Christmas Program

Today was the last day of the semester for the kids. They did what I think was their best program yet! There was singing and pantomimes and lots and lots of food more singing. Each child received a gift bag filled with fruit, nuts, candy and cake to take home. Their families also joined us for the presentation which meant a very full, but happy, cafeteria. Click on the picture if you want to see it bigger...their faces are priceless!

Princesa

Can you believe how much she's grown? This little one is all personality now and loves to walk around and cuddle and carry chairs! It was so fun seeing her today, it's been a long time. She's already almost 2 years old...time has gone so quickly! Can't wait until she gets to join us in class as well!

Anticipation

The photos of the kids...that was BEFORE their vaccines!

Happy kids

We vaccinated again yesterday and the little ones...well, they weren't so excited about it. The tears flowed freely as they over-analyzed the one small injection! Oh these faces.

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a nice Thanksgiving this year with the Makarios crew. We went to their team house in Puerto Plata and had the fully American Thanksgiving with everyone. It's always fun being together and even better when it's to eat great food!

Home Sweet Home

The van has come back to Kids Alive! It just went on a little vacation, okay a 5 week vacation, and was found on a public transportation route in Haiti. I guess it got tired of the same old thing around the north coast and was ready for a change. Anyhow, it is now back safe and sound which is pretty incredible. To be honest, I might have lost hope that it would return. It's going to be put to use in Constanza, another ministry site where it will be loved and cared for. Now to find those New Kids on the Block tapes that were in the glove box...

Rainbow

The rain brings some pretty beautiful things as well!

It's raining still

This is how our neighbors got to wake up this morning...flooding again! It's been raining constantly for a few days but last night it rained and poured!

That is normally their driveway and the plants are not usually submerged

This is the view out my window, the water is entering their front door. Hopefully the rain stops enough for some of this water to go down and allow everyone to sweep the water out of their houses. It looks like the rain's meant to continue for a few more days. Apart from the flooding though, I LOVE the rain and how cold it is. I pulled out my sweaters and hats and socks for the occasion!

Rainy days

We got some rain today and the kids were let out early because of needing to cross the rising river. Lots of moms came to pick their kids up with umbrellas, but this mom economized and brought a tarp!

No need for school buses around these parts!

Yah, this place starts to grow on you after awhile!!

Little Darlin

I get to do a lot of things in my time at school, but my favorite has to be hugging and cuddling. This is Darlin, or Dacgnne, depending on who you talk to...that's just how names work here. Anyhow, she came in with a fever but in the end was just happy to cuddle after a bit of Tylenol. She sang me songs and told me all about her family and two moms, one dad, siblings, etc. After a little bit she was clearly feeling better and got sent back to class, but she even looked up at me and said, "Gracias por las pastillas" or in English, "Thanks for the pills", meaning the vitamins that they are now taking daily. That was my favorite part of the day.

Jazz Festival

This weekend there is a Jazz Festival happening on the beach in Cabarete. Last night Ariel and I headed out to it and then were joined by his cousin and girlfriend, Jairo and Charlotte. It was a nice time to sit on the beach and listen to music while watching the ocean and stars and talking.

The school

It's probably time to show everyone what we look like at the Care Center these days. The school is actually pretty great in looks these days. We have come to a halt on construction with the next to classrooms due to financial restraints, but otherwise, everything is looking established and healthy. The kids are using the basketball court and seating, our sidewalks are going strong, and the kids love the gazebo! We hope to finish those classrooms with windows and doors and furnishings, but in the meantime we use them as they are and pack tables/chairs back and forth daily. We have changed so much just in one year, it's amazing to look back at where we were...it's all happened so fast!

Dentist

We continue taking kids to the dentist...almost weekly at this point. They're still getting fillings and cleanings and this week should be their last visit before we start with another group. I'm still so thankful for the work the dentist is doing with us, all free, to meet these kids' needs in such a significiant way. She's even offered to come to the school and do dental checks and work regularly, so we're trying to find a way to buy the equipment to make it happen.

Christmastime is here!

As today is November 1st, Candace and I deemed it Christmas-decorating-time. After all, Christmas is just next month, right? We got out each of the Nutcrackers (my mom gives me one each year) and the lights and little trees, it's so great decorating for Christmas!

A bit of rain

Yesterday it rained...and rained, and rained, and rained. It rained so much that the drains filled, the roads filled, and then the houses filled. I know this picture is dark, but it's the road to Ariel's house which is completely covered. His house filled as did the neighbors' and many others in town. The rain eventually stopped and the water drained away in the night, and the morning was spent sweeping and mopping water away.

Vaccines

Despite wedding plans and excitement, I do actually continue to work, believe it or not! In these last weeks, we were able to start something I have wanted to do for so long...vaccines! We now have great contacts here in Montellano where we will be able to get our vaccines and continue the process of getting our kids up-to-date with their shots. We're assuming the kids haven't had any shots, or at least very few, so this is a long road ahead, but it is exciting to see things I've hope and prayed for coming together. We gave all our little guys Polio, Diptheria, and Tetanus shots and our bigger kids Tetanus. We hope to work on all the rest in the months ahead, all of us except the kids that is!

Another happy customer. These are the smiles that make me continue doing this, he's like a little teddy bear, right??

No doubts

So my mom thought I should just let everyone know that not only do I like Ariel a lot, I love him a lot. I thought that would have been obvious and it was kind of just funny to say I liked him a lot, but now it's all clear so no one has to wonder...

And besides, I do like him a lot. I can like him and love him, right?

Wedding plans thus far

So onto the wedding plans, as everyone is asking for all the details.

We'll be getting married February 14th. I know it's a little corny to get married on Valentine's Day, but it is a Saturday and after all, why not?

We'll be getting married here in the Dominican Republic on the north coast at a place called Sea Horse Ranch. It is where Ariel used to work but more importantly, it is a special place for us. We went there on our first official date and many dates to follow. My parents got to go there, and then that is where we got engaged. It is absolutely beautiful and will make for an amazing backdrop. We'll get married in the grassy spot with the trees and have the reception in the restaurant (bottom and top right photos) overlooking the ocean.

My colors are kelly green and pink.

My bridesmaids are Candace (friend/roommate from here), Julie (Phoenix roommate, friend), and Lucy (friend from DR).

We'll have our pastor from our church do the ceremony, but have it translated into English too.

Yes, we'll go on a honeymoon here in the DR.

We're planning on staying here afterwards and yes, I'll continue working with Kids Alive.

So I think I've answered most of the questions I've been sent, but if you have more, let me know!! I'll keep the details coming as things come together, but mostly we're just happy to know that we will soon be married. All the details are just for one day, so we're trying to plan more for the days and years to follow.

Who's Ariel???

So here's some more details and updates about Ariel and me. Maybe I should introduce Ariel first...he is Dominican, 29, accountant, and I like him a lot. He has lived in Montellano all his life and has 3 brothers (he's #3 of 4). He's really good at making juice and keeps us in full stock of passion fruit, pineapple, or whatever kind of juice we want. His heart is made of gold and his biggest desire is to make others happy. His sincerity and honesty have been the foundation of the the huge trust that I have in him.

We met through our church, Templo Biblico, here in Montellano. I remember meeting him at a church retreat a year ago and then we kept talking after that. We started hanging out more and moving onto dating February-ish. Since we began dating, we made the goal of our dating relationship to continue onto marriage. Why else date, right? I'm also a bit more complicated because of being with Kids Alive, being an American, etc. There were lots of "rules" to follow and we were happy to do what was right and walk correctly in both cultures. In May, we were presented at church as an official couple. This came after meetings with the pastors, seeking counsel from others, and lots of time between the two of us. Getting presented was much like getting engaged or even married!! It has been nice though, during these months of dating, to have our relationship supported by the church and those around us. We have many people to love us and check in with us which has been great.

So after having the approval of my parents on their recent visit, Ariel went forward with asking me to marry him. We went to Sea Horse Ranch, a beautiful place on the ocean where he used to work, on Sunday afternoon. We were talking about futures and families and then...he asked me to marry him and gave me my beautiful ring. Was I surprised?? Yes, only because I had been expecting it all the other days and had given up that it would happen on the weekend. So now we're into planning and working out the details for our lives together and our wedding. That's for the next post though...

We're engaged!!!

Ariel and I are both Dominican AND American engaged! It's officially official now and we are so, so excited. Dominican-engaged is having a dinner with both families and talking about it with each side. American engaged is asking the dad and giving the girl the ring and all, and now we've done both! We know this is just the start to lots of adventures in joining cultures and languages and happy days!

NKOTB

So I was thinking last night that also in the van was the New Kids cassette single "This One's for the Children". Hmm. If the thieves only knew now far that rang true.

Hangin' Tough

The saddest part about the van getting stolen (apart from the fact that THE VAN was stolen) is that I had my New Kids On The Block tapes inside. Yes, I still had them, and yes, the van had a tape deck.

On vacation??

Missing: One blue van (also called gua-gua)

Used for: Teams, getting to school, air conditioning relief

Last seen: At the team house the night before

So our gua gua got stolen this morning. Candace and I often joke about it because it is a 16+ passenger van, but it has REALLY happened...they stole it. Alberto and Ariel spent a lot of the day at the police station today, so tomorrow there should be checks along the road of anyone driving a van to see their papers. Hopefully it comes back home soon, we already miss it!

Ups and downs

Sometimes I get disappointed easily. I try not to, but it happens. Sometimes being here, it happens more. It's easy to get a little discouraged when all around you lies needs and needs and you feel helpless to them all. But these last few weeks, I have been encouraged greatly. When my mom was here, we weighed and measured all of our kids. This now makes the second or third time for the kids, so we've been able to track their growth and development. The encouraging part comes when I charted them all and now see that they are truly growing...and well! Kids that were once under the chart are now certainly on it, kids once with red-yellow hair from malnourishment have brown-black hair as it should be due to regular meals and nutrition. I had planned a malnourished kids program where I would be giving the underweight kids extra fat/calories daily, as I thought that was one of our biggest needs. As it turns out, there are only going to be a few in that club. It's nice having the little ups every now and then!

Candace's turn

Candace's parents came on the tail-end of my parents being here...in the name of being fair and all. It was so nice to finally meet them, although I felt like we were already old friends from how Candace and I talk about our families.

More and more photos

These are a few of the thousand photos Ariel took. This was our night in Cabarete...walking along the beach and then holding random lobsters.
Our trip to Rio San Juan, going through the lagoon and caves and all of us together.
Our big dinner together in Cabarete at Blu...fun night and lots of talking!

Santo Domingo

More from our Santo Domingo trip...there were just SO MANY photos!!

Big date

On Friday night Ariel took us all out on a date. We went to Puerto Plata first for dinner and then out to Cofresi to Ocean World for their show, Bravissimo. We had fun and laughed a lot and then enjoyed walking around a bit in the hotel and casino.

Helpful mom

My mom's still here and she's been helping us at school all week. It's time again to weigh and meaure the kids, which is always a task when there are 200 kids to be seen!

We also gave each on an de-worming pill but didn't tell them until after they had taken it. I know, it feels wrong, but it 's just that last year they found out before what they were meant to take and then it was too hard to make them take it...especially the teenage girls who were afraid that they'd then have to get rid of the worms somehow. Anyhow, they took their pills like mostly good kids and then we also have been trying to help Candace get the next sponsorship project together. I wish my mom was here ALL of the days, it's been great!

Educational

I saw this store whilst in Santo Domingo and it made me laugh a bit. It's a little ironic I thought that a store called "Kid' Stuf" is offering educational material. I think I'll keep looking...

Santo Domingo

I'm a little behind, but last weekend we went to Santo Domingo to take my dad to the airport. He left on Sunday, but we got in on Friday so we could play the full day on Saturday. We walked and walked and saw lots of old building and all things related to Columbus.

Trips around the island

Yesterday we took a drive to Rio San Juan, Laguna Gri-Gri, and Pozo Dudu. We took a boat ride through the lagoon and past a cave and beaches, then drove to a little pool of crystal clear water and ended the day at Playa Grande...one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. Ariel topped off the day by making us dinner. Don't worry, I go back to work on Monday. I tried talking my parents into staying forever, but they said something about work and bills and a house and my cat that they have to tend to...whatever that's all about!!!

Family dinner

On Tuesday we had a big family dinner with all of Ariel's family. We had Sancocho which she made over a little coal fire out back and had a good time talking with everyone having both families get to know one another.

More parent time

The good times continue with my parents here. My dad took me diving which was great...I held a jellyfish and didn't even get stung. It has been so nice showing them around and being with them in all my "normal" places. It's been better than I imagined!

Jarabacoa

We took a road trip to Jarabacoa yesterday and my parents met all the Kids Alive-ers up there and saw the other Kids Alive sites. It was a nice day to drive and hike the waterfall...we went on the lower waterfall since the previous rains had made the water muddy and rivers rise. We had a picnic at the waterfall of pastelitos and chips! It is so fun having my parents here, my two worlds are getting to know one another and, although weird at first, it has been special to share my Dominican world and my parents with each other!

Ocean World

We went to Ocean world yesterday!!! It was a treat from Ariel and his cousin and we had such a fun day!!

I touched a dolphin! To be honest, I was actually IN the dolphin show and got to play ball with them, get kissed by them both, then ride one...with everyone watching! It was an amazing experience, I still can't believe I got to do it!

It was such a fun day...

Mom and Dad

My parents are here!!! These couple days have already been so special, better than I even thought. The worst part is that it's going too fast. I seriously have the BEST family in the whole world!

Ike

Still doing fine after Ike passed...or continues passing. We got a good amount of wind and rain last night and off and on today, but it looks like the worst of it is over. I have to say it was nice sleeping with a blanket!

Hurricanes

Just to let you all know, before I get anymore hate mail for not updating, we have all been fine through these hurricanes. So far the South has been hit harder than us, we have just had a few lovely rainy days that have cooled us down and reminded us that we do like living here (sometimes you question it with so much heat!). Hurricane Hannah is apparently passing right now with Ike on the tail, so we'll keep hoping that it stays in the ocean and just graces us with nice rain.

Landlord love

We have the best landlord. He has fuzzy hair that is manicured well and wears his pants high on his waist with a belt and shirt tucked in. He always says ?Que tal? (How's it going) and waves and smiles like we haven't seen each other in years. Most times when we pay our rent he gives us gifts. But as he owns an auto-repair shop, the gifts make us laugh. We have gotten smelly car trees, key chains, and lately mangos. But yesterday we came home to find these coconuts delivered to our door and waiting for us. The only problem is that after two years, I still don't know how to open one up. What a sweet landlord we have.

Happy not to be a hen

Remember these ladies?? We got them about a year and a half ago...

They're now turning into this! Their egg production has never been that amazing and it now turns out that we're paying more for per egg than we would in the store because feed prices have increased so much. So what do we do? Eat them. Ew. They killed 10 of them yesterday and then went through the whole de-feathering-gutting process which is, not great. Some of the hens had eggs forming inside them (bottom left photo) when they were opened up. Whatever happened to just swinging past Safeway on the way home for your boneless-skinless chicken breast??!!