I'd Love to Tell You More...

but I'm just tired.

Yesterday morning marked our first day with no preschool. Thankfully, we have friends from Georgia visiting the wonderful world of Disney! If you come here, you may just want to give us a shout because we will gladly come and keep you company at the pool. These friends were staying at the Polynesian Resort, so I was happy to bring two pool-starved children to bask in the sun at a zero entry pool with a straight shot view to Cinderella's castle.

On the docket for the summer:
  • The Y, The Y, The Y- three times a week, Monday, Wednesday, Friday
  • Swimming lessons in June
  • Fun with Nana and Papa in July
  • A trip or two to Poppy's
Last summer, I had a much more regimented schedule, but this summer is loosey-goosey. We have friends (with a pool) down the street, passes to Sea World, a great splash pad in town, a wonderful program at our local library, scenic boat tours, AND friends coming to visit soon.

Since we have friends coming to visit, I hope to report on a finished addition soon. The last week has yielded air ducting, new shingles, new exterior doors and windows, as well as any remaining trim work needed prior to putting up the drywall. Rumor has it that once the drywall is up, the rest of the project should go very quickly. We'll see.

One of the most exciting developments for this pregnant body is our latest purchase for the new master: a king size bed. Can't. Wait. For. This. Project. To. Be. Done. so I can get in it!

And because I can't let you go without some cuteness:



Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

Last Day Party

HJ and I headed back up to school for an end of the year party in AE's class today.

There was food (my kids~not interested) and games and an art project.

HJ had a blast exploring the centers,

and AE had a blast telling her about everything she'll get to do there this Fall.

The teachers got a present, a potted plant and envelope of ca$h.


I guess HJ still has a lot to learn about photography.

E-v-e-r-y-d-a-y HJ has mourned the loss of her sister to the world of preschool. Today she even cried and would not get out of the car when we returned home after dropping AE off. We've been talking a lot about school this Fall, and HJ just doesn't get that it will still be a while before she gets to go.

Me? I'm just glad they both look forward to and love going to school!

Grape Ape: Poll

How do you cut your grapes?

Long-ways?

OR

Short-ways?

What's in a Name?

We're doing the baby name dance over here. Neither one of us is showing his or her hand. It's a fine line to tread. I went online to look up some meanings and found a site that analyzed the names, first middle and last all together. Pretty interesting read!


If you know our girls, I'd be interested in your opinion about how accurate you think these descriptions are!


A E Phillips

The name AE Phillips inspires trust, confidence, and security. This name is grounded and practical, and promotes steady progress and consistent effort. AE Phillips makes one feel that everything will be taken care of; you are in good hands. Not a dreamer and lacking imagination, this name represents integrity and stability. It is comforting, a strong foundation, and the bedrock of society. It also reflects strong organizational skills and an eye for detail. It has a strong sense of structure. Family-oriented.

The name AE Phillips reflects a rigid, inflexible atmosphere, which, however, is good for some businesses, such as insurance, banks, accounting, and brokerage firms.

AE Phillips's most positive characteristics: Reliable, trustworthy. Structured and disciplined. Makes steady progress.

AE Phillips's most negative characteristics: Rigid. Lacks passion, creativity, and tolerance.


HJ Phillips

Powerful, a conqueror, devours the weak and rules the strong. The name HJ Phillips reflects money and power. It is a carnivore, a winner at all cost.

HJ Phillips has the power and potential to achieve great things. Whatever the enterprise, it strives to be the best and most successful in its field. Extremely competitive and not afraid of challenges or challengers. A visionary, a realist, and a planner. Discipline and perseverance. Dynamic and efficient.

Rewards the faithful and hardworking employee, but has no tolerance for the incompetent.

HJ Phillips understands the balance between giving and taking, generosity and greed. When it loses that balance, it self-destructs.

HJ Phillips's most positive characteristics: Strength, perseverance, potential for greatness.

HJ Phillips's most negative characteristics: Financial ups and downs. Lacks compassion. Can be self-destructive.


"Name We Are Considering" for Baby C Phillips

The name ________ ________ Phillips induces a sense of freedom and adventure, risks and rewards, gambling and daring acts of courage. The name has passion and excitement.

One senses that ________ ________ Phillips can do anything, is extremely capable, and a true survivor. It is also highly flexible, can adapt to new circumstances quickly, and has excellent reflexes; often, important decisions are made in seconds, seemingly impulsively even. But due to sharp intuition and even sharper intelligence, those decisions are almost always right on the money. Youthful, dynamic and energetic, this name draws people who want things to be "different," and don't like the tried and proven.

Social, outgoing, something skirting the acceptable - or even pushing the envelope of what is legal.

________ ________ Phillips's most positive characteristics: Productive, dynamic, adaptable. Good at promoting self.

________ ________ Phillips's most negative characteristics: Can be unorganized, scattered. Lacks direction. Needs maturity and discipline.


Whew! That was a lot of reading! Here's something cute:

AE and HJ at the Atlanta Zoo

Friday Flashback: Old Naledi

In case we just met, The Daddy and I went on a mission trip to Africa last summer. Right before we sold our house in Atlanta and moved to Florida. New job. New city. New church(es). New friends. New house. New outlook on life.

In the jumbled mix of life, I never got to finish the story of our life-changing experiences in Botswana. It was a gift and still is a gift. If you want to go back and remember what happened so far... CLICK HERE.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Gaborone, Botswana

Africa

Old Naledi

Population around 47,000 in 10 hectares (about 24.7 acres)

A few of these photos are from the first day we toured the city, but the rest are from Sunday.
Here is the church building in Old Naledi. The church itself was established in 1999, but 10 years later, a formal building is erected and dedicated. Sunday we got to attend the dedication service.


Wildlife: dogs and chickens

The building on the left is the feeding station where we were supposed to go to feed the community children in, but earlier that week someone stole all the copper piping out of the building. Makes it hard to cook.


Typical housing in Naledi: anything will work to create shelter. Note satellite dish.

People congregate.

Naledi Baptist Fellowship on the day of the dedication: New sign, doors and decorations added compared to first picture of the church building.

Pastor James and a member of Parliament ready to cut the ribbon

Opening the doors

The reception set up inside

View from inside the church

The ceremony and celebration outside

The Daddy gave this boy his salvation bracelet

This day stood out in my mind and still penetrates my heart. The reason: the children of Naledi. While I experienced the dedication of a new church building, I also experienced the hope of the community in their next goal: a school for the children. The presence of the church in Naledi offers the promise of eternal blessings, but the reality of the here and now is painful. The church building has opened up the eyes of the government in Botswana about Naledi. It's on the map. It won't be forgotten. The children won't be forgotten. The children need a school.

I'll let the pictures of the children speak for themselves. Just look into their eyes and you'll see something beautiful, something hopeful, something heartbreaking. You'll see smiles, silliness, joy, pain, weariness,
































How can you see yourself in someone who is living a life so different from your own?

Only God can do that.

But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."