When??

Still sorting things out on the good old computer. I promise I'll be a good blogger again someday when I can upload photos and work the programs again. Please don't stop checking. :)

itunes

So does anyone know if itunes is deleted if it's possible to ever get back all the songs that were in the library?? I fear the answer is no.

Computer

So my computer had a virus. It seems to be better now, although everything had to get deleted and reinstalled which is proving to be...fun. Anyhow, I'm back and happy that my computer was revive-able and got cleaned out.

Computer

My computer is broken. If I haven't emailed you back, now you know why. Candace is nice and is letting me borrow hers. Computer is going to the doctor today to see if it is save-able. What was that someone once said about backing-up my things? Oh, that I should do it in case my computer broke sometime...hmmm.

Basketball

Sorry for the complete lack of posting. I've been very un-interesting lately as we are on break from school and all I've been doing is boring work. We did go to a basketball game last night where a group of gringos along with some Dominicans from church played the local Montellano team. Gringos lost but it was still a fun game to be at.

Writing

I was sorting through some old boxes the other day and came across this:

Jessi Dixon
January 16, 1989

My dream is...to be a nurse and help sick people get well and work at the hospitle. I would like everybody be friends, have no rich or poor, have no hunger, have no murders, or suiside, have all smart, no teasing, hitting, kicking, punching, or in other words, no fighting. We all agree on the same Saturdy cartoons. Have all kids go to school. Have no child abuse, no anger, no crying. There would be no drugs and acahol and smoking. THE END (exact spelling and punctuation)

So who would've thought that 9 year old would someday really be a nurse after working in the hospital, would hate the differences between the rich and poor, would be working amongst hunger and need. The Saturday cartoons aren't so pertinent, but the "all kids go to school" is what we're working on. Oh the dreams of kids.

Chivo

I ate goat for the first time yesterday. Not one of the cute ones that run and jump and play though. Yah. I ate goat.

Circus!!!

That's right! Direct from Russia, the Moscow Circus made an appearance right here in Puerto Plata! We got to see a giraffe, a bear, and tigers, along with acrobats, motorcyclists in a big circle cage...and Russian mullets! It was an amazing night and I officially LOVE the circus. We didn't even know it was the final night, but the next day they were all packed up and gone. So, so happy to have been a part of the Moscow circus!

Our babies

It's been awhile since we've had a baby update! All our little ones are doing amazingly well. Princesa turned one in February and is talking and walking and has one massive personality. Suzana, whose mother died of AIDS the day after her birth, is thriving and growing so much. She is now seemingly normal size and weight for her age and has a caregiver who loves her so much, along with her 4 siblings. Jessica, who I didn't get a photo of, is also doing well. She has bigger cheeks every day and loves everyone. I can't wait to see each of these girls in school with us someday, with their little uniforms and backpacks...it'll be great!

Mother's Day

Yesterday was a special (and crazy busy!) day at the Park Care Center. The kids all came in for their last day and to share a day with their mother's for Mother's Day. They came in at noon and had a special lunch and received gift bags of clothes and candy then went home to get their moms. The entire group watched the kids perform dramas and skits and songs they have worked so hard on for weeks. Then the moms got a special snack and were accompanied home by their children who also had a special gift for them...a craft they had made in the previous weeks. It was also a testament of how much we are growing, as kids literally poured out of our cafeteria and had to set up more tables outside! All good problems to have though, we are so thankful to see each one of these guys there!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day singing by the kids...doesn't get much better than this!

And I'm back...

It is so nice to be back. Despite today being the hottest day in a long time, it's great to be here again. I'm definitely looking forward to getting back to school on Monday after I had a little taste of seeing the kids again with a quick trip to the village on Friday. We've had a fun few days here, playing at the beach at night and then went to Seahorse Ranch today for lunch and a "Glamour Shots" time! Our first summer team has just arrived which means more construction and changes are ahead for the school!

It's hot

"Feels like" temperature for today, with humidity and all is 113. What will August be like??!!!

Phoenix

I had the chance to spend 2 nights with my college roommate in Phoenix on my way back to the DR. It was such an amazing time after not seeing each other for 1.5 years. We went to the best Mexican food ever, Ajo Al's with her mom and sister-in-law, we went shopping and did more eating out...but mostly we just talked (and talked and talked). It was a special time to see her and I'm thankful I got to be there!

Friends

Got to have dinner with my girlfriends from high school tonight, Jen, Jenny, and Bethany. It's incredible that after 10 years we can still be in touch and get together like the good old days. Even with all the changes, it's nice to have someone that knows you from such a long time ago.

Soccer

We went to Salem today to watch Emily play in her soccer game. It was COLD but really fun to see her in action. It's still hard to believe that somewhere along the way she became a girl, a young lady even. We followed the game with pizza and donuts, which made braving the cold worth it!

More Oregon

Family and Spring flowers...does it get better than that?? (oh yah, and I got short hair again!)

Basil

The other best part of being home? My cat!

The family

The best part of being home? My family!

Family time

I'm safe and sound in Oregon. It's so nice to be here and to enjoy springtime and all the flowers and blossoms that I haven't seen in years...but mostly just to be with my family. I had to show them how rice was really made last night (with a plastic bag, that is). John and Rachel and the kids came up to stay the night which is always fun. Time always seems to go by so quickly though, it's already been 2 days! So many things to do still, like eating and shopping, got to take advantage of all the States has to offer!