Drink Coffee Much?

Toy Shopping

I rarely do this. In fact, I really try to avoid shopping altogether, but this has been kind of fun. I'm traipsing around looking for developmental toys for the orphanages we will visit while we're in Azerbaijan. The humanitarian workers that we are going to assist while we are there have helped the orphanage workers in learning how to interact with the children by holding the babies and playing with the little ones. In one of the orphanages, workers used to rarely hold the babies, and in fact they would only change their diapers once a day (whether they needed a change or not - ha!). Last year when we were there, our team painted a room in the orphanage that is now used as a playroom. We hope to add to the collection of toys by bringing some developmental toys that will stimulate the babies and children. In addition, I am hoping to be able to just sit and hold some of the infants. This sounds like such a basic thing, and you would think that it already happens, but it doesn't. In so many orphanages, there are days when babies are only held or touched when it is feeding and diapering time. Infants need the stimulation of touch, specifically someone who holds them, strokes them, looks into their eyes, talks and sings to them. It is amazing to think that this is how babies learn, and it is a crucial part of their development. They simply MUST have this in order to develop in a healthy way. The babies in the orphanage are missing this - and so I am hoping and praying that we can hold them, rock them, cuddle them even if it is only for a half hour for a few days while we are there.

As for the little ones, if we can get them over the stares, we'll be doing good. They mostly just sat at their little tables and looked at us as if we had just rocketed in from outer space. Toys should break the ice. It's difficult to find toys, however, that don't incorporate language learning or counting. This won't work for Azeri children. So I'm getting giant foam legos, stacking rings, unbreakable mirrors, shape sorters, snap beads, etc. Fortunately these are cheaper than the fancy language and counting toys. No Leap Frog toys for these kiddos!

40

"Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare." Psalm 40:5

Oklahoma Campout in August

When you make a promise, especially when you make a promise to a kid, it's probably best to keep it. So, in the spirit of good parenting (or perhaps a good dose of let's-get-it-over-with), my wonderful, wonderful husband camped out in the backyard with Alison. It's not that Kyle didn't want to camp out...he just didn't want to do it in 100 degree heat. Or maybe it had dropped to around 95. Either way, it was too hot to be outside, much less SLEEP outside. So he set up the tent, hauled the box fan and water out, and put on a happy face. I opted out. It's just a two person tent. Not enough room for me, them AND the dog.

Anyway, as I was sitting in the bedroom reading in the air-conditioned luxury of the house, I could hear the Ipod speakers. The campers were listening to John Mayer. I was enjoying the music, and after few minutes the song "Daughters" came on. I've heard this song so many times, but hearing it and knowing that my little girl was enjoying the benefits of a daddy who keeps his promises sort of lent a real-life relevance to the song.

Well, the camp-out didn't last all night. About 1:30 a.m. Alison woke up and asked Kyle to turn the music off because she thought Pierre might need some peace and quiet (always thinking of the animals). Then she said she was itchy. That was all it took. Kyle offered to take her in...so in they came. But I think it still technically counts as a camp-out if you make it past midnight. I think that's in the Backyard Campout Handbook for Parents. Either way, it definitely counts as a promise kept, and that's what matters.

Photos and Being Home

I have finally posted most of the Colorado photos to my Flickr site (look to the right.) It's been an interesting four days home so far. We said goodbye to our friends Geoff and Erica who are moving to the Philippines and I realized once again how much I hate goodbyes. My van also went crazy last night, and while it was sitting in the garage, a tire exploded, which relocated my gas tank to a place deep inside the bowels of the vehicle. The explosion blew the door to the house open. We had the van towed today. Glass half full (I know, I'm working this one to it's death...) is that we weren't driving 75 mph somewhere in New Mexico when it happened. So I'm without a van for a few days. It could be worse. I get four new tires out of the deal. Who could ask for anything more?

We're Home

I couldn't resist posting two more photos. We had a great vacation. In the end, we came back rested and rejuvinated. But we also came back to HOT weather. It was 94 degrees at 9 p.m. The PGA is here in town. The golfers are sweating and so are we. We have a busy weekend planned. A going-away for our dear friends are who are leaving to be missionaries in the Philippines, and a senior high swim party, along with all the things that we must do to acclimate ourselves to life the "real world." But it's all good. We always seem to bring back with us some of the laid-back mountain attitude, but unfortunately it doesn't always last as long we'd like. Maybe this year, we'll see how long we can hang on to it. I've been seeing all these t-shirts that say...Life Is Good. I agree. Life is Good. Even when it's hard, Life is Good. So we'll endure the heat and humidity, and the real world. And we'll remember what it feels like to breathe in the mountain air. Yes, life is good.

The Reservoir

I’m posting this on Tuesday, but it’s a recap of what we did yesterday, which was drive up to Williams Creek Reservoir. It was gorgeous. We were able to take Mom, since it didn’t involve walking. We took a picnic, but it rained just as we laid out all the food on the table, so we moved our picnic to the van. Of course it stopped raining the moment we finished eating. We drove up toward the dam, and Alison, Kyle, Dad and I walked up the trail to hunt for the wild raspberries. It was a trek, but we found them. We picked a few, and not being much for raspberries myself, I took everyone’s word for it that they were delicious. It was such a good thing to do, since Mom is relegated to dialysis three days a week. On her “off” days, it’s so good for her to get out and do something vacation-ish. They had never driven up Piedra Road, and it was great for them to get way back in the mountains instead of just sitting on the patio and looking at them.

Our vacation is winding down. It’s been a good one, despite the challenges of illness, sprained ankle and somewhat whiney teenagers. I think they have learned a little bit about what it means to leave your own agenda at the door, and do something for someone else. I can’t say they have learned the lesson with an enormous amount of grace, nor have they refrained from some grumbling, but they’ve done pretty well. I miss the days when it was so easy to please them. But I think I am less concerned about pleasing them these days, and more concerned that they learn how to please other people. Or at least get out of their selfish bubble and think about someone else. So it’s been a good couple of weeks for doing just that. We have two more days, and then we head back to Oklahoma, where it is hot, hot, hot. Ugh.

Backwoods

Mom and I took a drive today back on the dirt road through the mountains in the San Juan National Forest. It was beautiful. Instead of taking more photos of just the mountains, I decided to photograph some of the old buildings that we saw along the road. Pretty cool. The road is called Cat Canyon Creek Road, and we didn’t see any wildlife but we did drive far enough back in to see some very rustic mountain cabins. I didn’t take any photos, but I should have. It is a real contrast to our nice condo at the resort. These were quite rugged, with outhouses and laundry hanging on tree limbs. It was a kind of wildlife but I missed those shots. Here are the shots I got.

The Girls Are Alive!

We took them to the river yesterday to put their feet in the water. Erin, cast and all, strode right into the water despite the fact there were all kinds of rocks she could have fallen over. She’s already sick of the cast and tired of being gimpy. At first, she thought it was kind of cool to be sporting an air cast, but now it’s just a drag. She gets to take it off on Sunday. No change in Alison. Still coughing and walking around in a codeine daze. The other cousins left this morning to head home. We have a new baby cousin back home. Cassy had her baby. A little girl. Madeline Grace, and they’re going to call her Maddy…or Maddie…or Mady. I don’t know. Anyway, everyone was pretty excited to see her, although much less so than when her big sister was born. That’s the deal with those second babies.

So anyway, the girls had a good day yesterday I guess. We walked around downtown and I looked for a pack to carry my camera gear in when I head back to Azerbaijan in September. Alison tried on some sandals but they had didn’t have her size. Erin complained about how things are so expensive and kept sighing and hurrying us along. It was a fun time.

Today is another nothing-much-doing day. Kyle has been on the phone this morning trying to work out details for an Ethiopia trip in October. He’s getting his hair cut now and I’m taking Mom to the way-too-expensive Made in Colorado Shoppe. Erin is accompanying us, so we’ll hear all about how pricey everything is. We’re eating out tonight with Mom and Dad and my aunt and uncle. Tomorrow is Durango. This is without a doubt the most low-key Colorado year we have ever had. This is good lesson for me…just enjoy being bored. I’ve never done that well. I’m a little faunchy. That’s a word handed down from my dear friend Shannon, whose father is faunchy…which means you always have to have a little something going on. I’m doing way too much organizing our junk here in the condo. Move this here, move that there. It’s such a tiny place, it really doesn’t matter where our junk is. We can see it all at the same time anyway.

So much for rambling. I’m off to haul Mom and Erin around. And then perhaps I’ll come back and rearrange the condo’s kitchen cabinets.

No Agenda

As promised, photos from yesterday’s awesome hike.

It’s Thursday. It’s a beautiful day here in southern Colorado. We are doing our morning routine: sitting on the back porch, sipping coffee, reading some verses from the Bible, relaxing and relishing the idea that we have no agenda. Years ago, when we were younger and the children were so easily bored, we were busy vacationers. We would plan picnics, and swim time, ride horses and play putt-putt and tennis and go on small hikes every day. It was wonderful for the children and they loved every minute of it. We did too. But now that they are older, it’s so nice not to have to fill every moment with an activity. Alison is only six, but is such a laid-back kid that she is fine not to be going every moment. And since she is sick this year, she couldn’t do it anyway. So here we are, with no real plan for the day. We head up to the coffee shop every day between 10 and 11 a.m. to check email, Facebook (teenagers), and blog (Erin and I). We don’t have internet access in our room, which makes me feel sort of strange. It seems each year I get more dependent on the computer, which might not be a good thing since we’re on vacation. After all, we’re supposed to be “getting away from it all.” But as far as computer access goes, I’m about to put that in the same category as the telephone. Most of us would never consider going to a place where we didn’t have telephone access. This coffee shop is packed every day with people hauling in their laptops. I suppose if the condos didn’t have telephones, we would all be standing in line to use the phone at the coffee shop. Never mind. There is cell phone access up here. So we’re almost covered. There’s no getting away from it all…not even in the mountains. Oh, and if you’re wondering, I write a post at the condo, save it to a Word file, then insert it at the coffee shop. That’s about all that’s on my agenda for today

Four Mile Falls

My legs are aching, and they feel like noodles. Hate to whine, but we hiked for four hours, up steep hills and back down. The falls were absolutely beautiful. I haven't downloaded my photos yet, but will post them tomorrow. Erin and Alison stayed home, but we found a walking stick and some rocks to bring back - not quite like being there, but we wanted them to know we missed them. Alison isn't much better. Erin is walking more steady today though, and her attitude is still positive.

The mountains and the falls were breathtaking, as always. The weather was great - no rain and enough clouds for us to cool off after the steep slopes. Everyone was in good spirits. But now I have to go back to the condo and collapse. Photos tomorrow.