This is a picture of Paige celebrating her 10th birthday. Paige's birthday was June 11. The other girl in the picture is Sarah, her sister. These are our nieces on my side of the family. It was a very hot day, but a very nice party. Lots of good food, the pool was up and lots of laughter. Happy Birthday Paige!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Happy Birthday Paige!
This is a picture of Paige celebrating her 10th birthday. Paige's birthday was June 11. The other girl in the picture is Sarah, her sister. These are our nieces on my side of the family. It was a very hot day, but a very nice party. Lots of good food, the pool was up and lots of laughter. Happy Birthday Paige!
Thursday, June 14, 2007
The Road Warrior is Home!
Well the great road warrior has made it home. That is Matt in the middle. They clocked over 2000 miles this week. They rode to a couple of different places in North Carolina/Tennessee in order to be able to ride the mountain pass roads. While there they met all kinds of other "motorcycle" people. Quite a big deal for the riding aficionados.
The weather was beautiful, the company was great and gas prices were stable. He couldn't have asked for a better trip.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Pics of Red Riding Hood
Our Hillsdale Red, wolf and woodsman
The theatre in Lapeer for our Imlay City group Here are a couple of pics from our shows in May. The shows were very successful and we had a lot of fun too.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Great Mom Day
Today was a pretty cool day for a mom trying to parent across the ocean. On Sunday, Stephanie had her First Communion. Rakieta was invited over to spend the weekend. Now this was a major effort for both families in a country where women routinely are very jealous of one another due to all the wives having to share husbands and resources in a country with so little.
But because of all the communication back and forth it was successful. Rakieta was able to tell us more about Delilah and Stephanie which was great for us and also there is something pretty cool going on. There is a sense of contentment among all the kids, but especially with Rakieta. She seems truly happy. The girls laughed and played and asked Rakieta lots of questions about us. Now Rakieta wants to invite Delilah and Stephanie to stay at her home for a sleepover.
Also something else remarkable happened. Rakieta will not speak French usually. She is very intimidated by her lack of formal education in Burkina and she knows she doesn't speak it well. Usually she refuses to speak French. (This may have partially led to her visa refusal) I asked her how she talked to the girls who do not speak the same tribal dialect as Rakieta. She said. " I do it by myself. I say to the girls. Don't laugh at my French. Just correct me." Evidently that plan worked for everyone and they had a great time.
They all understand that they are sisters through us and it appears to be a good thing for everyone. Rakieta can help them know us like she does. This is very good for her. She can give extra love to Delilah and Stephanie, who as orphans, really do need it. That is good for them.
I have been invited to contribute to a book about the culture shock of children coming into this country from the 3rd world. So I finished today and I discussed it with Rakieta. She kept telling me which stories to put in. Luckily I had all the ones she thought were important. She was so tickled and happy when we hung up.
After things quieted down and I was alone outside working on the garden it dawned on me how we had reached such great milestones. After all the suffering on everyone's part for so long, it makes my soul feel so good to see where the girls, their families and our family finally are.
This has been a great Mom day indeed.
But because of all the communication back and forth it was successful. Rakieta was able to tell us more about Delilah and Stephanie which was great for us and also there is something pretty cool going on. There is a sense of contentment among all the kids, but especially with Rakieta. She seems truly happy. The girls laughed and played and asked Rakieta lots of questions about us. Now Rakieta wants to invite Delilah and Stephanie to stay at her home for a sleepover.
Also something else remarkable happened. Rakieta will not speak French usually. She is very intimidated by her lack of formal education in Burkina and she knows she doesn't speak it well. Usually she refuses to speak French. (This may have partially led to her visa refusal) I asked her how she talked to the girls who do not speak the same tribal dialect as Rakieta. She said. " I do it by myself. I say to the girls. Don't laugh at my French. Just correct me." Evidently that plan worked for everyone and they had a great time.
They all understand that they are sisters through us and it appears to be a good thing for everyone. Rakieta can help them know us like she does. This is very good for her. She can give extra love to Delilah and Stephanie, who as orphans, really do need it. That is good for them.
I have been invited to contribute to a book about the culture shock of children coming into this country from the 3rd world. So I finished today and I discussed it with Rakieta. She kept telling me which stories to put in. Luckily I had all the ones she thought were important. She was so tickled and happy when we hung up.
After things quieted down and I was alone outside working on the garden it dawned on me how we had reached such great milestones. After all the suffering on everyone's part for so long, it makes my soul feel so good to see where the girls, their families and our family finally are.
This has been a great Mom day indeed.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Rasmata is going to have twins!
Now we are going to talk a little about Rakieta's family. Rakieta is Muslim when she is in Africa. However, the lady she lives with is Christian and so are we. Rakieta enjoys being Christian too. Luckily we are all Roman Catholic so this makes things very easy for communication and customs. Delilah and Stephanie and their family are Roman Catholic also. In Burkina, all the different faiths blend. There are 3 primarily. Muslimism, Christianity and Animism which is the old tribal ways. Most Burkanabes are comfortable in all the different religious customs. Rakieta explained to me that "they aren't like the white Muslims (meaning Middle Eastern). They are lazy." I am not sure about that, but I know they love to celebrate and have "big food." Consequently they, no matter what the religion, love to get together
Rakieta's older sister married a Christian man. His name is Fidel. They have one small son whose name is Regis. Now Rasmata is expecting twins in late October. Medical care is improving quickly over there. Rasmata received an ultrasound which confirmed twin boys. Rakieta was ecstatic when I read her the e-mail. Sometimes news travels faster from Burkina to Michigan and back again than it does just across Ouagadougou.
Rasmata is Rakieta's older sister and the only one by this father. Rakieta's mother has had 3 husbands. The first man was pretty wealthy but she was the youngest wife. The youngest wife many times is the favorite of the husband, but is treated poorly by the other wives. In that part of Africa the men can have 4 wives at one time. She had several daughters by this man. Eventually she left him and married Rasmata's father. They had one child. Rasmata. They divorced. Later she married Rakieta's father. He is a very loving man, but not as wealthy. With him, Rakieta's mother had 4 more children. Rakieta's mother is the senior wife with this man.
Rasmata has been a godsend for her sister and whole family. She is the one who wrote to us to begin with. She is the one who learned to use the Internet to communicate. She is the one who would translate from French to Mor'e and back again to make sure documents were gotten together, etc to help Rakieta. Rasmata has run her sister to the doctor, no easy task in this country, she has kept the mail going, she makes sure her mother gets her allowance and all kinds of things. Rasmata is really a very good big sister.
Fidel is an apprentice for the growing film industry there. He used to work for a bank. They do ok for themselves. Rasmata wants to be a nurse someday.
They have asked for a small digital camera to send pictures to us with. Matt and Jeni have taken on the project of finding a good value for them.
Rakieta's older sister married a Christian man. His name is Fidel. They have one small son whose name is Regis. Now Rasmata is expecting twins in late October. Medical care is improving quickly over there. Rasmata received an ultrasound which confirmed twin boys. Rakieta was ecstatic when I read her the e-mail. Sometimes news travels faster from Burkina to Michigan and back again than it does just across Ouagadougou.
Rasmata is Rakieta's older sister and the only one by this father. Rakieta's mother has had 3 husbands. The first man was pretty wealthy but she was the youngest wife. The youngest wife many times is the favorite of the husband, but is treated poorly by the other wives. In that part of Africa the men can have 4 wives at one time. She had several daughters by this man. Eventually she left him and married Rasmata's father. They had one child. Rasmata. They divorced. Later she married Rakieta's father. He is a very loving man, but not as wealthy. With him, Rakieta's mother had 4 more children. Rakieta's mother is the senior wife with this man.
Rasmata has been a godsend for her sister and whole family. She is the one who wrote to us to begin with. She is the one who learned to use the Internet to communicate. She is the one who would translate from French to Mor'e and back again to make sure documents were gotten together, etc to help Rakieta. Rasmata has run her sister to the doctor, no easy task in this country, she has kept the mail going, she makes sure her mother gets her allowance and all kinds of things. Rasmata is really a very good big sister.
Fidel is an apprentice for the growing film industry there. He used to work for a bank. They do ok for themselves. Rasmata wants to be a nurse someday.
They have asked for a small digital camera to send pictures to us with. Matt and Jeni have taken on the project of finding a good value for them.
Monday, June 4, 2007
Medical Visas
Our family has learned a lot about medical visas. They do have their place. If you find yourself in need of someone to advocate for a child we recommend the following groups: They are all legitimate and experienced in what they do.
Healing the Children www.htcmichiganohio.org
Children's Chance http://childrenschanceconnecticut.blogspot.com/
Children's Medical Missions West http://www.cmmwest.com/
Please remember all children who come to the US on a medical visa must return home. This is not a way to adoption. There are many special needs children sitting in orphanages who need care also, but they must wait until they are adopted. If you are interested in hosting or donating, please contact any of the groups above.
Healing the Children www.htcmichiganohio.org
Children's Chance http://childrenschanceconnecticut.blogspot.com/
Children's Medical Missions West http://www.cmmwest.com/
Please remember all children who come to the US on a medical visa must return home. This is not a way to adoption. There are many special needs children sitting in orphanages who need care also, but they must wait until they are adopted. If you are interested in hosting or donating, please contact any of the groups above.
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