Ben Ries! Congratulations! I will be sending a live elephant your way soon. Better yet, why don’t we take you on a safari in February and you can see them in their natural habitat? Keep checking the mail, your treat from Togo will arrive in about 3 weeks. Thanks to everyone for playing along. Happy Reading!
Archive for October, 2007
You’re out! I know I am out! Oooh, ya missed me! That touched you!! And lots of laughter have been heard on our playground at recess all week.
Realizing that the kids were missing out on some classic recess games, Bryan kindly brought back 3 bouncy balls from America for the school. I showed the kids how to play dodgeball and now they are dodgeball maniacs! (One of them actually asked me if I invented the game! Poor sheltered missionary kids.) Each day they’ve honed their skills and become a bit more aggressive. It’s been entertaining to watch the progression.
If dodgeball wasn’t enough, today the tetherball was tied onto a new pole! Andrea Miller and David Reeves demonstrated to the kids how a game is played. They way the kids were cheering you would’ve thought they were at the Super Bowl! Life can’t get much better, can it?
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Isaac, Hannah and Abby have greatly improved their drawing skills this year. For our art curriculum we are using The Draw Squad, it’s a great book that teaches simple cartoon drawings using 10 key drawing words. You can catch them during the day huddled over their sketch pads practicing their latest skill. I have seen them grow in confidence as their skills have increased. I picked a few of the best drawing from our Art Wall for you to enjoy! In order of appearance…Hannah’s Ant Town, Abby’s bedroom and Isaac’s castle battle scene.
This is not an original idea with me, but I think it’ll be fun….
As a way to say “Thanks” to my readers for actually reading what I write AND leaving comments from time to time. I am having a little blog contest. It’s simple really, if you are the 10,000 visitor to New Creation leave a comment and you’ll receive a small gift from Togo!!! (Oooh…I wonder what it could be? Sugar peanuts? A carved elephant? Lovely fabric?)
How can you tell if you’re the 10,000 visitor? Check the blog stats on the right column. Can’t wait to see who wins!!!!
I imagine there are siblings who adore each other from the get-go. The older child dotes on the younger…the younger admires the older. Perfect bosom friends for life or something like that.
But, that’s not the way it’s worked out between my two oldest sons. Let me give you a little background. Isaac, 9 and Graham, 7 are only 20 months apart. I naively thought when the doctor told me that I would have another boy that they would be sorta the same. How different can two boys be? My ideals/stereotypes about boys (and children) were shattered when Graham was born and in the first few weeks noticed how different he was from Isaac. Fast forward to our move to Togo and the differences became even more obvious. Graham loved interacting with our African friends while Isaac shouted at them to leave our house!
As they’ve aged I’ve witnessed them develop distinct personalities, likes, dislikes and outlooks on life. And they couldn’t be more different!!! Isaac loves to read, play video games, learn about nature and stay indoors. He has an amazing memory and notices details (even though it seems like he’s spacing out!). He likes to be in charge and talks…a lot!!! Graham is a people person-he seems to have the ability to make friends with people of all ages. He loves to be outdoors riding his bike or playing basketball. He wants to please and is a rule keeper. He is affectionate too- he rarely walks past me without giving a hug. He likes for everyone to be treated fairly and he talks….a lot!!!!
Can you see how different they are? (Except for the talking part.) They have had a hard time being friends which is difficult as their mother because I love them BOTH so much!!! So, a lot of time around our house is spent in coaching them how to love and enjoy each other. Lately, they have been having an especially difficult time. So, when I overheard this conversation between the two them over a bowl of cereal this morning, I stopped and listened.
Isaac- Graham you should be a comedian. (Authoritatively)
Graham- What’s that? (A bit suspiciously)
Isaac- It’s someone who makes other people laugh. But, not for kids. It’s a grown-up job. You make other grown-ups laugh….AND you get money!!!
Graham- Okay. (Liking the fact that his older brother has said something nice to him.) Why did the penguin dive in after the seal?
Isaac- Why?
Graham - (With laughter) Because he didn’t want to get eaten!!!
Isaac- (Dead serious) Graham, that’s not funny.
Graham- Continues laughing. I think he’s feeling good anyway.
Well, at least they are on the right track.
My community of friends in Togo was hit hard yesterday.
Brett and April Emerson’s new truck was wrecked when Abalo- a mechanic and school employee - lost control of the vehicle and drove off a bridge. Abalo was the only one in the truck at the time. He is in critical condition. He has a wife and children.
Esowe and Adam, dear Kabiye friends, are grieving the death of their 3 months old daughter, Esther. She died unexpectedly in the arms of their 9 year old daughter. Esowe teaches our children French two mornings a week at school. She also taught Becky, Andrea, countless interns and myself Kabiye.
Please pray for these beloved brothers and sisters in Christ in their times of need.
Bryan is home!!!! After an adventurous border crossing, he and Jim (our PRCC friend) made it back to Kara. The boys and I all rushed out of the house as soon as we heard the truck. Today, we enjoyed our day off together at the Kara pool. Here are the guys reunited under a sign we made together.
Here’s a shot of Graham enjoying the new rope swing!
Fourth Grade Tales, the official writing blog of my 4th grade class is ready for you to pay it a visit! For the first set of postings, Isaac Ries, Abigail Miller and Hannah Reeves have each written a story from the perspective of a gold nugget. This assignment went along with our history study of the 1849 California Gold Rush. I know they would appreciate you taking the time to read and comment on their stories. A little bit of encouragement goes a long way to an aspiring writer. Go now… fourthgradetales.wordpress.com
Bryan will be back home on Sunday evening, Lord willing! (This is election day and the Togo/Ghana border will be officially closed. He’s hoping to sweet talk his way through…please pray!) I am ready to have him back. The boys are ready to have him back. Even Charger, the dog, is ready to have him back!
We have been able to chat with him on the phone nearly every evening. The boys have enjoyed reporting on how well they’ve been behaving. (Many of you must be praying!! Thank you!!) Even with their good attitudes, it’s been difficult being the only parent at home. It’s times like these that I am thankful that I have such an incredible helper in Bryan. He makes sack lunches and breakfast for us every school morning, keeps up with the laundry, and is great at after dinner clean-up! Hurry home, please!!!!
In spite of missing Bryan, we’ve had some fun times. Over the weekend, we decorated fall sugar cookies and went swimming at the pool. Brett Emerson came over to hang a rope from our flamboyant tree for the boys to use as a rope swing. They’ve been having fun getting the hang of it. (I will have to post pictures later…Bryan has the camera.)
In the evenings, after the kids are in bed I’ve enjoyed watching the TV show from TLC - What Not to Wear. As I watch, I am trying to learn what’s fashionable in America these days. Of course, most of what they recommend like layering is impossible in this tropical climate! They also love heels. I do too, but I’ve worn only flip-flops for the past 7 years. I still have a lot to learn!
Thank you for your prayers and encouraging notes recently. I have appreciated them tremendously! Blessings to you!
It’s been awhile since I’ve posted. (Did anyone miss me?) Here’s why, we were out of country to attend a team retreat. Then, when I arrived back home my Internet was down. It took a few days to get it working again. The third reason is that I’m dog tired without my husband around to help me with the boys after a day of teaching. Plus it’s been very hot! But, I’ve rallied long enough to give a little update…aren’t you pleased?
Our family had a wonderful time at our bi-annual team retreat at Coconut Grove in Elmina, Ghana. It was refreshing to get away and enjoy God’s amazing Atlantic Ocean! The grown-ups spent time setting personal goals for the next six months, affirming each others God-given gifts and praying for the work and each other. During our meetings, the children were entertained by Beth and Tyler Friesen- a sister/brother pair of teenagers from Kara that traveled with us. As families, we enjoyed playing in the waves! This is the first year for all three Ries boys to really like the roughness of the ocean. They handled swallowing sea water, being knocked down by powerful waves and sand in their trunks like pros! They also rode horses and collected sea shells.
After saying good-bye to Bryan in Accra, Emily, the boys and I made our way back to Kara. It was a prayer covered trip to be sure! The boys did great during the 11 hour drive (a BIG thank you to Emily!). I did pretty good too considering that it’s election season here and every small town we passed through the road was filled with campaigners. One guy even jumped on the back of our truck and started dancing! All the excitement slowed the trip down some, but to be honest it took two hours longer than when Bryan drives because I’m a slower drive. The boys reminded me of this frequently.
Now we are back home and into the swing of the school routine. I am more tired than usual, but it’s the good kind of tired…a job well done tired. I am using all I’ve got to keep meals coming, lessons prepared and attitudes in check (including my own). Thankfully, I’ve learned that sometimes even that’s not enough! God is my strong tower and believe me I’m running into Him!
Blessings to you!!!
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