Bedtime

I love bedtime! For several reasons actually. However, mostly I like it because I get to go into each room and hang out and pray with the kids for a few minutes before they go to sleep. I firmly believe the best conversations happen just before bed. It is at that time that the children calm down and perhaps become more vulnerable, insightful, and willing to discuss hardships and issues facing them as young people in this current difficult age. I leave you with some examples.

"Hey, Aunt Cindy! Last night I popped the biggest zit ever!".....fifteen minutes later...."and it was so disgusting!" Thank you for that inspiring and thorough description...?

"OK, when he's done with his joke, I have one!".........25 minutes pass........"So there were these three guys..." I'm just wondering, why do these three guys always hang out? It seems only odd and awkward things ever happen to them. They need new friends. "Aunt Cindy! That was awful!"

"That kid (down the hall) has the smelliest feet ever! It has been proven using the scientific method! I was sitting here and everything smelled fine. He walked in an about a minute later it smelled like death in here!" Really? That's the scientific method? Interesting.

"Dude (to his roommate), you have the worst smelling farts! Aunt Cindy is in here, Control yourself!" Bless that child!

Would you rather be smart or good-looking? "Well, Aunt Cindy, I'm already good-looking so I guess I'd have to say I'd rather be smart." Dude, you are never going to get a girl. "Yes, I will."

"Hey, let's set up Aunt Cindy and _____________." The blank has been filled with any number of people. It seems to be a recurring theme. How am I supposed to respond to this conversation? Ideas? Anyone? We're trying to learn about how even adults can have platonic relationships, but it would appear this concept is not sinking in.

Stopped by the Police With a Van Full of Kids

"Bonjour, Hello" -policeman

hmmm...if I pretend to only speak English he may get frustrated and leave me alone. I'll just hand him my drivers license.

"Hello!" -me

"Ah, you have your permis de conduire." -him

Crap! He speaks English. I reach for the paperwork out of the cubby.

"I don't really know what you need," as I hand him a stack of papers and a bunch of junk he doesn't need.

"Oh, you don't know what you need. Well, I will teach you. You need this permis de conduire and this registration and...this (pointing to a number)...this....this...you know this. No?

"Oh yes, that number." (whatever the heck that number is for) -me

I think this guy just wants to show off his English skills. I can use this!"

"Wow! Your English is fantastic! Well done! I'm very impressed!" -me

"Oh, (nervous laugh) thank you so much." -him

"And this is everything I need?" (widen eyes a bit) -me

"Yes. Yes. You have everything you need." -him

Oh my goodness! Thank you! You just made my day better! I'm all set for driving, and I have all my paperwork! That's wonderful!" (flash big smile) -me

"Oh, no problem, no problem." (laughs heartily) "Thank you." (shakes my hand) -him

"You have a nice day! Thank you so much!" -me

"OK. Have a nice day." -him

Drive off. No ticket today for breaking any made up Nigerien rules!

And They're Back

Oh my goodness!

It looks like someone blew up Payless.

A sure sign that my kids are back home!

Harney Peak

Today I climbed Harney Peak in SD. I love this place! I leave to go back to Niger in 2 weeks. What am I thinking?

Oh yeah! I remember!

I Confess to the Stolen Pictures

I should have known. I finally get my apartment REALLY clean (I love Ladi) and the next day....Ransackary!

DUST STORM!!!

This happened about 3pm...but it got so dark in my house that I tripped over a chair. The dust storm usually precedes a thunderstorm. We got a few drops of rain, but by the time it made it to the ground it was just mud. Drops of mud.

Yahoo for Angela taking pics with her friends

And for Chantelle and friends who take amazing photos! Check out her blog!

And now I'm back in SD...just in time for this. This is my brother & sister-in-law's house and farm.

Thanks Tiffany for the pictures of your own ransackary!