Christmas season is here!

The Christmas season is here again! In Africa, it can be harder to get into the Christmas mood. There is no snow or cold weather, and family is thousands of miles away. So, it takes a little extra effort to get into the holiday spirit.
We start by putting up the Christmas tree in early December and playing Christmas music every day.
We also have an Advent Activity Calendar. Everyday we open a flap which reveals what Christmas activity we are going to do that day: bake cookies, do a craft, string popcorn for the tree, etc. It takes a little bit more effort, but before long I start to feel "Christmasy".
How do you get in the Christmas spirit?

Fall Fun

It's been awhile since I've written on here, so I'll try to do better! We are currently, "between homes". We moved out of our house in Nairobi on Oct. 15th. We have been blessed to be able to stay with a friend in Boma N'gombe outside of Arusha for a few weeks, and we plan to move into our new house Nov. 4th.

It's always difficult keeping the children's schedules running smoothly during a trasition time, and keeping them active and not driving eachother (and me) crazy. So, today, we made Fall Leaf Cookies. I made the dough, then split it into three sections and dyed each one a different color before letting the kids roll them out and cut out the cookies. It gave them something to do for an afternoon!

I've been trying to do something creative every afternoon. One day we looked up different flags from around the world, and the kids picked some to draw. Then, they made paper dolls of children from that country holding their flag. That was fun.

We only have missed 2 days of school so far in this move, since we moved mostly over the weekend. I have found that things go much smoother for me if they kids have something to keep themselves focused for a majority of the day and aren't left with too much free time!

Finding Contentment

Today, the kids and I had a picnic in the driveway. It was Katrina's idea. She is always coming up with interesting things to do.

Lately, God has been showing me that my attitude about living in Nairobi has been horrible. Really rotten. Yes, I miss Arusha, our ministry and our friends there. More than I can say. But, I need to learn what Paul learned, "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Philippinas 4:12 In any and every situation. Which means instead of thinking, "Why can't we be in Arusha?" I need to thank God for putting me in Nairobi for this time period and learn to be content while we are here.

I have been convicted that I was portraying a negative attitude to my children about living here when I overheard them repeating negative remarks about Nairobi. Children are wonderful mirrors to the soul sometimes!

So, in that light, I am going to start to think about the positive things about living here. Of course there are things I like and things I don't like. I choose to focus on the postive, not the negative, and hopefully learn to be content. Because I think the secret to contentment isn't about having everything you want, or getting your way. It's about thanking God for what he HAS given you and for your blessings.

Things I like about Nairobi

1. There is a wonderful library here run by the Baptist Mission.

We don't really have a library to speak of in Arusha. And I LOVE libraries.

2. There is an ice-skating rink here.

And whoever heard of ice-skating in Africa? How great is that?

3. We live near the airport, which makes picking up guests easy.

4. Carnivore resturant has the best playground I've seen here, and the kids love to go there. The food isn't bad either.

5. Getting to know everyone in our small group at church.

6. Getting to work with and spend time with Larry and Judy Neimeyer, who wrote the discipleship material we use in Arusha.

7. We have a lovely house in a nice neighborhood.

8. There is a shop within walking distance.

9. There is a resturant within walking distance.

10. We have consistant power. (They have 12 hour power cuts in Tanzania right now.)

I had to post a video of Katrina...

Katrina, age 6 years

Another old video of Heather

Cute old video of Heather

Happy Easter....?

Jonathan got a little confused when we tried to get him to say "Happy Easter"... he thought we were having another birthday!

Jonathan loves blowing out candles

The Weaning Wars

Well, at long last, Jonathan is being weaned. I always knew I'd wean him around the age of 2, and since we were going to the beach during his birthday, I nursed him for the last time a few days before we went. I figured that the pool, beach, hotel room, etc. would be good distractions. Well, they were, but now we're home and he's not distracted anymore. Tonight he cried for 2 hours to nurse, although it's been 3 full weeks now. Even my older two girls were begging me just to nurse him! But, I will not give in!! He is weaned... he just doesn't want to admit it yet. Not sure exactly where I fit in the "mothering paradim" since I nurse way longer than conventional mothers, and at the same time don't just give in and nurse them once I've decided "enough is enough, you are weaned now!"... not sure where that lands me... I guess motherhood isn't something you can put into neatly labled boxes.

Bad Day...

Bill is in Arusha this weekend, and won't be back until Tuesday. When Bill has to travel, I like to take the kids out for an outing at least once while he's gone. So, today, being Saturday, I decided to brave Nairobi on my own with the kids.

I called a taxi's whose number I got from a friend but he didn't show up, so I walked out to the compound's gate and had the guard get a taxi for me. When he said 1,000 shillings, I agreed and we got it. Half-way there, I realized my mistake, I was thinking in Tanzanian shillings-- 1,000 is about $1.20, and in Kenya 1,000 shillings is about $15. A friend told me that one way should be no more than 300 shillings ($3.75). He quickly told me that the 1,000 covered the trip there and back, AND waiting for me while I shopped. Ok, that would be fair.


So, we get to the shopping center, that has a small resturant, playground and a grocery store. Our usual Saturday afternoon outing. I take the kids in and we order lunch. As we are finishing, and heading to the playground area, the taxi driver approaches me. He starts going on about how he's been looking for me, and how he can't be waiting for me for hours. It's been 20 minutes.

I tell him, "Fine, I'll pay you for your trip here and I'll find another taxi for my trip home." When I offer him 600 shillings ($7.50) for his one way trip, he refuses, saying he'll take nothing less than 700 shillings. I've already offered him more than half our original price for half of the original trip. I'm getting upset. So, I pay him the 600 shillings, which I think is more than fair and walk away from him. He follows me. I start yelling, "Leave me ALONE! GET AWAY FROM ME!!"

By now, a crowd is gathering. I approach a security guard and tell him that that man is harrassing me. Now, with several security guards and a crowd of on-lookers the taxi driver starts to say to everyone that I have cheated him out of his money, bla bla bla. Everyone starts taking HIS side, telling me just to pay him the 100 shillings. I am irate by this point and shout, "I'M NOT GIVING HIM ANY MONEY!!"

At this point, the store manager comes out and pays him 100 shillings just to go away and to end the disturbance in the front of his store. Fine by me. At least I wasn't the one who had to give him the money.
I walk around aimlessly in the store for awhile trying to cool off, and then call Bill to tell him what happened. That's when I notice the taxi guy is following me in the store! I say as much loudly to Bill in the phone and he leaves. I look around the store but didn't see him after that. What nerve to follow me into the store!!

I let the kids play on the playground for another hour until I have cooled off enough to try to get another taxi home. I approach the guard who I had gone to earlier and tell him I need a taxi. He comes right away, and this taxi driver asks for 600 shillings for the trip home, which proves I was paying the other one a fair price...
Anyway, home now and SO glad to be here. Ugh... wasn't worth the effort to go out today, should have stayed home.

Privacy? What's that?

I am annoyed.

It's Saturday, and my kids are playing in the backyard "swimming" in buckets of water. Which is nice.

Except that the kids in the apartment building next to us can see down into our yard and are yelling down at my kids, "Yeah! Hello! Stop playing in water!"(yes they speak English). Thankfully, my kids either can't hear them or they are just really good at ignoring them and don't seem bothered. I don't know why, but it bothers me. We just want to spend a Saturday afternoon in our own yard without being spied on.

Then, I remember that at least we have a yard. Those kids have nowhere to play except a tiny apartment balcony. And my kids don't even notice. So, my resentment changes to thankfulness. Thank you, Lord, for my 3 beautiful kids. Thank you that we have a nice house with a yard.

Love You!

Don't know if you can tell what he's saying, but Jonathan is saying "Love You".

New snack craze?

I'm not sure if you can make it out, but this *tasty* treat is Udongo, ingredients: edible soil... rich in calcium and iron! YUM... not sure about you, but I think I'll be skipping this snack in favor of, say, chips, or maybe some fruit. As you can see, it is little rocks, not even "soil". So, not sure how you are supposed to EAT it, wouldn't it break your teeth out?? But, hey, it could be the new snack fad. So, send me any requests, and I will buy you a bag of Edible Soil and mail it to you, if you promise to actually eat it and take a picture!

Friday Fun Night

We usually watch a Family Movie on Friday nights, but this last Friday I decided to have a Family FUN night, and play a game, eat snacks (popcorn, pretzels -from Eastview, and homemade french fries), and then watch a movie afterwards. I think I'd like to alternate Movie nights with Game nights, so we aren't always just watching movies. Games are fun too! We played Rummikub, which was a present from Eastview and lots of fun, once we figured it out.

Bagel-Making Adventure

Today, I tried something new and made bagels.

And the verdict... YUM!