Recent Weekend Fun

This weekend is the first weekend in a month that we've all been home together and Eli has not been on-call.  It's been great to take a breath.

Even though life has been busy this past month, it's also been full of adventures.

Earlier this month we spent a couple nights in Nanyuki, a town on the other side of the mountain.  It was originally supposed to be a writing weekend for myself (since I have few other options for actually getting writing done) but that ultimately didn't work out.  In the end we all went together and I got a tiny bit of writing done in the midst of some good family time.

Also, we were rewarded with the best view of Mt. Kenya we've seen so far.  We even stopped the car to relish it for awhile.  We live in such a beautiful part of the world!

Next up was a "Valentine's Day of Races" that I organized.  Valentine's Day was on a Friday this year, and I figured that people would rather spend the evening together than alone.  And who doesn't love a good 'ol relay race anyway?  The kids had a blast, and the adults did too :)

Can I just say how much I appreciate adults who are willing to participate in kid activities and/or let kids join whatever fun is being had?  Those kind of people are the best kind of people.

I also want to say how much I love this community.  We've never been a part of such a diverse, intentional, and beautiful community like this before, and we are so grateful to be here and be a part of it.  It's been almost a year since we moved here, and it definitely feels like home!

Missionary Kids: Chogoria Crew

Here's the crew.  They're a tight-knit, adventurous, keep-us-on-our-toes kind of crew.  And I love them fiercely!

The Webbers have been at Chogoria for about four years and they welcomed us as warmly and heartily as anyone could.  Their friendship was imperative for our transition to this new site, and remains imperative for everyday life.

The kids glommed onto each other right away and it's a daily joy to see their love for one another.  They are sharing the experience of growing up cross-culturally and they share a unique worldview because of that.  I'm glad they have each other to enjoy this life and process it together.

These seven kids do a lot of life together and I am incredibly thankful for this entire crew!

Victory in the Tooth Department

One day a couple years ago we discovered that Caleb had "shark teeth" behind his bottom front teeth. We didn't even know that was a thing, but after emailing with a college friend who's a dentist, it was confirmed that his adult teeth were coming in even though his baby teeth hadn't fallen out yet.  We thought it was a sure sign that his baby teeth would loosen up real fast and fall out.

Boy, were we wrong!

Long story short, those baby teeth in the front never came out on their own.  The adult teeth were fully in and hanging out behind the baby teeth for about 9 months (yes, you read that right) before we got him into a pediatric dentist to have them pulled.  We waited so long because we kept thinking and hoping that the baby teeth would fall out on their own.  When they didn't, we waited until we were back in the States because we knew that having teeth pulled would be traumatic for this kid.  (It definitely was.)

But finally we got those babies yanked out and the adult teeth were free to move into place where they belonged.

Fast forward to a few months ago when Caleb got some more loose teeth.  We were curious how this round would go, and dismayed when those teeth were also not super excited to fall out on their own.  Long story short, Eli had to yank them out.  It was traumatic with plenty of screaming and tears but it simply had to be done.

Caleb and the Tooth Department have not been on the best of terms since, well, ever.

Then his two front teeth on the top became loose.  We prepared ourselves for Round 3 of Traumatic Teeth Pulling.  But then, by a great miracle of God, one of those teeth fell out on New Year's Day and Caleb didn't even know it!!!  I kid you not.  That boy had been running around outside all afternoon and when he came in and said something to me it was glaringly obvious that a tooth was missing.  When I asked him about it, he had no idea what I was talking about!

Praise the Lord!!!

It felt like such a promise of what God has in store for our son this year.  A tooth falling out without incident?  It was no less than a great grace of God if not a true miracle.

That isn't to say that the second front tooth also came out without incident.  Au contraire.  It was basically falling out but just wouldn't finish the job so Eli yanked it out since the adult tooth was coming in behind it, and we were back to Square One with the screaming and crying and trauma.  BUT, we've officially experienced a major victory in the Tooth Department and we greatly rejoice in that!

Plus, with both front teeth missing Caleb has been "matchy matchy" with this sweet girl :)  Olive and Caleb are less than two months apart in age and it's been fun to watch the teeth falling out for these 7-year olds.

We've got our fingers crossed that we'll see more victories in the Tooth Department this year!

Asa's Preschool Class

We're back in the swing of school, which means I'm back to teaching preschool twice a week.  I never imagined being a preschool teacher, but a homeschool mom is a teacher of many grades and it turns out I'm pretty at good at this whole preschool thing!

When Caleb was 4 years old I reluctantly volunteered to teach preschool for him and several other kids.  I fumbled my way through it but did okay.  When it was Kai's turn we had the privilege of a real preschool teacher who was available to teach for about 4 months, and that's how I really learned how to teach preschool.  That lady was amazing and her routine made so much sense, and I am so grateful to be friends with her to this day.  After she returned to the States, another mom and I co-taught the class and went very well.

So, I figured that "third time's the charm" and I committed to teaching preschool once more for Asa and his peers here at Chogoria.  We're already halfway done, which is crazy to think about, but my preschool class has gone so well and I really love it.  I'm so thankful I get to do this for Asa Bubba and pour into him this way.

I've had help from a couple people, which is great because keeping wiggly preschooler in line sometimes requires a bit of help, and because doing crafts with preschoolers always requires a bit of help!

first day of preschool

We always start with about 30 minutes of play time.  We listen to music and do activities that vary from day to day.  Puzzles, megablocks, lacing cards, whatever I can find!

We also do a "letter of the week" with accompanying books, crafts, and activities.  I had to make it all up, using the books we have available here and doing tons of Google searches to find crafts that would work, but it's worked out well and the kids have had tons of fun.

A is for Apple

B is for Bear

C is for Chameleon

When we did "D is for Doctor" we had a special guest come to preschool: Dr. Horn!  Eli did this for Kai's preschool class at Tenwek and I'm so grateful that he was able to sneak away from the hospital this time too.

F is for Fish

"K is for Kenya" was a particularly fun week.  We read books about Kenya, learned a Swahili song, and made these Maasai necklaces.

L is for Ladybug

This is Asa's Wall of Art.  We've done a lot of crafts at preschool this year, and lots more to come :)  I'm truly grateful for the fun we have and how much the kids are learning!

Our Christmas Miracle

Two days before Christmas I took the boys caroling at the hospital.  We brought a djembe, some bells, and our singing voices (namely my singing voice since I don't think any of the boys sang the entire time).

I wasn't sure how it would go.  Caroling sounds so simple.  But the boys are not used to being at the hospital, and certainly not used to group singing.  The two combined was unusual and had the potential to push one or all of them over the edge.

But it went well.

I anticipated that 2/3 kids would be okay.  Not awesome, but okay.  I was right on that count.

What I did not expect was how well Caleb would do, how incredibly well Caleb would do.  Anyone who knows Caleb knows how much he's struggled with social anxiety for the past several years.  Group participation in anything has been a particular struggle for him, and loud sounds (i.e. group singing) used to make him cover his ears and cower, and being on display has made him literally curl up and cry.  So the idea of walking around a hospital full of sick people he doesn't know watching him sing in a group of people he also doesn't really know - well, it should have been a personal nightmare for him.

But it wasn't.

Caleb came willingly!  Caleb participated!  Caleb enjoyed himself!

He shook a tambourine for every single song, through seven wards on the hospital.  And he didn't bat an eye while doing it.  And here's the kicker: afterwards he said to me, "I really like this.  I want to do it again sometime!"

I was in happy shock :)

The Lord has been so very good and gracious to our son.  I am so thankful to God for this huge step forward, this milestone, this Christmas miracle.

Just imagine what God can and will do in the next year in our son's life!  God is good and gracious, the giver of all good things, and we rejoice in this good gift: our son who enjoyed caroling at the hospital!

Season of Advent

The month in between Thanksgiving and Christmas always goes quickly, and this year was no different.  Yet in the midst of the rapid pace of these weeks, we have enjoyed the anticipation of Christ's coming, and preparing our hearts for celebrating His birth.  It has been a wonderful season of Advent.

This is our Advent Calendar this year.  And it will be next year and every year after that!  I found it at one of my favorite stores in Nairobi and fell in love.  The boys love it also, not least because it has safari animals surrounding the baby Jesus instead of barn animals :)  The figures are made out of banana leaves, the stable is an African hut, and the tree is an acacia tree.  I absolutely adore this Advent Calendar and it's been a wonderful way to mark the Advent season for us here.

Another important part of preparing for Christmas was acquiring a tree.  Our tradition here in Kenya is to find a tree that looks like a pine tree, chop off a branch, and call it a Christmas tree!  We haven't found any actual pine trees around Chogoria, but there are a handful of cedar trees behind our compound which proved to be the perfect option.

It was a short walk around the compound, under the giant mango tree and towards the smell of cedar trees.  Eli was the one who picked the tree this year.  He saw a particular big branch up high and was determined to get it.  And he did!  It makes a perfect Christmas tree.

I surprised everyone with new ornaments this year.  I found these gems way back in January at Bronner's, the world's largest Christmas store that is only 45 minutes from my hometown.  You read that right: the world's largest Christmas store!  Needless to say, they have oodles of ornaments and I found these among the masses.  Little s'more people.  Such a fun and clever idea!

I really do love our Christmas tree this year.  It smells great, it fits perfectly against the only wall that could host a tree, and it makes the inside of our house feel like Christmas.

Another tradition is to get a new ornament each year from our travels.  This rhino keychain is serving as our ornament this year, marking our visit to Ol Pejeta where we met the last two northern white rhinos in the world.  That visit was memorable in many ways and this ornament will always hold the memories of that day.

Another Advent tradition we enjoy here in Kenya is our annual gathering with the WGM Kenya field.  We gather at a British boarding school for a weekend of meetings and Christmas celebration.  Since moving to Chogoria, which is rather far away from the rest of our WGM family, it was especially refreshing to reconnect with friends that we see less often nowadays.  The boys also loved going to class and playing hard with their old friends from Tenwek and beyond.  We are so grateful for this opportunity each year!

And now it is Christmas Eve.  The boys fell asleep in their new jammies, we tucked their presents under the tree, and we're ready to be woken up early with their excited giggles and squeals :)

Our hearts are ready for Christmas.  We've been blessed with ongoing traditions and reunions with good friends, not to mention the nonstop Christmas music and Christmas books that have reminded us of the joy of this season.  It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

Thanksgiving in Chogoria

With Christmas only five days away, I guess the time for a Thanksgiving post is past.  But I can't help posting some pictures anyway, because it was our first Thanksgiving in Chogoria and it was a beautiful time of fellowship.

My friend Lauren planned everything and even got her hands on a turkey!  I once ordered the turkey for Thanksgiving at Tenwek, and let me tell you it is not as easy as you think it should be.  So I applaud Lauren's efforts on behalf of the rest of us.  She ordered it and baked it, which was a great demonstration of love.

All the other Americans pitched in and we had a true Thanksgiving feast!  Our family was even able to make green bean casserole (an absolute must at all Horn holiday meals) because an American visiting Chogoria brought a can of cream of mushroom soup and french fried onions across the ocean.  Eli was fairly ecstatic :)

Here are the American kiddos at Chogoria.  They wore their jammies because Thanksgiving supper crossed into the bedtime hour, and because kids eating supper in their jammies is just too cute :)

Eli was late, as usual.  He arrived straight from the hospital in his scrubs, and when he arrived to join the rest of us and sat down with his plate piled high, everyone was incredibly impressed and envious of his plate-piling skills.  I guess I take it for granted that my man has a system for how to get as much food on his plate as possible.  "It's all about layering," he says.  Layering or not, Horn men can do damage to a holiday spread (or any meal, for that matter), and I often forget the awe that their overfull plates inspire in others.  I guess I should be proud?  At least being proud might overtake the dread I sometimes feel at wondering how on earth I will feed three more huge Horn boys in the near future!

Besides the green bean casserole, I contributed - what else? - dessert!  I made maple-glazed donuts and a triple berry pie.  I actually found strawberries, blueberries AND raspberries in Nairobi a few days before Thanksgiving!  Finding berries is a hit-or-miss endeavor, and I thanked my lucky stars for finding all of these berries at just the right time.

We are grateful for our American community here at Chogoria.  It's wonderful to have others here to celebrate our American traditions with.  We are thankful for their friendship, for their fellowship, and for their really good home-cooked American food!