The Library is OPEN!!!

A great book is one of the pleasures of this life. Though the sunshine was abundant, there were bikes to ride and friends with whom to explore, Sammy, Micah, Kevin and Toby chose to read for about an hour one afternoon earlier this week. Despite the fact that their morning had been filled with school, they still chose to read. I LOVE THAT!!!!


Micah and Kevin


Sammy looking for more books

Acacia writes thank you notes to our friends who hosted us for a meal last week.

Bubbly has some down time from all the excitement of our return :)

The new curtains in our room!!! MANY thanks to Sharyn Showalter of Long Beach, CA who lovingly and generously gave us new curtains!!!! The chair pillows and bed shams are also new and were made by Dortha (Geoff's mom) and me.

It's the little things like this that help to add a peaceful place of rest amidst the busy-ness of our days.

A Great Welcome!!!

When I posted the previous blog I was at the same time teaching our kids. It took 3 hours to load all the pictures and when it was time to write the text my mind was already turned to the next event (lunch!!!) and I forgot to mention about the FANTASTIC, WARM, ENTHUSIASTIC welcome we've been receiving all week!!!!! We arrived at our house on Wednesday about 4:30 p.m. and there were people waiting on our front porch to greet us. We stood outside for 2 solid hours visiting, hugging, laughing, smiling and catching up with friends and FAMILY as people kept filing by to see us!!! Our friends unloaded our van so that we could keep visiting. The Peterson's offered an impromptu invite to supper our first night and we enjoyed food and great company. The whole week we've been receiving visitors during the day and in the evening we've been dinner guests in staff members' homes. Sunday was a great day out as we attended the church service and then ate lunch and visited with our former neighbors, Tony and Sarah. It was just like old times sitting and talking, laughing and joking!!!! In the evening we were treated to a feast at the vocational institute. The staff ladies prepared a huge, wonderful meal and afterward each staff member shared comments, welcome, and appreciation for Geoff. It was humbling and truly enjoyable!

Last night was our first supper at our home alone. We decided that was enough of that and invited Monique over tonight for dinner. (Monique is from southern California--like us, and lived here in 2006 when we first arrived. We saw her in Long Beach in June just before she returned here again for the 3rd time! She teaches English at our secondary school.) Kambo (one of Geoff's former vocational students from the building program) also stopped by at suppertime and sat down to eat with us, too. We caught up on the latest in each others' lives, laughed, joked and ate really bad spaghetti (won't buy that brand again!!!!)

We are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO blessed to live here at New Hope!!!! I can't wait to see more people tomorrow!!!!

Saying Goodbye and Hello!!!

Geoff's Mom and Dad treated us to a "last supper" out before we flew. Geoff found a new restaurant that even his parents hadn't visited and we all loved it!! Thanks to Jerry and Dortha for hosting us so well these past few months. And thanks to my Mom who welcomed us when we first landed in the states to begin our furlough.

Acacia, Papa and Kevin at "The Bent Fork"

Grandma and Toby
Getting everything into the trunks, bike boxes, duffle bags and carry-ons is only the beginning!! Making sure it all fits in the truck securely takes some precious time as well!!! Good work Geoff and Jerry!

A final picture before driving away toward the airport.

After 9 hours from Denver to London and another 9 hours to Entebbe, we finally arrived in Uganda!!!!! We went directly from the first plane to the second . . . (via offloading the first plane, boarding a bus, driving to terminal 5, going through security, boarding a 2nd bus, driving a few more miles back out to the 2nd plane and finally taking off less than 2 hours after we'd landed!!!)


We were all SOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited to finally be back in Uganda!!! We did a small amount of grocery shopping and then stopped at a fruit and vegetable stand on the way home. The kids, though tired, couldn't wait to have gonja (a roasted sweet banana).

Last Saturday, our first weekend back in Uganda, our new neighbors, the Ruyondos, finally moved in and we were happy to help out!! It was a joy to see the lorry and individual pieces of furniture "walking" by our house!!

Geoff helped carry this standing wardrobe . . .

. . .and then enjoyed encouraging one of his vocational institute carpentry students that someday he could look forward to making furniture like what he was helping to unload from the lorry.

Toby rode in the lorry for ALL of its trips back and forth!!!!!

Later that afternoon, Geoff and Acacia took the motorbike a few miles down the road to check on our garden in katabalaalo.

A little American baseball is always in order!!!!

We're SOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad to be back!!!!

Count down: 4 days

We are taking it easy these last few days before we return to Uganda . . . 4 days before we fly and much to do, but we're finding joy in the necessary busy-ness. Last weekend we were able to visit with some dear cousins; the kids are enjoying the unusually warm weather and riding bikes anytime they can; I love to sit out front and watch them laugh and play while I enjoy "chewable" starbucks. If it isn't strong enough to take paint off it isn't worth my while :)

Just a bunch of goof balls that happen to be related!!!

We made carmel apples the day our cousins came to visit . . . yum yum.

Boys vs girls in exercise ball dodge ball. The girls won!

Science with papa. Waiting for yeast, sugar and warm water to pop the cork . . . waiting . . . waiting . . .

Still waiting, so Kevin makes creative faces to pass the time.

D - O - R - K

Dortha and I made the final pillow covers for our room. I cut the pieces and she sewed. Great team.

Fall Bliss!

We all are thoroughly enjoying the change of seasons! Fall is crisp, but not too cold, the colors are beautiful and the fun of raking leaves into mounds and jumping in them is a treat ! The kids played for hours yesterday--raking, running and jumping! Only a little more than a week and we'll be taking off for another climate altogether. We'll be arriving at the end of a rainy season and soon be entering the hottest, driest time of the year in Uganda. Though we have been blessed with Fall Bliss these past few weeks, we so look forward to getting home no matter what the weather is when we arrive!

Beautiful Vail!

Last weekend we attended a marriage conference hosted by Family Life Ministries. We enjoyed the conference and the time away to rest, learn, laugh and eat sushi!!!!! The weather was warm and the aspens still had some golden color. It was absolutely beautiful! This view is from our room.

The villages have the look and feel of Europe--quaint, clean and the look of bavaria.

Right now is the off-season, so it was not crowded and most of the businesses were discounting their merchandise and food. What a great time to visit!

The sun was shining so brightly it was difficult to get a picture without the glare!

Vail mountain.

Colorado Colors & the 47th year!

My 47th (yikes-where does time go???) birthday is Sunday, but Geoff and I will be in Vail for a marriage retreat, so we celebrated early. The kids each made me something special with the help of Grandma and Geoff surprised me with my favorite Crabtree and Evelyn lotion & a coffee mug from San Francisco! Jerry and Dortha treated us to a wonderful meal at Rodozio's Grill. If you ever have a chance to eat there, DO IT! They bring all kinds of meat to your table until you say "STOP, NO MORE!!"We ate wild boar, rattlesnake, bison, and the regular ol stuff--chicken, beef and fish. Yum, yum!!

Last Friday we trekked along beautiful mountain paths in the Golden Gate Park near Golden, CO. Due to our schedule we missed the prime colors, but it was still gorgeous and peaceful. The hike was 2.5 miles and the weather was perfect! What a blessing from God to be able to enjoy the crisp air, sweet mountain smells and to hear the crunch of leaves underfoot.

Now that the kids are older, they serve as "Pack Mules" on our hikes :)

Acacia misses her friends in Uganda!! Here she is typing to either Anya or Stella. The kids are anxious to get back to New Hope and their buddies.