Joseph's amazing technicolor dreamcoat

Our school just finished their production of Joseph. They had worked very hard on it and in the end it was enjoyable.
Jana was part of the narrator choir and also the baker in prison with Joseph. She did a great job.

Maren had us all laughing at her beard and mustache, she was Rueben and did a great job singing "Those Canaan Day's" in her French accent. I thought it was cute how they dressed the brothers as a soccer team.

Jay was in the 8 member band and did super! He really misses being in band full time so this was a real treat for him.

This is a lovely picture that Maren took. I thought that some sand/pollen something blew in through the door. But on closer inspection we discovered it was millions of ants moving their larva. eewwhhhh!

Gwen the kookaburra

The kindergarten through the 3rd grade put on a cute program called "It's a small World" where they traveled to different countries. Gwen was an Australian Kookaburra, you can barely see the top of her head in the picture. She did a great job flapping her wings. But she said the beak hurt her nose.

This totally cracked me up, when they traveled to the UK they ran into the "Beatles" they sang "She loves me yah, yah"

These adorable kids are at the Abandoned Girls Home where I go and teach sewing. I usually go with another lady but she has been gone for a couple of weeks so I'm going solo, my portuguese dictionary is getting a workout! I love going, the girls really enjoy sewing. These 3 cuties are about 5 years old. The one in the blue shirt is the only boy at the home his name is Gobbie and he was left with his sister a year ago and they wouldn't separate them. So for now he'll stay at the girls home. When he sees me coming he runs and jumps into my arms and gives me the best hugs. He knows I don't speak a lot of portuguese but he always asks me for candy. Salina is the girl in the front and Mommie is the girl in the back they are a little more cautious then Gobbie but they still want to be hugged. They especially love to play with my hair and rub at my skin, I wish I knew what they were thinking! I must look so weird to them.

This is Tete pronounced Taytay, 14 years old she is a remarkable little sewer. The fun thing about sewing is that they can create something is such a short period of time and feel so proud. She finished her book bag yesterday. Lydia is the other lady that teaches sewing and she has done such an amazing job with these girls. She has been here for 4 years and she has watched them grow up. Her sewing skills make me look like a total amateur. Then my camera battery ran out so I couldn't get pictures of the other girls.

Chicken Quesadilla and Brownies

We had a fun activity at our house with the Young Women at our church. They practiced a song that they will be singing at church.
The leader in the yellow dress speaks english and so does her daughter but the rest of them only speak portuguese.

There is just a small group now that the branch has split. They are just so cute and fun.

They wanted me to show them how to make an "American Dish" that wasn't hamburgers. So I asked Jana what we should make and she said "Chicken Quesadilla" I know, real American.

I taught them how to make their own tortillas and they seemed to really like it. Maren showed them how to make brownies. Someone asked if you could make it without the cocoa, hum, I'm not sure about that.

Where did the month go?

I can't believe May is here. Time continues to move a neck breaking speed! Jay took part in a cute program about animals. He was a chick. It was fun to watch him try to be cool in such a silly costume.

Jana put together a variety show for the school. She had some kids in her class help her but they had no support from the teachers. They did a great job. There were about 20 acts from a rock band to magic tricks.

Maren sang, Jana also played a piano solo.

Jana teachs piano to her friend at church. She took the SAT yesterday. She had to go to the US Embassy to take it because the school has not been okayed for it to be the testing center. Only 6 more weeks of school left!!

We miss you Will!

I remember hearing my mother say she wished sometimes she could go back again as a young mother. And I never really understood her feelings until now! I miss Will so much even though I wouldn't want to relive all of it again I would like to cradle him in my arms and know that he was safe and well feed and content.

I miss watching him physically and mentally and spiritually grow.

I miss watching him become himself and developing his talents.

Even though I'm so homesick for him, I know that he is at the right place for him right now. Even though I can't see him I so much enjoy his emails and our phone calls. I can tell that he has grown in his independence and that he is really a great human being all by himself.
We love you Will and miss you so much!

Beautiful Cape Town

Cape Town was so much fun! We could have stayed there easily another week and still not skimmed the surface. Cape Town's most notable landmark is Table Mountain. We stayed at an apartment on the Waterfront.

Another landmark the Lion's Rump.

We hiked up to the top of Table Mountain one day. It was very steep and it was quite warm. Jay, Jana and Maren buzzed up the hill while John, Gwen and I went as fast as Gwen's little legs could carry her. All the people that we passed would comment on Gwen and how well she was doing. (she did better the more then a few adults!) It took us about 2 hours to finish. When we were about 100 yards from the top Gwen turned to me with up held arms and said "Carry me"

A wonderful view from the top! It was worth the hike. Needless to say we took the cable car on our way down!

Beyond Cape Town

The weather was so perfect! South Africa is just going into winter so everyday was about 70-75 degrees and I have to admit it was a bit nippy for me at night. It was crazy shopping at the mall because they have all of their winter clothing out. It was quite hard finding some summer things. We drove down to Cape Point, it was glorious!

On the way back we stopped by to visit the penguins. We had fun watching them waddle about.

Here are the kids in the van that they named the "hippopotabus" It was a huge white utility looking van and the girls would always tease that we better remember where we parked because there was no way we would ever find it!

John was a wonderful GPS.+