The Girl with the Traveling Tattoo

That is the title of the parody Dave thinks I should write on the books "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and" The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."  Who knows, it could be amusing.  I have been writing a lot as of late, but not fiction.  The work I'm writing with a vengeance at the moment is much more personal, and I'm not sure it will ever see the light of day, but it feels good to write with a purpose.  I've been reading so much lately, all fiction, and loving it, but I'm not sure what I would write if I wrote fiction.  I don't really care about creating stories so much as reading them.  I love getting lost in their intricate lives and stories.  I just finished reading The Hunger Games, and if you want to get truly taken away in a story, you should sit down to read that one.  Just know you're not going to be able to think about anything else until you finish all three.  I realize that's not a convenience most people, especially people with kids, can afford, but give yourself an hour a day and jump in.  You won't be disappointed.  Well, I guess this post is just to say, "I've been writing," which lots of you have encouraged me to do, so there you have it.

Now that I think about it--the title of this blog could be a autobiography.....hmmmm.

Pine needles

I cannot walk through a pine forest and fail to be transported immediately back to my ten year old self, racing through the woods beside siblings on the way to Mame and Pop's house at Lake Norman, trying to beat my parents driving around by the road.  It is my most pungent memory--my strongest most fragrant reminder of sunset dinners on the boat, playing with old Legos, a random phone in a box nailed to a pine tree, being made to wear a swim belt even in shallow water, and swinging too high (and getting scolded for it) on the sunroom swing.  The smell of pine needles brings back all these things--even in the midst of a walk in Yosemite, I am reminded.

gratuitous tears

Sometimes I feel myself start to tear up, and I don't know why I'm crying...and then I remember my heart is still tender, and baby bumps and wee sleepy snuggles come to mind. I stare openly and unashamed at the cute ones that gurgle and bounce on a daddy's knee at dinner, or trundling tots as they adventure off on their own, maneuvering endless legs and tables that reach to the heavens. I feel I have no right to these tears--as travesties of vast proportions have wrecked the world, and all I have is a one-time empty womb, and hope for a future time... A dear friend once told me, she never overlooks others' pain, no matter how tiny it seems to some, and I hope I am so gracious--I strive to be so gracious..."God make my heart bigger, not smaller"

Snapshots of Colorado fun

So a couple of weeks ago we went to Colorado for a wedding. I FINALLY got to be a Best Man in a wedding (it was on my bucket list)! My long time friend, Sean Macha, and his beautiful bride, Anuschka, got married above a huge gorge with amazing views. We also got to go whitewater body boarding with them, and I got a ride on Sean's motorcycle :). On the way back to the airport in Denver, we stopped by Garden of the Gods, which we will DEFINITELY return to with gear to play! So here are a few snapshots of the fun times and beautiful scenery.

A few niceties go a LONG way

Today I had to call my medical insurance--BlueCross BlueShield--about some claims back in June and early July when all the sadness happened. It consisted of three different days of medical visits in two different states. The medical bills have really been stressing me out, considering I haven't ever had bills like these before, for thousands of dollars, but my insurance lady put me much more at ease. She was so kind and patient, going through each claim, how much the total was, and how much we are responsible for. She helped me categorize each date by how many claims for that day, so I know what to expect to get in the mail from the respective medical facilities. Though, in general, I think insurance companies get the better end of the deal on these things, and the system still needs A WHOLE LOTTA WORK, the woman I spoke to made a huge weight fall off my shoulders, just by helping me understand more, and feel more in control of the situation. It was a rather lovely experience!

Clash of the titans..errr...dislike of rules i don't agree with

I went to a training for substitute teaching today for a Christian school in the area. I agreed with pretty much everything they stood for, and the outcome of the knowledge and education the students graduate with. Many of the graduating students from this school have ended up in ivy league colleges, or top military schools or positions--I was impressed! There's just this one thing--I have to cover up all my tattoos. I know I know--most of you would say--"I told you so," or "Yep, that's why professional jobs and tattoos don't go together," but let me state my case. Firstly, with my brief experience with Californians, I have never seen this many people, of ALL walks of life and job statuses, with more tattoos--and BIG ones--before in my life. Using that point, I would say this rule would mean a lot of people have to cover up tattoos. Secondly, they recommended that it be covered up by clothing, or a bandage of some kind. Isn't a child going to be MORE curious about the tattoo, and MORE distracted by a person wearing an Ace bandage on their arm/leg all day, every day, than by the tattoo itself (obviously if the tattoo is inappropriate, this is not applicable)? Thirdly, I strongly believe that you should be the person you are all the time--meaning--don't swear at certain times in front of certain people, and not in front of others (for those of you that know me, know I am working on this in my own life too), or drink in front of certain people, and not others (again, this doesn't apply to drinking with someone you know will be tempted to drink too much, or hurting them emotionally). Stop the duplicity!!! Be the person God created you to be ALL. THE. TIME. Lastly, what is the rule accomplishing; because if it is not accomplishing something to the glory of God, then why would a Christian school make the rule (to make the parents/tuition payers happy? Because it's an old rule? etc.)? A rule that says, "You must cover all profane, lewd, or inappropriate tattoos" would be sufficient (allowing the principle to decide if something was "appropriate" in a disagreement). O.k. I'm done. I haven't ranted on here in quite awhile; feels kinda good ;). Don't worry; I won't get use to this.

sweet wee breath

I got to put a four year old up our Leap of Faith pole today. Today was my first official day working for The Oaks as one of Dave's hourly staff. I got to run the Leap of Faith with him all afternoon! All the adults had gone off already, and I walked up and asked little D if he wanted to go.

His mom: He can?!
me: Sure! We have just the harness to fit!
me to D: You want to go?
D: --big grin and nod--

He was SO excited! His little legs were quite long enough to make all the steps, so I climbed up a bit behind him to give him extra footholds with my hands. He only went half way, but that huge grin never left his face, and he loved swinging down the best! Makes me miss working with kids for sure. I'm most of the way through my application for the local school so I can substitute, and I think I'm going to go find out how I can volunteer at The Painted Turtle this week--I need some more "smile" energy, and I'm pretty sure those kids could fill me up! I also put in a application with the local pub and restaurant called The Rock. I kinda hope I get a job there, just to learn the locals; it's a kooky, fun kind of place.

Well, I'm headed home to take the dogs for an evening walk and set up our guest bedroom for a co-workers gf for night. TTYS

Things

Things I no longer take for granted:

*grass--there is only grass where the sprinklers water touches--otherwise it's sand/dirt
*big, tall, shady trees--there are several of these around my house, and I'm so thankful for them!!!
*rain--if it rains before November, it's always a surprise, so far it has rained once since Dave arrived here mid-May, and thankfully I got to be here for that one!)
*internet--internet was easier to get in S. Africa--here I have to walk/bike to Dave's office to get it, hopefully Verizon will grace us with its presence very soon.
*cell phone coverage--in case you have tried to call me here, I don't get cell reception except in a few select places (when the wind is not blowing and I am facing the correct direction). So--text me first, then I'll find a spot to talk to you (though I may have to run to the soccer field to do so)
*electric stove--ours is gas--which still totally freaks me out! I'm still afraid i'm going to blow up the house

Things I am so excited to have here!!!

*a washer and dryer!!!! (I HAVE NEVER HAD ONE IN MY HOUSE!!!)
*a bathtub--it is SO nice to shave my legs and NOT hit my head on the adjoining wall
*neighbors I can pop in on daily--or join on the playground with their kids (I have never known my neighbors very well--maybe because most of them were seasonal renters, but it is SO nice to enjoy my neighbors and their great kids, AND wonderful hospitality!)
*Barnes & Noble, Trader Joe's, Target, Olive Garden, $2 movies, etc---Palmdale is TWENTY MINUTES away, and has ALL THESE THINGS, plus MORE! It's so awesome!!!!

Prayer things:
*(me) Need to find a purpose driven thing for me--a part-time job, volunteer work, SOMETHING--i'm going a little stir crazy
*(dave) Support at he plays "catch-up" for these past few months as he's still new to his job, and there's always something else to do or plan (ah the camp life)

We love you all!!!

beginnings

I'm sitting in Dave's office getting internet this morning (well, it's morning here for 3 more minutes--which means it will probably be afternoon by the time I finish), as I don't have internet, or for that matter, cell phone coverage, at the house. The house is pretty much unpacked, except for the spare room/office/whatever that becomes. The paint colors aren't my favorite, but they are manageable for now, and after summer camp ends and things settle down here, then maybe we will get to pick out some nicer colors.

We've decided to theme our house a sort of bohemia feel, I guess that means eclectic? Patterns everywhere basically. At first, we had two couches with different patterns, one we bought and a super comfy one that just showed up, and I didn't like it. But then, just for fun, we threw down our rug of a different pattern, and some throw pillows ALSO with different patters, and I kinda fell in love with it! Dave loves it of course :). He said this is exactly how he always wanted his house to look. I'm sure Grandmama would say it looks more like "early basement, late attic" in style, lol, but it's us. Now if we can just get the boxes taken away, the pictures hung, and the house cleaned, we will be good.

I think my chances of finding full time teaching this year are slim to none, and i have to say i am more than o.k. with that. I am pursuing being a regular substitute this year at the local schools, and then trying to get in more full time next year. I do need SOMETHING to keep me focused, and I want to learn more about the community center up the road, and see if they have a volunteer tutoring program. There's also this camp, called The Painted Turtle, that I am interested in as well. It's funny because after high school I was very interested in working at the camp Kyle Petter helped with, Victory Junction, that works with kids that have disabilities and special needs. The Painted Turtle is literally 3 minutes away, and is one of the string of camps associated Victory Junction spread across the U.S. So, there are lots of things to explore this fall. I do feel a bit guilty for not pursuing a full time teaching position more heartily, ok at all, but I don't know why. I guess I just feel I should be monitarily inputing into our family more, since I won't be having a baby this school year.

Well, lunch is soon, and I should walk the dogs back to the house. Two camp kids just scootered by the window towards the dining hall, so I guess I should head that way too. I have a coffee date with a friend this afternoon during her boys' nap time that I am very excited about. Now I just need to unload a few boxes before then!

a reappearance

I didn't want to talk to anyone--but I clung to Bethany and Shannon. That's how I felt that day--I wanted to shut everything down and disappear. And I did to some extent--I didn't tell anyone except for immediate family--and Bethany and Shannon were the ones that called them all--I couldn't do it--I couldn't hear the sadness in their voices or hear their tears. I needed to shut down to preserve what was left of the joy in my life at that moment. And that's how I went on with the roadtrip. I needed to make new memories of that week, to fall in a different kind of love with my sisters, and have a time we can always look back on, a time that was not completely overshadowed by grief.

I texted and FB-ed about our loss last week, and didn't reply to many texts or calls from anyone--but the words from you all meant the world to us. I'm slowly opening back up, and am able to talk about it a bit, though still not without tears quite often, so if you call and I start to cry, and you are a bit scared (considering I really hate to cry in front of people, whether on the phone or not), know I can't help it anymore, they just seem to pour out of me at random moments.

Our stuff arrived Friday, and seeing the baby things was really difficult. I didn't think I would want to go through the boxes, but I did--I wanted to see it all and remember how excited we were. And something else happened too; the love from all the people those things came from poured out on us. Seeing the shoes, the cute onesies, the New Daddy Survival Kit, it made us cry yes, but it also made us feel loved. We know we will have a child one day, hopefully at least one I am able to carry myself, and that stuff gives us hope.

I am s l o w l y settling into camp life here, after having spent much of the time last week in doctor's offices and the like, but I do feel a bit restless to try and find my place here. I need a purpose--maybe a job--something, so please pray that I find that, whatever it is, soon. Also pray for my friendships here to blossom. There are some amazingly loving people here at camp--pray that I am adventurous in my pursuit of them. You laugh, because you see me as an extremely outgoing and loud person I am sure, but when it comes to new arena's, I am often shy (I KNOW! A word not EVER associated with me). I will be on here more now hopefully. And I am ready for calls and letters and such if you would like to chat. I always love mail too <3.

EOG's--morning one

This morning started out so completely chaotic. I got up on time, got to school by 7:20, and then hit the ground running. I barely remembered to use the bathroom before we had to be "locked" in the classroom for 3 hrs! Our block of teachers decided to use some of the money our students fundraised to get them breakfast on the EOG mornings. While that seemed like a great idea, in reality it made it just that much more stressful for us each morning. Now we have to get here, get all our testing stuff, get the food from whoever picked it up, located which fridge the waterbottles are in, set out all testing stuff, and get the kids to eat & use the bathroom before 8:15. It's a little much :). Anyway, the kids are busily taking their tests now, and they have 5 more minutes before their first stand-up and stretch break. I didn't get myself coffee this morning because I was afraid it would make me have to pee, but now I'm about to fall asleep. I will say I am enjoying the quiet and praying the kids know this stuff! We'll see!

and a bit more :)

Well--my last post was title "the Big News," but honestly I think our newest news is bigger! The week before Easter I started feeling bad. I wasn't sure what it was, but it didn't seem out of the ordinary. That week came and went, and the feeling didn't go away. Then I took a test--and we are going to have a baby! We are both extremely excited, but it's also a very difficult time. Dave left last Saturday for California, and I will follow the last week of June. He's only been gone for four days, and I'm already lost without him. Plus, being in my first trimester, I often feel sick to my stomach (though thankfully have not actually thrown up), and am usually exhausted regardless of my amount of sleep. This morning I can barely keep my eyes open! These last few weeks of school feel like I'm trudging through the mud to keep up. Trying to push the kids to study for the EOG's is so hard--they don't want to do it, but they also want to pass--it's a total catch-22.
I'm trying to pack a bit more each day, find renters for both apartments, work out plans with our property manager, find a person to mow the yard when we're gone, and work out dates with the movers (plus finding someone to help transport our new couch from Asheville to my house). And I'm exhausted all the time...did I mention that? God willing these weeks will fly by, but right now the calendar seems to stretch to eternity.

the big news...

Some of you may have heard a rumor...or a leak of some interesting information regarding our future abode. A while back Dave was laid off from his state job working with adjudicated youth, and he started putting in applications all over the U.S. for camp jobs. He then started getting a few nibbles here and there; a few phone interviews. After awhile there was a pretty big offer--he was flown out to California to view a camp and interact with the staff there that he had had phone interviews with. A few days later they offered him a job, and a few days after that....he accepted! So, we are moving out to Lake Hughes, California. Actually, Dave is moving in just a few weeks--he has to start staff training, as in training his staff, on the 19th. I will be staying in WNC until the school year is over, and roadtriping out there the last week in June with (hopefully) Shannon and Bethany! It's a quick move--and pretty crazy at the moment, but things seem to be falling in place! I think we found a property manager for our duplex, so we can keep renting it out. I have already put in a few applications there--nothing yet--but i'm hopeful it will work out. Anyway--that's the news--if you want to know specifics about Dave's job, FB him! :)

boys...and girls :)

I sat in the classroom after my students finished up testing--hoping to be able to keep them quiet for the other classes benefits. How EXACTLY do you keep 20 thirteen and fourteen years olds in a very small room quiet??? Well--i told them they COULD NOT talk, but they could sit side-by-side and pass notes. This obviously led to whispering, but as long as I told them they couldn't talk, it stayed like that--since they already felt like rebels by breaking the rules for not talking :). I hate being so hard on them--especially because i want to love on them all the time, cause most of the time i think they are hilarious and i just have to be a hard-ass and not laugh--when i really feel like it! I love the times when i can cut up with them, when we have free time and i can get to know them better, and see what's REALLY going on in their lives. Of course some days I feel like I want to wring their little necks, but mostly--these days--i want to hug them--but i don't cause that's not allowed :). This first year teaching has been one roller coaster after another. The first part of the year was terribly hard, but now it gets easier every day. About halfway through the year i wasn't sure if i wanted to teach next year, if teaching was really my calling, but now I know it is. Middle schoolers are a rough bunch for sure, but they are "pretty cool" after all, don't tell THEM i said that of course.

Dear Graduate......

Dear Graduate:
You are about to embark on a journey of a lifetime! The world is your oyster, and you are....the fisherman? I'm not really sure where they are going with that metaphor, but it is said quite often isn't it? And what IS this about this journey you are about to embark on--this adventure, I mean, what HAVE you been doing for the last twenty-two years of your life anyway---waiting in line? Or possibly a queue if you're British. I say--you've already had several, if not many many adventures, now they will just be on your own dime. Anyway, to all of your graduates out there, who are being asked DAILY where your life is going, and what you are going to do with it, here are a few choice one or two liners that may get you off the hook, or at least put a smile on YOUR face. You're welcome.

To answer the question, "So what are you going to do after you graduate?"

To your grandparents---Well, I heard recently of this place in Montana where you get to work for your keep. Kinda like an old Western. It's really cool though! I could be putting up fence posts and expounding on world hunger with REAL PEOPLE. It's totally NOT like a commune or anything. Mom and Dad think it's a great idea.

To the younger, expectant students--McDonald's--yep--they said their manager has a graduate degree in psychology! So--i may have to go back to school to move up, but I'm starting out behind the register for now, since I do have a business degree.

To random people who you don't really know--Stand-up comedy! Yeah, my teachers always said if I didn't go into it I would be wasting my talent. What? No I didn't get a degree in acting; it was in ceramics actually. Why do you ask?

To the old--I'm getting into the Forestry Film Industry. Yeah! You know those people who do the videos of the plants growing? You can ACTUALLY watch trees grow!

To the over-educated, 7-degree, 40 yr old full-time student--Pet grooming. I think pets really need to consider the message they're sending out to children going out without clothes on or their nails done.

To the people who paid for your education: I'm gonna donate platelets, like, every two weeks--did you know they PAY you for that? It's so sweet!

To the raft guide--I'm going to go on welfare--I will make more sitting on my butt than you do getting raft rear all summer! And I can buy beer with THAT money too!


And then you could ask in return: "And what are you going to do about our country's over consumption of fuel, the huge deficit, and tsunami victims in Japan?" And wait for their answer to your huge, life-altering question.

what i spend my "free" money on

When I have a little extra money, I never spend it on pedicures and this is somehow odd to some of my school friends. But I have things to do with my money! Like see movies, for instance, because I love movies! And buy used books--there is little I love more than a good used book store and $10 in my pocket. I also like to hang-out with friends--so some of my money goes towards eating out. And of course the biggest expense is travel--because, if i could, I would travel every month or so to a new place outside the U.S. for the weekend. So--in case you were ever wondering--that's what I spend my "free" money on. Not pedicures, tanning beds, gym memberships, new cars, or outdoor gear :)

roots

When you get married, everyone figures you'll put down roots somewhere. You'll move to a small town, get involved in a church, befriend people at work and people that have the same hobbies as you. We did that. But the problem is, our roots seem to be dying and moving away--not us. In past two years, two of our closest couple friends have gotten a divorce, and one of them has moved away. Another couple moved to Florida, and one of our best guy friends moved to Asheville (though it's close, we still don't see him that often). And then there's the people we meet during the summer and love, but leave during the other three seasons of the year. Oh--we have also had a pastor change while we've been here--they also moved away. And now that I think about it, our first music leader and his wife moved too! Our roots are disappearing right and left, and we feel as if we have stayed put, and yet we're constantly starting over! Lately, with Dave's job ending, we've been looking at other places for jobs. Every time I think about it, I think, "But we'll have to start over," but then I realize I've already started over about three times since we moved HERE, I should be a pro at this now. For example, I love my new friends at school. We text and FB chat and hang out all the time! But what if my contract doesn't get renewed next year; it's pretty certain we really wouldn't see each other that much, considering I don't work in the town we live in. Or Dave--who's really bonded with his fellow employees this year, and now they are being dispersed to look for new jobs--again--he doesn't work where we live. It's exhausting! It almost makes me not want to try! What if i get close to these people and they have a nasty divorce--you say i don't have to choose, but they are gonna make me choose between them when new relationships crop up (i know, been there done that with a few of them already). There is nothing more rewarding than being in true fellowship with people, but it's almost like getting broken up with when circumstances change and relationships dissolve! I don't like it--and I don't really have an answer, but starting over all the time really sucks

i believe...in fairies?

not so much, but that would be great. I would like a cleaning fairy, and a chocolate fairy, and a lesson planning fairy.

During the sermon at church the other day, I started thinking about the line I draw when it comes to "faith." I put that in parenthesis because I feel like people often use "faith" as crutch to be lazy, indecisive, and unappreciative of the abilities they already have. For example, people say, "When God wants me to have a job He'll give me one." Really? So THAT'S why there are millions of people out of work--because God doesn't want them to have jobs? Don't get me wrong, I do NOT believe that, "God helps those who help themselves" (possibly from Ben Franklin...but probably quoted by him from someone else). However, I do believe God creates us as mostly capable human beings, with brains, gumption, and sometimes common sense. So SOME of the people who do not have jobs may not be trying hard enough (on NPR the other day there was a guy who put in about 100 applications a month minimum to finally find a job--now that's REALLY wanting a job), but others just may be down on their luck. So where does using what God gave you, and faith come together? Well, I think we do what we can, work hard, love well, connect with others (maybe one of the hardest things to do), and live in faith that WHATEVER happens, God will be there to see us through it. Faith is not believing God will make everything work out the way you hope it will, it's believing there is something to still hope for when everything falls apart.

new year.....

it's been awhile...hmmm...so what's new? Well, it's now January, instead of November (when I last posted). Since last time, I have enjoyed a beautiful Thanksgiving with my family here, a snowy Christmas with my family in Ireland (and a lovely new nephew), lots of snow days and fun with sleds, a time of growth in my marriage, and an improved outlook on teaching middle schoolers. Oh! And I started taking Spanish classes again! It's a lot right?
First off, I think this past year's Thanksgiving was one of the most rewarding I can remember in quite awhile. It was a great time of visiting with both sides of the family; such good conversations, meals, and love from everyone we saw!
Over Christmas we went back to Ireland to see Dave's family. As soon as we got there, we were snowed in. It stayed below freezing most of our visit, but we got to spend it with all of his family, and new baby Micah too!
After we got back home, it snowed some more :). Well, all of you know that as you have experienced it all--but it's still on the ground and causing school delays here. We were out all but one day in the last week--which led to lots of snow fun at home!
Dave and I, and some good friends and neighborhood kids, sledded quite a bit in the last week (air mattress sledding is the way to go with lots of powder by the way). It also gave Dave and I time to relax together, as he was snowed in with me (yay!). We had some quality time, which we needed after holiday business.
The new Spanish teacher at the high school decided to offer a Spanish class for teachers, and he is wonderful; very excited and enthusiastic. I'm learning a lot already! I can even do the Mexican handshake :).
Anyway, that's a little bit of my life since November.
OH! I almost forgot my New Year's Resolutions!
1-Yoga twice a week for at least 30 mins (i failed the 1st week--but so far so good on the 2nd one!)
2-Take a vacation with just Dave and I some time this year (we haven't done that in ages, and I know we don't have kids, but it's better time spent together when we are out of the house)--we were going to go during Spring Break--but with the snow days, it looks like we may have had it already! :)

time....

Time flies.....always. I can't believe it has been two months since I posted on here--it seems days ago. It's been ten weeks since i started teaching, and, although i don't have panic attacks anymore (at least daily), i still feel as if i'm in a whirlwind. Sometimes it's all i can do to stay sane--i'm not sure i feel as if i'm actually teaching them anything. I SINCERELY hope i am--but sometimes i don't know. I ask myself over and over again, "What do I want them to really get out of this? What do I want them to learn?" and sometimes the answers to those questions aren't easy things to teach--what do i REALLY want them to learn? I want them to learn respect, the value of an education, the value of a life, the repercussions words easily said and not easily taken back, and, I remember myself saying this to people before i started teaching, how to love reading. But HOW do you teach those things--i mean--really, ideas would be helpful!!! And here's another one--how do you inspire students to WANT to learn--how do you light a fire under a kid that really doesn't give a flying flip about grades (if i have to hear "i don't care" ONE MORE TIME today....)??? Candy only goes so far! How do you let a child go--sure "No Child Left Behind" sounds great--but, as most parents know, there are some things you CANNOT FORCE on a child--I can only give them the tools--i cannot make them learn. When does it become their responsibility????? The students that have parent involvement will always turn in homework--or at least most of it. I can call them, and they will back me up. But for those who do not, who are in an institution, or whose parent(s) are so busy trying to help them survive with food and shelter to have time to worry also about their education, my remonstrations fall on bleeding ears. So here I am, Sunday night, trying to give myself a pep-talk. "Leigh," I say, "You go in there tomorrow and be excited--tell them they WILL learn today. Smile more. Laugh. Connect with their life" But who knows how i'll feel by 3:30. Is it terrible that i often feel like our public educations system is being held together with duct tape and fairy dust? I love the grit--i love these kids--i see they need help--but sometimes-----i too surrounded by "great ideas" and "reality" to really make this work.

So tomorrow--i will march in there--and hand out a sparkly wand (oh yes, 8th graders still love toys) and a tiny plastic trophy, and I will say, "You people are stinkin awesome--and you are gonna change the world!" because I hope that I can too.

hello???........

Ok--so I'm not sure anyone ever reads this anymore--since it's been over a MONTH since i last posted, but if you do, here's an update. I'm a teacher now--in case ya didn't know--i know--it's a bit crazy to think of me in a classroom. My kids are lovely--ha ha--well--they're kids, so they have good days and bad days. I teach 8th grade English at the middle school (jr high?) in Macon county (Franklin). It's an adjustment from the expected high school teaching, but it's going well so far! I'm not quite into the swing of things yet, still having to catch my bearings some days. Some afternoons I wonder why i do this--but come evening and some sleep, I always remember my students fondly. :) I just want to teach well--i'm still trying to find my teaching personality with these guys. I hope that I get better at it--right now I feel kinda like i'm flailing, but I'm just gonna keep plugging away--asking lots of questions, and doing my best!

I think the hardest part is the hours. With Dave gone three days a week, and then me working when he is off, it often feels like we're passing in the halls (though we don't really have any of those, lol). The long weekend was really wonderful, and I'm working hard on trying not to bring work home on the weekends.

We officially have a babysitter now--ok ok--DOGsitter. She comes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to play with the dogs a couple of times during the day, as those are my late nights. I leave at 6:30 am and don't usually get home till after 6:30 pm on those days. Hoping to have late nights when Dave does. Anyway--that's the update. Now--I gotta take a shower and get to bed! I'm exhausted! :) NIGHT!

firsts

Yesterday I kayaked the Ocoee for the first time. It's a pretty big river, class 3's and 4's. I'm not quite sure i was totally prepared to kayak those classes, but I thought I should step up my game and push myself, so I went for it! Two good friends here took me down and guided me through each rapid (I generally avoided the class 4's by taking sneak routes, i need to get a bit better before i hit it full on). I have to say, it started with a bang! I swam (came out of my boat) the very first rapid-which was a doozy by the way--lost my paddle--but finally swam to the side with my boat. I was shaking all over! It was definitely the biggest class swim I've ever done. I didn't get cut up too badly, but I got some minor cuts and bruises; feeling it today for sure! After that I was pretty nervous. My friend Tyler gave me his paddle to use (you're awesome dude!) and he found a normal raft paddle (yes, one sided), and did the whole rest of the river that way! My adrenaline was still pumping pretty good as I ran the rest of the river--biggest waves I've ever paddled through--but it was fantastic! Super, SUPER fun. So--my day of firsts went like this:

--First swim in a class 3+ rapid
--First time losing a paddle
--First time paddling a class 3+ river
--First surf and consequential combat roll in big water
--First time FINDING my paddle (a nice raft guide returned it at the end of the day)
--First time hitchhiking (had to get back to the car park up river)

As I was riding in the back of that truck on the way to the put-in at the top, I couldn't stop smiling! It was such a fantastic day, and I KNOW I will paddle it again--though I may walk past Grumpy's (the first rapid) to start for quite a while. WUHOO! It was awesome.

summer

In the summers I get to live a slightly different life. My friends may or may not believe there is a God, there is no social acceptability except that you are true to yourself and love people, and I don't get looked down upon when I curse (which, coincidentally, happens more often in the summer). Every summer I almost wish I could melt into my summer world. A world where things are simpler, raft guiding and work drama, and most of all have fun, well, that's all there is. I have made some true friends this summer--friends my heart already has a special place for--friends I won't quickly grow out of--i love them deeply even though it's only been a few months. I've been reading the book "Blue Like Jazz" for the first time this summer, and it's really meant a lot to me. But what pushed me to write this morning was a specific passage:

The real issue with Christian community was that it was conditional. You were loved, but if you had questions, questions about whether the Bible was true or whether American was a good country or whether last week's sermon was good, you were not so loved. You were loved in word, but there was, without question, a social commodity that was being withheld from you until you shaped up...If you wanted to be valued, you became a clone...There was love in the Christian community, but it was conditional love. (Blue Like Jazz pp 214-215)

Why is it that we Christians have the hardest time with that: love? TWO THINGS--that's it, just two things Jesus said were the things to live by. "LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart, and LOVE your neighbor as yourself." Last Sunday our associate pastor spoke on just that--our job is to LOVE, just love. Why can't we love lesbians, gays, republicans, democrats, and all races on earth??? I love my God, I love that HE loves me, little ol me, who's screwed up more than a few things in life. I thank Him daily that He blessed me with a wonderful guy who feels the same way about Him. But my main job, is to love like Jesus loved while he was here--eating with the unclean, loving the unlovable, and remembering that those Holier than Thou people are in that category too. Love. K--now I'm gonna go kayak the Ocoee--you should start praying now :)

TO DO:

-wash clothes
-hang clothes out (PLEASE DON'T RAIN!!!)
-take dogs to park
-go grocery shopping (when Dave came home last night he said, "you REALLY don't like shopping do you?" "No--why do you ask?" "Cause there's no food in the house" "I eat a lot of hummus and bread :) ")
-wash dishes
-get clothes off line
-fold clothes
-pay bills
-take trash and recyclables
-give blood @ 5:45
-meet dave and head to going away party for friends

That's what my day looks like---or SHOULD look like. Now I must just get off the couch and start doing it!

checked off:

Movies watched so far:
Iron Man 2
Robin Hood
Sex and the City 2
Letters to Juliet


So far none have impressed me too much. Thinking of watching Prince of Persia, but since i never played the game, i'm not sure i'm really gonna get it. I did like Robin Hood; i thought it was a nice take on an old tale--it was really more of a prequel to the usual story. I feel like I watch a lot of movies when Dave is gone--but most would say I watch a lot of movies period, and I would probably agree. My life at the moment is odd to me. When Dave is gone I feel like I lose motivation to get stuff done. I mean, I do stuff with other people and I go to work, when needed, but house work kinda falls through the cracks--maybe i'm becoming a bachelor :). I do tend to hang out with more single people when he's not around, it feels weird to hang out with our married friends by myself. We play a lot of Settlers, watch movies, and drink coffee. It's fun though. It almost feels like I'm back in college, the first time, just finding my footing on my own. I do hate sleeping alone though, especially when my duplex mate is gone. I feel restless--like I just can't figure out what i'm doing right now. Work is slow, applications are coming up with nothing, the only positive i'm getting is from Gaston, and that's not anywhere near here--or more importantly--Dave's current job. What is it I'm supposed to be doing right now? Guess I feel a bit purposeless since SA.
Well--i've been sitting on the couch for far too long. Dishes need to be done and I'm heading to see Dave this evening and we're spending the weekend out in A-ville. Signing off.

Enter Summer Movies!!!!

So last night was the kick-off to my summer movie season. Iron Man 2 was the first one of my list, releasing last Friday (May 7). I was pretty excited about this movie--the first one was so kick-ass, how could i not be? A big-name cast of actors including Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Samual L Jackson, Mickey Rourke, Robert Downey Jr, and the amazing Don Cheadle, made me think this was going to be even better than the last. Unfortunately, I was sadly mistaken. First, there were millions of tiny plots throughout the movie that just didn't go far enough. It seemed almost as if they never really had a main story line, but chose every piece of writing available and put it all together just to make a second movie. Second, the characters, new and old, weren't developed enough. That in itself was surprising to me because even Tony Stark wasn't delved into in this film, especially the relationship with his father that could have been a great thing. The only character I felt was really fleshed out was the villain, Ivan Vanko, played by Mickey Rourke. As everyone knows action/comic book movies NEED a good villain, I'd say the writers weren't doing anything out of the ordinary there. The new character, Natalie Rushman (played by Scarlett Johansson), was so under written it seems should could have been written out! Was Pepper (Paltrow) just not sexy enough that you writers were trying to interject some "ooh la la" to the film? Because Paltrow can be sexy--just give her something to work with for a change (and where did that scene with her kissing the helmet go anyway???). Third, and lastly, it was just anticlimactic. The final fight scene was over in about 15 seconds, while the robot chase scene lasted forever! I mean, it could be summed up by saying, "Ok Rhodey (Cheadle), Flying V " (enter Chariots of Fire theme song)... BAM--they win! All that to say--Iron Man 2--you let me down. Oh well, Robin Hood, you're up next. Don't disappoint me (but I mean, it's Russel Crowe, it's gonna be good, or at lest sexy ;).

I am Eustace

I am Eustace. The Lion has cut me deep. I have shed layer upon layer until I finally reappeared. Others recognize me for who I was, yet I cannot find her anywhere. Each layer was painfully lanced off, but it was only necessary. And yet, I have returned to a foreign land, not from. I look around and I see nothing that is of worth to me. I return to a trade I don't believe in, to a people that don't believe in me. I look in the water, and it scares me what I see. Will I just go back? Will I not learn from these pleasant tattoos upon my soul??? I prepare for the season whilst my heart flutters desperately, urging me to listen to its flailing beats. Daily there I lived with too much purpose, too much worth, overflowing use. The cries of the helpless--their ceaseless need made me often unhinged, but without it I ached to know their necessity. Everyone around me seems to be moving forward on the right foot, but none of my shoes fit. This change, this evolution has left me stranded in a strange state. I wait by the roadside for the bus to the new world, but everyone keeps passing me by. I cannot live without it anymore--I have tasted purpose, being, selflessness, smiles, hugs, kisses, momentous occasions, miracles in tiny hands and feet. I cannot go back down the rabbit hole of unconsciousness...but where will I go...I fidget to stop the tears...where is the bus?

I'm BAAAAAACK

So by some freak chance I actually got on the plane on Saturday. I wasn't even going to go! We had all just gone to see The Blindside--which just hit SA--and i had thrown all my stuff in the back just in case we decided to swing by the airport. It was pretty much the worst packing job in history since it was the 3rd time that week. I hadn't taken a shower, applied make-up, or picked out my clothes especially for the plane....so of course i got on (all greasy and everything--so lovely!). When we arrived at the airport--maybe 30 mins before the gate closes--I meandered up to the check-in desk to check out the situation. The first thing that caught my eye was the lack of about 30 people milling about hoping to get on the plane. I thought maybe they had already told them to go home. I did see a girl I had seen 5 days previous trying to get on though. So she and I, her name was Kate, stand at the check-in desk and chat up the lady. It's all very casual, I don't really expect to get on, we laugh and joke, and then she says, "I decided a while back to let you guys on." My heart starts beating erradically, SERIOUSLY??? She's joking right? Kate and I both ask the same thing. I hadn't even packed my carry-on with care! I mean--whatever i couldn't get in my bag I just stuffed in! The lady at the gate--how I do adore her--hands us our tickets and says, "Go straight to the gate!" My hands are now shaking--my head is not processing this yet. I rapidly hand Hannah (my roommate in SA at DOH) my keys to the room and SA cell phone. "Ummm--goodbye then!" I say. I hug her and try to get all my stuff together. This is our 3rd trip to the airport together--it feels like a ritual we're breaking now--kinda sad actually!--no late night McDonalds together as I text to Beth, "didn't get on--see ya tomorrow!" I finally get all my stuff together and Kate and I run off gleefully into the hordes of security to make our plane. I jump into the fast-track, high class line (there's like MILLION people in the other and we won't make it if we wait behind them). They glare at me, but I don't care, cause I'M GOING HOME!!! I convince the dude in that line telling me to go back that I cannot go to the other line--my plane is LEAVING. He concedes, though I think he just does it cause it doesn't look like he has a choice, or maybe he just doesn't care anymore (it is 9 pm at night). Kate and I make it through SA Customs, Security, and more security, and finally get to the plane. She looks at our tickets--Are these first class???--she says. I say I don't like to think about it until we're there. They were first class--we were even sitting right beside each other! Her first trip in first class--she was SO PUMPED--me too obviously--and it was fun to show her what all the buttons did, get Mimosas together, and then check out the menu--yeah--on a plane, lol.

So now I'm home and awake in the wee hours of the morning. I awoke at 4:30 this morning, though I wrestled to stay in bed asleep, I finally gave up about 5:30. I walked around our apartment and wondered things like--why don't we have a small lamp i the living room? has our microwave always been black? do we have any coffee? Gotta say, it's an odd sensation to be home. Lying in bed listening to Dave's breathing was so comforting. Too bad he has to leave for 8 days this morning, but at least we're on the same continent, even the same country and state! :) As I write this i'm in my new pj's I got from my mom for Christmas. I forgot we left just after Christmas, it seems like ages ago! My dogs are cuddled up beside of me, sleeping on the couch....My babies would just be getting up from their naps now--Mr Whiney Pants is crying cause that's what he does, my Biggest Boy is smiling and getting into everything, Big D is always ready to eat....I wish I had cuddled them all just five minutes more, but it wouldn't have been enough.

not gone yet---here's the deal

When you’re flying standby, and the people behind the desk tell everyone (all standbys) to gather round, it’s not a good thing. Last night, after getting all ready to go home, we were told no non-revs (or standbys—people who don’t make them any money), were being allowed on the plane. After that, getting re-ticketed to try again tonight, we were told the seats were SOLD OUT for the rest of the month. I’m not sure how large a percentage the flights are allowed to be overbooked by, but whatever that is, those “seats” are sold too. It’s never good when you look up a flight known to exist and it doesn’t show up. Some people there had already been waiting 2 to 3 days and hadn’t gotten on yet because…. Delta is flying cargo—not people. That means, when there’s cargo weight that can be put on (people who bring too much and then have to pay dearly for it), they put the cargo on instead of the non-revs for the simple fact that it makes them money and we don’t. All understandable really, it’s what we signed up for—a cheap flight with no guarantees—but if they are going to do that for a week or more, they really should let people know!

So, I am number 20 on a list of 27 standby passengers to fly out tonight—with supposedly 40 seats available. However, that doesn’t include the cargo, so I guess we’ll so how it goes ☺. Right now the plan is as follows. First, try to get out tonight, God willing. Second, stay until the first week in April (around the 3rd or 4th), then fly out then when it looks better. Choosing this option would also allow me to see more of Africa, as I will have to vacate the country for a few days because I can’t stay longer than 90 days in one stretch. I will probably head to Swaziland for the weekend.

Last night I slept restlessly—as soon as I got back from the airport I immediately started looking up the prices for tickets to Raleigh, Atlanta, Charlotte, or Knoxville. The lowest I could find was around $1,000. I was so distressed! The lady next to me in line to change her flights said, “Honey you won’t get out this month like this. I tried for four days one time—if it’s sold out it’s not happening…Go to Paris—they have 10 flights out a day!” I looked at Paris by the way—it’s true—but it’s still not cheap. This morning the light looked better, though I still felt daunted by the task at hand and a little lost without Dave’s guidance and comfort. I looked for flights again this morning—nothing new (though if I wanna spend another $1,000 I can go home via Amsterdam and spend 21 hrs there—cool idea—not so cool price).

I wandered out of the room I am now sharing with my new friend Hannah, and Beth told me to get in the van, we were taking the kids to swim lessons. Normally I’m not allowed to be with the toddlers, new people make their lives more chaotic than necessary, but today she could see I was down and told me to “come on.” Watching them laugh and play in the water, splashing and kicking, it lifted my spirits. I came home and dug into the Word, needing some wisdom and comfort from my Savior. I finished reading Matthew (the crucificition of Christ, even though he was resurrected, didn’t lift my spirits well). Then I prayed that God would give me a passage that would comfort and guide me. I looked at the index and was drawn to Hebrews chapter 13. As soon as I started reading those words, tears fell from my eyes. Verses like, “BY NO MEANS SHALL I DESERT YOU, NOR IN ANY WAY SHALL I ABANDON YOU…THE LORD IS A HELPER TO ME, AND I WILL NOT FEAR…JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY AND TODAY AND INTO THE AGES” Came pouring from the pages. Oh how GOOD my God is! I praised Him for listening to my poor murmurings and flutterings of my heart and comforting my soul. As the Aunties constantly repeat, “God is good AL THE TIME…” and His mercies are new every morning.

So, no matter what happens tonight—if I go or stay here until April, I know my God is with me and He will comfort me. Maybe my work here is not done (though I didn’t appreciated it yesterday Catherine—I do today ☺ ). Thank you all SO dearly for your prayers—please DON’T STOP praying—especially for Door of Hope ministries. I don’t know what I would do without my family’s prayers. Also, a huge “thank you” goes out to my mom—as she took my biggest worry off my plate concerning what to do with out dogs. Mom, you are so gracious. I love you. PS—this doesn’t mean you have to keep the dogs till Easter ☺ Dave will call you and work it out.

A few of my fav. S. African things

 

Things I will miss when I return to the U.S. of A. (per request by Carey)

1, The sound of my babies' cries in the morning--I know that's an odd thing to miss--but I can tell each baby by their cry
2. Each and every one of my twelve babies--and those that have already been adopted
3. Big moments--ie first steps, smiles, solid foods, etc
4. Their laughter
5. My boy that I became especially fond of--Mr Whiney Pants--Beth pointed out I tend to attach to the whiney ones (I love an especially ornery baby last time as well)
6. Beth--my best friend
7. the sight of Dave holding a baby
8. the unique art work here
9. the warmth and sunshine of a S. African summer
10. the Aunties/Uncles I have come to love so dearly

A few of my favorite things

 

things in my dreams recently:

Foods I am looking forward to on my return—hint hint MOM—it was would be SO amazing if you had numbers 1-7 in the house for me even though you’re leaving for camping the next day ☺ (cause you’re just awesome like that!) :
1. Fruity Pebbles with regular tasting milk
2. grill cheese & tomato soup
3. chips
4. Dr Pepper
5. pancakes & syrup
6. eggs
7. cheese grits
8. BBQ from Log Cabin—and hush puppies too—OH—and a cherry lemon sundrop! OMGness!
9. Nutty Buddy bars
10. sushi!!!!!!!

Things Leigh should remember when she gets back in the U.S. of A.

1. if you pick a baby up by the arm (even if done correctly by grabbing them at the socket of their shoulder, which won’t pull the shoulder out or hurt them), people will think you are a bad person and you are hurting the child—don’t do it.
2. you are not allowed call down other people’s children in the supermarket—even though you had 12 that were not quite yours for 2 ½ months.
3. in turn you are not allowed to “smack them like a ho,” them being the mothers that are allowing their children to do whatever they want in the supermarket, even though it would probably help them greatly.
4. you should add those silly little words back into your sentences that make it easier to converse. They are often called determiners (a, an, and the), and common nouns. Though Aunties/Uncles understand you better without them, you are now going back to a mostly English speaking society.
5. just because they do it that way at Door of Hope baby house, doesn’t mean it’s the only way—and you don’t have kids of your own yet—so people don’t really respect your opinion on baby raising anyway—just nod and smile, nod and smile
6. do not eat pasta for a very long time as it has made up most of your diet while here. Convince people you need comfort food and they should cook it for you (pssst—I want oatmeal cookies, Chinese food, lots of veggies (not frozen), and pancakes, and waffles, obviously not in the same meal)
7. you love S. African coffee with chicory in it—make sure Beth brings some with her on her trip home, or seek out some in the States, though you shouldn’t hold your breath about it having the same level of amazingness.
8. Dave likes brown babies—figure out how you can get one ☺
9. Remember it’s possible to work long, 11 hr days, and still want to see the people the next week—especially if you can convince them to speak in cute gibberish, not drool or get sick on you, and never have to change their nappies
10. If God can do amazing things like get rid of HIV in small babies, he can change your life in dramatic, awe-inspiring ways, and even know the exact job that would bring you the desires of your heart—be patient—it may take longer than 3 months.

An Appeal to your beautiful souls:

I only have two more weeks here at Door of Hope (orphanage for abandoned babies), Dave leaves today, and what an adventure we have been able to experience. But as the two weeks comes to a close, so may one of the baby houses here. There are two baby houses (and also a toddler house), the one where I am, and baby house two. Baby house two is the most recent, and dearly needed, addition to Door of Hope. Since I have been here, even with this new additional house, we have turned away almost a dozen babies because we are full and cannot handle more with the resources we currently have. Door of Hope (DOH) has less than two months of running costs left in their accounts. As the economy here has turned to the excitement of the 2010 World Cup, so people’s minds and pockets have turned away from the financial state of DOH and houses like ours. Cutbacks have been announced to the local staff here—and positions that are quite needed, may cease to be. The Aunties and Uncles here have hit their knees in prayer for the cause of these little ones, we ask that you do the same. My prayer is that God will miraculously bless DOH in a way that gives all the glory to Him. Please pray this along with me. If you would like to donate to Door of Hope, please go to their website, holeinthewall.org.za, or contact me or Beth Maennle, and we will be glad to put you in touch with the right people. Thank you for you time and your diligent prayers. God Bless you.

Swim time!

The big 5---4 boys and a girl--they get everywhere and into all sorts of trouble, but they sure love the water!

 

ilias--(pronounced Elias)

My boy--he had to go to another home because we are full--but when they came to pick him up they were so in love with him. I know he will be well taken care of there--but i still miss that little old man face, even if i only got to hold him for such a short time.

 

hospital run

i took my first hospital run the other day. A boy in our special needs area stopped breathing, and Beth and I had to rush him to the hospital. this was my journal entry I wrote throughout the day as I sat by him in the ER:

My hand are shaking--having a hard time telling the difference between his heart beat and breaths--i need to focus--i ride in the back seat with a semi-conscious baby in my arms--i shake him often--violently--his breaths are shallow and far between--hazards flashing--car flying--getting nauseous is not an option. He stops breathing --i flip him over and beat him hard on his back--a small gasp--back over and shake him often when his eyes start to glass over. "Come on buddy--stay with me" We fly into the Er and Beth jumps out--he's not breathing again--she grabs him and runs into the hospital...

A few hours later I sit alone--same emergency room--he's breathing with oxygen now--the cries often slacken to a dull lambs bleat--he's hungry & isn't allowed to eat--being pricked with needles once again, he wails. "Just get it in this time" I want to yell! The drip line has come out & they've tried to put it back two different spots in his head and another in his tiny arm. I've only seen a couple official doctors since we arrived-mostly interns for the last while--once- while pricking him again for more tests--precious red drops spilled while they fumbled with the vials--laughing that they were glad their superiors weren't there at that moment--no gloves on--he screams on. A new shift surrounds him--STILL trying to get his drip line in--two different people have tried so far--supposedly the professionals--i want to cry with him--the nurses are abusing the last shift in mixed languages--they try again--he cries so hard he goes silent--it doesn't take...the boy is gonna look like a pincushion soon--almost 7 months and just a small thing--tears stream down my soul as his bleating rises with each pierce. "If you're squeamish you can wait outside," they say. I'm not leaving him. "I'm fine." After at least half a dozen tries...at last. Night shift comes and i'm relieved of my duty. Possible surgery for him the next day and probably more needles. I leave exhausted--I don't know how people do this day after day.

Lucy

 

oh the babies we love

It is a unique experience—falling in love with a child. Especially when you know that child will never be yours, and it will leave you at any moment. Seeing Dave cuddle is little girl this morning, seeing his face as he takes in her days old hands and feet, her curly hair, her perfect heart-shaped face, and knowing that he will never see her again, it’s like nothing I’ve experienced before. She is going back into the system because her family is still involved, though whether she’ll ever see them again, and whether that’s the best thing for her….it’s out of Door of Hope’s, and our, hands.

You think you would get tired of being around babies all day, that you couldn’t possibly want to go up and see them on your day off—but you do. I mean, being with 12 babies for 11 hrs a day is exhausting, and i do get TIRED, oh so very tired, but I still want to wake back up and see them the next day (though not quite so early if it’s my day off).

My daily grind when working goes a little something like this:
1) 7:00 am--get the bathroom ready for all the bathing (towels in place for everyone, enough wash clothes, lotion/oil for skin/hair ready, make sure there are wipes)
2) pick out clothes (I admit, I really like this part, and I take longer than most cause I want to pick out the cutest outfit for them to wear that day—most Aunties don’t even care if the babies are wearing matching, much less the right sex, outfits)
3) start bathing the one who’s crying (though leave them if it’s one of the crawlers as they’ll just crawl over all the small babies while we’re bathing the others)
4) once bathing is over (usually takes a little over an hour to bath & clothes 12 babies),
start the feeding process, again with the ones who are crying or youngest, we don’t feed the oldest till last as it is more likely they’ll take a morning nap that way
5) after the feeding process is over, usually takes about an hour and a half or so, play with the babies until 10:00 am, then send them off to bed for nap time (anywhere between 10 – 12)
6) repeat feeding process adding baby food for lunch and dinner with the older 7.
7) play, sing, read, dance, sometimes swim (with the oldest), and generally intereact with babies until 4:00. As well as constantly changing poopy & wet diapers, wiping up massive puddles of spit-up, and trying to keep the bigger ones from hurting the smaller ones.
8)4-5:30 repeat feeding process.
9) 6:00—end of work day. try and muster the courage to do something for dinner other than cereal or McDonalds.

I can’t wait to see his little face. He may be here today or tomorrow, but my Ilias (I’m pretty sure that’s what I’m gonna call him), I already love him. From the moment I knew I was getting to name a baby, an honor I never thought would be bestowed on here, being here such a short time, I was excited for his arrival. I may not get to see him too often as he might be at the other house, but I will go there as much as possible to see that little face. I cannot imagine that I will feel any differently about my own children. I’ve been told it is greater, the intensity, but if you could see how Beth and Stephanie (the baby care manager here) act towards these children, you wouldn’t say that. These ARE their children, and they love them so much the more because they know they will have to let them go, for better or for worse, in the near future. They are only ours but for a short while, so we love them, with all our hearts, while we can.

Shark diving day

 

For Landon--thought you would enjoy this

This is how our shark diving boat go into/out of the water :) Nothing runs like a deer eh?

 

Drakensburg Mtns pics

 

spaceless

When you have about 6 x 2 of walking space to share with your husband—bed, dresser, and closet taking up the rest—you learn what you’ve been overlooking at home. Leaving clothes on the floor becomes very irritating. Tidiness seems ABSOLETLY essential (to the female obviously). At home, he had his side of the bed and you had yours. What he did with his side was basically up to him. The occasional stacks of clothes you could turn a blind eye to—the unwashed dishes—there was space for them—the random screws, nails, coins, etc laying in small piles all around the house—no problem. But when there IS no space, conversations about these former insignificant things take place pretty often. They usually go something like this:
1)Do you need these screws?
I might.
2)Are you done with that book—can it get put away-aka can YOU put it in it’s place?
Sure (aka—go ahead!).
3)Are these clothes dirty?
That’s why they’re on the floor.
—I attempt to put them in the dirty clothes bag—
Wait—they’re not washable dirty—they’ve just been worn before!
4) Do these live here?
Why not?
Because there’s no room for it here—why can’t they go with the rest of your clothes?
Because they’re there.

Yes—living with your spouse in a one-room location for two months sure can get interesting…let’s just hope he survives ☺

lowering my standards of hygiene

When I know that the only people to impress while working are babies and the occasional person dropping off donations, I rarely bother with the formality of make-up, mirrors, or matching (the Aunties already think I’m weird for eating peanut butter on my apples as well as pb & banana sandwiches). The only reason I change my shirt daily is because I really do get tired of smelling like baby vomit (fresh vomit is bad enough, I don’t need day-old vomit). I wear the same shorts three days in a row (they’re not as close to my nose and therefore don’t warrant the smell change). I stop washing my hair but for my day off, or if I happen to be going out that night (not to the grocery shop of course—even though it’s in the mall—that’s too much trouble for not enough time). These are the things I lay out to get ready in the morning: yesterdays shorts, new shirt, flip flops, hair tie, lotion (it’s incredibly dry here even though it’s the rainy season), vitamins (trying not to get sick and therefore get all the babies sick), water bottle, watch (have to write down everything about the babies—when they ate, what, how much—when they peed/pooped), and room key (though I lost that today, so guess that’s not on the list anymore—I’m pretty sure the chair in the baby room ate it), and my current book (I’ve read 3 in the 2 weeks I’ve been here and on my 4th—I get to read on my coffee and lunch breaks—and my days off when there’s really not all that much else to do, since I can’t drive here). It takes me about 10 minutes to get ready cause all I do is dress, pull my hair up in a ponytail, and brush my teeth. I have become ADDICTED to the instant coffee here. When I go up for breakfast the first thing I do is put the kettle on to boil. All the coffee here is mixed with chicory, and I LOVE it! I drink maybe 1 cup a day at home and rarely finish them—I drink at least 3 here down to the last drop!
I wake every morning about 5:30, cause that’s when the sun comes up. I can usually fall back asleep for the next 50 minutes before my alarm goes off at 6:20 to get up and get ready for work. I am off today and still woke up early, guess it’s a good thing I go to sleep before 10 pm! Anyway—I’m famished and need to get up and go get some food (and the yummy coffee of course!). Then Maybe I’ll snuggle back in bed and watch the rest of the 1st Harry Potter movie I started last night ☺. Love and miss you all!

Overall Sunday Best!

 

Alive and Well--from the rainy season

A week and a half we’ve been here now, and I know all my babies’ names by heart. I can tell you who needs to eat later and who likes her bottle very hot (very picky of her if I do say so myself ☺). I know who always needs more attention, and who plays well with others or alone. I know the boy who can’t be let out of your sight for one minute or he’ll be crawling all over the little ones, stealing their toys and pulling their hair. I have worked 4 ½ eleven-hour days this week, and I’m TIRED, but today seems to be flying by. Everyone but my problem sleeper boy took a nap this morning (poor boy—singing, cuddling, rocking—nothing seems to work and he’s so mad he can’t stand it!), a miracle of large proportions. I love them—each and every little face! We got a new set of twins in last week—they were only 4 lbs each and already one month old. I never thought I would hold babys that small, much less feed them, but now it seems to come naturally and I barely think about them being too breakable to touch. Honestly if you could see the way the aunties (and now I’m doing it too) pick these babies up, you would think their arms would come out of their sockets—but no—their just fine! The durability of children amazes me every day! Just today I heard someone saying one of our little ones was 18 months old, and the doctors said she wouldn’t live past a year! Steph (the baby care manager) said, “He doesn’t know the God we serve!” AMEN!

Onto a little about us: we are getting to know our way around the place, or at least Dave is. As the Eddy females last of direction never ceases to amaze me, I can’t seem to figure out anything but how to get to the mall (you laugh, but it’s only 3 turns away and that’s where we shop for groceries too)! Another volunteer is leaving today, which leaves just three of us here at the baby house. I can’t imagine what it would be like being the only one! We get together quite frequently on our days off. They recommend you get off base on your day off as much as possible, otherwise you burn out quickly. I could see it for sure—as much as you love the babies you need time without them to recoup! Dave is working at the toddler house today—fixing something I think, not really sure. The Aunties are all quite taken with him as he’s constantly working and fixing things for them—they are always asking me, “Do you know where Uncle Dave is,” so he can fix something. We haven’t done anything too extraordinary yet, other than getting locked in the game park (yes the one I posted pics of on FB), but it was fine ☺. We both got rather burnt that day though, I’m still recovering, hoping it goes quick so I can get back into the patchy sun. It rains daily here (it IS the rainy season), but then the sun will come out brilliantly and hot (it’s 72 at the moment). We are hoping to take a weekend trip soon when we’re both off (I get every other weekend—and working 3 days on, 1 day off). Anyway—that’s all for now—it’s long enough—sorry about that! Don’t forget to get online at 1:00 pm on Sunday to chat or skype! We miss you all!

The FUN has ARRIVED!

Hey all! Well, we’re here! We arrived about 5 on Saturday and were greeted by Beth and little baby girl G (I’m not supposed to post the names, sorry, I slipped on FB, won’t happen again). Dave fell in love with G immediately and has been with the babies as much as possible since we got here. It’s been pretty rainy—it gets really stormy this time of year, so hopefully we’ll get some nice days soon. As we got here almost week earlier than previously intended (we told the director we would arrive on the 5tth or 6th), we are not on the schedule yet. So, we’ve been running errands, getting our room set up (we’re in bunk beds, but they come apart pretty easily, so we’ve been putting them up every morning and down every night), and helping with the babies in between. This will be like Dave’s orientation week I suppose. He did change a baby right away (he keeps forgetting which way around the nappy goes), but not anything serious yet ☺. Today Dave fed a baby—he got an easy one (he ate his whole bottle, no fuss, and burped without being “burped”)—and held a new, preemie baby girl that came in this afternoon (we actually got three new babies today, 2 girls and 1 boy—two weighed about 3.5 lbs, an average for the DOH babies). After Dave meets Uncle Collin tomorrow, the all-around-fix-it-build-it-guy, and finds out what he’ll be doing while he’s here (along with caring for babies), we’re most likely heading to Bruma (an amazing place of wonder, excitement, culture, and food from every continent), a HUGE open market. Later this week I’ll be training Dave how to bathe, change, and dress babies. I gotta say, I think he’s doing rather excellent, as he had NO interest in doing any of these things in the States. Who knows; maybe we’ll have babies after all some day! ☺ Well, that’s all for now. I’ll keep you updated, though pictures will come less frequently as they take a long time to upload. Love you all!
L

We're away!

Well: It's been awhile since I posted our trip news. And it might be a few days till I tell you more, cause WE'RE LEAVING TODAY! So, before we leave, I wanted to give you our address where we'll be staying cause WE LOVE MAIL! So, without further ado:

15 Barbara Rd.
Glenvista, 2091
Johannesburg
Republic of South Africa

It only cost .98 cents to send a letter!

We'll be checking in soon, but I need to finish packing--LOL--hopefully soon!

Love you all and THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for all your support!

much love,
Leigh & Dave

More info :)

So you know we're going back to Joburg (Johannesburg) S. Africa, but not much else. Much has happened since my last post that is truly amazing. We are hoping to head over the first week of January--hopefully before the 7th. God has worked through so many already to provide for us! Our friend has again graciously offered us two buddy passes which will cut $1500 off our budget. Also, another friend has given us information that will allow us to suspend our phones for two months without cutting off our agreement; this will save us another $200. Our boss at Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tours has offered us the canopy tour course on December 12th, and several of our fellow employees are volunteering their time to help us zip around 35 to 40 people through that day for donations to help raise money for our trip. Beth Maennle, our friend who volunteers permanently for Door of Hope(DOH), talked to the director of the organization, and she said we could stay in a room there, and Dave could use a truck they have for his trips to fix different baby houses. Dave and I have both been given information about jobs when we return as well, and positive feedback for us to attain those positions. God is breathtaking how he cares for us in ways we never expected! We are both extremely joyful about ministering to DOH and our friend Beth while we are there. We expect to be there through February and return early March, unless I can convince him to stay through March too! That's all for now, and, as we'll be seeing most of our extended family in the next few days, I can't wait to tell you more about it! I'll try to remember to bring the laptop to the Eddy gathering to show you all pictures! Thank you for gathering with us in prayer about this trip--we love you all!
P.S. I am pumped about getting to see that girl in the picture; she is SO beautiful! She is still there, walking & talking, and I get to kiss that sweet sweet face again and hold her in my arms! Praise the Jesus!

pssst.....

smile...giggle...well--I'm going to Africa again, and this time I'm not going alone! Since Dave and I didn't find permanent jobs for the winter, we decided to go work at Door of Hope for a couple of months. My parents have GRACIOUSLY agreed to keep the dogs (Mom--you're awesome and I love you). I'm super ecstatic and so is Dave. He is going to help out with building and repair projects while he's there and I get to help out with the babies again--and whatever else they might need. They're really short staffed right now so it should be interesting! So--if you haven't done any Christmas shopping for us yet--PLEASE DON'T--we would love it if anyone that can could donate to help support our trip. This is a huge leap of faith for us right now, so please keep us in your prayers! Thanks for stopping by--I'll update more soon, but right now I need to sleep!

On the Blue Ridge Parkway

so Dave and I have blessedly been working all week this last week since we got home. It's been busy, but a good busy. We love our job at the zip line (get to meet lots of fun people and go zipping every day!). But it's been kinda hectic as well. I seriously thought it was Monday on Thursday. Then Sunday hit and I thought it was Tuesday--jeez! When you work on weekends you totally forget what day it is! Well, Tuesday we got off at and decided to hit up Subway, grab the dogs, and then drive up the parkway from Cherokee. The colors up here right now are absolutely breathtaking, especially up on the parkway. We got up there about 6:30-ish and it was already getting a little dark, but we snapped a few pictures and ate dinner. Then we found a short hike and let the dogs run up the mountain to get some energy out. Good thing Dave brought his headlamp, cause we ended up walking out in the dark, but we did get to see the sunset from the top! Here are a few shots he got:
--I love the long distance view on this one

I don't think the comp. screen does this justice--that tree was flaming red!!!


See the fog rolling over the mountain as the sun goes down? So cool


Dave set the camera on a rock at the top and took this pic. on timer. I love that last pink streak before it all goes black

Waterfalls in the area

All of these waterfalls are out of Franklin--towards Highlands

you can drive your car under this waterfall



The color is all messed up--but you couldn't see the faces of anyone so I had to adjust it