet recital was Tuesday night and was lovely. She danced in 4 dances in addition to leading the pre-ballet class on stage. She certainly didn't inherit her gracefulness from me! Yesterday was Abby's first swim meet. She swam the freestyle (2nd place in her heat), backstroke (not so good a showing, but she does swim it straight!), and breast stroke (1st in her heat, earning a ribbon). Aside from the 3 events she swam, the swim meet was perhaps one of the most boring things I've ever gone to. We arrived for warm-up at 2, it started at 3, and we left at 6. And we were able to leave before the older kids did breast stroke, before anyone did butterfly, and before almost anyone (aside from the under-6 group) did a relay. Yikes!
Today we were able to sleep in. Later today Maggie has her first personal training session -- there's a program at the JCC that has her taking six personal training sessions that teach her about the equipment, form, stretching, etc. after which she's allowed to use the gym on her own (otherwise you have to be 16 with a parent or 18 alone). Abby has swim practice -- provided the rain and thunder start. Tomorrow we go pick up the girls' glasses. Saturday is the violin recital and piano lesson, Sunday is church and the piano recital. Sigh..........
Hope your summer's going well!
Mom and dad arrived Sunday to enjoy all the festivities here. In addition to the rehearsals, we've seen several movies -- the girls and I saw "Letters to Juliet" last week, on Sunday morning Abby and I saw "Shrek", on Monday we all saw "Prince of Persia" and yesterday Maggie and I saw "Just Wright" while Abby, mom and dad saw "Date Night" (Maggie and I had already seen it). Maggie's ballet recital was Tuesday night and was lovely. She danced in 4 dances in addition to leading the pre-ballet class on stage. She certainly didn't inherit her gracefulness from me! Yesterday was Abby's first swim meet. She swam the freestyle (2nd place in her heat), backstroke (not so good a showing, but she does swim it straight!), and breast stroke (1st in her heat, earning a ribbon). Aside from the 3 events she swam, the swim meet was perhaps one of the most boring things I've ever gone to. We arrived for warm-up at 2, it started at 3, and we left at 6. And we were able to leave before the older kids did breast stroke, before anyone did butterfly, and before almost anyone (aside from the under-6 group) did a relay. Yikes!
Today we were able to sleep in. Later today Maggie has her first personal training session -- there's a program at the JCC that has her taking six personal training sessions that teach her about the equipment, form, stretching, etc. after which she's allowed to use the gym on her own (otherwise you have to be 16 with a parent or 18 alone). Abby has swim practice -- provided the rain and thunder start. Tomorrow we go pick up the girls' glasses. Saturday is the violin recital and piano lesson, Sunday is church and the piano recital. Sigh..........
Hope your summer's going well!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Leaving Konsango
On 27 January we left Konsango -- sad for missing our new friends, pleased with the progress the villagers (with a bit of our help!) made on completing their garden. Many of us had brought with us items to give to the villagers. The morning was spent with dividing these out for the various village committees to distribute to their members. Then our drivers came and we loaded the cars. We went through various "ceremonies" with the village elders as we said out goodbyes. Most of the villagers lined the way for us on our way out. I can only hope we made as good an impression on them as they did on us.
After a long, hot, bouncy drive (Mali roads make ANYTHING in the US look like a smooth track!), we headed to Bandiagara. It was interesting to enter the city -- last week it looked so primitive to my eyes compared to what I think of as a city, yet after a week in the village, it was so modern. We were invited to Timothy's home for lunch. He battles chronic malaria and was unable to join us, yet still hosted us. The various students that live with him prepared and served the food. I did enjoy seeing his latrine facility -- concrete slab with hole, said hole covered by a plastic toilet seat. And re-bar embedded in the concrete to enable people to hold on, I suppose.....
We left there after lunch and headed to Sevare. Here we stayed at a hotel called "Mac's Refuge". It's run by an American whose parent were missionaries in Mali and he lived there as a child. He's actually from Cuyahoga Falls (east of Cleveland, Ohio) which thrilled our group as most have ties to Ohio. He's retired to Mali to run this hotel and shared many fascinating stories of Mali over a wonderful, relaxed dinner (complete with ice cream and chocolate sauce). Before dinner many of us headed to the port market which was extremely chaotic.
There were dried fish all over being sold and LOTS of annoying people trying to sell you things (ok, that's definitely a cultural point!). I did enjoy seeing the boat-making and black-smithing at the boatyard. And we did a bit of shopping that was fun. As I started saying, dinner was magnificent -- chicken soup, bread, taboulleh, chicken, a steamed bread, gravy, and the ice cream with chocolate sauce and sesame biscuits/cookies. However, perhaps the BEST part of the evening was a "real" (albeit cool) shower rather than bucket cleaning. Was also able to connect via Blackberry on e-mail to find the Saints made the Super Bowl (although didn't know who they were playing!) and check in with family.
The next day we had breakfast with Mac and 3 young ladies with the Peace Corp -- one working in education, one in agriculture, and one in micro-businesses. Had the most "American" breakfast we'd seen yet -- pancakes, french toast, maple syrup, tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. After breakfast we went to see the bead museum and a small attached shop. Then we packed up to head for the boat that would take us down the Niger for a much-needed relaxing bit. The cars will meet us the following day (after camping on the river) to head to Segou. Whew!
After a long, hot, bouncy drive (Mali roads make ANYTHING in the US look like a smooth track!), we headed to Bandiagara. It was interesting to enter the city -- last week it looked so primitive to my eyes compared to what I think of as a city, yet after a week in the village, it was so modern. We were invited to Timothy's home for lunch. He battles chronic malaria and was unable to join us, yet still hosted us. The various students that live with him prepared and served the food. I did enjoy seeing his latrine facility -- concrete slab with hole, said hole covered by a plastic toilet seat. And re-bar embedded in the concrete to enable people to hold on, I suppose.....
We left there after lunch and headed to Sevare. Here we stayed at a hotel called "Mac's Refuge". It's run by an American whose parent were missionaries in Mali and he lived there as a child. He's actually from Cuyahoga Falls (east of Cleveland, Ohio) which thrilled our group as most have ties to Ohio. He's retired to Mali to run this hotel and shared many fascinating stories of Mali over a wonderful, relaxed dinner (complete with ice cream and chocolate sauce). Before dinner many of us headed to the port market which was extremely chaotic.
There were dried fish all over being sold and LOTS of annoying people trying to sell you things (ok, that's definitely a cultural point!). I did enjoy seeing the boat-making and black-smithing at the boatyard. And we did a bit of shopping that was fun. As I started saying, dinner was magnificent -- chicken soup, bread, taboulleh, chicken, a steamed bread, gravy, and the ice cream with chocolate sauce and sesame biscuits/cookies. However, perhaps the BEST part of the evening was a "real" (albeit cool) shower rather than bucket cleaning. Was also able to connect via Blackberry on e-mail to find the Saints made the Super Bowl (although didn't know who they were playing!) and check in with family.
The next day we had breakfast with Mac and 3 young ladies with the Peace Corp -- one working in education, one in agriculture, and one in micro-businesses. Had the most "American" breakfast we'd seen yet -- pancakes, french toast, maple syrup, tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. After breakfast we went to see the bead museum and a small attached shop. Then we packed up to head for the boat that would take us down the Niger for a much-needed relaxing bit. The cars will meet us the following day (after camping on the river) to head to Segou. Whew!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Back to Mali -- 26 January
All right! After finishing up the process with the henna tattoos and eating breakfast (side note -- since the ladies who tattooed us all have other responsibilities, the tattooing started in the evening after dark -- when their chores were done. The returned in the morning about 6:30am -- before the major chores started). We headed back to finish up the fence and plant the trees. We were planting fruit trees -- papaya, mango, grenadine, baobob, lemon, and tamarind. We each were paired up with a villager for planting. I was paired with one of the older men who'd taken a liking to me as a "daughter".
Meanwhile, the "gate" was delivered to the site -- sheet metal that was a bit too narrow for the hole left for it, so the masons set about making it right. Also, Tandana had gifted the workers coffee (among other items) and a group made it up for all -- strong and hot, just like I take it! And we got to try some of the baobab fruit -- similar to popcorn in texture -- airy with a crunchy/fibrous core. Not bad.
Our lunch break was fried plantains, macaroni and chicken which was great after a morning of work. Then they brought us some toe. Not part of your feet, but the main staple for Malian's diets. Toe is ground millet that is cooked into a really thick porridge/paste. I LOVE grains -- rice, barley, wheat, oats -- so I assumed I'd like this as well. I took a big bite and thought, "now this is interesting.....". The aftertaste was unpleasant, but, undeterred, I decided to try again. This time, the initial flavor was also horrible. YUCK!!!!! I'm quite thankful that we were served our own meals (note -- Tandana supplied our group with our own cook who prepared more "western" foods for us -- and everything we ate was quite tasty, toe aside).
A quick bit of laundry and then we headed to the village where we got to see some of the weavers. They weave about 4-5inch wide strips that are sewn together to form cloth for use in clothing etc. They use their feet as well as their hands in plying their trade. The aspect that was most interesting to me is that they weave in reverse to what we do -- rather than have the new cloth be away from you, the cloth comes toward them.
Our last event of the afternoon was the performance of our "skit" where we showed the villagers all that we'd done and enjoyed during our stay. Even though I HATE these sorts of things, it was fun. And my dad made a GREAT goat......
And here's a "panorama" of the finished garden.......WOW! Look at all that work! Amazing what a community can do when they spend the time together to get something done!
Meanwhile, the "gate" was delivered to the site -- sheet metal that was a bit too narrow for the hole left for it, so the masons set about making it right. Also, Tandana had gifted the workers coffee (among other items) and a group made it up for all -- strong and hot, just like I take it! And we got to try some of the baobab fruit -- similar to popcorn in texture -- airy with a crunchy/fibrous core. Not bad.
Our lunch break was fried plantains, macaroni and chicken which was great after a morning of work. Then they brought us some toe. Not part of your feet, but the main staple for Malian's diets. Toe is ground millet that is cooked into a really thick porridge/paste. I LOVE grains -- rice, barley, wheat, oats -- so I assumed I'd like this as well. I took a big bite and thought, "now this is interesting.....". The aftertaste was unpleasant, but, undeterred, I decided to try again. This time, the initial flavor was also horrible. YUCK!!!!! I'm quite thankful that we were served our own meals (note -- Tandana supplied our group with our own cook who prepared more "western" foods for us -- and everything we ate was quite tasty, toe aside).
A quick bit of laundry and then we headed to the village where we got to see some of the weavers. They weave about 4-5inch wide strips that are sewn together to form cloth for use in clothing etc. They use their feet as well as their hands in plying their trade. The aspect that was most interesting to me is that they weave in reverse to what we do -- rather than have the new cloth be away from you, the cloth comes toward them.
Our last event of the afternoon was the performance of our "skit" where we showed the villagers all that we'd done and enjoyed during our stay. Even though I HATE these sorts of things, it was fun. And my dad made a GREAT goat......
And here's a "panorama" of the finished garden.......WOW! Look at all that work! Amazing what a community can do when they spend the time together to get something done!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
excuses, excuses
BUSY!!!! And a new computer. Add them together, and no time for news.
So what's happening here? Maggie finished her "career" in elementary school and will begin 8th grade at high school in the fall. Abby's passed 4th grade and will enter "upper school" and start wearing a plaid skirt rather than a jumper. Swim practice continues, rehearsals for violin, piano, and ballet intensify, and my tree in the back yard falls over again in a storm. Mom and dad come for a visit, father-in-law is healing quite well from surgery, and we're about to embark on extreme cleaning upstairs.....(yes, my daughters are THRILLED!!!!!).......
Enjoyed co-hosting (read--monetary donation) a party with the other parents whose kids are leaving for high school in the fall -- 4 hours with 13 year olds!!!!! And so thankful for my new computer! It's got a touch screen (which I'm not used to but trying to use) and I'm almost there with getting everything to "work" on it as I want it to.......
Now to go pick Maggie up from ballet, drop of an "extra" kid, then pick up Abby and head to piano......
So what's happening here? Maggie finished her "career" in elementary school and will begin 8th grade at high school in the fall. Abby's passed 4th grade and will enter "upper school" and start wearing a plaid skirt rather than a jumper. Swim practice continues, rehearsals for violin, piano, and ballet intensify, and my tree in the back yard falls over again in a storm. Mom and dad come for a visit, father-in-law is healing quite well from surgery, and we're about to embark on extreme cleaning upstairs.....(yes, my daughters are THRILLED!!!!!).......
Enjoyed co-hosting (read--monetary donation) a party with the other parents whose kids are leaving for high school in the fall -- 4 hours with 13 year olds!!!!! And so thankful for my new computer! It's got a touch screen (which I'm not used to but trying to use) and I'm almost there with getting everything to "work" on it as I want it to.......
Now to go pick Maggie up from ballet, drop of an "extra" kid, then pick up Abby and head to piano......
Monday, May 10, 2010
25 January 2010
Dad and I wished my sister a happy birthday before heading out to the "work site" to move rocks and water holes (yes, we watered the holes that were filled with "compost" -- sheep/goat droppings and various plant material). 3 walls of the fence were pretty much complete and the men were moving large boulders (by hand, pry-bars). And the women of the village were all carrying huge rocks on top of their heads while carrying children strapped to their backs. We again set up a "fire line" to water the holes. Again, the women were hard at work with babies strapped to them, flipping them around to nurse when the babies got hungry (not that I nursed my girls very long, but I can't imagine working like that while doing it!).
The chief of the village gave a demonstration of how they make traditional buckets from calabash. Today, they more often use plastic buckets that are purchased or ones fashioned from old tires (quite resourceful, no?).
We were also treated to see the man making the rope -- he holds the fibers between his toes and tightly winds the materials together.
Before lunch, we were treated to a tour of the village. Moussa took us to see his grandmother's house (no one lives there now). We saw the mosque and the chief's house which is (appropriately, I suppose) very big. It's more of a compound with an entry room, a courtyard, a room for the men, a room for the goats, a ladies' house, and a separate area for the chief.
After a lunch of chicken, pasta, and sauce, we were back to moving rocks. Dinner of chicken with yummy sauce. And then for the fun -- after all their work was done, some of the ladies came over to give those of us who wanted them henna tattoos. What fun! Multi-step process -- first they cut bandage tape in small strips (with a straight razor blade) to create a pattern on the part of your body that's getting tattooed. Then a greenish mud is applied and the area is covered with plastic overnight. In the morning they came back to take off the mud and replace it with a gray mud and recover. Some chemical reaction occurs (it felt warm) and the result is a henna tattoo!
Finally, my interesting observation on the day on the characteristics of my fine "baby" hairs that are all around my hairline. The young (12-15) girls were fascinated by them! I'd noticed the girls were blowing on the back of my neck and couldn't figure out whether I should be annoyed or enjoy the breeze. I finally felt the tickling when some of the longer strands were blown around and laughed with them as the blew my hair around. Fun!
The chief of the village gave a demonstration of how they make traditional buckets from calabash. Today, they more often use plastic buckets that are purchased or ones fashioned from old tires (quite resourceful, no?).
We were also treated to see the man making the rope -- he holds the fibers between his toes and tightly winds the materials together.
Before lunch, we were treated to a tour of the village. Moussa took us to see his grandmother's house (no one lives there now). We saw the mosque and the chief's house which is (appropriately, I suppose) very big. It's more of a compound with an entry room, a courtyard, a room for the men, a room for the goats, a ladies' house, and a separate area for the chief.
After a lunch of chicken, pasta, and sauce, we were back to moving rocks. Dinner of chicken with yummy sauce. And then for the fun -- after all their work was done, some of the ladies came over to give those of us who wanted them henna tattoos. What fun! Multi-step process -- first they cut bandage tape in small strips (with a straight razor blade) to create a pattern on the part of your body that's getting tattooed. Then a greenish mud is applied and the area is covered with plastic overnight. In the morning they came back to take off the mud and replace it with a gray mud and recover. Some chemical reaction occurs (it felt warm) and the result is a henna tattoo!
Finally, my interesting observation on the day on the characteristics of my fine "baby" hairs that are all around my hairline. The young (12-15) girls were fascinated by them! I'd noticed the girls were blowing on the back of my neck and couldn't figure out whether I should be annoyed or enjoy the breeze. I finally felt the tickling when some of the longer strands were blown around and laughed with them as the blew my hair around. Fun!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
end of the year
You would think the end of the year would mean WINDING DOWN but here it seems it's even busier. Here's the past couple days in my life -- so thankful for Tom and friends to help out!
Tuesday Abby had her busy day. Maggie was able to go directly home as my friend picked her up from school and delivered her to my house -- dinner ready to be microwaved. Abby and I headed to grab a quick bite at McD's then to violin lesson. After that we did a quick run to the JCC where she had her first (EVER!) swim team practice. I was amazed at her swimming ability! Then we headed home for an hour "break" to do homework. Then back to school for the choir concert. WHEW!!!!
Yesterday after school I reminded Maggie that she had an orthodontist appointment this morning -- she said, "but we're dissecting frogs". So, get home and call the orthodontist to change the appointment (for the second time -- the last time we had to change it for standardized testing). Then I took her to ballet for 5pm. And was done -- a relatively "light" evening.
Today, however, was HECTIC. I took the girls to school and then went to the park where I jogged 2 miles. Back to school to help the 4th graders get ready for their Native American Day with the shirt painting. We actually finished a LOT earlier than any anticipated (especially the teachers who do this year after year!) so I was home by 10:30 to bathe and relax. I was eating lunch when I got a dreaded call from school -- Abby'd fallen on the playground and hit her head (policy to call whenever a child hits their head). They wanted me to come look at it as it appeared to be a large bump. So I headed that way......not only was it a large bump, it was an ENORMOUS one -- literally the size of a tennis ball. So we came home and I called the doctor for advice -- did they want to see her or just for us to watch her. They wanted to see her. Thankfully Tom was working from home so he took Abby and I went to get Maggie from school (my fourth trip to school for the day -- a new record!). Home to feed Maggie and take her to ballet. Then back to the house for a short break, then back to ballet. Tom is currently going to pick her up from ballet (ain't he great????). And Abby missed her second swim team practice due to injury. The poor thing has bruises and scrapes all over -- of all the things she could inherit from me, why'd she have to get my clumsiness????? She has figured out a hands-free way to hold on her ice pack -- with a head band........poor baby!
Hope you're having a less-hectic week!
Tuesday Abby had her busy day. Maggie was able to go directly home as my friend picked her up from school and delivered her to my house -- dinner ready to be microwaved. Abby and I headed to grab a quick bite at McD's then to violin lesson. After that we did a quick run to the JCC where she had her first (EVER!) swim team practice. I was amazed at her swimming ability! Then we headed home for an hour "break" to do homework. Then back to school for the choir concert. WHEW!!!!
Yesterday after school I reminded Maggie that she had an orthodontist appointment this morning -- she said, "but we're dissecting frogs". So, get home and call the orthodontist to change the appointment (for the second time -- the last time we had to change it for standardized testing). Then I took her to ballet for 5pm. And was done -- a relatively "light" evening.
Today, however, was HECTIC. I took the girls to school and then went to the park where I jogged 2 miles. Back to school to help the 4th graders get ready for their Native American Day with the shirt painting. We actually finished a LOT earlier than any anticipated (especially the teachers who do this year after year!) so I was home by 10:30 to bathe and relax. I was eating lunch when I got a dreaded call from school -- Abby'd fallen on the playground and hit her head (policy to call whenever a child hits their head). They wanted me to come look at it as it appeared to be a large bump. So I headed that way......not only was it a large bump, it was an ENORMOUS one -- literally the size of a tennis ball. So we came home and I called the doctor for advice -- did they want to see her or just for us to watch her. They wanted to see her. Thankfully Tom was working from home so he took Abby and I went to get Maggie from school (my fourth trip to school for the day -- a new record!). Home to feed Maggie and take her to ballet. Then back to the house for a short break, then back to ballet. Tom is currently going to pick her up from ballet (ain't he great????). And Abby missed her second swim team practice due to injury. The poor thing has bruises and scrapes all over -- of all the things she could inherit from me, why'd she have to get my clumsiness????? She has figured out a hands-free way to hold on her ice pack -- with a head band........poor baby!
Hope you're having a less-hectic week!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
The rest of Sunday
As i mentioned in the previous post, Sunday's are truly a restful day in the village -- chores are at a minimum (ok, there's still the cooking, washing, getting buckets and buckets of water from the well), people are moving at slower speeds, and the atmosphere is more casual. In the afternoon, my dad demonstrated to the tool committee (the village is headed by a chief and is run thru a variety of committees who are in charge of some particular aspect of the city) how to build a simple saw, first from a kit my uncle Bill sent, and then with a provided blade using sticks as the frame.
I made an interesting observation during the demonstration that one of the men appeared to be deaf and that the others were using sign language (perhaps not a "formal" sign language, but effective) to communicate to him what was going on.
Meanwhile, a group of children gathered in our compound to observe the "too-bobs" (white people). We were quite fascinating to them! Some of the ladies and I taught some of the children to sing "Head, shoulders, knees, and toes", the "Hokey Pokey", "Old MacDonald", and we even got them doing an "O-H-I-O". And do you remember making those folded "fortune tellers" from squares of paper? We got them doing that as well.
In the late afternoon we headed to the field where the soccer game between the married and unmarried men was to take place. Quite interesting to note that there were trees in the field of play (in fact, at one point the ball got stuck in a tree and had to be dislodged by throwing rocks at it!). Hope did the kick-off -- and succeeded in kicking her shoe farther than the ball (my kind of athlete!). I'd been suffering from quite a cough and stuffy nose and the dust raised from the running and kicking was aggravating it, so I left early.
Sunday's dinner was "supper" in both a grilled and sauced format........and the day continued even longer! After we ate, the chief's younger brother and the women's president came over and gifted each of us with 2 pieces of indigo cloth to make a "complet" or an outfit -- for women this consists of one piece wrapped around the hips as a skirt and the other worn as a poncho. The men where just the poncho piece with pants. While we might prefer to "mix and match" two patterns, the correct way to wear a complet is to have both pieces of the same print. The "game" was that we had to find a match (the pieces we were given did NOT match and so we had to trade amongst ourselves to find a matching pair). We were then dressed (they cut holes for the ponchos) and ready to go.....
Dancing started about 9pm. The villagers fired up the generator for bright fluorescent lights on the village square. The watered the dust and started the dancing. I managed one dance before my stuffy nose and cough did me in and I made a retreat to our compound to collapse. Despite the dancing that lasted until the wee hours, I slept quite well!
I am amazed at the generosity of the villagers. They feel they have "nothing" yet they are so giving -- the time and interest they have for us is so great. I suppose it is truly a good situation when each "side" of the equation (villagers on one side, "too-bobs" on the other) believe they've gotten the "better" end of the deal, no?
I made an interesting observation during the demonstration that one of the men appeared to be deaf and that the others were using sign language (perhaps not a "formal" sign language, but effective) to communicate to him what was going on.
Meanwhile, a group of children gathered in our compound to observe the "too-bobs" (white people). We were quite fascinating to them! Some of the ladies and I taught some of the children to sing "Head, shoulders, knees, and toes", the "Hokey Pokey", "Old MacDonald", and we even got them doing an "O-H-I-O". And do you remember making those folded "fortune tellers" from squares of paper? We got them doing that as well.
In the late afternoon we headed to the field where the soccer game between the married and unmarried men was to take place. Quite interesting to note that there were trees in the field of play (in fact, at one point the ball got stuck in a tree and had to be dislodged by throwing rocks at it!). Hope did the kick-off -- and succeeded in kicking her shoe farther than the ball (my kind of athlete!). I'd been suffering from quite a cough and stuffy nose and the dust raised from the running and kicking was aggravating it, so I left early.
Sunday's dinner was "supper" in both a grilled and sauced format........and the day continued even longer! After we ate, the chief's younger brother and the women's president came over and gifted each of us with 2 pieces of indigo cloth to make a "complet" or an outfit -- for women this consists of one piece wrapped around the hips as a skirt and the other worn as a poncho. The men where just the poncho piece with pants. While we might prefer to "mix and match" two patterns, the correct way to wear a complet is to have both pieces of the same print. The "game" was that we had to find a match (the pieces we were given did NOT match and so we had to trade amongst ourselves to find a matching pair). We were then dressed (they cut holes for the ponchos) and ready to go.....
Dancing started about 9pm. The villagers fired up the generator for bright fluorescent lights on the village square. The watered the dust and started the dancing. I managed one dance before my stuffy nose and cough did me in and I made a retreat to our compound to collapse. Despite the dancing that lasted until the wee hours, I slept quite well!
I am amazed at the generosity of the villagers. They feel they have "nothing" yet they are so giving -- the time and interest they have for us is so great. I suppose it is truly a good situation when each "side" of the equation (villagers on one side, "too-bobs" on the other) believe they've gotten the "better" end of the deal, no?
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Sunday in Konsango
The village of Konsango is about half Christian and half Muslim. About 50 years ago a Malian couple started the church in Konsango -- the woman of the couple (in her 90s) joined our American group to visit the village -- they remember her quite fondly, with lots of love. She had acted as the village's midwife as well during her "tenure" in the town.
In any event, we were invited to join in the church services on Sunday morning. About half of us attended, the other half doing some more fence-building. It was such an uplifting experience for me, personally. The church itself is quite humble (actually, there are two buildings -- the original church and the new one -- they stand next to one another and the preacher and his family live across the "street"). This is the "new" church:
We arrived early and were able to also see inside the old church. It had a beautiful mud altar, on which was a Bible printed in Dogon.
After visiting the preacher at his home we again headed to church. We were instructed to sit in the front, behind the altar (a place of honor -- the men of the congregation sit here). The young women sit in the front to the preacher's right and form the "choir". The young men with instruments sit to the preacher's left. The young children sit in the front rows to the preacher's left (often accompanied by one of the fathers to "keep them in line"!). The rest of the people (women and children) fill in the other rows. The pews are simple mud seats, and, particularly with the children, there is ALWAYS room to scrunch one more in.
I was truly moved by the service -- I always enjoy the worship, fellowship, and learning at a church service or even a meeting for Bible study or with a group of Christian friends, but this was something else again. To be in a room with sisters and brothers in Christ, although we could not speak directly to one another without interpretation, was something. It was a blessing to be there and share the morning with these people.
The worship service was sung in Dogon. We were able to sing along to the tunes of "Amazing Grace" and "Jesus Loves Me". They asked us to sing for them as well. Two offering plates are passsed -- one goes to the district church and one for the local church. The sermon was on the topic of love for your neighbors -- helping them when needed, celebrating with them.
Having lunch served to us soon afterwards gave me a chance to sit back and reflect on the fact that we are all God's children and He does love us, near and far.
And lunch was good -- cous cous with vegetables in a peanut sauce. As it was Sunday, work was limited, so we took a tour of the village. "Supper" the sheep had been butchered earlier that morning (dad took photos when I was unable to continue observing!). I chose to not share those here......We were able to see a plot of land the village has given Anna where she will build her own house (the one we use is an abandoned one that is loaned by the relatives of the previous owners -- or something like that!). We saw the progress that had been made on the wall since we'd been there Saturday, saw the area where the weavers set up their looms, the blacksmith hut, and a field where they were setting up for a soccer match that afternoon for our entertainment.
I'll stop here as it's about time to get my girls and start our afternoon run-around. More on the tool demonstration, soccer match, etc. soon!
In any event, we were invited to join in the church services on Sunday morning. About half of us attended, the other half doing some more fence-building. It was such an uplifting experience for me, personally. The church itself is quite humble (actually, there are two buildings -- the original church and the new one -- they stand next to one another and the preacher and his family live across the "street"). This is the "new" church:
We arrived early and were able to also see inside the old church. It had a beautiful mud altar, on which was a Bible printed in Dogon.
After visiting the preacher at his home we again headed to church. We were instructed to sit in the front, behind the altar (a place of honor -- the men of the congregation sit here). The young women sit in the front to the preacher's right and form the "choir". The young men with instruments sit to the preacher's left. The young children sit in the front rows to the preacher's left (often accompanied by one of the fathers to "keep them in line"!). The rest of the people (women and children) fill in the other rows. The pews are simple mud seats, and, particularly with the children, there is ALWAYS room to scrunch one more in.
I was truly moved by the service -- I always enjoy the worship, fellowship, and learning at a church service or even a meeting for Bible study or with a group of Christian friends, but this was something else again. To be in a room with sisters and brothers in Christ, although we could not speak directly to one another without interpretation, was something. It was a blessing to be there and share the morning with these people.
The worship service was sung in Dogon. We were able to sing along to the tunes of "Amazing Grace" and "Jesus Loves Me". They asked us to sing for them as well. Two offering plates are passsed -- one goes to the district church and one for the local church. The sermon was on the topic of love for your neighbors -- helping them when needed, celebrating with them.
Having lunch served to us soon afterwards gave me a chance to sit back and reflect on the fact that we are all God's children and He does love us, near and far.
And lunch was good -- cous cous with vegetables in a peanut sauce. As it was Sunday, work was limited, so we took a tour of the village. "Supper" the sheep had been butchered earlier that morning (dad took photos when I was unable to continue observing!). I chose to not share those here......We were able to see a plot of land the village has given Anna where she will build her own house (the one we use is an abandoned one that is loaned by the relatives of the previous owners -- or something like that!). We saw the progress that had been made on the wall since we'd been there Saturday, saw the area where the weavers set up their looms, the blacksmith hut, and a field where they were setting up for a soccer match that afternoon for our entertainment.
I'll stop here as it's about time to get my girls and start our afternoon run-around. More on the tool demonstration, soccer match, etc. soon!
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