CAMP OF THE WOODS 2008

These girls were my best friends at camp. You will recognize Brooke on the left--horn player from Eastman, bridesmaid. I very much
enjoyed spending the summer with her.
The other girls are Anna, Sarah, and Christia.


Ice cream was very important at camp. :) Moose tracks is the favorite. Or soft serve vanilla with Snickers pieces.



As I was looking at which pictures to post, I found myself repeatedly choosing beach pictures. It is one of my favorite things about camp--I always enjoy walking along the beach, reading a book there, chatting with friends. John got us beach chairs, which we frequently utilized. He actually swam more than I did, and often organized in-water ultimate frisbee games. We also took a late night swim with a few friends. It was cold, but away from the lights of the beachfront accommodations, the stars were SO lovely. We actually "borrowed" a few tubes that were anchored out there and watched the stars.

This picture (above right) was taken after a storm one afternoon.



Though we were often playing concerts or in services as the sun was going down, we managed to enjoy a number of lovely sunsets.






On the right, you see the finalists of the second annual Tapawingo Open, a mini golf tournament between the members of music staff. Over twenty people participated and it was a very entertaining affair. The couple on the far right, Chad and Elissa Winkler, were our housemates.







On the right, you see the view from the top of Snowy mountain. It was a three hour hike to the top. It began to pour as soon as we reached the summit, but it was a short rain and we were able to sit down and enjoy our lunch--we brought a loaf of bread and peanut butter, jelly, pretzels, trail mix, etc, and all plopped down on the wet rocks to make our sandwiches and try to not shiver from the cold and rain. There were 10 of us, and we had a very good time together. Overall, quite a lovely day, in spite of the rain.


On the left, you see John and Anna playing their trombones on the top of Panther mountain. It is a small hike--it only takes a half hour to climb, but has a satisfying view. We hiked to the top several times this summer, and John thought it would be fun to play from the top. It was really cool--there was a very long echo as the sound rolled from side to side and behind us. I think they were satisfied.



Each Monday afternoon, a brass quintet would play by the beach, and occasionally get enough tips to buy them each ice cream after. I usually went to listen. On the right we have John during Brass on the Beach.




This is the woodwind section. The other flute player was part time (she had another job as well) and was somewhat of an understudy. I gave her lessons and joined us for morning rehearsals and played the concerts with us. TJ, the guy beside me, I knew from SMU, and he was baptized this summer while Dad was visiting. The bassoonist went to Eastman, but I didn't know him well there. The oboeist is doing her Master's in Waco, so we plan to visit her sometime.


The woodwind picture and this picture with dad are in "Charlie Park," which is right across from the auditorium where we play. It was SO nice to have Dad visit. I think that he had a relaxing time, and I'm so happy that he met our friends and can visualize where we have spent the last five summers together.

Ok, Mom

Ok, Mom, let's try this like this. First, you might want to cut and past the instructions onto a Word doc so you don't have to navigate back to this post all the time.

In the upper left corner of your screen is a weird little orange icon with something like a B letter. Double click on it. The next page should give you the option of making a "new post," that's what you want to do.

Once you're making a new post, there will be a place for a title, and then just below a tool bar that starts with FONT. Ok, just after the ABC icon further down the toolbar is a little blue landscape icon. CLick there. After that, you will browse and attach pictures just like you would attach a picture to an email. Then follow the prompts and you should be just fine.

HOWEVER it is possible that you don't have exactly the same screen that I have since I am the blog administrator. Tell me if this is the case.

More Picts from Kenya (July)

Here are some of our favorite pics of the children and the way they look in real life. Facial expressions can say so much about a personality! (you can double click on the pictures to see them larger on your screen)Debbi Omondi with Priska, swinging and singing.

Shadach in our driveway, trying to tricycle

And Priska on the MGH slide. She spends a lot of time happily playing out there.

your news

And while I'm here, and you're all about to come here, let me mention that I would like to hear about David/Dad's weekend in KS, and Mom/Brooke's time together.

And the latest update on Grandma's shinanegins.

We had lunch with Diane's today, and it was fun. Aram is going with them to Kitale later this week, he's really excited. They are well.

Also, Tirzah got engaged last week to Chadwick Miller. They are set to get married in October, in Columbus. So at least Aram will plan to fly home. He might take Priska, might not. That's yet to be decided. But just so you know. Mid October

Love you all!
Debbi

Game drive

We just got back from spending two days out of the city at a game preserve. It was an amazing experience, to be outside under a huge sky, look for miles across the endless wild savannah. We took the kids and sat on the roof of a landrover, as Aram drove slowly though the prairie—now passing an ostrich alongside the road, now a herd of wildebeest, a lone eland, then a family of giraffe. The earth and sky swept us up into their own silent, ineffable drama.

It takes about 45 minutes to get from Nairobi to Africa. But once there, Africa carries a sense that little has changed there since the beginning of time. Living here is giving me new windows to see through: I feel like I am able to understand more deeply the world of Native Americans—what their lives might have been like, so close to the earth and the elements. It also makes too much sense why “we” caused them to disappear, and why their lifestyle is now lauded for its mysticism. I also understand better the world Jesus lived in, with hand-fired clay pots, homemade wine (ok, I understood that before), people who sell live animals at market, the poor day laborers. In general, the experience of living here is making my world deeper and broader, and it’s fun to add those thoughts to the other small widgets banging around in my head.

This picture, my favorite from the trip, is Priska sitting on top of the landrover, watching a herd of zebra. You mighgt not be able to see the zebra very well; I made the picture small so it might hope to load. If you click on it, you might be able to see it bigger.

This is the whole group of us--us, and another family, on top of the car, watching animals. The other family we were with are becomming dear friends. They remind me a lot of David and Brooke, which makes them even more endearing.

July in Kenya

So right after I wrote that email saying how hard it is for us to upload pictures, I decided to try it, and it managed just fine. Anyways, welcome back to our blogspot. It has been a long time.

This is a picture of Priska and me when we got your packages from the Goods. We were very happy! (Priska expressing her happiness with a scissors.)


We are enjoying a quiet and chilly Sunday afternoon here. Yes, in July it is quite chilly although you wouldn't know it to watch Priska whose habitual preference is still nudity. We have already braved our church service, which for me today included lots of mud and drizzle as I walked a 20 pound baby to sleep (Shem Shadrach--the ensuing backache will remind me to take the stroller next time), and had a picnic outside with my kids. Aram was preaching, so it seems to just be better for us to stay out of the service completely or else Priska invariably ends up marching up to the podium, when I have turned my back, to give her father a flower or a pretzel or something. (It's cute the first time...) Church right now is for us--at best--a sociological study, although I probably shouldn't admit that on the blog spot. But we go faithfully. Always with a notepad in hand to copy down new Swahili words.

I have really been working to make Sunday be a day that we don't dread. I am reading one of Mom's books, Making Sunday Special, by Karen Mains. It's been helpful, and inspired me that it is worth it to have Sunday hold the meaning that God intended it to. It is supposed to be the hight point of the week, not the abyss. So I've been trying to do what it takes to bring it up off the bottom, although with small children that is difficult. I wonder how Jewish moms were supposed to do it. For now, that includes me packing our diaper bag the night before (diapers, bottles, snacks, toys), planning / finding everyone's clothing and shoes, and planning and shopping for meals. It helps. Although I must admit I don't totally look forward to Sundays yet, but it is coming.

ANWAY, Love you all, and I hope your Sunday is great.

This picture is Priska "talking" on the phone as Baby comes after it. Also notice the small rabbit in the background, who soon thereafter met his demise.

recent picts from Columbus

We went to a farm recently and got to look at the goats. Priska wasn't terribly impressed--squirrels are just fine--but I liked it. this pictures is funny because it looks like I'm casting something out of the poor creature.

Here is Priska at the park. This is the most recent shot of Pinhead and me, although he is desperately due for a new name. S/he has been getting a lot of aerobic exercise in there lately. (22 weeks along)
Another picture with the goat.