Morning, Noon, and Night

Blog Post About December 2021

The day after the fancy holiday party at the hotel, Keira and Karis performed at another fancy hotel.

This time, there wasn't a big party, but one of the ballrooms was set up where vendors could come to advertise and sell their wares.

Keira performed with her ballet group, and Karis and Keira's teacher (below) performed a duet.

Karis and Keira's teacher performed a duet. 

I've never embedded a video before, so I don't know if this will work.

That afternoon, we returned to the hotel again for Keira to perform a gymnastics routine.

This picture makes me laugh because Keira is the only one with her legs crossed.

December 10, 2021 

We Have a Senior

Blog Post about November 2021

Did I wait until November to take "first day of school" pictures?

Yes, I did.

Does anyone know why?

No, they do not.

Do we have a SENIOR this year?

YES, WE DO!

The current academics presently living at home

Since it was only 10pm in Nashville, our distant academic joined us.

Our fourth grader at the French School

Our very tall Sophomore

AND....OUR SENIOR!!! 

Karis is amazing, and this house will feel a void when she is gone.

She is funny, kind, smart, caring, clever, and she is such a hard worker!

She has plans to pursue an education in dance science, working toward a degree in physical therapy.

October: A Month of Keira

Blog Post About October 2021

Keira turned 9 with cappuccino muffins for breakfast, a day at school, a scavenger hunt for her presents, and a dinner at a restaurant with fun milkshakes (because that's the only way to judge a restaurant).

You've gotta love moms who take your picture right after you wake up!

A travel kit for her dolls.

And who doesn't need a colorful "My Little Pony" onesie?

This little girl traveled all over America with me last summer, and the benefit was, she got to pick out her birthday presents and travel back with them.

It doesn't always work like that, but she had fun spending ours and grandparents' allotted money amounts.

Washable skin markers

Now you can see why she chose this restaurant.

Three days after her actual birthday, we had a party with some of her friends at a "Fun Zone."

The next week, she performed as a swan in a ballet and participated in a gymnastics routine at a local art show at a hotel.

We love Keira just because, but some of the fun things about her are her great laugh, her joy, the way she loves others, her quickness to apologize, her sensitivity, and the way she eats ice cream bars ;)

This is not an act. She LITERALLY eats ice cream bars like this, and we have no idea how it happens!

First and Second Days of School

Blog Post About September 2021

September 5th, Keira started the fourth grade...for one day.

Then the internet for the country...the COUNTRY...was shut off for EIGHT mornings in a row so students who didn't pass the government exams last spring could try again. Because of the internet being off, no one went to school.

 (I don't understand the news. I just report it)

September 5, 2021

The government doesn't want cheating to take place, and since students all over the country are taking the test at the same time, they feel like cutting the internet off is the smart thing to do. BUT...they have to actually cut it off a few hours BEFORE the test starts because one year, when the test was posted, employees in the Ministry of EDUCATION copied the test and got it to certain students before they took it.

Corruption, anyone?

Aoife was ready for school, too, however, the second day of school didn't occur until NINE days later on September 14th!

Maybe Aoife wanted to go to school where they have days with full electricity. 

It looks like she's trying to get in front of our swamp coolers to get some air.

Two days before Keira went back to school for her second day, some rockets were targeted at the airport. 

You could tell Karis (17) has lived here awhile and dealt with situations unfamiliar to many, because when we were listening to the rockets going off, and she looks at me and says, "I'm going to bed."

All the adults in our fellowship were texting each other to make sure everyone was okay, and Karis calmly says she's checking out :) Granted, when we first moved here, they did in fact scare her.

The rockets started around 9:30pm, and they were aimed (poorly) at the U.S. base near the airport. Three of the 14 rockets hit the base, but the rest hit residential areas and civilian facilities near the airport. Thirteen people were injured, and two people were killed; one of them was an American. Rockets had not been fired at the airport since April 2021.

An Anniversary and 3 States in 3 Days

Blog Post About July 2021

After the trips to see grandparents, we returned to our Texas base for two days before moving on. 

While there, on the morning of my 25th anniversary, I headed over to a friend's house. 

When my time with my friend was coming to a close, I got a message from Doug (late at night back in the Middle East) saying that I should go to a certain parking lot in the city where I was.

I texted him when I got there, and he told me to go to James Avery and pick up an order for Doug Taylor.

When I went in, there were two pairs of silver earrings for me to pick up, bought and paid for.

Happy Silver Anniversary to us!

That night, Doug also had three friends take me out to dinner. 

It was fun, but it would have been a lot more fun if Doug had been there.

Thanks Doug!

The day after our anniversary, Keira and I flew to Nashville. 

The first airport we went to cancelled our flight because of lightening. A sweet friend picked us up and drove us an hour and a half to another airport so we could catch another flight. We were constantly blessed by amazing friends!

We arrived late at night, but Kylie was still happy to come get us.

The next day, we looked at some possible houses for Kylie to move into, and then when Kylie had classes, Keira and I did a little sightseeing at the Opryland Hotel and Mall.

Covid made it kind of empty

A large Hungry Hippos game

Riding a ride with a new friend.

When Kylie got out of class at 5pm, we headed to Jackson, Mississippi, with a 6 hour drive in front of us!

The next morning, in Mississippi, Kylie had a follow up appointment with the doctor that did surgery on her knee. Later that night, we went to see Karis dance in her first ballet performance of the summer (she's in the front row, on the right)

Again, kneeling in the front, right.

It was good for all of us girls to be together.

Karis always has a good time at dance camp. 

This year, she stayed for four weeks with a fun roommate.

So many girls got Covid, and many were sent home, but thankfully, Karis made it all summer without being sent home.

Timon and Pumba at camp, ready to do some calisthenics.

Independence and a Zoo, Too

Blog Post About June 2021

The day we arrived back at our base, some of my sweet friends had planned a dinner party for me. These ladies still connect with me every other week over zoom to study the Word together.

One funny thing about that night is that I was having trouble finding out why one of my flights had been cancelled, and before the party I had been on hold with United for TWO HOURS and FIFTEEN MINUTES!  

I really do not like United, but that's a discussion for another day. 

When one of my friends saw me and hugged me, her cheek hit my earbud and disconnected my call. It was actually a blessing because it allowed me to enjoy my friends and stop being concerned with my flight for a little while.

The next day, I got a ride to meet my parents an hour away because they were bringing me a car to use for the rest of my time in America. Some sweet friends had already let me use their car for the first week I was in the States.

Two days later, we took off for Mississippi with Karis driving the whole seven hours.

The next day, we checked her into dance camp where she would stay for the next four weeks, and after one more night of sleep, we headed to a river camp with some friends to spend the Fourth of July. 

We had the best time!

Kylie had a week off as well, and she went to Ohio see a friend she had met at ballet camp years earlier.

Keira and I drove back to Texas to my parents' house on the 5th of July, but instead of taking us 7 hours, it took TEN.  Traffic and weather slowed us down considerably.  It's a good thing Keira is such a good traveler.  She talked to me the WHOLE ten hours ;)

We spent three nights with my parents again, and then headed to Doug's parents for three more nights with them. On the 9th, the weather was amazing, and we decided to go to the zoo.  

Keira has "Kenya" on her birth certificate, but she never got to experience the beauty of the wildlife there because she was so young when we left, so she was soaking it in (AND we got to see the big 5).

The giraffe with her giraffe shirt.

Happy birthday to Caleb today!