Learning to Follow

Celebrating....

2012-02-28T10:54:00.001+03:00

... a new nephew!

Jeff's brother Scott and his wife Lisa (and their three girls) welcomed Seth Gregory into their family last week Thursday! After a high risk pregnancy, involving weeks of bedrest, it was a huge relief to hear the good news!

We can't wait to snuggle this bundle of joy in a few months!

What have we been up to?

2012-02-23T07:00:00.000+03:00

A dear friend of mine visited for 10 days! She works in a CAN (Creative Access Nation) country, so for security purposes, I shouldn't mention her name. It was wonderful to catch up with her and hear how she is ministering in a creative way to a very dark country. God is at work!
We are in the middle of a drought. We have been put on water restrictions to conserve the water we do have. Pray for rain!
My hockey season is wrapping up. We have one more week (with 3 games!) until we are done. My girls are improving each game and very cheerful, sweet, and fun to work with.
We had our annual AIM Ladies retreat last month and it was a huge success! I had a small part in planning it this year so it was fun to see the details come together. Praise the Lord that nearly 100 ladies attended and it was a weekend of refreshment.
We are experiencing the 4th year itch. Whatever that is. But we feel it. 4 years out with no furlough. We are ready to come back! However, the other night. we heard a great devotional in our Bible Study (thanks, Ryan!) that encouraged us to stay the course and finish strong. I am thankful for God's Word in times of drought (physically and spiritually).

Thanks for following our life here! I will post pictures next time!

Tough News

2012-02-23T06:56:00.000+03:00

This past month we received tough news from back "home" in the US. Jeff's mom has been diagnosed with cancer. The first few days we were just reeling from shock. No one ever expects news like that and when it does come, how do you receive it? Especially when you are 10, 000 miles away? We wished we were closer, able to attend to physical needs, like bringing meals, visiting in the hospital, etc. but instead we phoned and emailed. Thankfully technology does minimize the distance.

During times like this, I am thankful for the solid teaching we have received and the theology of suffering we have. We know that God is at work and He is sovereign and we can rest in His goodness at this time. And I don't say those words lightly. Living in a Christian community, it is easy to spit out the "Christianese" words but when you walk into a valley of suffering, all of a sudden those words ring true. For instance, Romans 8:28 is so precious right now, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him..."

Jeff's mom's spirits are good and her chemo treatments are already underway (with minimal side effects so far, Praise the Lord!) She has started a blog to update people on her journey. You may follow it too at http://lhazard1.blogspot.com/

Thanks for praying!

Step Aside Rachel Ray....

2012-02-08T21:51:00.000+03:00

....that is right, STEP ASIDE you cool celebrity chef. Because guess who is teaching Advanced Cooking class at RVA? Oh yeah....that is me! I definitely don't feel like the most gourmet chef in the world, but I do enjoy perusing my fair share of cookbooks and cooking sites on the web....so I guess that is qualification enough. Not to mention, all that separates us from Regular old cooking class and ADVANCED cooking class is a garnish. Yes, just a sprig of parsley on top and it is automatically delectable piece of art.

In all truth, this has been a fun class to teach. I have 12 juniors and seniors. They are sweet, humorous, adventurous and willing to learn new things, so that is great.

That is one thing that is fun about RVA.

You never know WHAT you are going to do around here!

Thoughts on Transition

2012-02-01T08:00:00.001+03:00

I am a missionary. So I guess that means Transition is my middle name. Yet, no matter how many airplanes I have been on, how many countries I have lived in or traveled to, and how many times I have packed that suitcase and said good-bye, it doesn't get any easier. In fact, as I get older, it gets messier and more complicated. Now I am factoring in my husband and children into the transition chaos. Will my kids adjust? Where will we live? What school will they go to? etc. etc.

We were in the US for a whole year (July 2007 - July 2008) and while it was hard to uproot the family and pack up our house in Kenya, we ended up having a fabulous year in Michigan. I loved plugging in to our church - Ladies Bible Study, Couples' small group, Jeff working at the church and being mentored there, and of course the great teaching and worship each Sunday. And we loved being close to family - having grandparents close by for family dinners and to babysit and allow us a date, being there for holidays (instead of sending the lame email), etc. We LOVED our year in the US.

Then we had to pack up again. We knew God was calling us back to serve at R.V.A. yet it was still hard to say good-bye. Honestly, the first year back (maybe even two) were especially hard for me. It wasn't that I didn't love our ministry but I really missed our family. Our church. America.

We have not been back in 4 years. Slowly I have adjusted back to life in Kenya. I realize how much I really do love working and living here. There are still days where I miss America, but I truly feel settled and at peace.

And now we are packing our suitcases again. (Okay, in 6 months we will be....) We have to pack up our entire house for someone else to live in next year while we are gone. We don't know if we will get to come back to the same house or have to move to a different house on campus. Our kids will say good-bye to their friends and teachers. We will say good-bye to our Bible Study group and friends and family on this side of the ocean. We will not only say farewell to the seniors who are graduating this July, but also to the juniors who will be gone by the time we return next year.

It's not that I am dreading going to America. Like I said, we loved our year home. But that was four years ago. Time has marched on. Our friends have lived 4 years of life without us being a part of it. We have lived 4 years of life here that they were not a part of. How do we pick up where we left off? How do we truly engage for one year, knowing we have to do it all over again?

Sometimes when we think of the sacrifice missionaries make, we imagine it is giving up McDonald's, Target or a dishwasher. Or it is saying good-bye to family. But I am realizing it is living in a constant state of transition. Wanting to dig in your roots, but being afraid to at the same time.

I'm not here to complain, but I'm simply trying to process this crazy life we lead and trying to make sense of it all. I think two things I have learned from all this transition is to try to be content in the moment and to savor the here and now. To not wish this time away and long for a time past or a time in the future. To enjoy this moment. And I have also learned that Kenya is not my home. America is not my home. Heaven is my home and I long for the day when I can stop unpacking suitcases and truly settle down for eternity!

Water Day!

2012-01-24T10:59:00.000+03:00

Back in September, I wrote about "Titchie Field Day" - a fun-filled day for the elementary students. Well, this weekend, it was that time again. Every January, the Titchie Field Day theme is "Water Day!" Yes, it is boiling hot here in January. Sorry to rub it in for you folks who are shivering in Michigan. (We do get cold weather here in July while you all are basking the beach, though!)

The teachers set up different water stations all morning that the kids rotate to, but the culminating and favorite activity of the whole morning is the water slide!

It was a gorgeous hot day in Kijabe and I think the kid's faces were shining just as brightly as the sun that day!

John's House

2012-01-16T22:13:00.002+03:00

Many of you read our newsletter this past summer about ourfriend John, whose house burned down. In fact, we were touched by people’sresponses and some sent money to help John get back on his feet again.

This past Saturday we had the opportunity to go up to John’s newhouse and help with some of the building. In addition to our family, the groupconsisted of our friend Jenny, another staff member – Bob, and his son, as wellas some high school boys.

The men and boys got to right to work on the construction.John and his wife Nancy have taken in several foster boys, affected by the 2007Political Clashes. The building they were working on is a room for the boys tosleep in. The tin sides and roof were already up (and the boys already sleepingin the structure) but it was drafty and cold at night, so the plan was toinsulate it with plywood.

While the boys worked, Jenny and the kids and I visited withNancy and her two daughters. The oldest daughter, Caroline, is 5 years old anddisabled. She was born a happy, healthy baby, but at the age of 1.5 years oldshe got very sick with a fever. When taken to the hospital, the Dr. ordered aspinal tap. She went into a coma and when she awoke, was never the same. Johnand Nancy believe it was a faulty spinal procedure. She has limited use of her right side andhardly any use of her left. They used to do physical therapy every day, but itgrew expensive, so Nancylearned what to do and took over. But then the house burned down, the new babyarrived early and life got really busy. The few things they had in their housethat enabled Caroline to sit and stand were burned up.

We spent our time visiting with Nancy, playing with Caroline and new baby Anna, giving pedicures to them (Megan really wanted Anna to have one too, but Nancy declined!) and we prayed with them when we left.

Our hearts ache for a family with so many burdens to bear, living in a country that does not have resources or tolerance for a child with special needs. Yet I would hard-pressed to find a couple that shines Jesus more brightly in their community than John and Nancy.

Being Rooted and Established in Love...

2012-01-11T22:06:00.000+03:00

School has started up again. The students all arrived back on campus on January 3rd. The campus is alive again with the sounds of laughter, voices, school bells and sports whistles. I love getting back into our school routine and I love seeing the kids again. (And I love sending my own children off to school again too!)

We always have staff meetings before the first day of school each term. It is good way to get all our bases covered - sign up for activities for the term, teacher's meetings, dorm parent's meetings, coach's meetings, etc. But most importantly, we pray together.

This term our high school principal shared a devotional thought with us. He challenged us from Revelations and Ephesians. In Rev. 2:4 it says, " Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first."

Tim shared that our main reason we come here to serve at RVA is our love and passion for Jesus Christ. And sometimes in the juggling of all the activities, classes, teams, etc. we start to lose focus of that. It is easy to get focused on our agenda, our time frame, our work load, the student who frustrates us, the irritating parts of living in a different country, etc. There are so many things to distract us from our first love. I was so convicted.

Tim went on to share Ephesians 3: 14-19,
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

And it was so good to be reminded what we are here for. That Christ strengthens us for the task ahead of us. That He lavishly loves us and that we can be filled up to the top with His love in order to let that love spill out to others. That is why we are here.

Christmas Hampers

2012-01-03T15:41:00.000+03:00

Every year the "Titchies" (elementary children) give their offerings from first term towards Christmas hampers for needy families in the community. I think Christmas Hampers must be a British term, but it just means bags of food. In each "hamper" is rice, sugar, flour, tea, etc. The goal was to raise enough money for 50 families in need and the kids actually surpassed that goal and were able to assemble 60 hampers!

Those of us who live on the school campus have the privilege on Christmas Eve day to deliver these hampers to the needy families in our community. Many of them are widows or are grandparents caring for grandchildren, who may be orphaned.

In many ways, this day is a hard day for me. It is hard to see the poverty. It is hard to compare what our Christmas will look like the next day to what theirs will be like. It is painful to see the homes ravaged by illness and sadness.

But in other ways it is a day of hope. We get to hear testimonies of God's faithfulness to each family and His provision and goodness. We see joy - genuine and pure joy - as we present the meager hamper of groceries to them. We are united, for a few minutes, as we sing and pray together in their homes.

Here are a few shots of our day:

Some of the homes involved walking a steep path in order to reach our destination. Here is Babu (grandpa) helping Lyndsey.

Jeff receiving a warm hug from the sho sho (grandmother). Notice her amazing view of the Rift Valley behind.

We had many spectators everywhere we went. Eventually, they became our "choir" and joined in our songs at each home.

In one of the homes, hearing the testimony of the home-owner.

Visiting Bernard's home - a grandpa alone on the holidays.

This is Mary, and her grandchildren that she cares for.

These children loved following us around and singing Christmas songs with us. They were precious.

Camping Trip

2012-01-01T15:20:00.000+03:00

One of our favorite things to do as a family is to go camping. I will admit, it is A LOT of work - before, during, and after - but our whole family enjoys it, so it is worth the effort. Right before Christmas we went camping to Masai Mara with my parents, Jason and Lisa's family, our friend Jenny and another family, the Maxwells (who teach in Rwanda, but were visiting for the month of December). We did have some adventures along the way - mud holes, car issues, ticks and bugs, sunburn, etc. But nothing says Africa like all those things, right?

Filling up the fuel tank at none other than the....

We also enjoyed the beauty of God's creation in the midst of the adventure. We saw some wildlife and enjoyed the peace and tranquility of being in the wide expanse of the African plains. We are so blessed to be able to live and minister in this country.

What is our response?

2011-12-30T13:33:00.000+03:00

The Sunday before Christmas we had a beautiful outdoor service with Jason and Lisa's congregation.

The kids acted out the Christmas story and we heard an amazing message about the three part story of Christmas. The first part of the story is our sin - how sin entered the world through Adam and Eve and how we live in sin every day. The second part of the story is Christ's redemption - through his birth, life, death, and Resurrection. When we celebrate Christ's birth, we are only seeing a small peek at the BIG STORY. And the third part of the story is our response. How do we respond to such an extravagant gift? We can't find words or actions or things that are enough to give back. But we can give our lives to God as our thank you. It was a beautiful reminder of why we celebrate Christmas - that Christ came to earth as a baby and made himself nothing.

Here are the lyrics to a great song by Andrew Peterson that pretty much sums it up:

Gather round, ye children, come
Listen to the old, old story
Of the powr of death undone
By an infant born of glory
Son of God, Son of Man
Gather round, remember now
How creation held its breath
How it let out a sigh
And it filled up the sky with the angels
Son of God, Son of Man

CHORUS

So sing out with joy for the brave little boy
Who was God, but he made himself nothing
Well he gave up his pride and he came here to die
Like a man
Therefore God exalted him
To the place of highest praises
And he gave him a name above every name
That at the very name of Jesus, Son of God

CHORUS

We would sing out with joy for the brave little boy
Who was God, but he made himself nothing
Well he gave up his pride and he came here to die
Like a man
So in heavn and earth and below
Every knee would bow and worship
And evry tongue would proclaim
That Jesus, He reigns with the angels

CHORUS

So sing out with joy for the brave little boy
Who was God but he made himself nothing
Well he gave up his pride and he came here to die
Like a man
So gather round, ye children come
Listen to the old, old story
Of the power of death undone
By an infant born of glory
Son of God, Son of Man

Family Time!

2011-12-28T10:59:00.000+03:00

These past two weeks have been a whirlwind of activity....but so much fun! We are SO BLESSED to have family here. We are blessed to have Jason and Lisa and family only an hour away all the time, and then to have my parents visit this month has been an extra bonus! We have been filling our days with outings, games, and fun foods.

One of our first outings was to Lake Naivasha (near Jason and Lisa's house). We had a picnic lunch and went fishing and took a boat ride. It was Lisa's birthday so we were able to celebrate with her. We enjoyed the bountiful bird life and wildlife we saw there.

A Kenyan Feast

2011-12-17T16:56:00.001+03:00

Last Sunday we had the pleasure of having some of our Kenyan friends over for lunch. We had 27 people in all around our table. Fortunately, the sun was shining (thanks for praying!) and we ate outdoors. Another big bonus: My friend Joyce who works at the local restaurant catered our lunch! Talk about a Kenyan feast: stew, chapatis, irio, cabbage, peas and carrots, rice, and soda! YUM! We have enjoyed getting to know these families because they work here at RVA and help us in so many ways. Our kids love playing with their kids and look forward to annual Christmas party each year! Here are some shots of our fun day:

The kids table

The serving table. Esther and Virginia (in red and in the patterned dress) have known our family for nearly ten years! They are very dear to us.

Megan and Esther - two peas in a pod!

Lyndsey and Maureen

PS- My parents have arrived! Next blog entry: all about "Babu and Tita's" visit!

Medical Adventures in Africa

2011-12-05T16:35:00.001+03:00

The title sounds scarier than our story. Really, this post is just about Megan getting tubes in her ears last week. However, any mundane procedure turns into an adventure here in Africa.

For instance, even though the ENT has been following Megan's repeated ear infections for the last few months, we scheduled the ear tube procedure the day before it actually took place...as we were standing casually on the porch of the RVA Cafeteria after lunch on Sunday, waiting for the rain to stop so we could walk home.

"How about 7 am tomorrow?" he says. And there, our appointment was made. You gotta love Africa.

However, working our way through the system down at Kijabe Hospital was not as easy. Megan's chart cannot be found. Long wait in the "Theatre Reception" (a.k.a. the Operating Room Lounge). Detours down crowded hallways to take vital signs. Another detour to the Casualty Department (a.k.a....the ER) to take more vitals, amid very sick patients. Still can't find Megan's chart. More waiting. "Mom, I'm hungry!" (sorry, no food until it is over.) Reading a book. Playing on Dad's Ipod. "Do you have Megan's chart?" the nurse asks me. (No, that is what you are looking for.) Wearing mismatched "hygienic" flip-flops to accompany Megan back to the Theatre. No chart - they used a piece of paper to record her procedure. Prayer with the Doctor. Hugs to Megan. Waiting. All went well (except for a fussy waking up from anesthesia.) Collecting dawa (medicine) from the pharmacy (Why are there 7 people behind the counter and only 1 working?) Never found the chart. Back home again.

Ahhh....So that is it in a nutshell. Trying to be patient in a different culture is hard. Especially when we are used to a customer service society. But in the midst of the waiting and the lost chart, I was reminded how blessed we are to have Christian doctors and nurses caring for us. It was so meaningful to have them pray with us before taking Megan back to the Theatre. And next time I ran into the doctor (on the cafeteria porch again!) he asked how she was doing and said we could pop in any time for a check up.

You gotta love Africa!

A Manly Day

2011-12-05T15:24:00.000+03:00

Living as the only brother of two older sisters your whole life (all four years so far) can have its ups and its downs, like this:

I think I was more worried by the expression on Ian's face than I was about the fact that he was wearing a dress. He looks like he's enjoying it way too much. With these lovely photo ops becoming all to common, I decided to take things into my own hands and take this boy on a really manly outing. About a week ago the East Africa Safari Rally Classic was passing right by Kijabe, down in the valley below us. This was part of a 4000 km race that ran through Kenya and Tanzania. What makes this "classic" is all the cars in the race are about 30 years old or older. When I told Ian we were going to a race to see some fast race cars like "Lightning McQueen" he was on board and ready to go. We packed up the truck with our chairs, tarps, and all the gear we needed for a real African bush breakfast and headed off. We pulled out about 6:30am to get down to the course area and find an ideal spot to see some action and get some good pictures. ...

We found a nice spot right next to a rather deep mud hole. With the recent rains the course was pretty sloppy in places which always make for some great photo ops. Not to mention that it tends to slow the cars down so you get a really good look as they pass by. We set up the tarp and table and made our bush breakfast of eggs, sausage, cinnamon buns, bananas and coffee and chai. Ian enjoyed every bite as we awaited the arrival of the first car. ...

It wasn't too long after breakfast the first car arrived at out watering hole. It was Bjorn Waldegard and his son Mathias. Bjorn is a legend in the East African Safari Rally. The father son team eventually went on three days later to win the rally. He was one of the few drives that barley lifted his foot off the accelerator when he hit the water. Great start to the rally, just what we wanted to see. ...

Bjorn Waldegard

That's a camera mounted on top.

Each cars location was tracked on Google Earth
in real time during the race.

We even had a visit from one of the team's chase helicopters.
He landed to tells that one car was stuck about 1km down the course from us.
About half our group took off to pull them out of a rather large hole.
Ian went along to "help" as well.

Ian's favorite car in the race was car number 1. Driven by Ian Duncan, a local Kenyan rally favorite and hero. Our Ian was so excited that there was a driver with the same name as him. He kept asking when he was going to come by again. He hasn't quite grasped the concept of point-to-point racing as opposed to track racing. Since the race Ian's asked about 20 times (a day) when we can print a picture of Ian Duncan's car and take it to Nairobi so he can sign it for him. He desperately wants to meet Ian Duncan in person. Looks like I have another outing to do soon. ...

Ian Duncan

In my efforts to have a manly day with my son, the poor living dress-up doll of his two older sisters, this car came along. Its' the all female team of Khan and Irwin. I won't mention that they were the last car of the day. Maybe they stopped to ask for directions. Also the only car with a tow rope fixed and ready on the front. Hmmm. Nothing against female race teams, I'm just sayin'. I'll give it to them though, they did finish 29th out of 52 who started the race. ...

All in all it was a great day. Ian had a great time. That's him on the roof of the Landie scouting with binoculars for the next car to arrive. If the pictures don't speak loud enough of his approval listen to what he says at the end of following video clip. ...

This was shot on the frist day the cars passed by.

Thus the rain. They came by again two days later,

that was out breakfast outing.

I have to say Ian's favorite part of the day, (okay mine too) was when we got to take our turn rallying through the mud hole on our way home. Maybe Ian Duncan will want an autographed picture of me now. Or better yet, maybe Ian and I will be the next father son team to run the rally.

Giving Back

2011-12-03T10:19:00.001+03:00

Last Friday I had the opportunity to drive a bus full of nationals up north for the day. Each year RVA tries to give back to its National Staff employees who work day in and day out to make what we do here possible. Usually this entails piling everyone in the busses and heading off to one of the game parks for the day to see some animals. Many nationals never get the opportunity to visit their own national parks or travel much outside their home area for that matter. This year however our staff requested to go to Lake Bogoria National Park. Not for wildlife though. In fact we saw more zebras, gazelles and antelopes and ostrich along the highway than we did in the park. Nope, they wanted to go to Lake Bogoria to boil eggs. Lake Bogoria is a spring fed lake. The springs are natural hot springs that bubble up through the volcanic soil and drain into the lake. Due to the high content of volcanic salts and minerals in the water the lake produces lots of algae, which in turn attracts the thousands upon thousands of flamingo that call Bogoria home. Most of the men and women I talked to had never been to Bogoria, but had always heard about the boiling water so hot you can boil an egg. Well, they were right. The water is hot, very hot and with 100+ staff members on 3 busses we had plenty of eggs. One of the men who works in our cafeteria gave me his explanation of the source of boiling water. "I think during creation, there was a kitchen down there. When he was done God forgot to put off the stove." As Steven, one of our custodians, and I stood there next to the springs staring at the crystal clear boiling water, waiting for his egg to finish he turned to me and summed up the experience, "We serve an amazing God."

Arriving at Lake Bogoria National Park.

Natural hot springs spilling down to the lake.

Admiring the wonder of creation.

Naturally boiling spring water .

(notice the egg in a bag at the bottom of the photo)

Happy to be off from work.

Boiling eggs in the springs.

Lake Bogoria is also known for its abundant population of Flamingos.

Thankful

2011-12-01T22:11:00.001+03:00

This past week we celebrated Thanksgiving....twice.

The first celebration was on the actual Thanksgiving Day, but since we live in Kenya, celebrating an American holiday isn't all it's cracked up to be. For one, the kids had school that day. And two we didn't eat any turkey. But our table was full of family and for that I am thankful.

We are so blessed to have my (Joyellen's) brother and family live only 45 minutes away from us. They were already coming to school to pick up their oldest child the next day, so we had a fun family dinner and they spent the night.

We had a lovely feast of Indian food - Butter Chicken, Palak Paneer (A spinach and cheese dish), Curried Lentils, Naan Bread, Coconut Rice, etc. YUM!

(the thankful poster the kids and I made)

(the family feast!)

(Yum!)

(The cousins playing after dinner)

We did eventually have our turkey - on Saturday - once the students left and life settled down. We had a full thanksgiving feast with our small group. We have enjoyed this fun group of people for two years now - we meet weekly for prayer and praise. This year we started doing kid's praise songs with our families once a month and it is a highlight for me - doing all the motions, etc!

Anyway, our small group divided up all the meal items and we had a great feast! We borrowed a "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" DVD (from 2006) and it was great to hang out and relax!

(our small group)

(the kids' table)

(the feast)

(the grown up table!)

The same day that school let out..and the students left...and we had our dinner...was also the beginning of our Africa Inland Mission Spiritual Life Conference. It is held here at RVA, so it is a quick turn-around for us to gear up for the conference after a busy school term. But we really enjoyed it! The speaker, Pastor John Talley, was excellent. He spoke about the sovereignty of God, which is a huge topic, but was very thought-provoking and challenging.

The kids had an amazing kids' program. A team from California came and brought t-shirts, crafts, snacks, music, etc. The kids had a blast and we enjoyed the final night of conference where they sang a few of the songs they learned during the weekend. We felt so blessed to have this wonderful team that really invested in....and loved on....our kids!

So.....family, friends, feasts, conference, great kids' programs, vacation.....we have a lot to be thankful for!!!!

Two Races and the Countdown

2011-11-21T13:24:00.001+03:00

This was a busy weekend for our family. First, was the annual Pinewood Derby. This has been going on since the dawn of time at RVA and is a very fun day. Kids (and teachers) work for weeks on their wooden cars in preparation for the big race day. The cars race by age categories and there are winners for each each category - speed, unique design, best craftsmanship, etc. I love how this particular day really meets a need for certain kids. When we used to be dorm parents, we had a student who lived for Pinewood Derby. He wasn't into sports or drama but loved to work with his hands and every year he would hours in the woodshop, perfecting his car.

This year Megan was old enough to build her own car (they start at fourth grade). She made a snail car, which was super cute, but did live up to it's name when it came to speed! While disappointed at the car's speed, she was pleasantly surprised that night at the award ceremony to win a prize for most unique design for fourth grade!

Lyndsey, Ian and I made a car and entered it into the women's division. We made an RVA bus. It was very slow and didn't win any prizes (speed or design) but we did get a great comment, after it flipped on the track - "Your car wins the most authentic Kenyan driving award!"

On Sunday, Megan and I participated in another race. RVA hosted a ONE WORLD RUN, a 5k that raises money for AIDS orphans. It is run at the same time all over the globe. It was our first race ever - for both Megan and I . I have actually been running over a year and was not worried about finishing a 5k, but was very worried about the hilly course! I am a complete wimp when it comes to hills. I must admit, I thought by having a cute 9 year old by my side, it would cut me some slack if I didn't make it up the hill.

Well, I was wrong. Megan smoked me! She took off running at the start and I didn't see her again! I think we have a new runner in the family. :) All in all, we both had fun. We both finished well and didn't die of exhaustion - but do have some sore muscles today from all the up-hill running!

And lastly - our countdown! My parents are coming for Christmas! The kids call them "Babu and Tita" and they are SO excited to see them! It has been a very. long. three. years. since we saw them last so we can't wait for Dec. 15 to arrive.

Here is the countdown chain the kids and I made this weekend!

Everyone looks up to someone

2011-11-18T21:56:00.001+03:00

Last weekend we finished up our 2011 Varsity Football (soccer) season. It's one thing to end your season 6-2-1, find yourself in the semi-finals, then finals and ultimately in possession of the championship trophy. It's an entirely different thing to end your season 6-2-1, find yourself in the semi-finals and be faced with defeat. That's where we were this year. The 17 young men that made up the RVA Varsity football team this year were an incredibly talented group. From the very beginning of the season these young men made the decision to practice with dedication, play with integrity and lead with confidence. Early on in our season I shared with them a quote from late basketball coaching great, John Wooden; "Remember everyone looks up to someone and someone looks up to you." We found out how true that really was this year. But what I found most interesting was that the people who look up to you most, look most intently not when you win, but when you lose. Why? Because they want to see "how" you lose. Are you crushed, defeated, angry, ashamed, bitter? Or are you able to pick up your head, look your opponent straight in the eye and say "great game...good luck in the finals." The latter is exactly what this team did, not only were they beaten by one of the toughest teams we'd seen all season, but they were able to congratulate them, pray with and cheer for them at that finals. This team has taught me a lot about the importance of winning but more the importantly how one faces defeat.

A Full House

2011-11-11T13:15:00.000+03:00

We used to be dormparents for nine years, to 9th and 10th grade boys. Our house was never quiet. But there was also never a dull moment.We have since moved out of the dorm and have been living in a "single dwelling" for one and a half years. The first few months out of the dorm were so quiet and it felt strange to not have kids hanging out in our house all the time. I found that I had to be purposeful in my interactions with students. Those moments didn't just happen naturally like they had in the dorm. There are things I really miss about the dorm....and things I don't. But one thing I do know is that when I was a dormparent, I REALLY appreciated a night off, or some down time, in the midst of all the crazy-ness.

So that is why we open our home to kids. To be purposeful in our relationships with the students. To give the dormparents a night off. To have kids hanging all over our furniture again. We find that we don't have to plan a million things in order to bring the kids in. They just love to have a place to hang out. A place to call home. So whenever there is a random weekend with out much going on, we put the word out that our house is open for hang-out time and it usually fills up.

Our own kids really love these nights too. Ian will drag out his Bible man costume and light saber and challenge the big kids to a fight on the lawn. The girls love to sit by the bonfire with the big kids or jump in on a game of Scrabble or Apples to Apples.

We love our job! Where else can you hang out with kids and play games and call it work? :)

Fall Colors

2011-11-04T08:49:00.000+03:00

I miss seasons in America. I especially miss the crisp fall air, the leaves turning color and slowly dropping to the ground, the outings to the pumpkin patch, the apple orchard, and of course.....apple cider and donuts!

HOWEVER.....I really can't complain too much. After all, we get fall colors too. They are just more brilliant and well...different! Every year at this time, we get the "short rains" (the "long rains don't come until May or June) and we get some vibrant colors.

the beautiful yellows and golds of the acacia trees...

the lovely lavender of the Jacaranda trees...

the red bottlebrush tree and the green cactus...

close up of the Jacaranda....

the ever-blooming bougainvillea bush...

that comes in so many different colors...

and back to my favorite...the Jacaranda!

I am so thankful for the beauty around me!

Pray for Peace in Kenya

2011-10-27T08:55:00.000+03:00

In recent days the Kenyan government in conjunction with the Somali government has launched a military operation inside the Somali border with the intention of eliminating the Al Shabaab presence. In response, the Al Shabaab has issued statements of their intent to retaliate with violence against major Kenyan targets.

At this point, our AIM leaders are just raising the level of awareness and reminding us all to be wise and alert in our daily schedules. We are not taking unnecessary trips to Nairobi (which means my grocery list is getting really long!) and we are keeping our eye on the news.

In the midst of this unsettling news, we rest in the TRUTH that God is still God. He is in control. If I can steal the quote from my friend Jenny - "Safety is not the absence of evil, but the presence of God." We rest in God's sovereignty during this time.

Yesterday I was reminded of the story of Moses, leading the Israelites out of Egypt, with the Egyptians chasing after them. When they looked up, they saw the pillar of cloud to guide them. But when they took their eyes off of God and looked behind them to the enemy, they panicked. We need to stop looking at all the things around us that instill fear, but rather keep our eyes focused on God.

As Moses said to the people before they crossed the Red Sea, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring to you today. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. "

So we wait and trust and pray. Pray with us for peace in this beautiful land of Kenya.

Multi-Cultural Day

2011-10-20T21:44:00.000+03:00

Every year, on October 20 (which is a Kenyan holiday) instead of a regular school day we have a special day. Our school celebrates Multi-Cultural Day! This is absolutely my FAVORITE day of the year...hands down. We have a special program in the morning - with songs and skits from different cultures. The program always ends with the infamous "Flag Ceremony." The students carry in the flag of their passport country, one by one, with their national anthem playing in the background. It is a huge honor to be chosen to carry your country's flag - an honor that is carefully pondered -and comes down to how long you been at RVA, your grade, etc. Sometimes there are several students who qualify for this special privilege and so there are a few hands on that sacred flag pole. When each country parades up to the stage, cheers erupt all over the room - sometimes so loud that you can hardly hear the anthem! The students are incredibly patriotic - painting their faces, wearing their national costume, etc. But for many of them, they are loyal to two countries - their country of birth as well as their country of residence. So you may see an American flag painted on one cheek and a Kenyan flag painted on the other.
Whenever the parade of flags begins, I get this big lump in my throat and I long for heaven, because in this moment, I feel as though I am truly experiencing a slice of heaven, just like in Revelation 7:9 where it says, "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands."

A very special part of this year's program was the Korean Fan Dance. Although they do this dance from year to year, it was very meaningful this year as Megan was a part of the dance. I know I am going to be a complete basket case when Megan graduates from high school...or gets married...or any other major milestone. Because I got all teary during the Korean Fan Dance. There was my baby....all dressed up and doing A GREAT JOB with this very complicated choreography and this mama's heart was bursting with pride!

I know there are a ridiculous amount of pictures, but seriously...this was amazing! I wish you could have seen this!

After the program and a nice long chai break, full of picture opps...

...we head into game time. I was in charge of games this year and all went smoothly - thanks to my amazing crew of organizers, game leaders, team leaders, etc! We had 10 cultural game stations that the teams rotated to. The big kids helped the little kids and everyone cheered for their color team and all had a great time!

Lyndsey and her two high school "big sisters"

Megan and her "big sister"

We had a great BBQ lunch, an afternoon of free time or sports, and ended the day with carmel apples and fireworks! What a GREAT day!

I realize this is a VERY LONG post, so hats off to you if you read this far! But there was so much fun packed into one day, I just had to capture it all!

Princess Tea Party

2011-10-20T17:06:00.001+03:00

I have the privilege of teaching tenth grade girls' Sunday School. Over the years we have established a set curriculum, based on "The Five Aspects of Femininity" by Barbara Mouser. We hit the core aspects: Daughter of the King, Helper-Completer, Sacred Vessel, Handmaiden of Wisdom and Beauty for the King (we modified the last one). We have also added in some fun "extras" to the curriculum - such as this tea party that we do every year at the end of studying the "Daughter of the King" aspect. We really want the girls to feel lavishly loved - as God loves each of them! It is one of my favorite lessons! When I say, "we" - there are 6 amazing women that I teach with - who are all passionate about training and instructing these young ladies to love God and pursue righteousness.

Here are some photos from last Sunday:

Pinkies Up!

All of the girls are beautiful - inside and out!

We set up 7 tables of 5 - in the fireside room of our school cafeteria.

And we used fine china!

I think the girls had a lot of fun...I know the teachers did!

They all dressed up in their princess best...

...and used their best manners...

...and smiled their best princess smiles!

Here are 6 of the 7 teachers...one had to slip out early since she was unwell.... :(

Twins!

Aren't they cute?

We had a lovely selection of teas....

....and piles and piles of goodies! Oh my!

All in all, it was a wonderful morning. We even had a special speaker (our SEW speaker from the States). I think the girls had a small taste of how much God values and loves each one of them as his daughters and we had a chance to really love on them too. I count it a privilege to be a part of this amazing team, teaching these amazing girls.

Romans 12:15

2011-10-18T21:49:00.001+03:00

Today my friend Faith and I had the opportunity to put this verse into action. "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn." Our Kenyan friend, Virginia, who cares for our kids, helps us in our home and is a great friend to both us, lost her father this past week. Although he was elderly and his health was failing, it still was a devastating loss to Virginia's family.
Our schedule didn't allow us to attend the all day funeral later this week, so we consulted another Kenyan friend on cultural etiquette in this case. Our friend assured us that it was acceptable to pay the family a visit in their home to visit and pray together on a day leading up to the funeral.
So, this afternoon, we set off with some home baked goodies and some money to contribute for the funeral expenses, and most of our kids (my girls had after school activities they were involved in) and went up the hill to Virginia's childhood home.
We were greeted warmly by Virginia and her family. There was a houseful of people, paying their respects. We enjoyed a cup of chai, were able to talk with the various family members, take some pictures, and pray with them before we left. I was thankful that my parents had taken me on many visits to Kenyan homes when I was a child!

Here are a few shots of the day:

All the brothers and sisters....and me!

Here is Virginia, with Faith, her four children and Ian and Maureen (Virginia's youngest daughter).

Virginia comes from a family of 16 brothers and sisters! So the house was bursting at the seams! They are a great family, whose testimony was shining through, in the midst of their sorrow.

6th Grade Science, SEW, and Lyndsey's Birthday

2011-10-13T21:15:00.000+03:00

Well, we are starting our second half of the school term. We just had a lovely mid-term break, which started Friday afternoon and ended Tuesday evening. Our family enjoyed some days off of school, a few day-trips and some much needed rest!

Now that we are in our second half of term, I am teaching the same group of kids, but instead of Social Studies, I am teaching Science this half term. This is definitely out of my comfort zone (Science, that is!) but the kids are great and so far the curriculum has been user-friendly for me!

A new couple is due to arrive on campus at the end of month and Hanna will be taking over the 6th grade class when she arrives, so I will bid this fun group of kids farewell....

SEW - no, it doesn't mean a needle and thread!
SEW stands for Spiritual Emphasis Week. It is held every year here at RVA and is a fabulous week of really focusing on God. We usually bring our speaker in from the US and this year our speaker is Kris Causton, and she is from Minnesota. She is funny and witty, yet really gets the message across at the same time. Pray for soft hearts for staff and students alike this week.

Lyndsey's Birthday - was this past week. We had some special missionary "aunties" and "uncles" over for dinner and also had her first grade class over for a party.

Playing tag at the party

the birthday girl - at breakfast

Daddy made crepes on the birthday plate - Lyndsey's breakfast request.

Miss Jenny's too-cute sign!

pin the horse in the stable game

a cupcake horse cake

and some more tag!

Crazy Train

2011-10-11T21:19:00.000+03:00

Here in Africa, we do see some unusual animals. We have had monkeys come into our house and steal food off our counter. We get lots of annoying bugs and critters around the house. We have seen a snake or two. But we also have the usual pets around campus - dogs, cats, birds, turtles (we even own two cute baby turtles!)

However, on this school campus we can claim the craziest pet by far. Our neighbors have a pet rock hyrax. And not only is he tame, but he is potty trained - on the toilet. He was found, as a baby, and brought to their house and the rest is history.

His name is Crazy Train and he lives up to his name. Our kids absolutely love him, but whenever we babysit him, I must admit, I go a little crazy! He runs through the house, knocking over breakables, barely making it to the toilet, and wreaking havoc. But then, he cuddles up next to you and your heart melts. It is a love-hate relationship!

Our neighbors are trying to decide how / if / when to re-introduce him to the wild. He is definitely used to his comforts now and living with humans, so that may be challenging. So, here is a sneak peek at our little friend, Crazy Train:

Okay, so he looks really cute here. I'll admit it.

Crazy running around at the neighborhood BBQ

Crazy holding on for dear life on Megan's bike

The Gift of Rest...and trying to go North

2011-10-04T21:05:00.000+03:00

This past weekend, Jeff and I were able to get away for an overnight. We had a voucher to use for one night at Lion Hill Lodge in Nakuru – about two hours away from us – nestled in the Lake Nakuru Game Park. Our voucher was just weeks from expiring and our anniversary was up and coming too. So, we are either 11 months late in celebrating last year’s anniversary – or one month early! Either way you look at it, it was wonderful to get away, just the two of us! Our friend Jenny graciously watched our three kiddos while we were gone and if you want to see what they were up to while we were gone, check her blog.http://notbymight46.blogspot.com/ They had a blast with “Miss Jenny!”

It was wonderful to relax. Take a nap when you want to. Not have to cook or clean up. Not make your bed. Finish a conversation without the phone ringing or a child interrupting. It was so fun to grab our binoculars and camera and watch the wildlife, take walks and game drives. Sit with a cup of coffee, overlooking the acacia trees and lake at sunset. It was truly a gift of rest.

But one of our highlights was on the way there. We listened to a podcast from our church, Blythefield Hills Baptist Church, and we were both challenged by God’s Word and it was wonderful to have time to debrief with one another on how to apply this particular message to our lives. The funny thing was the sermon was about how we respond to trials in our life – do we go “North” (turn to Jesus) or “South” (grasping, grumbling, complaining). One of the examples the pastor shared in his list of life’s trials was a flat tire. How do you respond to a flat tire? Jeff and I darted a look at one another at that point because we had both started off our trip to Nakuru in a grumpy mood because we had left an hour late due to a flat tire and neither of us responded well to the incident, or to each other in that moment! Thankfully, we heard what we needed to hear, were able to debrief it, and are so thankful that God is perpetually patient with us as we desperately try to switch directions, from South to North!!!

I read a great quote this week about joy in the midst of trials, which essentially is a way we can go “North” to God while in the midst of hardship:

It is impossible to be holy apart from suffering. There is redemptive fruit that cannot be produced in our lives apart from suffering. True joy is not the absence of pain, but the presence of the Lord Jesus in the midst of pain. Suffering is a pathway to sanctification, a doorway into greater intimacy with God. Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Trust His Heart

2011-09-25T21:56:00.000+03:00

This afternoon we attended the memorial service for Loren. It was strange to have a service for him, while his family is still in the US. But I think it was good for us to have this chance to process, share, grieve, and remember as a community. I brought my pack of tissues, expecting lots of tears, but really...there were so many wonderful memories shared of Loren that brought lots of smiles and laughter. It was good.

Of course the song at the end had me choked up. Here are the words:

All things work for our good

Though sometimes we don't see how they could

Struggles that break our hearts in two

Sometimes blind us to the truth

Our Father knows what best for us

His ways are not our own

So when your pathway grows dim

And you just don't see Him

Remember you're never alone

God is too wise to be mistaken

God is too good to be unkind

So when you don't understand

When you don't see His plan

When you can't trace His hand

Trust His heart

He sees the master plan

And He holds our future in His hand

So don't live as those who have no hope

All our hope is found in Him

We see the present clearly

But He sees the first and the last

And like a tapestry

He's weaving you and me

To someday be just like Him

God is too wise to be mistaken

God is too good to be unkind

So when you don't understand

When you don't see His plan

When you can't trace His hand

Trust His heart

He alone is faithful and true

He alone knows what is best for you

God is too wise to be mistaken

God is too good to be unkind

So when you don't understand

When you don't see His plan

When you can't trace His hand

Trust His heart

When you don't understand

When you don't see His plan

When you can't trace His hand

Trust His heart

Heavy Hearts

2011-09-22T21:47:00.000+03:00

Today we lost a friend.
A nurse.
A father.
A husband.
A mentor.
A beloved staff member here at RVA.

Our hearts are so heavy today, grieving for his family left behind. Grieving for ourselves who have lost a special part of our RVA family. Yet in the midst of grief we rejoice for Loren. Ian said to me this afternoon, "Mom, he is lucky! He gets to go to the golden city!" Yes, Loren is truly dancing on streets of gold right now...no more tears, no more pain. Yet, we, here on earth feel the pain and loss greatly and there are lots of tears.

Please pray for the Harrison family. They are currently in the US. Pray for Vicki and their 8 children as they process and grieve. Pray that God will be glorified.

We will miss you, Loren.

Loquat Pie

2011-09-18T14:17:00.000+03:00

It's loquat season again! Loquats are small yellow fruit that grow in abundance around here, when the year is right! And this year seems to be right....because our loquat trees are heavy-laden with these juicy fruits this season! Last week, we made loquat jam with our bounty (but forgot to take pictures!) and this week we made loquat pie.

Lyndsey and her friend Emily collecting the fruit from the tree.

One of many bowls collected.

The girls worked hard to pit and peel the fruit. This is a VERY labor- intensive chore so I was hoping everyone would savor each morsel of pie that they ate since it took so long to prepare it.

And finally, the finished product....a very sweet and tasty loquat pie!

Titchie Field Day

2011-09-18T14:08:00.000+03:00

Every term we have a Titchie Field Day. "Titchie" is a British slang word for "little ones" and that is what we call our Elementary students here. Field day is a fun day for all and this a busy weekend full of classroom visits for parents (on Friday), Senior Store (the seniors sell yummy food for fund-raising for their Senior Safari), the field day (on Saturday) and a great worship service geared toward, and involving, lots of Titchies (on Sunday).

Here are a few shots of the Titchie Field Day...

Ian trying to grasp the elusive donut in his teeth.

The awesome balloon artists

face painting

Megan has found herself a new friend!

I can't believe she is growing up enough to be the "big kid" now!

Lyndsey is also drawn to babies like a magnet!

The high school kids do a great job at helping at these events and loving on the little kids!

The "tight rope"

Our nephew Aaron mastering the stilts.

wheelbarrow races

the clown

Ian on the stilts, with a little help!

the tumbling mat

basketball toss

Locked Up!

2011-09-14T22:37:00.001+03:00

The other day Ian’s preschool teacher was reading a story about Curious George. George made a false alarm call the fire department and was put in prison. Ian blurts out, “My dad was in prison! They put him in a locked the door and he couldn’t get out. Later on they let him out, because he was locked in.” Well other than making me look like a hardened criminal Ian was mostly right. I was in prison, and I was locked inside and eventually they did let me out. Only thing he left out was that I was there with nearly 40 students to play a football (soccer) match against the prisoners.

This was our second year to visit the Naivasha Maximum Security Prison. However this year we did things a little different. The RVA varsity team that I coach joined forces with the varsity team from Rosslyn Academy in Nairobi to play two matches against the inmates at the prison. The first game we lost 5-0 the second we lost 1-0. I was not upset about losing either match. When you are playing on a field surrounded by 25 foot high walls and lining the small space between the playing field and the wall are 3,300 inmates I’m happy to let them score as many goals as they’d like. Actually the inmate fans are a lot of fun. They are just happy to see some good football, so they cheer for anything that happens no matter which team does it. If they score a goal, the crowd goes wild. If we make a great, the crowd goes wild. Its a lot of fun. The best part of the day and the reason we go is the time after the game. We were able to have a time of sharing and prayer with several hundred inmates, players and fans alike. A few of the boys shared some words of encouragement with those in the crowd, and explained to them that despite their current situation in life, true freedom can be found in Christ Jesus, even behind stonewalls and bared gates. I don’t know that our short visit and a couple football games made a huge difference in any of those inmates lives. But we were able to tell them that even though they are behind bars, they are not forgotten and someone cares enough to come spend the day with them. The day was a blessing to us as a team, and me as a coach. I can’t wait until next season.

The coaches.

One of our boys sharing his testimony after the game.

Outreach Day

2011-09-14T22:14:00.004+03:00

Each term we have an Outreach Saturday, where staff and students reach out to and share God's love with our community around us. Almost everyone is involved - from the littlest kindergartner to the juniors, seniors and staff of our school. There are lots of opportunities to choose from and every year we find more and more ways to reach out. Some examples of service projects that we do on a day like this are: building a house for a widow in the community, visiting a local orphanage, tree planting, collecting and delivering firewood for widows, garbage pick up, road repair, playing sports with kids from a local school, preparing food for the sick people down at the hospital (within walking from our school), playing with kids who are patients at the hospital, and the list goes on!
This last Saturday was Outreach Day and our family spread out in three different directions. Jeff will tell you about his day in a separate post, Megan went down to the hospital with her fourth grade class and disinfected toys in the playroom and played with the kids. Ian and I accompanied Lyndsey's first grade class and the kids made pictures and sack lunches for the guards who work day and night at our school to protect us. We had a lot of fun and the guards enjoyed hearing the kid's stories, seeing their pictures and listening to them practice Swahili!

Here is Megan, in the toy room at the hospital, disinfecting toys.

This is the fourth grade class (plus Mrs. Hall - the teacher- and a few high school girls), standing outside the hospital. This is a hospital that specializes in helping kids with burns, deformities and other crippling diseases.

The first graders are hard at work making cards for the guards. They also made hamburgers and cookies.

Here we are, delivering the cards and the lunches. In each lunch: a hamburger, a bag of chips, a bag of peanuts, a coke, and some cookies.

The kids practiced their Swahili greetings that they are learning in class. (Ian also gave his new guard friend Peter a big stick "to keep the bad monkeys away!")

This was a special day, not only to bless others, but it was a blessing for all of us to think of others before ourselves. As Lyndsey's first grade class is learning.....JOY means "Jesus, then Others, then You."

Two Classrooms

2011-09-07T21:55:00.000+03:00

It's time for a peek into two different classrooms! The first one is Ian's preschool classroom. It is not really a classroom, but rather the dorm lounge of Tembo Dorm....one of the Elementary School Dorms. Our friends, who are the dormparents there, were gracious enough to host preschool there this year. Here is Ian, on his first day of school - very excited, as you can see! There are 8 kids in his class and the moms each take turns teaching. This month - September - I am teaching with Bethany. She is an expert!

Here is the whole gang - including Bethany and I. Can you tell who the class clown is? Yes, it was quite the morning...

After teaching preschool in the morning, I headed off to my other teaching job....

6th grade Social Studies! It was quite the contrast from herding 4 year olds around!

This week we are doing an archaeological dig for Social Studies. The kids were super excited about this. We were supposedly in the year 2452, digging up the remains of "an old school called Rift Valley Academy" to see what we could learn about that time era. It has been fun so far!

Tomorrow the kids will dig a bit deeper. They have to record everything they find.

After Social Studies, I wrap up the day with the kids with silent reading time and signing their planners on the way out the door.

I will try to get a class picture one of these days, when they are not digging for treasures in the dirt!

A week of firsts...

2011-09-05T20:44:00.000+03:00

We are starting a new blog, in efforts to keep in better touch with our family, friends, and supporters! I hope you enjoy seeing a peek at our life here at Rift Valley Academy!
This week was a week of firsts.....

The first week of school!

Here is Megan with her 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Hall. We are in Bible Study with the Halls, and they are GREAT!

Here is Lyndsey with her 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Kinzer. She doesn't look old enough, but she was MY fourth grade teacher (before she was married), Megan's 1st grade teacher and now....Lyndsey's teacher!

Here is Jeff, in his office, this first week of school.

And guess what? I went back to school too! This term I am teaching 6th grade Social Studies. Here is our team, a.k.a. "The Fantastic Four!" I am enjoying being back in the classroom and hope to post some pictures of my students soon.

Also in the news....Lyndsey and Ian learned how to ride a bike on the same day! Despite a few scrapes and bruises, we had some pretty happy (and tired) kids last night at bedtime. Now, with all three kids on bikes and weather starting to turn a bit warmer, we have some fun adventures planned.