HOME

RANDOM

I finally arrived in Kenya. I haven't slept in forever, but this is
my only time I'm in Nairobi, so I'm venturing out and found this cafe at
the top of a stairwell that's in kind of a mall. I feel pretty
comfortable. My taxi guy said, "don't be afraid. You are welcome
here." Then I started asking if I could walk around and he says,
"don't take anything with you-no purse, no jewelry etc. Then he told
me exactly where to walk, so not completely safe.

There was something cow like on the side of the road and tons of
people. When I asked he said the Masai people have brought their
cattle into the city looking for food and water.

I sat with awesome woman on my 16 hour flight. I called her Annie
from the Congo. She just finished a masters in international law of
some sort and was going back to live in the Congo. Going by myself is
really helping me talk to people. Everyone really nice.

Tomorrow I am flying again when I go out to the Samburu for 4
nights. I am so glad I came early because I don't even want to think
about the flight back.

I am off to buy a frame-hopefully--Liz you know what I'm talking about.

TRAVEL

In less than 48 hours I booked a trip to Kenya and Ethiopia and was off. Joe had a change of heart at the last minute and didn't come with me. Another story. O f course I won't be returning home alone. The flight was, as expected, very long-16 hours after flying from DC and before taking a 2 hour flight for Nairobi. I don't know how to sleep. I'll be flying in a small plane tomorrow when I go to spend four days on safari. Life is good and travel makes it amazing!

KENYA

My head is swimming with experiences and I've really only just got off
the plane! I learned quickly to fib a little so people feel
comfortable and like me.They all want me to be married. When I was
getting my visa into Kenya the official asked me, Why are you
traveling alone. I impulsively said meaning to tell a partial truth,
I had planned to come with someone else, but he got hurt. They seem
to be very out goingly compassionate. The man felt so bad and said,
everyone needs love. I am so sorry for your pain. Next time he will
come with you. so sweet. I've also learned to call Ivan, my husband.
People want to know where he is. I tell them he is expanding our
house to accommodate all of our children. They really like that one
saying, very good, good, good.

I am so messed up with time. I passed out on my bed with my clothes
on around 3:30 in the afternoon. Tomorrow I have to get up early to
catch a plane and when i awoke at 5;30 pm I thought it was time to
catch my plane. i almost went down with my bags when i realized it
was the same sun I'd fallen asleep to.

Spring Nesting

It's home improvement season at our house. Ivan made the kitchen counter look like something new and beautiful! We also now have a safe hand railing to the second floor! It looks pretty good too. I hope we can keep going at this pace. The house will be gorgeous by the time we bring Taye home.

March 18, 2009--9:22 am

I thought it might be a long day of waiting but Amy called at 9:22 am to let me know that Taye passed through court. It looks like we will be traveling in April for sure! Should get more pictures soon.

Loving This Book

Fifteen minutes later: I'm still waiting for news of Taye's court date and busying myself with the blog. I'm almost done reading Abraham Verghese's, Cutting For Stone. It's set in Ethiopia and I couldn't decide at first if I had a bias because of the setting, but alas who can be biased in a 533 page book--I wouldn't keep reading. It's a family saga including love and betrayal. It actually made me wish I'd been a doctor. I've never thought that before. One reviewer describes the book as a "four hour episode of Grey's Anatomy set in Africa." It's so much more!

I'm Waiting

So today is the day that Taye has his court date in Ethiopia. Once he passes, we wait for a birth certificate-1 -2 weeks and then we get our travel date. I went and had four shots yesterday in preparation for or travels. Joe is next in line for shots. I can feel that it is coming. We will be picking up Taye soon.

Meanwhile, Bryan is obsessed with the Crocodile Hunter and his daughter Bindie. What was it about that guy? Joey also loved him. Do you see any resemblances in the pictures? Bryan is trying very hard to be the next crocodile hunter. He is practicing the facial expresions.

Coach Liz

I just had to include this picture of Liz before a game because it's just a great picture.

Liz and I spent some unexpected time together last week after her paternal grandfather died. She visited Denver and offered some appreciated support, her grandma worships her.

Winter Zoo Trip

Just Waiting: Court Date for the Little Guy

March 13th is the next hurdle, hopefully we'll sail through court in Addis. After that we will get our travel date.

Real Life

Bryan was watching the DVD Snow Buddies this morning and romanticizing having a house full of puppies. Always concerned that he be able to distinguish TV from realiy he aurprised me with his five year old wisdom "Real life isn't all funny, just some funny." It only took another two minutes to be upset with reality. He doesn't like the fact that dogs fart, it's completely unacceptable to him.

When he isn't watching TV he's spreading peace. When he's sleeping he has been busy tattooing his body and of course trying to make sense of the world.

Waiting for Taye

Joe and I will be traveling to Ethiopia hopefully in April. We still don't have our court date, which I assumed would be in March. Typically people travel 4-6 weeks after that date. Waiting, just waiting, what more can we do. Pictures will be posted after we get home and yes his name is , Taye.

Did You Know?

Liz is busy recruiting for next soccer season. As the head coach of Elmira University she is psyched to be putting her own team together for next fall.

The Artista's that Surround Me

Joe did a little post surgery therapy and painted Johnny Depp. Bryan's been a journaling fool, drawing everything from airports with Chinese food restaurants to snakes, spiders and Iron Man.

Jessy Prepares for More Travels

Jessy is putting more box's in storage as she prepares to leave for a Semester at Sea. First she is off to visit her roommate Alicia and assist in celebrating Alicia's 21st bday. Jessy will be on the first portion of her trip when she has her 21st, so she'll be in Cadiz, Spain. Her further travels will include Morocco, Namibia, South Africa, Mauritius, India, Thailand, Viet Nam, China, Japan, Hawaii, and Guatemala!

Joe gets back surgery--ouch!

Joe played this football season with a broken back! We didn't know. He had x-rays and an MMR and saw numerous physical therapists etc., but of course the pain persisted. The last game I watched I was actually crying because I could see the pain was intense, but stupid me I still beleived the doctors. He finally got a cat scan that revealed the break. It was an old break or cold break, therefore they couldn't see it. He had a bone graph( bone taken from his hip and placed in the L4 vertebrae to repair the damage) and in six months we will know a lot more, like if it worked. Of course, he wants to play football more than ever and won't even consider any other option.

Sunny Day Hike on Howelsen

I