News from T in Cameroon!

Here are a couple updates. I'm copying them, pasting them so some of the info will be duplicate. The girls and I are heading home tomorrow. I'm dreading the ride. I'd much rather stay here, but we need to get home for a good-bye party. Then we sit around all weekend waiting for T to come home!

Update 1:
Hi parents,

Sorry for the lack of updates. The team is doing great – there are some slight stomach issues and Lauren got a small dog bite by the Naines dog. Lauren did talk to her mom, and we are treating accordingly. Good thing they both got all their shots.
The team has done a great job with the youth camp, which finished on Wednesday. Lot of friendships were made, 4 students made decisions and the indigenous youth worker team here got some great momentum. Tomorrow is a visit to a tech school in the morning, followed by visiting some first time ever student small groups – as a follow up from camp – and then a Nav gathering to say goodbye to us. We depart from Yaounde on Sat evening and land in Paris Sunday morning.
Thanks for praying, please pray for:
- that our stomach issues would go away
- for Lauren’s ankle
- that our flights would be on time
- that our time in Paris would be a great time of encouraging our team as they come back to the states and what they will do with the experience

Thanks again, your kids are pretty awesome!

Tony for the team
Prayer Update:

Dear SPACE friends,

I’m writing this from Yaounde, Cameroon, Africa, where we are in day 7 of a 10 day mission experience. The sights, sounds and smells of Cameroon are mostly what you expect of Africa – dusty roads, lots of people, roadside stands and a lot of taxis in this city of 1.5 million people. The relationships here though are far deeper than those images relate to. Cameroonians love people and their warm smiles and handshakes only scratch the surface.

Our team just finished helping run a four day youth camp - assisted by an indigenous team of Cameroonian youthworkers - for around 35 high school students. The overall effort is part of a long term strategy to start a high school ministry and our tasks included being a part of small group discussions centered around faith and spiritual things, running fun high school style games and sharing our stories as well as our lives. Most Cameroonians don’t swim, so the combined experience of a youth camp and the location of the beach was a real treat for them. It was also great for us to have a few lifeguards on our team. This strategy is an ideal situation for a team such as ours, as 4 Cameroonians made first time decisions for Jesus and as the Cameroonian youth team already has planned immediate small groups to follow up.

As if being in Africa wasn’t enough of a real time lab about culture and context, our team also took a 2 hour ride – via dugout canoe – into the jungle to see a village of Cameroonian pygmies. I never imagined I would have the privilege of talking about God to a village chief via two translators. It was a wild experience.

Thank you again for praying and supporting this team – we know God is hearing your requests for us. Please continue to pray for:
- our relative safety for the rest of our time here
most everyone has been healthy except for minor stomach issues.
Also please pray for LFoley, who got a minor bite from one of our hosts’ dog. Fortunately, both have had all their shots.
- Our timely and safe travel – we fly to Paris on Sat night and back home on Monday evening.
- A quality time of debriefing and processing the experience while in Paris
- Our new Cameroonian friends, their spiritual growth and that decades from now, Yaounde and all of Cameroon would be a much different place because of Jesus
- That life back home would be lived with the same passion and intensity for what Jesus longs to do with our lives and the communities we live in.

Finally!!!

Power back at my moms - at least we think!?! The answering machine is picking up, so we are assuming there is power. We are heading over there to see, cool the house (and the dog) down. It will be nice to clean up a bit. The freezer in the basement and the refrigerator both defrosted, so we'll have some mopping to do. It's another hot day. It's rather unfortunate that we've missed going to the beach on our little vacation.

Now I can pack up in less than sweltering heat so we can head home tomorrow. Kt's best friend is moving and we have a party to attend. I hope we make it home in time. We are all on each other's nerves, it's pretty bad. I think we all need more sleep. My mom woke up at 8, announcing it was 9 o'clock and if she didn't get up, she'd never get up. Both girls were woken up and then my mom, when she figured out it was only 8 laid back down!!! The girls needed at least another hour!!! UGH! It's going to be a long, long day!

United Illuminating: Part II

We are now going on 36 hours without power. No response whatsoever from UI. My brother and his wife have been kind enough to allow us to crash at their place, but I'm very worried about our dog, who is not allowed in this apartment. It's beginning to look like I might have to leave today for home.

I monitored UI's web page. It's so not informative, I will never complain about BGE again! Whenever we have power out at home, we see multiple trucks out, get hourly reports on TV and radio and can track everything online. The UI "tracking" consists of numbers. In other words. All you know is how many customers have no power. That's it!! Yesterday, in Fairfield, we started the day with 20 customers out of power, that would be my mom's street. By early evening there were 250!! In Bridgeport, the number was in the 300's. This morning, all other areas are down to double digit numbers and Fairfield is now up to 380 customers. Could it be that they might actually send one truck down here today???

Truth be told, in all of our wanderings yesterday to stay out of the heat, we never saw one single UI truck anywhere. When we lose power at home, BGE works around the clock and anywhere you go you are bound to see at least one truck. Definitely NOT the case here.

For Fairfield being the #9 top place in the US to live, I'm quite certain the power company had nothing to do with that rating!!

T just called!

Despite what we'd been told, someone's cellphone actually works in Yaounde! T used this cell to make a quick call - I guess Em must have prayed really hard last night!!

He sounded very happy, upbeat and excited. It was great to hear from him. They are back in Yaounde. Tomorrow they will go on a city/souveneir tour, then debrief. Friday they will do a small get together (I think) to follow up with the teens they went to the beach with. Saturday they pack and get ready to leave for Paris.

It seems that a few of them (T included) got a little stomach thing but it was not too bad. The two who had the worst of it are both fine now, so that is good news. It was super to talk to him, and a nice break for us as we are sweltering in our electricless heatwave. Only 5 more days until he's home!

United Illuminating

Yesterday, we started our hot, hot day at the beach. It was awesome, and fortunately, we all took showers when we got home. Later we drove up to our favorite spot, The Christmas Tree Shop, did a little shopping and that's when all the fun started. A very large thunderstorm came up very quickly. We all had dinner across the parking lot. I dropped everyone off, then made a run for it. I entered the restaurant after running through a parking lot that became a river and looked like I'd just gotten out of the shower!!

After eating dinner soaked! we went back to my mom's. We were not home 30 minutes when the electric went out. I'd have to say it was a bit surprising as the storm clearly never made it to my mom's area. It was totally dry there and much hotter. Even more strange is the recent history of her street, which used to never lose power, even when all the streets around us were dark. For the last 3 weeks, this is the fourth time they have been the only street to lose power.

Needless to say, it was hot last night. I am sure today will only get worse. My mom fully expected the power to be back on this morning, as the longest she has been without power was 8 hours. However, today at 11, still no power.

Last night, my brother called UI. Never in my life, other than that experience we had last year with United Airlines, have I ever encountered worse customer service. We called, pressed all the right buttons, and waited an HOUR for anyone to answer our call. When the woman finally did she said this, "We are aware of that outage and we cannot promise any estimated time of restored power." That was it. One street to them is nothing I guess!!

It's amazing to me that these power and gas companies need to double our bills and take away any kind of reliable service. There was no explanation, not even a sign of a UI truck or any estimation of when we might expect to regain power. How miserable!

So, here I am at my brother's, trying to get a little cool after a sleepless night of all of us in my mom's living room. I guess God is trying to give us a hint of what it might be like for T in Cameroon! No updates in two days - poor Em asked me last night if we could call him, she misses him and is sure that there must be some way to call him. Didn't he bring his cellphone? she asked me. Oh, to have a world so small!! and comfortable!!

Cameroon

Well, today is our first day without an update, but the truth is I never expected any updates!! It's been a pleasant surprise getting the few that I have, and I am so thankful for that little bit of connectivity.

This afternoon, after a morning in the heat at the beach, we got an Incredible Edible fruit basket from T! It said in the card, "Enjoy. I am having a great time in Cameroon (I think!). " So funny, and a very sweet thought. I'm glad we really came to Connecticut!

Please just continue to pray for the health of the team and the receptivity of the kids they are hopefully bonding with. They are to return to Yaounde either tomorrow or Thursday, and I know the 3 hour bus ride - no bathroom stops - may prove to be a challenge for any who might be ill. Once back in Yaounde, I'm hope they can enjoy some culture, a bit of rest and a time of encouragement with their hosts, who have so graciously opened their homes.

They leave Saturday evening, fly to Paris, arriving at 6:30 am for a debrief in France. Their return to America is Monday late afternoon into evening for us. I hope they all get a chance to enjoy Paris!! and reflect on their experience. I can't wait to hear all about this trip!

School Supplies

Have I mentioned how much my older daughter LOVES school?? She loves it so much that I'm worried my second will be the complete opposite, as she has tended to be, and absolutely hate it!

Like many parents in America and beyond, we've spent a couple weeks gathering and organizing school supplies. In our county, the school supply lists are outrageous. I believe I've spent close to $50/child on supplies, which are clearly listed with correct sizes (.77 glue stick, Elmer's NOT school glue, baby wipes 80 ct. from Giant food store ONLY, etc), amounts (that would be 7 super large glue sticks for my kindergartener!!) and sometimes colors and places to buy them. It's rather annoying. They have finally taken off the list the ream of paper each child was to send in, it is now only a suggested donation for kindergarten.

With all those items to buy, school clothes, backpacks and lunch boxes tend to be the icing on the cake. We have spent a couple weeks pricing backpacks for my very selective and picky older daughter. We narrowed it down to a cheetah print backpack at the Children's Place for $15.50 or a light blue Jansport backpack at Target for $19.99. The cheetah print favorite was too small, the one at Target I was hoping would go on sale. I totally lucked out going to the Target up here yesterday and found a slightly different one for $7.99!!

Score, and my 8 year old was quite happy I'd finally agreed to buy one. For $8, I can bear to watch it being dragged from the bus to my front stairs without completely losing it, if it were to disappear I would not go into cardiac arrest and my daughter is quite happy to have this new backpack. So happy, in fact, that she has carried it around my mom's house (in her new palazzo pants also from Target!) non-stop since we brought it home. She wanted to take it to the beach but we said no. She has insisted that her sister play school with her and has even allowed her 5 year old sister to be the teacher so she can be the student and carry around her new, cheap backpack. It's quite funny!

Now I wonder if all those new school supplies will fit in this new backpack?!?

Creation Museum

I was just reading about this Creation Museum in Kentucky. The name Ken Ham came up. T and I went to a presentation by him once. It was actually a school trip, when I taught in a christian school. Some very interesting theories and very good arguments against the theory of evolution and the origin of life.

Most people, I'm sure, will laugh off this museum, balking at the idea that there is anything "scientific" about creation. I think it takes some amount of faith to believe what you read in the Bible concerning the origin of life. Of course, I happen to think it takes a larger amount of faith to believe that humans "evolved" from a single cell!!

The truth is, there are things we will never know until we "meet our maker." We can argue all we want about who is right or wrong, but that will never accomplish anything. I do think it's worth dwelling on, though, the theories this man has researched for many, many years.

As a student in America, I was forced to learn the theory of evolution as fact. Never presented with any other option or possibility. As a parent, I won't allow that to happen to my children. For those who think I'm a "wacko" for believing in creation, have you ever wondered what I think about evolutionists?? Here's what I think: if you would like me to be more open-minded, I'd like the same courtesy. Thanks!

On Mel Gibson

I love what Jeremy wrote about Mel Gibson. You should read it!

Daily Diary

OK - today we did what we love to do: shopping and beach! We took the girls to Kohl's and Target, bought them wayyyy too much and then came home for a bit before heading to the beach. It's hard for me to pass up a bargain, but even harder when my girls are with me. I'm teaching them nothing!! I have to work on that!

The beach was fun. We went in the evening, had dinner and then, because it was high tide, the girls actually swam in the water. We like to go at low tide, when finding hermit crabs and digging in the mud serve as great babysitters. Today, though, my two fish actually swam around in the calm waters of the Long Island Sound. I think they loved it! They even got a bit brave and both swam under the salty water. Em insists that she swallowed about three mouths full - LOL.

As my mom and I sat on the shore watching (so strange not to have to go in with my little kids anymore!), we reminisced about going to the beach with my dad. He LOVED swimming with us. We would always beg him to come in, and he usually would. He preferred the lake near our house to the salt water, but would just swim around with us, let us jump off him shoulders, would play Marco Polo, pretend to be a shark and he taught us all how to "splash" correctly with a direct hit! Because he had a trick knee, swimming was about the only physical activity that my dad would engage us in, so we savored every moment of our time in the water with him.

It was truly a fun day, and I missed my dad. Tomorrow morning we are heading back to the beach before the real heat settles in. The high should get close to 100 degrees, so leaving to come home shouldn't be much of a problem!! although we are going for some low tide! The rest of our day is up in the air - just not sure what's in store, but I do know it will involve some kind of air conditioned place!!

More From Cameroon!

Good Morning America!!!

Just talked to G and we need to keep praying for the health of the team. L and E are doing better. L is still on a BRAT diet with a tender tummy. B woke up early in the morning with loose stools and feeling yucky. They are working to keep him well hydrated and he is resting today.

Let’s really pray that the enemy would just leave them alone, please! And we do know that some great things are happening down there…even more reason for the enemy to be upset with us.

Sophie has been a bit more engaged yesterday and Yannick (one of the guys that gave his life to Christ yesterday) has really jumped in with both feet and shows a true hunger and thirst for the Word. Praise God.

G said that even though this is a much more expensive facility (and therefore a pretty nice place to be) than we had originally desired, it has left no reason for complaining and therefore the teens are more able to be focused and there are less distractions. This is great news!

Love and hugs and thank you for battling with us!

W and the kiddos

Hangin' in New England

We made it! We left at 5 am and got here early. I won't tell you what time, as we made a new record. With no traffic and no stops, it's amazing what you can do.

I'm quite tired, but having fun. Kt is playing SkipBo with Uncle D and mom, Em was listening to her new praise CD that dad gave her. We were cracking up because she has changed some of the words. Our favorite - "recipe the name" instead of "Blessed Be the Name". God must have something cookin'!

A couple things I learned today: 1. there are lots of people awake at 5 am!, 2. sunrises can be beautiful (I'm usually sound asleep for them!) and 3. no matter how long we have E-Z pass express lanes, people will still ignore the 15, 30 or 65 mile an hour speed posted and come to a complete stop. Very frustrating, especially when you are the only two people on the road!! Oh, yes, and police like to be out early Sunday. They didn't bother me at all, but there were plenty of them around!

Hopefully we'll make it to the beach a couple times this week and get a little shopping done. We all love to be here, hanging out with our family. It is sure to take our minds off missing T!

News and Prayer Requests for Cameroon

Here's an email I just received from Cameroon. If you feel led, please lift up these requests! Thanks!

Hi Warriors,

Just heard from Gilles and they are doing well. The weather is not rainy and they are having a good time. This morning, Ndoune, one of our Cameroonian team members, gave the Gospel message and 5 kids came to Christ!!! What a praise!!!

Some key things to be praying about…

Elly and Lauren, from the US team, were down yesterday with a bad tummy…They are both feeling better today, but let’s continue to pray God’s protection over all the US team.

One girl, Sophie, a Cameroonian, has been making herself scarce each time God is talked about. They are working to love her to the group and Christ and we are praying for an open heart and that she would be more involved.

The whole schedule that Gilles worked painstakingly to put in place has had to be changed and almost scrapped. We are learning the true meaning of flexibility and are praying that the US team can roll with the punches…they surely aren’t in Kansas anymore!!! J

Marie Paule, Ndoune’s wife, is staying with us while he is at the camp. She is 36 weeks pregnant and we are really praying that little Jean Samuel (the unborn little guy) doesn’t feel the need to come early…wouldn’t that be like the Lord’s sense of humor…NOT!!!

Thank you for praying for us and I will keep you updated as often as I have news. G sounded encouraged and upbeat…he is so flexible and God made him for Cameroon, I think! I sometimes just do better to stay at home and pray!! J

Love you and thanks,

W and the kiddos

Just a Little Laugh

We are having "elastic loaves" for dinner tonight!! I can't wait to try them!

My Little Fish!

We just got back from our third swim lesson of the summer. The girls are both fish, but I signed them up to learn basic swim techniques that they refuse to learn from me. Especially Em, who gives me dirty looks whenever I try to teach her anything! (Guess that rules out homeschooling for her!)

Em's lesson was first, and she wasn't all that happy to listen to the teacher either, but she sure can swim! Now we just have to work on breathing. During Kt's lesson, Em insisted on swimming in the deep water, where Kt's lesson was. In the middle of Kt's lesson, the teacher made all the other students, who have had three more lessons than Kt, get out of the pool to watch Kt swim breast stroke. I was so proud of her! I love to swim and that's my favorite stroke but I do it incorrectly so I keep telling her not to swim like me!!

When she was done she came up to me and said, "I'm good at breast stroke!!" She had the biggest grin on her face. There is nothing like being a parent of a child who has just been instilled with even the slightest amount of confidence. Kudos to her swim instructor, who just grew my daughter today in a way even I couldn't! Nothing could contain Kt's excitement about being good at something and being recognized by a "pro".

I also failed to mention that both girls, at their first lessons, were each moved ahead into the age group above them. So Em is swimming with 6-8 year olds and Kt is swimming with 9-12 year olds. Great job, girls!

Reality Sets In

Em came running into the kitchen to announce that we needed Dad. That balloon, which came with my anniversary present just a bit earlier, has already gotten "caught" in the two story foyer. She was wondering if I thought Dad could get his ladder and get it down for her. I replied, "Well, I'm sure he could if he wasn't in Africa!" To that she responded, "Can he just come home for a minute?" I'm glad she's 5, because she said that with a smile on her face, whereas years ago there would have been no consoling her!

Happy Anniversary - one day early!

Today we received a dozen chocolate covered strawberries for my 12th anniversary. T had them sent early I guess because we are heading up to Connecticut. They were not even in the door then Em claimed the balloon, Kt was drooling screaming "I know it's chocolates!!!!" and I was walking around with my calligraphy pen dripping just trying to sign the little form. Once the poor delivery left, the girls descended upon the strawberries. I'll be lucky to have any!! (Actually, I just ate two and they are super!)

Thanks, T, and I hope you enjoy our anniversary as well - at the beach called Kribi, camping in Cameroon with chiggers! Well, maybe we'll just have to do something a bit more luxurious when you get home - at this rate, that won't be hard!

Dollars or Euros???

I was just reading on a major news outlet an article about the House passing a bill that combined an increase in minimum wage and cut estate taxes on multi-million dollar estates. The strange thing was that every time they posted a dollar amount, in parenthesis next to that they translated that into euros. Huh?? Not sure I understand the point in that. First of all, this is a political issue in the U.S. Last I heard we were not using euros in the U.S. Secondly, I've never seen this done, even in stories about Europe or other countries around the world. Why would they do that?? Finally, I doubt the bill will go into effect anyway. The article even said that. It's not like it will ever impact our economy. So, is this a new trend or is there some reason our law-making is being translated for EU folks.... hmm....

Weird Blog Moment

Thursday, I posted T email update that was sent out to all the parents. That was the only email we'd all gotten and it was sent from the missionary's email address, so I had assumed that he did not have access for whatever reason to his email. I then noticed later that his update was posted on his blog. I thought he had not accessed his email, but somehow had managed to post on his blog. I was still completely clueless.

About a half hour later, one of the parents responded to that email using the "Reply to All" button, so I read her reply. Then I read it again on bloglines! as it had posted to T's blog as well. That evening I was really surprised, if somewhat acting a little like my hair color!, while wondering why T would take the time to post that email, yet still not bother to send me a more detailed email about what was going on in Africa. The nerve!!

Finally, after the next morning, I realized what was going on. It started with another "Reply to All" email that was sent out by another set of parents who were going to be out of town. They sent all kinds of personal information - such as where they would be, their phone numbers, including cell phones and their names, of course! It wasn't until THAT email ended up on Ts blog that I realized there was some kind of generated posting thing going on there! I had no idea you could even do that, but that's me, the novice blogger who would never need to post to my blog from an email anyway - that would just be dangerous!

Truthfully, I didn't know quite what to do. I couldn't leave all this personal information on his blog, not to mention everyone's email addresses from the post before it. That's right - I failed to notice that the previous day in my perplexed and miffed mode. Fortunately, T left me some "T's Online Persona" information, and I was able to go into his blog and delete those posts, of course, not before anyone and everyone who has him on their bloglines read them! I was also still left with the issue of how those posts were being "sent" to his blog in the first place.

At this point, I decided I needed to let the parent's know what was going on. The only complete email list for the parents that I had was the one that T used to send out that first email, so I copied it and pasted it into an email that I called "safe line" and explained what happened and how to not "reply to all" when T sends out and email, but to use my "safe" one! Well, the joke was on me as I realized AFTER I sent it that it was an email address, right there in that wonderful list that I had just used, that was sending posts to his blog. UGH!!!

I sent out my last embarrassing email to everyone with my realization and our completely safe email list - to which I added T and the missionaries - so that they would all know how I spent my Friday morning!! When you sign up to do missions stuff, no one ever warns you about situations like this. I can't call him, he's not checking his email or reading the ones I'm sending him, but he's creating a nightmare! But is oblivious to the entire situation.

I guess it's better that way, and it's a good thing he left me here with his "persona". Now, how can I get him back!!??? LOL!

Friday Update

A quick update from Friday’s activities – today had a bunch of cultural orientation and planning sessions for the student camp that will start tomorrow. The team is all well and healthy and enjoying their time together while planning for the camp and enjoying their time with their host families.

The student camp starts tomorrow and runs through Wednesday afternoon. Tomorrow we take a bus for about 3 hours to a beach area known as Kribi. About 20 other Cameroonian students and leaders come with us and we will help out with a camp for high schoolers until Wednesday. You can pray specifically that our team works well together in running both game and small group discussion components and for the students that will be involved in the camp. Also continue to pray for health and safety while we travel to and back from Kribi.

Thanks for thinking and praying for us

Tony for the team

In Addition: Tony emailed me and mentioned that some of the team members are staying at homes that have straw mattresses for beds. Hmm... I guess we'll be hearing about those when they get home!!

Well Taken Care Of!

No one needs to worry about me. With T gone off to Africa many have offered all kinds of services, from watching my kids to having us to dinner. I do appreciate the offers, but please don't worry about us! Especially me! What other single mom in America wakes up to the banging of doors, cabinets, screaming and giggling to find small puddles of water scattered around her freshly washed and uncluttered kitchen? Two excited, beaming faces proudly announcing that they've washed the kitchen from top to bottom. I mean, really, is there anyone better taken care of this morning??

As their reward for this unprompted sacrifice of service, lunch at McDonalds, a quick trip to the candy store, and afternoon at the pool and then dinner with Granny and Grandpa at Friendly's. It really doesn't get much better than this!=) (Except when dad's home!)

A Short Note from the Cam Team

I just got this (as well as all the parents!) from T:

A quick note just to let you know that the team has arrived here in Yaounde safe and sound. All of our bags also made it safely and all of our flights had minimal delays. The team is now settling in with their host families tonight with cultural orientation and prepping for the camp tomorrow morning. Our next email update will probably be on Friday or Saturday, right before we leave for the camp at Kribi. Thanks for praying!

Yeah - nice to hear from them and with such good news. I was sort of concerned when I checked on their flight this morning and the flight from Daoula to Yaounde, which was listed as a connecting flight last night, disappeared and was replaced by these words: "No Connections" - just a little worried I was!! Now, no longer!=)

Maybe this is why....

I have spent a little time today catching up with the news. I'm not sure why I haven't done that recently, as I am typically a news rover! I just like to know what's going on in the world and frequent FOX news, the Washington Post and occasionally CNN. Today, I clicked on an otherwise non-interesting story about Pamela Anderson getting married in four different places this month. It was after reading this quote that I started to understand why these stories rarely interest me:

Asked how she's coping with her nerves before the big event, she replied: "I have two words for you: champagne."

I just had to laugh out loud when I read that one!! Two, huh? I bet her kids can count better than that!!

Oh, the drama of it all...

After a relaxing day of recovery, I took the girls out for dinner and came home for a movie. They have been fine, other than my refusal to let them both sleep in my bed with me (not for 12 nights, uh,uh!) and Kt losing a tooth. She has lost many teeth, but tonight she looked right at me and said, "I want to call daddy to tell him!" Very disappointing, the realization that he probably won't see much of his email either. Poor kid - that's life!! I am so sympathetic, huh??

Your Neighbors or Your Family??

Here in America, we truly value our privacy. It's really a way of life for us. We build fences, put up curtains or blinds, park in our garages, lock our doors and have answering machines to collect messages when we don't feel like being bothered with numerous phone calls. In my lifetime, the idea of a close-knit community is just not something I've ever been exposed to in this country. In fact, anything other than what I'm accustomed to here is just not even a thought in my mind.

Yesterday, we had two women bring a couple suitcases of items for my husband's team to take along to Cameroon. They came from a distance, so we invited them in for a drink, all the while wondering how long they would stay as we'd planned to run the girls to the pool for a swim and our dinner was ready and waiting for us! As they sat and sipped and asked about our neighborhood, we used those couple of minutes we were "graciously" giving them to ask some funny Cameroonian questions.

T started with a general question: So, what should we expect to find? They both laughed. I mean, really, how would anyone put that into words!! I chimed in with: What he really wants to know is whether or not there will be any soda there!! With that, we all laughed. I had assured T that Coke is universal and I had a pretty good feeling that he would be able to get Fanta, as that was everywhere in Mexico. Sure enough, one of the women said, "Of course! Coke and Fanta!" At which point I nearly lost it!

Once beyond the funny stuff, the women started to really paint a picture for us of a place so much different than we know. It started with a statement like this: Your neighbors in Cameroon know everything about you. They are more important than your family! I instantly expressed the American look of shock. Neighbors? I must have gasped! I mean, we have great neighbors, but not one of them would even reach the level of importance that my family has to me. They went on to describe how the minute you are off the phone, your neighbors know about your entire conversation. They know more about you than your family or distant friends. This extends as far as your child care. One mentioned that if you left your child with a neighbor, you could trust that your child would be well taken care of for upwards of MONTHS without you being around.

I really had to stretch for that one. I cannot imagine leaving my child with a family member for more than a week or so, but neighbors?? for months??? Not to mention the imposition I'd be feeling should a neighbor of mine even suggest adding my burden of my own two children for months!! What is the origin of such behavior? Why is that accepted in this culture and completely foreign to my thinking?

Their point in sharing this with us was to illustrate why a trip for them to Cameroon would involve weeks, not just days. They were trying to come to terms with the fact that our group would only be in Cameroon for twelve days when for them they would need weeks in order to spend the proper amount of time with their extended families, but more importantly with their neighbors, who likely are tending to some of their valuable while they are living and working in the U.S. Wow.

I started realizing that this trip for T would really challenge his way of living, his thinking, his world as we know it. We have heard from many that this culture they are entering is all about relationships. Spending a day with friends or visitors is acceptable in place of business or work. It's a culture about people, not about what you do or what you have. It's so anti-American in it's foundation that it almost seems evil to share any of our "anti-social culture" with them. I mean, what do we have to offer them that would be more important that building relationships??

What would America look like if we spent half our time cultivating relationships instead of acquiring material possessions? What if every American employer gave days off for entertaining visitors and getting to know our neighbors? What if daycare was provided by our trusted neighbors, who were given full reign over our child's discipline, shaping and encouraging? What if we always belonged somewhere instead facing the curse of not-belonging anywhere? or the feeling of aloneness?

So much of our culture is evident in the state of our mental health, I think. I cannot list the number of my friends who see therapists and are treated with anti-depressants or anti-anxiety meds for more disorders than I have ever heard of. Maybe the real culprit in this is our lack of ability to form meaningful and thriving relationships due to our love of privacy and independence that is encouraged by our culture. I don't see an end to that kind of lifestyle in this country. I am wondering what our team will find in a culture so unlike our own!

And they're off!

Well, they are gone! All twelve of them and some of the parents. Now one of the crucial parts of this trip - actually getting on their flight. Last year, the team departed from here much like today, got to the airport 2 hours early and found a swarm of angry passengers, all of whom were bumped off the flight because it was grossly overbooked. The Brazil team had to wait 24 hours for another flight out, they each received $800 in United vouchers and were put up at the Hilton for the night. It was crazy, and the memory of that sort of haunts T. I'm praying they all make it on this flight, mostly due to the fact that there are not regular flights from Paris into Yaounde, so missing this flight to Paris might mean a huge delay.

Our home was the picture of chaos beginning around 12:30, when the first student arrived 30 minutes early! Her father, a marine, has informed the marine attache in Cameroon that his very precious cargo will be arriving shortly. Should the team need anything, they can be assisted immediately and this student's father? Well, he would be there within 24 hours. Somewhat of an asset to bring along someone like this on an international missions trip!

Everyone else started trickling in just after her. I had my little copy center set up in my dining room. We brought down our printer and I had organized everyone's passports with post its on them with what I needed from them. Once I collected everything I got to work copying, folding, putting all these papers into these little files for all the leaders. I didn't mind having something to do, and I could tell some of the parents wished they had something to do as well!!

The kids were repacking the duffel bags with new items they brought, labeling bags with contents, names, addresses.... It was a lot of stuff, a lot of bags, but as I explained to T, the best way to get items to these missionaries is through people. If we have twelve people going, you should bring at least twenty-four bags! How else would all these items get there?? I, for one, would be waiting with bated breath for my chocolate chips! And I am NOT kidding you one little bit!!!

So, we were finally organized, packed, copied, prayed over and off they went. Kt was outside waiting looking quite forlorn. At least this year we had no little kids on the curb crying. Almost, but not quite. I will miss T very much, but I am so excited for this opportunity. I really feel like the Lord has something great in store for them all. If I didn't feel this way, I doubt T would have stepped foot out that door, but we sent him off with some notes, hugs and kisses.

Next Monday is our 12th wedding anniversary. When we got married in the summertime, it was only for convenience sake. I was teacher and mid summer worked for me. I had 6 weeks to get ready and 4 weeks to enjoy, so it was perfect. I had no idea that summer missions would take over any hope of a fun wedding anniversary trip or anything. We've come to not take that occasion so seriously, as we've been apart for more of them than we've been together. I'll be in CT for this one so I'll have to find some way to celebrate with my girls and my mom. I can assure everyone we won't have any problem at all finding some fun way to celebrate!!

Now back to my new role of single mom....

EDIT: T just sent me a text. They are checked in and have seats together to Paris! YEAH!

The Day Has Finally Arrived!!

Of course, the day has barely begun!! As usual, with T's exodus to Cameroon tomorrow I am the one up finishing up "stuff". I've been going through my mental list for the past few days, all the things they will need as they head off for some place I have never even been. Yeah, I'm the expert - LOL!

Today I took the girls to Target. We spent $80 on school supplies (that's a whole post for itself!) and bug spray, Pepto Bismal and printer paper. I found Sportsman Deep Woods Off and then I found this other stuff that is 98.9% DEET!! I don't want to hear ANYTHING about mosquitoes, malaria, ticks or chiggers!! They should be all set, don't you think? Again, just a guess... I honestly have no idea!

I ran to Curves while my very expensive babysitter watched the girls. She agreed to watch them today for $10/hour. Of course, I was plum out of cash as she cleaned me out yesterday! Then I made one of my Let's Dish pizzas - burned it. Two women came tonight with two very large and extremely heavy suitcases of "stuff" to be taken to Cameroon. They just could not pass up this opportunity to send items that are greatly desired in their home country by their family and friends. I think there's a stroller in one of the suitcases!

After they left, we took the girls to the pool and then out for ice cream. I think T would have like to have spent this last evening with them, but he needed to pack. Then I needed him to run out to buy an ink cartridge because I was copying all the passports, visas, consent forms, insurance cards, etc for the leader packets. I thought this had been done earlier but T told me today it hadn't been done at all. Now, tomorrow, when all the kids arrive we'll be finishing this up. Could have been done Sunday when they all came for their sleepover.....

I have 12 duffel bags full of "stuff" for Cameroon in my living room. It's all the stuff on the missionary's wish list. Three boxes I picked up from a parent of one of them last week in Virginia. Items that we all take for granted everyday - homeschool supplies, peanut butter, maple syrup, chocolate chips (I truly cannot imagine life without those!), cameras, dvd's, cd's, candy... It's such a long list. In the morning I need to combine at least two of them to make up for the two suitcases that just arrived this morning.

I can't believe the day has finally arrived. We send them all off for this incredible adventure. I'm very excited for them. I will be heading up to my mom's over the weekend for next week. That will be fun and hopefully keep the girl's minds off missing their dad. We have tried to avoid any major home improvements after the bathroom last summer during the Brazil trip, although I do have a guy coming to install a garbage disposal this Thursday. I can't live with my sink all clogged up! I'm sure we will forget something. I'll let you know tomorrow around 2 pm what it was!=)

How Much is a Good Babysitter Worth?

We have been fortunate to have some of the BEST babysitters ever, for real! And along with our fortune comes the kind of babysitter who never charges us a fee - just whatever we can or choose to pay. It's very sweet of them, most of them being either family or church members. The problem is that we don't really have a good sense of what the going rate is for a really good babysitter.

I ought to start out with defining what a really good babysitter is, in my humble opinion. I mean, having been a babysitter, here are some of the things I did. I played with the children, limited the amount of television they were allowed to watch, cleaned up the toys we played with, washed any dishes we used, occasionally I'd clean more if the kids were in bed and I had a lot of extra time. I also would raid the kitchen if necessary for a late night snack - but that, to my knowledge, was never deducted from my pay! I made sure the kids all had brushed their teeth and gone to the bathroom before bed, washed up and sometimes even gave them baths (we've never asked a sitter to do this - but I used to have to do it all the time!). I tucked them in after cleaning up their bedrooms.

These days, most of our babysitters do about that much. All of them have spent time with the girls, we always tell them just to leave the dishes, and many of them clean up if they put the girls to bed. For all that we have always paid $5-$7/hour. We try to pay that plus a little extra, and I guess I always thought that was kind of good for this area. Up in Connecticut, I would make anywhere from $5-$10/hour, so for around here where some were making $3/hour when I first moved here, I thought we were doing well!

Tonight we had our neighbor's foster child babysit, and she was excellent! She has a wonderful personality, was awesome with the girls, who LOVE her. If I could, I would ask this girl to babysit all the time, as it's terribly convenient, and she is a super sitter. The problem? When we got home and asked how much she charges, she said $20/hour!! At first I thought she was kidding. But then I realized she was dead straight, and I was dead floored!! I had in my hand what I thought would pay for her tonight AND tomorrow and it wasn't even enough for tonight. I was just a little shocked!

Now, she's going to be a sophomore in high school, which was another reason I was floored. If she'd been in college, my jaw might have only hit my chest instead of the floor, but a non-driving teenager? $20/hour? Even I don't get paid that much to work with kids, and she only had two!!

So, what I need to know is two-fold. One, am I just grossly underpaying my sitters? and do I owe them large amounts of back pay? Two, how much is a really good babysitter really worth? I'd hate to undervalue a truly wonderful babysitter, which is what we've done often with my cousin's daughter. You just can't put a price on a good family babysitter, who will love your kids like family!! I just don't know that I'm willing (or rich enough) to fork out $20/hour for babysitting!

UPDATE: So, here's what I did. I first emailed my neighbor and told her that we loved having her foster child babysit, but probably couldn't afford her. I just wanted her to know that there wasn't anything that happened - we were just poor! Next, I emailed some friends and neighbors to find out how much they pay. Sounds like $5-$10 is the going rate around here. There is a woman who is widowed who babysits for a living - she charges $10/hour, so that would be the top of the scale I guess. Then, I emailed one of our very favorite sitters to find out how much we owe her in back pay, and, well, she sent me this funny email:

OH MY GOSH!!! $20 an hour! No way. I would only ask that much... well, i would never ask that much. but if i had to think of a time that i would, it would be if you had 10 boys who always kicked and hit me and your house was dirty. haha. that is totally totally nuts and i do not think that anyone deserves $20 an hour to watch kids, especially not your girls! i don't even make $20 an hour at work! and even people my age who nanny all day only make $12- which would be too much for a babysitter anyway. wow- that is just outlandish.

I hope I'm in the clear here, in being completely shocked and not owing my babysitters all kinds of money!! I am feeling much better, of course, she's babysitting today and possibly tomorrow as well! Live and learn, I guess!!

Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest

T and I finally made it out to the movies. Lately we're lucky to have any time to ourselves!! The one week my mom gave us was a real blessing, but with all the summer trips happening right now we don't usually do a whole lot together. Even last night we got another call in the middle of the movie! about a trip. So that was our ride home! LOL

Anyway, I liked this movie. I think I liked the first one better, though. I wouldn't exactly call this one predictable, but it seemed a bit more comical, somewhat creepier, but not in a scary way like the last one. Johnny Depp was super in this movie, as I'm sure he'll be in the next. As were Orlando Bloom and Kiera Knightley. The three of them work well together!

One thing I did not like about this movie was the ending. It made me feel like I'd only seen half a movie, as clearly there will be a POTC 3, and all reports indicate it is almost finished! as it was filmed simultaneously with 2. I like movies with a bit of finality, but this one really leaves you hanging. I'd suggest if you like to see the whole story at once, wait until 3 comes out and then rent 2 to watch right before you go.

In other news, could it be that Disney has pirated Pirates???

We are Family!

Yesterday, I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off, trying to get a little help with the clutter around here. Everywhere I look - stuff! And it's nobody's stuff until I threaten to throw it away, then it becomes sacred!!

The reason for my madness? Another SPACE meeting. This is our typical routine. House gets messy, we have a meeting here, house gets clean very fast - or at least presentable! The girls LOVE hanging out with the space teams, so yesterday, when they were less than excited about cleaning up their junk I threatened them with a bedroom ban during the meeting. That still didn't make anyone move faster, so I had to actually act upon it. I was met with utter disdain, drama, and a boatload of tears and wails.

After shipping these pour souls off to their rooms, I sat down in T's office, where he was busily getting ready for the meeting. I reached over to move the mouse so my computer screen would light up so I could see the time and there on the screen? A little diddy Kt had been working on entitled, "We Are Family". T just busted out laughing, then I joined in. "Not anymore I guess!" were his exact words.

It goes like this (she's working on this one hoping Uncle D will record it for her):

We are family
Totally cool and fun family
We are family

Did I feel like a heel? Not really, but it did lighten the mood for me a bit. I'm sure the words will be rewritten at some point. I mean - we are a way better family than that! (wink;-))

Top Ten Greatest Places to Live

My cousin in CA sent me this article about the top 10 places to live. I happen to have grown up in one and now live in another. What are the chances??? So, when T told me I should stop complaining about living here, I said, "Well, maybe we should just move to Connecticut! Can't be that bad!!" Poor guy - I hardly ever let him win!

Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary!

To my aunt and uncle today! 50 years ago today they were married, then proceeded to have 4 children and eventually ended up as one of the orginal families that made up our church that today has over 3000 "members". 50 years is a long time to be married, and it's an incredible milestone to reach. My parents were 6 weeks shy of their 35th when my dad passed away, so for me this is likely the only family member whose 50th I will be able to celebrate. Unfortunately, no one planned a celebration.... how embarrassing!

This summer is T's and my 12th anniversary. A dozen years together. He'll be in Cameroon for this wonderful occassion. Years ago we'd planned on taking a trip to Hawaii to mark our 10th anniversary. I had it all planned out. My parents had agreed to watch the girls and we started saving American Express points for the hotel and saved up a bit for the airfare. It was just after I'd made these plans and starting executing my perfect celebration that my dad got sick, he passed away and then, low and behold, our whole heating and cooling system died. SO, with the little we'd saved we converted to gas and bought a whole new AC system and furnace for our tenth anniversary!

Needless to say, I'm not making any plans anymore for anniversaries. I would hope to make it to my 50th, but I'm just not sure what I'd like. By that time, I'll be old, hopefully enjoying some grandchildren, maybe still traveling a bit. A gift? Probably just to have my whole family around and enjoy some time with them all, if they'd be willing to give up some of their time to be with me. That's what I'd like, and that's what my dad always wanted once we all grew up and moved out. He savored every chance he had to be with everyone at the same time!

So, here's to hoping that my aunt and uncle have the chance to have their whole family together at some point this year. It would take a great deal of planning and manuevering and some sacrifice on the part of their children to make this happen. And if your parents are celebrating a great milestone like this, just remember that being with their family is probably all they really want anyway!

God of Many Cars...

We need cars. It's just that simple. I do not have my van this week as the D.C. team had a car issue and they needed another vehicle. After an email went out to lots of people guess who had to give up their car?? Me. Now, while T is out having dinner with that D.C. team I got a call. The middle school team that is leaving TOMORROW doesn't have enough transportation. If you ask me, it's a little late to be deciding that, don't you think??

We got them the church van, but apparently of the 3 or 4 adults going, no one apparently has a car that "will make it" up to PA and back. Hmmm.... well, maybe I'm being dense but isn't God bigger than car problems? Yup, I'm dense. However, I'm not dense enough to know that I don't have another car to give them! Sorry, but in a church of over 3,000 people don't you think there is one car that can get 4 people up to PA for a missions weekend? in one of the most affluent areas of our country?? It's quite pathetic if you ask me!!

Of course, planning may be an issue. But really, God is a God of many cars I'd imagine. We have two of them, one of which is being used by Him and the other of which is being used for us to make a living. Is God asking us to go carless?? or might there possibly be another car out there for these kids??? I'm just wondering...

We're Back!

And majorly jetlagged. It doesn't help that it's summer and we have nowhere to be. It's very overcast, not good pool weather, no sun. Anyway, T is putting up some pictures of our trip, so check them out. We had fun, but it was difficult getting the family to move! No one wanted to get up early, so we missed all our early hour benefits, including Mickey's Toontown Madness. Then they all actually wanted to leave early on our last day!! Am I too fanatical? I guess so!

Being at Disneyland made me miss Disney World. Sounds strange, I know! It's a different crowd in California and the park fills up at night with all the locals, who live minutes away. We even heard one dad say to his children as they were running to get in line for the Matterhorn, "Now is not the time to be polite or we'll never get on that ride!!" Can you believe that? Anyway, it was a totally different experience, but so much like the Magic Kingdom that it was confusing.

The rest of California was beautiful and HOT! And air conditioning is apparently something you only need two weeks out of the year. Unfortunately for us, we were there during those two weeks and no one had it!! (Except Disney!) The beaches were nice, but cold water, big waves and lots of seaweed! We attempted to go to tidepools, but ended up hiking up and down cliffs for something really mediocre. It's no wonder there was the "No Refunds" sign at the gate! LOL

Hollywood was fun. The girls could have spent another day there - they were in awe! of the double decker celebrity tour bus!!! We might have taken them on it if it wasn't about disturbing what should be other's people's privacy. I don't care if they are celebrity's or not - no one should be peeking into their homes! That and the $30-40 ticket shock - um, no thanks.

In the end, hanging out with our West Coast relatives and meeting up with virtual friends ended up being the most fun. Our cousins, aunt and uncle were the most amazing hosts - we could have stayed for weeks and totally felt at home. It was a wonderful visit with them - and I think we all enjoyed each other immensely.

Now we're home, and trying to get back to normal. The girls are out with friends, I'm sitting here on the computer, T is trying to keep tabs on all his missions things while working from home. Yeah - that's about as normal as it's going to get around here!! I guess I ought to start some of that laundry while I'm trying to be normal!!

Pictures: 1. Sunset at Venice Beach, 2. Breakfast with Minnie and Friends, 3. The girls in Hollywood and 4. The whole family with West Coast relatives on July 4th in Newport Beach.

The Countdown Begins!

In a very short 24 hours, we should be at the airport waiting for our flight. I'm still working on the packing, finishing up laundry, my mom is on her way here with the girls and the rest of their stuff... I'm not feeling so great, as usual. This happens every vacation. I probably have some sort of sinus infection or something, but I'm just not interested in going to the doctor. Hopefully it's nothing more major. I'd love to take a long nap, but I must pack and clean. Curves? Not sure that's in my schedule today, but I'll try. I'll hopefully be able to take the girls to the pool when they get here. Get them out of my mother's hair for a bit!

The weather is fairly nice - no more rain for now. It's supposed to be hot in L.A.. I have no idea if that is hot like here - humid, or hot and dry. I'm hoping for the later. I don't remember much about L.A. or California. I think we are all a bit apprehensive. It just seems so far but at least we have Disneyland to look forward to - I'm such a Disney freak. The new Pirates of the Caribbean ride is open and the movie will come out on our last day there. Should make for an exciting trip!!

You all have fun back at home now!! LOL

How Connecticut Are You?

T passed along this funny quiz for me to take. I must be too long out of Connecticut, because I only got 87%!! Just a warning, if you choose to take this Connecticut college student's quiz, be prepared for some colorful language - not a lot, but I'm just warning you! My favorite question was the one about minorities - that was totally me! Oh yeah, and Bridgeport being a place you'd least like to visit - I lived about 5 minutes away from it! Oh, and the one about how "poor" you were living off your parents salaries - LOL!! Anyway, enjoy!

2 MORE DAYS!!!

Well, it'll be 2 days and we're off for sunny California. That will be a nice break from this week of floods and rain! I've had this whole week to get organized, relax (after that weekend!) and clean. I can't say that I've been overly productive. The truth is, I hardly know what to do with myself!!

Today I'm going to run a bunch of errands - drop stuff off and pick stuff up at church, get a backpack, get fingerprinted, possibly make it to Curves again and hopefully later go for a swim. We did that last night and I really enjoyed it, until the clouds rolled in. I love swimming - more than any other form of exercise. I wish I could do it year round - maybe next year!

I am very excited to go away, but also very nervous. I really want the girls to have a good time, I want my mom to enjoy a vacation, I want T to not have to do everything he has on his list - it's just too long for someone who is supposed to be on vacation. I'd love to spend a day or two just sitting on the beach without a care in the world. I'm not sure that will happen, but maybe an afternoon!?!

I guess what I really want is just a safe trip and no one to get sick. Those are my two biggest fears right now. I'm not even worried all that much about the food we'll have to eat - while totally different from what we are used to. My aunt and uncle have very particular taste in food. Luckily, in the U.S., there is a Mcdonald's on every corner, so the girls will not starve! Getting sick, though....

Well, enough of my rambling. Oh, and no earthquakes - that would definitely be bad. In case no one else was paying attention these last couple of weeks in the news: The L.A. area is all set for the "big one" and they just closed down a port in southern CA due to terror threats. No biggie - just the biggest natural disaster being imminent and we'll be in a bomb target zone. Again, no biggie!! (LOL!)

Happy 4th of July to you all!

Things I Learned on a Middle/High School Retreat

So, this past weekend hanging out with middle/high school kids I learned a few things. Of course this always makes me feel like I'm so out of touch. I mean, how could I miss these things??? Being a middle aged stay-at-home mom does that to us!

1. Modest bathing suit - that would consist of the tiniest string bikini with a see-through white T-shirt over it. Thank goodness! there were thunderstorms!!!

2. Oreos are better than Chips Ahoy - not sure why, but they were hands down much more popular this weekend!

3. "Help in the Kitchen" means "Eat whatever you want while you flirt with everyone of the opposite sex" - actually, this only happened with the guys - the girls were a huge help!

4. Big baggy athletic shorts are in, of course mixed with string bikini tops - you won't see me trying that anytime soon!! (and be so glad that one didn't stick with me - it would just be pathetic and scary all at the same time!)

5. SAT's now go up to like 2600 points or something crazy like that. Now my SAT score looks even more pathetic than when I was in high school!! Sad!

6. Howard County (as I'm sure many other United States school districts) really need to step up to the plate when it comes to teaching spelling - these kids can't spell for beans!!! NO MORE INVENTIVE PHONETIC SPELLING PLEASE!!! You are making these kids look like uneducated idiots (sorry guys, but I'm doing this for you!)!

7. Teenagers today can be very polite - I'm totally serious! and they want to change their world. Case in point: getting kids to talk about "what they learned" was not really working, but when we had 10 meatball subs left over and decided to take them down to the fishing pier - more than 10 kids wanted to GO!! and they loved it. It was spontaneous, simple service and they were all about that. Give them something tangible to do!

8. Forcing people to do things out of their comfort zone teaches them that sometimes what they THINK is not in their comfort zone is really something they LOVE!! I cannot tell you how many adults and kids came back with stories about doing something on the boardwalk they were not comfortable with but then found out it was fun, that it felt good and they couldn't wait to do it again.

9. God can do good things for us in a storm. T was so disappointed that it stormed and rained all night. It completely ruined his plans for the morning and when we left he felt that it was a complete wash out. Then I reminded him how we were the last ones allowed to pass through that water. If we'd left a minute later instead of 20 minutes earlier than scheduled, the whole group would have been stranded at the beach! God had a reason for the weekend ending the way it did!

10. The new word I learned was "chillaxin" - and that's what I did today. More rain, nowhere to go, nothing to do but try to get ready for our vacation.... I like that word!

Wonderfully Wet Weekend!

Well, it's been a while since I posted. Sorry for the little blog lull. Last week was super busy with get togethers, travel and the Mission Advance week at the beach where I planned and executed (with thankfully some help!) the food for all 50 participants. What an experience.

The girls are at my mom's, who graciously accepted them as her guests, even though Thursday was her last day of school! They are both there right now and I am supposed to be getting ready for our L.A. departure this Saturday. Instead, I'm blogging! Oops!

After driving them up to CT last week and helping my mom move her classroom (for the third year in a row!), I came back here late Thursday, packed the van for a Friday departure to Cape Henlopen with a van full of food and kitchen supplies and three teenage girls.

Highlights of my weekend - having God send me the perfect food helpers - thanks Michelle!!!, having the kids actually like the food for the most part - no one starved, watching the kids worship, seeing the teams click and watching T do what he does best and love it. It was exhausting, stressful, crazy and fun all at the same time.

Downlights of our weekend - the walk to the bathhouse in the middle of the night in my pajamas when I was sick, the second trip to the bathhouse in my pajamas in the middle of the night in the rain - sent T to get his truck for that one! and the ride home, when we waited over an hour to go 4 miles so we could take turns driving through 3 feet of water... More on that flooding here. Of course, it was me, the adult, who could no longer wait to go to the bathroom.... I won't tell you what I did, but it was slightly embarrassing as we had two cars, six teens and me and T. My only consolation - all the other people in front of us who couldn't wait. The woods, side of the road and various buildings got a lot of use that day!! Incidentally, we were in the last group of cars allowed to pass through that water. Had we waited any longer at the beach or even had the nice weather T had planned for, it might have taken us more than 5 hours to get home!!

I am really tired right now and fortunately have an empty house to organize for our trip. I'm not sure if I'm heading up to CT this week or not, so I need to get to work. It's a nice, quiet day to reflect on what just happened and what stands out in my mind right now is Saturday night worship....

If you have never watched a group of middle and high school kids with their dedicated missions trip leaders worship together you are just not ready for heaven. It was honestly the most moving thing I've seen this year. These kids give all their hearts in worship, they support each other in prayer, they know how to make a joyful noise, and God is so much a part of who they are. It was so refreshing to watch and participate in. If you have kids like this in your area, find them and learn from them - you won't be disappointed!!

Now, for a little R&R for our family - we're getting ready for our California Adventure. I'm going to make T take a break from life for this one, so you might not see him for a while. He totally deserves it!

Happy Father's Day!

I would like to wish all the dads out there a very happy father's day! This is a wish from a daughter who was deeply loved by a daddy for 33 years, who wanted nothing more than to make her daddy proud, who misses her daddy tremendously. This is also from a daughter of God, who is now hosting my daddy in His house of many rooms, who loves His daughter despite my many shortcomings. Being a daughter of a great dad requires much humility.

A couple weeks ago, I came across a letter I had written to my dad about 2 months before he died. I had no idea he was going to die when I wrote it, but I also did not have much hope that he would live much longer. On my way to CT to deliver this letter and visit for Em's second birthday, Em got sick in the car. I was almost half way and I had to pull over and call my father to tell him that we wouldn't be coming. That was one of the most difficult phone calls I ever had to make, and to this day I always feel a wave of grief when I remember it.

My dad at that point was very sick. His stem cell transplant had not worked, he had lymphoma tumors taking over every part of his body, Christmas had been very taxing on him and I had been surprised that when I talked to him on the phone the day before we were to drive up he was vacuuming the house! He actually sounded excited that we were going to visit. It was definitely the most upbeat conversation I'd had with him in weeks, and we talked almost everyday. He loved his granddaughters and was so excited to celebrate Em's birthday with us.

As I pulled off the highway and into a parking lot, I just knew I'd be breaking his heart more than mine was split. As I explained what was going on, he agreed that there was no way I could march a toddler with a virus up to his germ free zone - even if it was for her birthday! His body just could not survive that kind of invasion, especially in the dead of winter. So, I turned around and drove home, where I spent the rest of the afternoon laying next to my sick daughter, who by that time had a fever and was vomiting nearly every half hour. Even the thought that I'd at least not returned home for nothing didn't help the anger I felt toward God to taking away what would have been my last fun and exciting weekend with my father. I really felt for the longest time like something was stolen from us. At least, God, could You have given us one last wonderful weekend?

It was only a week later that I called my dad one morning to find him very ill, disoriented, dehydrated and alone. I spent all morning locating my mother and brother and convincing them that my dad needed to be in the hospital. You see, none of us wanted to see what was right in front of us - my father was dying. I can remember looking at pictures from Christmas that we picked up after he did pass away and thinking to myself, "How could we not see that he was dying? Why wasn't it obvious to us?"

That was his last day home and the beginning of a 6 week hospital stay. We held out hope until the very end that we might be the recipients of a miracle, but that was not the case for us - at least not a medical miracle. When I came up I brought him my letter and a poster the girls and I had made with picture of all of us. He asked that we hang it behind him, I think so he wouldn't have to look at it and all the memories he'd be leaving behind. Along with my letter I left him a little Inspirational book by Max Lucado.

Later, when my dad was in a coma in a hospice suite, I found that book with my letter folded up inside. Inside the book my father outlined the misery and pain that had enfolded his life. It was written not as a diary of sorts, but as a prayer. He left it in a section of the book entitled "Heaven". In my letter to him, I'd written what every child should tell their parent - exactly what he taught me, what I learned from him, what he meant to me and my family and how proud I was to be his daughter. Each time I read that letter, I am humbled and reminded why God "took away" that weekend from me.

That was one letter that didn't end up in the top drawer of his dresser in a book that my father never opened. It was a letter he got to read anytime he needed to know that he was loved and that his life on earth made a difference, it mattered. That book provided the promises of God my father needed to be reminded of, the last of which was that heaven is our home and Christ is waiting there to welcome us with open arms. It was a book and letter than ushered my father to his eternal home - and if you really want to know what a miracle is, it is that Christ loved us enough to make a way for us to be with Him forever.

I don't really know why my father had to leave us and of course I wish God hadn't taken him so soon. I'm not mad anymore, though, that I lost that weekend. I can see now that God had a few loose ends to take care of with my dad before He brought him home, and how He used us to help with that. The miracle for me is that someday I'll be with my father again, and that is a promise. I will have more fathers days with him than I will have without him only because my heavenly Father has provided a way for that.

Thank you, God, for a wonderful earthly example of a father. Thank you for taking care of my daddy and for providing a way for me to see him again. I really miss him, and You understand that better than anyone on earth. You are my Everlasting Father, my Prince of Peace. Amen.

My Little Camper!

Today was Em's final day of Nature Camp, and I'm happy to say that she loved it!! She was really upset that it was her last day and asked if I could send her again next summer. Today was a hike to a nearby park/reservoir where the campers went on a short nature walk and went fishing. Then the families arrived for a picnic lunch before we all left. Em had a super time and now wants to go fishing again, mostly because she didn't catch anything and really, really wants to!

As for the mom I spoke of yesterday, she was there. She brought her daughter along. I said nothing to her or her daughter. It was a little strange. Even with all the competition that goes on among parents, I've never heard of anything quite as outlandish as that - and I hope I never do again.

Now my girls are mine for the summer, so the first thing we are going to do is pack them up and ship them off to Granny and Grandpa's!! We actually took them out for dinner last night to celebrate. It will be nice to sleep in a bit, go to the pool, meet up with friends and not have a lick of homework to think about for a while. I, for one, am thrilled with that! We might even be able to get a little fishing in there!

What Would You Do??

I had to strangest thing happen to me today. I arrived early to pick up Em at her camp today and ran into a parent who has her youngest child in Em's class and her middle daughter was in preschool with Kt. I asked her if her older daughter was finishing up second grade as Kt did today. She replied with this long story about her daughter is soooo smart that she skipped a grade. She apparently tested out of math and reading and they keep sending her ahead because she's just brilliant. Today, she supposedly finished fourth grade!!

Now, my wheels were turning at this point. We specifically held Kt back because we felt socially and emotionally she needed to be with kids more her age. At the time, the cut off birthdate was still December 31 and her birthday was December 31. Having been a first grade teacher, I knew firsthand how older young children (K-1st grade) can be very advanced academically and sometimes even socially, but when they later get to second or third grade, things begin to catch up with them, and in high school, they have friends who are all driving, allowed to date, etc. We just wanted her to be the older crowd, not the younger, and in our county she has benefited from advanced classes within her grade, so we weren't holding her back academically at all.

I wondered, when this mom was telling me how amazingly smart her little girl was, would I want my 7/8 year old with fourth graders?? Would I want my 9 year old heading off to middle school??? It struck me as odd, but I didn't ask any of these questions. I just let it slide and mentioned how Kt was just finishing up second grade. She then went on to tell me that her youngest, in Em's class, was also brilliant, that she would checking into getting her into a K-1st grade combination class because she already knows all her multiplication facts!! I'm thankful I didn't have to scrape my jaw off the floor in front of her!! I'm lucky if I can get Em to count to 20 for me, forget about multiplication!! Wow - I didn't know whether to be impressed or completely confused. I mean, I've never heard of a "combination class" outside of private schools around here, certainly not in our county public schools.

So, the story get worse from here. Later today I took the girls to the pool where I saw another mom from Kt's preschool. She and I see each other at Curves occasionally, so we keep in touch a bit. I also knew that her daughter and the girl from above go to the same elementary school. Of course, more out of marvel than anything else, I asked this mom if she remembered this girl. She did, and then mentioned to me that she was in her daughter's second grade class this year. I must have turned white because she gave a funny look and asked why? I'm not really sure what I said at that point, but I told her what had just happened and she said she was not surprised, that this mom lives in a "grandiose world." I was thinking more like a hallucinogenic world! I never even suspected that she was not being honest with me!!

I must say, I've never had such a strange thing happen to me as a mother flat out lying to my face about how amazing their child is. Why would anyone do that? This woman did not miss a beat when she was talking to me, she never flinched, totally matter-of-fact with me. And today, on her daughter's last day of second grade. I am thinking there might be some kind of mental illness. Of course, we were the only two parents there until my other friend arrived. I can't remember how much of the conversation she overheard. But I guess this mom could always claim that she never said it.

Which brings me to my dilemma. Tomorrow is Em's last day at camp. It culminates with a family picnic, to which all the siblings are invited. I'm wondering if this woman will bring her second grade daughter who just finished "fourth grade" and knows Kt. What do I say? or do? How do I even act knowing what I now know?? Or do I just avoid her altogether? I have no interest in "exposing" anyone or even embarrassing her or her daughter, so I'm guessing I'll likely just avoid her altogether, but that just seems so unsocial. What would you do?

How To Prepare Children for Africa

T has been filling in the blanks for our girls on life in Africa. Of course, he's only doing this with information that he has read, not from first-hand experience!! He talks about living on a dollar a day, having only rice and beans to eat and no toilets. I don't know how much of it sinks in, but at least for Kt, who really does want to go to Africa someday, she's taken it to heart.

This evening she came running downstairs to tell us she had just taken a cold shower. She was VERY excited about it and made us both come into the bathroom to see where she had left the dial on the cold side. I'm sure some of her excitement was sheer adrenalin. When asked why she did this, she replied, "I wanted to see what it was like for the people in Cameroon!" I reminded her that there was likely no air conditioning for the people in Cameroon either, while she stood there, wrapped head to toe in a towel, shivering.

Maybe tomorrow for dinner we'll have rice and beans? And I'll send T off to work on his bike with $1!! I wonder how that will go over??

Teaching Reading

As I've been contemplating going back to school to get my masters in Teaching Reading, I am also currently trying to figure out just what is going on at Kt's school for reading. It's been so confusing, so disorganized, so much misinformation.... is reading really that complicated or difficult??

Kt is a great reader, but certainly not at the tippy top of her class. When she was promoted from Kindergarten to first grade, she was placed in a class as an "Early D" reader. As a parent, that means little to me, as no one at her school has bothered to explain what that means. So, when the teacher called up the first Friday to let me know that she "assessed" Kt because she stood out in the class as a student who seemed farther along than the others - a.k.a., she would be easy to move to make the numbers even. In fact, during our little conference with this teacher and the school administrators over this change, it came out that only the 36 new students were assessed, and then they chose 7 returning students to test and Kt was the lone, lucky student who would get to "skip" 7 reading levels - miraculously, she was really a K or beyond. (Every student is supposed to be assessed at the beginning of each year - but they just didn't have time!?)

Now, we were a little stunned by this, as we had done very little reading with her over the summer. We had serious concerns about her skipping skills, decoding especially, and being able to keep up and catch up with others. We were assured that she would not miss any skills, nor would she have any trouble. But this did require, of course, her moving from a classroom with a wonderful teacher (who she had already grown to love!) and all her friends to a room with only a couple of students she even knew and only one friend. I was told by the teacher who tested and moved her that "social considerations are the least of our concerns" - as a teacher, I did not receive this news very well!! I was also told that in assessing students, if they get a 95% or above on an assessment, she would interpret that as a student who has most likely mastered all the skills taught at that level and they should be tested for higher levels.

So, here we are in second grade. Kt was placed in second grade as a late level second grade reader on level "M." She is finishing this year as an "N" - and while I know little about how they assess or choose to move levels - even though several people have explained it several different ways - I am thinking something is not right!! So, we finally decided to meet with the principal about Kt's placement for next year. I don't want a repeat of what happened in first grade and she seems much farther along than the Magic School Bus book she has been reading for a month! Kt has also spent the year in a reading group comprised of half her class (11 students), half of whom were in that first grade class she was moved out of!

Today the reading teacher called me. She assessed Kt today and basically confirmed what I've been saying all along. She first said that Kt tested 99% on level O (she has not read one book this year at that level) and got 4/4 on the comprehension questions. She then tested her at level P (which is end of the year third grade level) and she got a 97% and 4/4 on the comprehension. She also mentioned that Kt is fluent, conversational in her reading BUT she fumbles on the small sight words (the ones that they teach you by rote in levels D-J perhaps!!!) while easily reading longer, higher level vocabulary words. When I explained why that bothered me, i.e. that we were worried in first grade that she would miss important skills - that particular concern of smaller words having been mentioned!, the reading teacher then poo-pooed it like it was not a big deal. Don't want to get any friends in trouble now, do we?

I'm being sarcastic, but really, what bothered me the most about our traumatic classroom switch in first grade was the idea that I was not doing what was in my child's best interest by possibly holding her back in reading - that somehow, this teacher, who had known my daughter for 4 days, automatically knew what was best for my daughter more than I did. Only complicating this was the fact that I used to teach first grade, and I had a pretty good idea what kind of reader my daughter was. That, of course, meant little to these folks!!

Funny, though, that this time, they don't really want to send my daughter on ahead of where she should be. They are thinking it might be best to keep her at end of third grade level. I guess their numbers don't work if we move her up? Or maybe that would just admitting that Kt wasn't where she should have been all year, that we were right at all of our parent teacher conferences and her teacher failed to take us seriously?? I don't know, but what I do know is that this reading assessment stuff is just so tricky, and it makes no sense.

So, why do I even want to bother to get my masters in teaching reading?? Well, I can tell you this, it has nothing to do with wanting to know what I'm talking about. No one at Kt's school can give me a similar explanation about why they do what they do and what it means!! I also am not doing this so I can enter this crazy politicized system of education in our county - it is clear to me that it's just too contradictory and confusing. I think what I'd love to do is be able to instruct my own children better - then I guess I should have started this a long time ago!! *rolls eyes*

And for Kt next year?? Well, I think we are all in agreement at this point that skipping a bunch of reading levels isn't going to solve anything, so we'll keep her at end of third grade level and not bump her up to fourth. Hopefully, she'll do well, be happy, and become a super reader who enjoys what she reads. And then maybe we can become parents who aren't so involved and pushy with the school. I know they just want us to leave them alone! I know it! ;-)

Heading North!

Tomorrow I'm going to take Em up to Connecticut. If I had thought this through better, remembering that somewhere along the way T has decided to work from home, I could have gone alone!! But this way, we can stay until Monday.

We are heading up for A's graduation party, and to make the event even sweeter, she'll be going to Gordon College!! A girl after my own heart!! I am so excited for her. Even after spending the last 14 years or so here working with high school students, I've never been able to convince any of them to try Gordon. I am so excited that someone so important to me will get the chance to go to a great Christian college.

I really do wish T and Kt were coming along. Instead, it'll be a little time for Em and I. Of course, we spend a lot of time together already, but it will be nice for her to have Mom all to herself - I mean my mom! I think that's important for second children.

Oh, yeah, and I decided to work at Mother's Day Out one day a week next year. That works for me since I still haven't a clue where we'll send Em for kindergarten. So many decisions, so little time!

Why Men are Happier

I got this hysterical email from my mom. I wish I knew who wrote it, because it is so funny!! (sorry about the blogger issues - I am having several of them today!!!!)

Men Are Just Happier People 

What do you expect from such simple creatures? Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack. You can be President. You can never
get pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. Hell,
you can wear NO shirt to a water park.

Car mechanics tell you the truth. The world is your urinal. You
never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this
one is just too icky. You don't have to stop and think of which
way to turn a nut on a bolt. Same work, more pay. Wrinkles add
character. Wedding dress: $5000.00. Tux rental: $100.00. People
never stare at your chest when you're talking to them. The
occasional well-rendered belch is not only appreciated by your
friends, but practically expected. New shoes don't cut, blister,
or mangle your feet. One mood all the time. Phone conversations
are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks.

A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open all
your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of
thoughtfulness. If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can
still be your friend. Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough. You almost never have
strap problems in public. You are unable to see wrinkles in your
clothes.

Everything on your face stays its original color. The same hairstyle
lasts for years, maybe decades. You only have to shave your face
and neck. You can play with toys all your life. Your belly usually
hides your big hips. One wallet and one pair of shoes one color for
all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look. You
can "do" your nails with a pocket knife. You have freedom of choice
concerning growing a mustache. You can do Christmas shopping for 25
relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

No wonder men are happier. Send this to the women who can handle it
and to the men who will enjoy reading it.

So Let's Talk About Feeling a Little Older...

It's starting to occur to me that I am also getting older. It's not just those cute little kids all around me that are growing up, driving, graduating, getting married.... I am also growing older. Having an almost 3rd grader is OK, having two girls in school is a little scary, but I just had one of my "little" cousins (they are really my cousins' children) graduate college!! and another graduate high school. The one who graduated college? Well, when T and I first got married, and moved into a townhouse 4 doors away from him, we watched him walk to elementary school each morning! Crazy, but they do grow up!

Now, I've been watching my cousin's children grow up as they are all around me. It's been fun and a great learning experience for me, watching my four cousins go through life, broken marriages (not so fun!), having babies (loads of fun), raising teenagers (not so fun all the time, but sometimes!) and putting their kids through college (won't even go there), watching their grown boys head off to Iraq (scary, but proud) and one of them even getting married! It's starting to make me feel older.

Last week I received the graduation announcement for the little 2 year old that I used to babysit for when I was in college. I came home for the summer and my father, who was only happy when his kids were working every waking moment of summer vacation to help pay for college!, kept shoving "help wanted" ads in my face. I was already working for my former employers, doing office management/bookkeeping, but that was not enough! I found an ad for help babysitting 1 child while her mom worked evenings at a restaurant. Sounded perfect, and it was, sort of!! I went for a visit and found a single mom, struggling to keep a house and raise a beautiful little girl. After talking for a bit, she shared with me that she had gotten married at the church we went to but was now divorced. She later told me that she was a little concerned about me being overly religious, but how bad could a church girl be??

I ended up spending a lot of time with these two all summer, and when I returned each vacation or summer. V, the mom, ended up becoming MORE "religious" than me! She found a wonderful man, settled on a medical malpractice suit that stemmed from the delivery of this beautiful little girl that left her unable to work much at all, and sent her daughter to the local Christian school. Just last week, I got the announcement that her daughter is graduating high school.

I have never felt older than when I got that card, because I know that these two taught me a lot about life. From them, I've learned how easy my life really was, how we can trust God to provide even when we have little hope, how important it is to reach out to others and help those in need. Each of us is an extension of Christ, His church, and what we do for others needs to be a reflection of what He wants to be for them. I also learned through my parents example how to support my children when they meet folks who need help. When I went off to college and there were no others to help with A, my parents babysat. They brought dinner. They bought groceries. They paid some bills. And last Saturday, my mom went to A's graduation - and I'm glad she did. Because, in many ways, A wouldn't have made it to that time and place without them, at least that's how I see it. We were links in a chain, we answered a call and we get to see some of the fruit.

This is a good kind of older I'm feeling - like I've learned something important, like I'm ready to learn more. I don't know who else God will send my way, but I want to be ready for more V's and A's. I want more weddings, graduations, and eventually I want to see all of them with little children. I can't wait!

Disney/Pixar

I was totally laughing when I read this post on Steve Addison's blog - it's so, so true! What great insight.

Room Mother Mania

I'm not quite this busy, but I was rolling on the floor laughing at the this article on the last couple weeks of room mother craziness. Pretty much this whole week is tied up in room mother related and end of the school year related activities. Why I added preschool camp to the mix is beyond me!! Unfortunately, for me, I only have 2/5 of Kt's class contributing to a gift. It's been a not so great year I guess, which only adds to the stress. Then the last minute teacher request of, "Can you sent in 50 cups/napkins and 100 cookies?" by today.... the list goes on and on and on. I still have to get gifts for: 2 other teachers, Em's preschool teacher, the bus driver who I "won" earlier in the year... So, when people ask me if I'm "ready" for school to be out, they should be surprised at my overwhelming "YES!!!" answer. I love having my girls home, going to the pool, going on vacation and having the freedom to just pack up and go. Not to mention - no more field trips, no more school lunches to pack, and no more getting up and getting everyone ready. For a little while anyway!

Pool Party!!

Today was Kt's Brownie troop pool party. It was great fun! One of the families hosted it at their posh backyard retreat center, complete with an inground heated pool with plenty of seating, covered patio with, again, plenty of seating, and a backyard playground built by themselves. "He" is a Capital Police officer/commander/captain or something like that! I guess he does all this in his spare time?!? Anyway, it was a great party until Em threw up. Then it wasn't so fun anymore. Now we are home, sick again, cancelled our babysitter so no movie or night out tonight. Just, once again, taking care of sick children... This is getting old!

A long week....

I cannot even remember when I posted last and what I wrote about! This week has been sort of long, sort of busy but finally over. My job as room parent has taken over once again. Trying to organize a class gift - not having much success. Then got a note yesterday that I need to round up 50 cups and napkins and 100 peanut free cookies for Tuesday! Next year, when the request for a room parent comes around I'm hiding under a rock!

I've had a bunch of ideas of things to write about, but none of them come to mind right now. Blogger's block I guess. We have a somewhat quiet weekend ahead, one pool party. I can handle that! Then next week is another week of running around. I cannot wait until school is over - I'm looking forward to sleeping in a bit more (if that is possible!) and going to the pool when it's warm out!

Now, off to relax a bit. More later!