Africa

Don't you love Out of Africa? One afternoon, years ago, I sat weeping after viewing it AGAIN and Jenny said, "Mom, you can't watch this movie anymore. No more crying." I DO watch it over and over again. I have the soundtrack on my iPod and I bought the book Tuesday night. I plan on treating myself to read aloud sessions, small sections savored and enjoyed!

Bill and Jeff went shark diving off of Capetown, South Africa today! Eeeeeeeek! I got an email from Bill in the wee hours of the morning. This was his second go at cage diving with Great White sharks and this time the water was clear and they came right up to peer at Jeff and Bill with their beady, hard eyes. Bill loved it! Jeff loved it, but got a little sea sick. They are enjoying Capetown very much. The Sixth Avenue camp is a place where kids feel loved, women feel paid attention to and need is great.

Here's Jeff with a few of the beautiful kids.

Look at our Jeff on the boat, returning to shore. He seems pretty relaxed after a swim with sharks!
I miss them. I'm ready for them to return, but I'm thankful that they are reaching out and caring for people.
Thank you for all your sweet and reassuring comments after my bad day on Monday. The way you reach out is so true and real and I am a happy recipient of the outpouring of your squishy, pink hearts. Yahoo!
Remember that book I am reading called Making Crosses? Well, here is a sweet little tidbit from its pages . . . God wants your attention not your perfection.
Wow, huh? I like that. I feel loved.

Cape Town and My Town

This is Nathaniel and Reggie who live at a sort of "camp" in Cape Town. Bill took this photo with his phone so it is kind of blurry. Tonight (or this morning - I get confused) there will be a food distribution there. Our friends (Ben and Alicia) have been visiting the squatters village for two years now, trying to teach the kids to read, playing games with them, and enjoying getting to know them. Bill will leave Cape Town and head to Uganda soon. The time difference means that he's sleeping while I'm at school and I'm sleeping when he wakes up. So, I can't email much or text message. Sigh.
Kelli is sick with some sort of virus and wanted to go to the clinic last night to see if she had strep. Jeff and I went over to their house after dinner. Pom Pom is pretty tired and "pepless" after 6 o'clock but Birdie and Miss Bug were cheerful and sweet. Miss Bug is so soft and lovely. Holding her and smooching her is pure heaven. She smiles and coos. She studies my face and loves to be loved.
School is a marathon. I'm pooped at the end of the day and I already feel like there isn't enough time to do all the things I want to in class. There are so many sweet eighth graders. There are some very noisy ones, too. When I check their state scores, I see that the noisy ones aren't learning as much and I must try to figure out how to help them. Big job.
I am up early, ready for my coffee and then early to school to meet with a few wonderful women there and then teach, teach, teach before coming home and eating pot roast with the girls, trying to have our girls' time (Bill's not here to keep the kids entertained so we'll see) and fall into bed, anticipating Friday and a three day weekend! Yahoo for Labor Day! Thank you for visiting, dearest readers and thank you for your interesting comments. May you have a day filled with fresh air. My classroom is so hot - it's a wonder I don't melt into a puddle. xopp