Africa Stuff Up-Close

We're still looking for the perfect photo to put into the carved frame below:

Americana to Africana

When we returned from Africa last summer we had in tow some souvenirs that we had bartered for in the shops (actually, Roxanne did most of the bartering for us!). We bought a beautiful stick (or cane) carved out of ebony wood from some Masai indians. We also found a carved "karibu" sign, carved wooden combs, and a painting of a Masai woman. We collected some beautiful shells from beaches, and received a cute "Babu na Bibi" sign and woven basket as welcome gifts from Jason and Roxanne. When we tried to figure out the best place to display these items in our home, we realized that we didn't really have any available wall space left! The perfect solution - we would redecorate our downstairs guest room - transform it from its existing Americana decor into a new "Africa" room. So I made one more purchase - African fabric so that I could make "authentic" curtains and bedspread.

After arriving home in August things got very busy. There was yard work to be done; I started working again when school started, Jason and Roxanne came to stay for a month in November, and then the holidays were upon us. So no time for a redecorating project. Then for Christmas both Jim and I received more wonderful African memorabilia from Jason and Roxi. So when they went back to the Chicago area after the holidays, we decided to get busy and get the room done before their next visit in February. We wanted them to see it before they head back to Africa. We are very pleased with the results! Check out the before and after pictures for yourselves! The only thing we still need is a mosquito net!

Before and After:

Granddaughters

I haven't found time to blog much this fall/winter - somehow there are other things that seem to take up my time! But we've been enjoying our grandkids, and I thought I should at least do a picture update. Since it takes me so long to upload the pictures, I decided to just do this entry focusing on granddaughters. Later I'll add the most recent pictures on our grandsons. It's been a joy to have Jason and Roxanne's family spend time with us over the holidays and this winter. We look forward to one more visit before they head back to Africa in March. Annikah, though not know to love winter and cold weather, was a great sport getting outside, and even pitched in to help Babu shovel the driveway. She loved having a kid-sized shovel to use (do you believe we still have Annie's shovel from way back when??)

Though Anni complains that Babu teases her too much, she did warm up to him and even wanted him to read her bedtime story.

How special to be able to meet little Evangeline Imani (Evy) when she was only one week old, and to have her stay with us for almost 10 days. She's a little doll, and her big sister is so sweet to her.

Claire was so thrilled with her big cousin Anni, and would not let her out of sight. You could tell that she thought she was a big girl, too, when playing together!

Jim and I both enjoyed caring for Claire this past weekend while Justin and Annie were busy with other responsibilities. This is the first time she has spent a weekend with us by herself, and both Grammy and Grampy loved it.

Both Claire and I sported our animal prints and posed for a picture.

Claire and me cuddling on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Cookies

I felt well enough a few days after my surgery to invite Joel and Silas over to make some fun Santa cookies. We made these together last year, and I decided it might be fun to make it a holiday tradition. The boys did such a good job - they so carefully decorated their cookies, and they looked so much more professional this year! It was a fun time - and the reward was eating the green M & M's since we only needed the red ones for Santa's nose!

Silas carefully places marshmallows for Santa's beard.

Joel was very precise with his decorations.

They take a quick break to pose for a picture.

Voila! Finished product! Maybe next year Josh can join in the fun!

Catching up . . .

So I've been super lax on blog entries. I guess life got in the way for awhile, but I'm hoping to get back into more of a "habit" of documenting events.

November . . . was a busy month. Jason, Roxanne, and Annikah were with us from October 27 - November 27. Our house was sort of a home base for them in CR, but they spent time also with Justin and Annie in Iowa City - even spent a few overnights there; and also planned activities with Jorie and Mark's family. Annikah was able to have lots of time with her cousins, and we enjoyed several fun family times - including celebrating Thanksgiving together. A highlight was family bowling, which was a first for Joel, Silas, and Annikah. We all had fun, and after bowling, always say we should do that more often!

Our whole gang at the bowling alley

In early December we had a blizzard here - about a foot of snow arrived, and we coped with shoveling snow for several days.

On December 12 . . . we enjoyed attending a Christmas concert by Tribute, a local women's group. This has become an annual event for us - I think we've attended for four years in a row now. We gave tickets to Jorie and Mark for Jorie's birthday, and babysat all three boys so they could attend. We also gave tickets to Justin for his birthday, so he and Annie could go with us the next night. It put everyone in a festive mood and getting out in the snowy weather made it seem even more Christmasy.

On December 17 . . . I had my second corneal transplant surgery. The first one was just four years ago, on December 21, 2005. This will be the fifth surgery I have had on my left eye, all due to my rare disease - I.C.E. syndrome. All went well as far as my doctors are concerned, but in my opinion this one was more painful and is taking longer to heal since I had to have five sutures in my eye. Ugh! I know I am under the best of care at the University of Iowa opthalmology department, but am anxious for my eye to heal and look normal again.

Halloween and Indian Creek with the Grandkids

I'm terribly late in posting about the arrival back in the USA of Jason and his family! They had told us in late September of their decision to come back to the states for the upcoming birth of daughter number two in December, so we anxiously awaited their return! They arrived back in Chicago on October 16, and then ventured out to Cedar Rapids on October 27 to spend a month with us here. Our house has been alive and bustling as cousins and aunts and uncles love to come to spend time with our "Africa" family.

Jason, Roxanne, and Annikah are back! Anni loved dressing up as Tinkerbell on Halloween!

The five cousins had a blast on Halloween, dressing up in their costumes, and trick-or-treating together in our neighborhood. Though the temperature was COLD, they weren't phased as they saw their candy bags filling up. Everyone gathered back at our house to enjoy sandwiches from Jimmy John's and to just hang out and enjoy being together.

Bibi and Babu with Butterfly Claire, Scarecrow Joel, Tinman Silas, Tinkerbell Annikah, and Lion Joshua.

Yesterday Bibi and Babu (Swahili for Grandma and Grandpa) decided to take advantage of the warmer weather and take the three oldest grandkids out to Indian Creek Nature Center. The cousins had a blast running across the suspension bridge and trying all of the "challenges" along the nature path. Silas and Annikah are best buddies and really look out for each other. Silas helped guide Anni through the maze since she didn't like the feel of the scratchy weeds on her face. She comforted him when bumped his chin later in the day. They are so sweet together. All of the kids loved playing with the "nature" toys - pinecones, real log blocks, bones, and stone tic tac toe board.

On the suspension bridge.

Ready for the maze?

Silas guides Anni through the maze.

Hiding in the maze.

Examining the bones.

Playing in the pinecone box.

Buiding with REAL log blocks.

Higher and faster, Bibi!

Just enjoying cousin time on a warm fall day!

Visitors from Chemnitz

Jim and I have had the priviledge the past three days to host Bernard and Ulrike, a pastor and his wife from Chemnitz, Eastern Germany. In the past couple of years our church, Stonebridge Church, has joined together with Pastor Bernard's church to become "sister" churches. Our church had hoped to send a team to visit Chemnitz this fall to learn more about their congregation and to encourage them, but details didn't work out for that trip at this time. So Bernard, Ulrika and two other members from their church decided to travel to the U.S. to come to minister to us! Several men from our church have kept the team very busy this week, touring Cedar Rapids and meeting with our pastoral staff. But Jim and I have had opportunity to get acquainted and share with them during the late evenings and over quick morning breakfasts. They are a delightful couple - and very brave to have left their four children, ranging in age from 6 - 14, at home with friends for nearly two weeks. We communicated well - not so much because Jim recalled all of the German he learned in high school - but because they are fairly fluent in English!