Crazy times in Kenya...

One of the most random weekends ever in Nairobi...but I got to ride on a camel. It was such a great and relaxing long weekend, as we had Friday off of school. I will add more pictures soon!

Just for you Trish...pictures of "life"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAYLAN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAYLAN....BIG 25!!!

I LOVE YOU AND HOPE YOU HAVE AN AWESOME DAY!!!!

The Car...

Day and I being ADD in the car as we were stuck in traffic on the way to the internet place.

Still waiting...

So, I was trying to think of something I could add to update my blog and I realized I haven't put on a picture of my car. Last year I shared a car with three other teachers and this year I share this one with Daylan. It is nice just sharing it between the two of us. It is small but that just means it is easier to dodge pot holes, busses, bikes, and whatever else comes our way!

My Pre Algebra Class...

Welcome to my crazy math class. I have 17 7th graders for my Pre-Algebra class.

Home work board...just because...

Passing back homework at the beginning of class.

Hard at work (they knew I was taking pictures...they are good at pretending!)

Teaching about patterns in math

Partner working...good job girls!

And there you have it. The other side of my job. Where I actually get to be in the classroom and use all that valuable information I learned in college about classroom management and things like that! I do love teaching this math class so much. It is a lot easier for me the second year around and they are a great bunch of kids!

Making dinner with Mom's help...

I got a package in the mail from my mom this week. Inside was a packaged mix for making beef and broccoli stir fry. Daylan and I felt domestic and decided to make it for dinner last night. We even sat down at the table so we had to take pictures. It was my first time making rice-and I didn't burn it and it wasn't too crunchy either!

Ready to eat!

YUM YUM YUM

no broccoli but the other vegetables were good

Daylan enjoying our delicious meal!

My Basketball Teams' First Game

Yea- coach! Don't ask what I was saying, because I probably didn't even know what I was saying at the time. GOOD JOB GIRLS! PLAY HARD! :)

See that good defense PAPA! Offense wins games but defense wins championships! :)

My team, notice how dirty my pants are at the bottom-HA! Life in Kenya!

YEA WE WON!!!

MADNESS...NO OTHER WORD DESCRIBES THIS

Pouring rain makes it hard to see the people and pot holes-and whatever else is in the way.

Driving in Kenya has proved to have its own set of difficulties. In my last prayer update I asked for prayer as I learn to drive our (Daylan and My) manual car. Well, I want to thank you so much! I have been driving a little bit at a time and today I drove all by myself. I know that may not seem like a big feat-but believe me it is! Maybe some of these pictures will help to make it make more sense....

This is where the madness begins. The gray car on the right was towing the car behind it through this busy intersection during high traffic time.
They were fine, until the rope broke
leaving the broken down car in the middle of the intersection.

The broken down car tried to reconnect the rope but it kept breaking.
So the gray car kept going.

Of course no one wanted to wait. So they all just went through and around the car.
This is supposed to be two lanes of traffic.
And the best part is that we are in one of the lanes.

Dirty bus with lots of diesel..YUCK!

More pictures

On the edge of the mountain side.
The ride up on the bus was really long. So, we decided to ride in the back of a truck down the mountain. This was during the hail storm. It was CRAZY-but brought back PNG memories.

Walking through the plains looking for the giraffe-so sad we didn't see them.

More retreat pictures

Just so cool...(yep, this is basically my back yard)

Heather and I at the top of the mountain before the hail really started coming down.

Beautiful sunset

Staff Retreat

This weekend we had our staff retreat at Lukenya Getaway. It was fun to get out of the city with all the staff. It is always good to get to know each other better, outside of the school/teacher context. We had fun playing volleyball until the ball landed in the acacia tree and a thorn popped it, we had fun chasing the animals until we got attacked my ticks and African biting ants, and we were really enjoying the beautiful view from a nearby mountain that we drove up until it started to hail. All in all-it was still a good and restful weekend!

Not much else to say except...THIS IS AFRICA!

Just hanging out by the pool before dinner.

More picture to come soon.....

Daylan, Heather and I

Weekend Away

It was so good to get out of the city for the weekend. We took a trip about a hour up country to Mayor's Ranch. Heather (one of my house mates) brother is working as a manager of the ranch. Mayor's Ranch is originally owned my John and Jane Mayor. They have developed the land for various reasons such as cattle, planting roses, and various other endevours. Most recently they have been producing fresh spring water and botteling it. The Mayors are currently in the process of selling the ranch to be used for a children's home for Kenyan children with disabilities. It is going to be awesome when it all gets going. Until then-it is our personal retreat center!
I was able to spend the weekend with some very good friends that I have made here in Nairobi. Hannah is a friend of mine that works for Amani. Amani is a place for refuge women in Kenya. The teach them a trade, like sewing or cooking or bead work, and then offer them a place to live and a job. It is an awesome out reach. Some of the other people in the pictures or teachers from Rosslyn Academy, another MK school here in Nairobi. Kelly is a girl who has been living with us for the last month. She grew up in Kenya and attended Rift Valley Academy with Bryan and Heather. She just left last night and we were sad to see her go!
All in all the weekend was sunny and beautiful. It was an awesome chance to get to enjoy the beauty and creativity of God's creation. On Sunday afternoon we had a picnic in the back yard on a blanket. After we got done eating Heather, Hannah and I stayed out on the blanket to take a nap in the sun. Unfortuanely we could not get much sleep as monkey's started surrounding us. There were probably about 15 of them in all. They started getting really daring so we had to move to the porch. So many good stories and fun times. If you come visit me I promise I will bring you to Mayor's Ranch-just a little motivation!!!

My visit to the "Garden of Eden"

Sports

Sports at WNS have started up again. We are getting bigger and bigger each year and with that comes more teams. We have added tennis this year. I was super nervous about it at first but I think it is going to be really good. We also have a High school and Middle School girls' basketball team. And a HS and MS boys' soccer team. Needless to say the busses are constantly running and as soon as games start we have about two a week. CRAZINESS! Our first games are September 10-coming too soon already

Dora showing off her skills. Dora just came to our school this year. She is in my math and PE class and also on the basketball team. BUSY GIRL!
Just thought it was a cool picture.

I was so worried about not having enough kids for a Tennis team. I needed 8 and we ended up having to have try outs. The kids are really excited about it.

Little bit more of my house...

Pantry with lots of baking good from Heather's mom. She is the head cook at Rift Valley Acadmey but they are on furlough this year. So she left it in our care! :)

Kitchen-yes, those are dirty dishes.

This is what you see as you walk in the entrance.

Sorry I know it is blurry. The other side of the living room. The only thing that belongs to me and Daylan is the table cloth. And we share that! :) Heather's dad took the pictures on the wall. They are of African cats. SO AWESOME!!!

Comfy living room-all the furniture belongs to Heather or her parents who are also missionaries here. Heather's family has been in Africa for 4 generations now.

Entrance way from the other side.

Home Sweet Home for Year #2

Here we go again...

Daylan and I were very excited about the first day of school and we wanted to share that with you. We have our back packs and everything. No wonder people always think we are students. But seriously it was such a good first two days. I love these kids SO much! So precious!

Some of you may remember that we took a picture like this last year too.

But it wasn't quite as freezing.

I MISS THE SUNSHINE!!!

Still very excited about our first day of school! Just like the good old days.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY FAMILY

YEA THAT IS RIGHT....ALL THREE OF YOU! Wish I could be there to celebrate with you Keiser, Trish and Papa! I miss you all already and wish you could come and visit Kenya. Maybe when it is warm! I tried to put on some new pictures but the internet is too slow (TIA). I will update soon with new pictures I promise!

Today was the first day of school and so far so good. It was so good to see all the kids again and meet the new ones. Not quite as many names to learn this year which will be a huge blessing. As of right now my schedule consists of PE for grads 6-10, 7th grade math, and of course my AD responsibilities and coaching. I am excited for the school year ahead! Thanks for your prayers!