13 June 2010

Today we actually woke up kind of late- we didn't get out of bed til about 6:30. Zazu and I were talking about how things are so much more laid back now that Scar and Sarabi are here, they tend to all the daily activitie that we were taking care of last time ( the workers, the keys, the go-go's, the food room, the clothes room, emergencies, etc.) so fortuanately for us that means that all we have to do and worry about are THE KIDS!! Hooray! So this morning Rafiki and Timon were evaluating the kids one at a time to see where they are at academically. While they were doing that and the older ones were doing their chores I went and played with the other kids ( Hips, Froggy, Chickem, Drama, Mr. Leech, Simon and Dee-Dee). They were dancing and singing for me it was so cute!!

They then decided that this blonde, thick, large amount of hair that I have is a mysterious wonder to them so they all started playing with it; Mama, Thinker and Obama also joined in on the hair styling. At one point I counted more then 12 hands playing with, pulling, twisting and braiding my hair at one time. An hour later and my hair was unsure if it was naturally curly, straight, a comb over, has cow licks, is naturally twisted or what but the war with the newly made rats nest was 100% totally worth the hour of laughs, smiles and fun!

When everyone was done with their chores I set up a soccer game with Obama, Abraham, Clown, Hands, Futbol and Rock. I told them that I would be on both teams so to keep an eye on me and which way I was playing and man we have some good players! They were doing all the real soccer moves with the head bumps, chest pumps, kicking their leg above thier head, etc. It was so much fun to watch them play and to be able to play with them.

After that all the kids took extreme interest in our cameras like always so we let them walk around and take pictures as long as they were careful, they shared and they stayed where we could see them. Braids, Mana, Futbol and Tude were the ones that took my camera, they were seriously cracking me because they would pose in the flowers or around things, I then showed them how they could take video with it and they took so many videos of Tude standing in the flowers singing- So precious!

I then went and sat by the playground where Queen, Dee-Dee, Froggy, Drama, Hips and baby girl were playing house and kitchen. Then Mr Leech came by with Volume in the wheelbarrow, I told him that I wanted a ride so him Drama, Queen and Thinker took turns running me around in it, these kids are so strong! It is so much fun to just let go and be a kid agian! I was then told that Nala needed to use my hair to teach the girls how to do things with is so I needed to go wash it so Tude, Braids and Lips helped me shampoo and rinse my hair. We then played with Jump, Baby Girl, Little Rat, Simon and Giggles.

When it was lunch time the 3 of us decided that we needed a bit of a break so we came back up to our flat, they went in their rooms to take a small nap while I stayed on the couch ( which was a bad idea because people were coming in and out the whole time.) Scar then took all the boys to a wedding so we had a girls day! It started off with Volume, Tude, Lips and Braids up in our flat where we practiced reading and math, if they did well I painted their toe nails ( it was nice to get that one on one time with them) Mama then came up and joined us.

After awhile before it started getting dark we decided that we would walk to the damn. It was a easy walk and it was so much fun to have the girls ( Rafiki, Timon, Zazu, Mama, Dancer, Tude, Hips, Braids, Lips, Queen, Froggy, Dee-Dee, Chicken, Drama and Smarts (who surprised us by following us there).) We walked across the dam and then walked up the rock hill -which we named Pride Rock-. Then all the kids and I started to slide down the side of the rock by sitting on our shoes, a piece of plastic we foumd, or just by sitting on our butts. It was sooo much fun! You actually get going really fast! Then the kids walked around the bottom of the rocks and then came running up the hill with their faces painted ghostly white, growling and making scary nosies. It was funny cuz they actually did look kind of scary! We then walked back because it was almost dusk. It was so much fun walking with and spending so much time with girls, we sang songs and danced or just talked to get to know each other better.

When we got back it was bath time and supper time. Baby Girl surprised me with how much food she ate- she ate more then I did! We then told the kids goodnight and came up to our flat to do somethings when Mr. GQ and Mana surprised us by bringing us a big bowl of popcorn! Scar then came in to work on his computer and to get some help putting pictures on it, it has been nice to get to know him and I am amazed at the positive changes and differences I am seeing that are taking place. He really cares for and loves these kids- they desereve it and for them to have such a strong make role model just makes me so happy! I love it here so much! I want to take them all home with me- every last one! I"M SO BLESSED!!

P.S. I forgot to mention the other day while on the plane from Ethopia to Harare when I looked out the window I could see a huge blanket of clouds and poking out of them- like a huge part poking out was Mt. Kilamanagro ( however you spell it). It was so fascinatingly awesome!!


Getting my hair did by a handful of kids


Thinker pushing Jump in the wheelbarrow


T, Froggie, Hips, Drama and Simon dancing for me


Tude and Mr Leech doing flashcards with Rafiki


Me with some of my kids


The girls sliding and walking down the rock


The girls running back up the rock


The girls standing on top of the rock with Zazu, Rafiki and Timon


Walking to the damn


Walking across the damn

12 June 2010

Dear Journal

We woke up pretty early got ready went and ate breakfast and just kind of hung out til Paula came back to pick us up, when they came we started heading to the orphanage!!! I CAN'T WAIT! We began our 5 1/2 hour trip, with 3 people on a small pick up front seat, the back of the pick up was full of 12+ bags and 3 girls so we cozied up and set off. I am so excited! I couldn't stop talking about my kids and how excited I am to see each and everyone of them. We stopped by the half way house and bought some banana bread and some drinks, we then continued on the rest of the way - I COULDN'T WAIT!

When we pulled up to the gate and Crazy old Man was the one and guard, he remembered me and was as excited to see me as I was to see him. We then pulled up, parked and got out of the car. Hands came out and said "Hi Auntie Kourtin", I said hi and asked him where everyone else was and he said they were inside and that he would go get the, all we could hear was Hands yelling "Autnie Kourtin is here! It's Auntie Kourtin!" we could then hear the place burst with noise as all the kids yelled "Auntie Kourtin, Auntie Kourtin!" Thinker was the first one that I saw and he literally ran full speed to me and jumped into my arms with a huge hug! He was followed by Rock, Mana, Clown, Obama, Futbol, Mama, Dancer, Hips, Dee Dee, Froggy, Lips, Queen, Mr. Leech, Smarts, Drama, Volume and many more. They all ran to meet Rafiki and Timon. Hello then came out to say hi and brought Bugzy ( the 2 month old baby) for me to meet, the older kids then went and got Simon, Little Rat, Baby Girl and Jump for me to say hi to, they didn't remember me so they were shy but I seriously cannot believe how big they have gotten! I then went in and met Giggles ( also a 2 month old, both of the babies were abandonded).

We then took Timon and Rafiki on a tour of the orphanage- the laundry room ( new and really cool ), the play ground, the kitchen, the girls rooms, the boys dorm, the chickens and the goats. They then wanted to go on a hike up the mountian so Timon, Rafiki, Zazu and Hyena took all the older kids. I chose to stay behind because my back/leg was hurting really badly all day. It was nice to sit and visit with Hello again and to hold, cuddle and love on the new babies and play with my "old babies".

A lady then came with her baby who is a hydrocepth baby and his shunt is not working he is also very malnourished so AP being AP got her clothes, food, and stuff for the baby and her other kids at home. We then went through some of the stuff we brought, fed the kids dinner, and told everyone good night so we could get some rest and get settled in, It is so AMAZING to be back here! It feels like I have never been gone! I love it here! I love these kids so much!

everyone has been given nick names to protect thier idenity


Timon, Rafiki and I in the back of the pickup


Some of my kids!


Hello and Baby girl


The lady and her sick baby

11 June 2010

Dear Journal

This morning after a some what restless night ( I swear there was an army of dogs in a very heated conversation that chose to keep us up all night ). We got ready for the day and went down to eat breakfast before our shuttle came to take us to the airport. We have met some really nice people so we all just sat in the lobby and talked as we waited, while we were waiting the manager came up to us and said that since we had so much luggage just between us that we would have our own shuttle ( at the time it was just Rafiki, Timon and myself) we thanked them and told them about the other large group we had met so they reserved a bus for us. Well since there was 10 people and more then 30 pieces of luggage we ended up using 2 buses, we got to the airport went through security 2 more times, got checked in, got our passport stamped and finally to our gate.
We finally made it to our gate but since we still had a while we went and looked at some shops and used the restroom before actually going through our gate where we had to go through security- you guessed it- yet again. While waiting we learned that our plane was delayed so we waited agian ( man we are getting so good at waiting- I didn't write much yesterday because that's what we mainly did was wait.) Finally an hour and a half late we boarded our plane and took off- let me just say that they definately tried to cram as many seats as humanly possible on this flight, your knees were literally touching the seat in front of you and you had maybe 3 inches of space to breathe ( well maybe there was really like a foot of space between the seat in front of you and your head but seriously!) After about 4 hours on this plane we landed in Harare! HOORAY!! We waited in yes another line to get our visas, we got our luggage and went out and guess who was there waiting with open arms? AP!! I was so excited to see her again, and Zazu and Cars was there also!
They decided to drop us girls off at the Mbizi Game Park the same one I stayed at last time, it was cool to experience it again and share it with Rafiki and Timon. We decided to go on a game drive, we saw Zebras ( we learned that they all have thier own indiviual stipe system like we have our fingerprints, the black stripes soak in the heat and the white ones release the heat causing body temperature regulation also some of them have brown strips that secret body fluids, there are 3 different types of Zebras, they only have one baby at a time as a form of protection so there are more Zebra's to watch the one little one. We learned alot more but I fogot it).
When we got done on the ride Rafiki, Timon and I walked around the grounds then went in and watched some soccer with the workers since it is the World Cup in South Africa right now, we then ate dinner ( super delicious!), desert and tea. The whole time Zazu and I had been talking about the kids, who is still there, the new kids, who has left and the new manager ( AP hired a manager and Zazu thinks him and his wife are prefect for the job!), things that have changed and other things that still need to change. We talked so much about the kids! I CANNOT WAIT TO GO SEE THEM!!! It will be so amazing to be reunited! I also learned that more kids are gone then I thought 4 total but that we have 3 new one and I cannot wait to get to know them as well. I cannot wait to go see my kids! Tomorrow can't come fast enough! We are all headed to bed now, I am so blessed! I AM SO BLESSED! I AM SO LUCKY! I AM LIVING A DREAM COME TRUE!!


Zazu on the game ride


Rafiki and Timon on the game ride


Zebras


Zebra

10 June 2010

Dear Journal

Well yesterday started extremely early since I had to be to the shuttle by 5:45 so J Dawg was nice enough to drop me off. I got into Houston by 7:30, I checked in and went through security, since I had 4 hours til my plane left I sat around, read, called and texted a few people to say good bye. I then got to Washington DC where I had another layover and I waited for Rafiki and Timon to get there since we were on the same flight the rest of the way. While we were waiting we got dinner, while we were eating I told them all about the orphanage, my kids and everything, I think it has finally hit me that I am going back!! I CAN'T WAIT!!! We then boarded our 17 hour flight to Ethiopia- very uneventful- we slept, read, ate, watched tv and talked. On the way we had to stop in Rome ( man I wish that was the place that we were staying over night in, then I could sight see!), we then continued the rest of the way to Ethiopia once we got there we had to go through immigration, customs, get our luggage, and find out about our hotel. We then boarded the shuttle bus ( 20 bags + 10 people into a small bus = VERY CROWDED) Once we got to the hotel we unloaded our stuff and got our rooms. They gave us 3 rooms but the 3 of us + 10 bags decided we would room together for a cozy night! We then went down ate dinner and are now going to be to do it all over again tomorrow.. I CAN'T WAIT


Rafiki and Timon


Rafiki and I

Getting ready to go

D and I emptied all the boxes and bags that were full of donated items for me to take with me, after going through everything, sorting the piles, staying up til 5 am packing we were able to fill my suitcases with 180 pounds worth of items!! Thank you so much to all of those who donated, seeing the faces of those who received stuff was the best! Thank you for all of those who helped in one way or another!

This wasn't even half of the stuff, D's house was covered in stuff!!!

Buffalo River Canoe Trip

The first week of June I went with a good group of people up to Arkansas where we canoed down the Buffalo River. It was a lot of fun! We spent the first day driving the 10 hours to get there then setting up camp, the second day we packed up camp and started our trip down the river, we canoed about 14 miles this day then stopped again and set up camp... we had a couple minor accidents the first day, one kid knocked his front tooth out while jumping from a 90 foot cliff and our "leader" busted his elbow open by slipping on the ever so slippery rocks so we ended up leaving a night earlier then planned but it was so much fun... so day three we pack up again and canoe about 7 miles to the end where we load up in the cars to start the 10 hour ride back home. The water was pretty shallow so we kept getting stuck on the rocks and had to get out and push and of course many of us kept running into trees or rocks and tipping the canoe. It was such a fun trip and we had the best people go! I hope they make it a tradition and we go again next year!


Entertaining ourselves on the drive, we were the life of the car!


Stopped for a look at the view


E, M, M and I out on the river


Taking a break for lunch and swimming


The pretty river


The gorgeous landscape


We are gonna jump


L, G and I


The girls before we all jumped in unison

I am back

I have just gotten back and I will update and put pictures on like I have promised. I will start from the very beginning of the summer and work from there, so join me as I go back in time

Leaving For Africa

Tomorrow morning I leave for Africa.. I will be gone for a month and it is hard to update while I am there but check back in July for some amazing pictures and stories!

An Angel in White

Annabel truely is an angel and I am so head over heels in love with her! I can't imagine loving someone more then I love her! She is my angel, my sunshine, my sweetheart, my love, my life! I love you Bella!!

Chuck E Cheese

The other day I had the great opportunity to go with Annabel and her class to thier end of the year field trip to Chuck E Cheese. It was so fun to see the kids faces as they went on the little rides or when we played a game that had bright lights. These kids are such angels and I have loved getting to know each of them this year!


On stage dancing with Chuck E


She enjoyed riding with stewart little


She wasn't a big fan of her "car mate" :}

Pool Princess

Ever since the weather has been nice and the pool's heater has been on, I have loved taking Annabel out to swim! She will kick and wiggle or just sit in your arms relaxed as you move around the pool. She is so stinking cute and so happy all the time! I love her so much and love doing everything with her!

Gator Country

Gary Saurage had a dream to go rescue alligators from surrounding areas and to take them back to an alligator farm so that they could continue living and not be a harm to others. So four years ago he made a dream a reality and opened up Gator Country where he brings the rescued gators and gives educational shows to those who come to visit. Also he now has a tv show on CMT called Gator 911 where he and his team are filmed rescuing alligators from pipes, pools, peoples yards and other places. Gary is the only person in the world besides Steve Irwin to have the license he has to be able to go and rescue any gator, from any location and bring them back alive. He truely is an amazing guy!

Today I had the amazing opportunity to go with my friend D and some of her kids, they have rescued over 300 alligators all which reside here at G.C.( gator country). They brought Chubbs the baby alligator out for everyone to hold, they allowd each child to hold him and take a photo, they then brought out a 5 ft albino python and allowed everyone to touch or hold it as well. After that they gave each of the kids two hotdogs and let them go feed the alligators by throwing small pieces into the ponds, they then got everyone together and did a "show" for us. They talked for about 45 minutes about Alligators, Crocodiles, Caimans and Snakes. They had animals to comoe out and show the kids and they were very interactive and well educated, such a great thing for children! The last thing they showed us was Big Al he is the largest alligator in captivity in the state of Texas weighing in at more then 1000 pounds and longer then 14 feet long!

I really enjoyed going there today and learned so much about these animals it was so fascinating!

I'm so excited!

I get the wonderful ooptunity to return back to Africa this summer to help my aunt with the orphanage. I can not wait to get back there and see all the kids, I have missed them so much! My life was forever changed by those kids and I cannot wait to get back there to spend time with them!