Two Races and the Countdown

This was a busy weekend for our family. First, was the annual Pinewood Derby. This has been going on since the dawn of time at RVA and is a very fun day. Kids (and teachers) work for weeks on their wooden cars in preparation for the big race day. The cars race by age categories and there are winners for each each category - speed, unique design, best craftsmanship, etc. I love how this particular day really meets a need for certain kids. When we used to be dorm parents, we had a student who lived for Pinewood Derby. He wasn't into sports or drama but loved to work with his hands and every year he would hours in the woodshop, perfecting his car.

This year Megan was old enough to build her own car (they start at fourth grade). She made a snail car, which was super cute, but did live up to it's name when it came to speed! While disappointed at the car's speed, she was pleasantly surprised that night at the award ceremony to win a prize for most unique design for fourth grade!

Lyndsey, Ian and I made a car and entered it into the women's division. We made an RVA bus. It was very slow and didn't win any prizes (speed or design) but we did get a great comment, after it flipped on the track - "Your car wins the most authentic Kenyan driving award!"

On Sunday, Megan and I participated in another race. RVA hosted a ONE WORLD RUN, a 5k that raises money for AIDS orphans. It is run at the same time all over the globe. It was our first race ever - for both Megan and I . I have actually been running over a year and was not worried about finishing a 5k, but was very worried about the hilly course! I am a complete wimp when it comes to hills. I must admit, I thought by having a cute 9 year old by my side, it would cut me some slack if I didn't make it up the hill.

Well, I was wrong. Megan smoked me! She took off running at the start and I didn't see her again! I think we have a new runner in the family. :) All in all, we both had fun. We both finished well and didn't die of exhaustion - but do have some sore muscles today from all the up-hill running!

And lastly - our countdown! My parents are coming for Christmas! The kids call them "Babu and Tita" and they are SO excited to see them! It has been a very. long. three. years. since we saw them last so we can't wait for Dec. 15 to arrive.

Here is the countdown chain the kids and I made this weekend!

Everyone looks up to someone

Last weekend we finished up our 2011 Varsity Football (soccer) season.  It's one thing to end your season 6-2-1, find yourself in the semi-finals, then finals and ultimately in possession of the championship trophy.  It's an entirely different thing to end your season 6-2-1, find yourself in the semi-finals and be faced with defeat.  That's where we were this year.  The 17 young men that made up the RVA Varsity football team this year were an incredibly talented group.  From the very beginning of the season these young men made the decision to practice with dedication, play with integrity and lead with confidence.  Early on in our season I shared with them a quote from late basketball coaching great, John Wooden; "Remember everyone looks up to someone and someone looks up to you."  We found out how true that really was this year.  But what I found most interesting was that the people who look up to you most, look most intently not when you win, but when you lose.  Why?  Because they want to see "how" you lose.  Are you crushed, defeated, angry, ashamed, bitter?  Or are you able to pick up your head, look your opponent straight in the eye and say "great game...good luck in the finals."  The latter is exactly what this team did, not only were they beaten by one of the toughest teams we'd seen all season, but they were able to congratulate them, pray with and cheer for them at that finals.  This team has taught me a lot about the importance of winning but more the importantly how one faces defeat.

A Full House

We used to be dormparents for nine years, to 9th and 10th grade boys. Our house was never quiet. But there was also never a dull moment.We have since moved out of the dorm and have been living in a "single dwelling" for one and a half years. The first few months out of the dorm were so quiet and it felt strange to not have kids hanging out in our house all the time. I found that I had to be purposeful in my interactions with students. Those moments didn't just happen naturally like they had in the dorm. There are things I really miss about the dorm....and things I don't. But one thing I do know is that when I was a dormparent, I REALLY appreciated a night off, or some down time, in the midst of all the crazy-ness.

So that is why we open our home to kids. To be purposeful in our relationships with the students. To give the dormparents a night off. To have kids hanging all over our furniture again. We find that we don't have to plan a million things in order to bring the kids in. They just love to have a place to hang out. A place to call home. So whenever there is a random weekend with out much going on, we put the word out that our house is open for hang-out time and it usually fills up.

Our own kids really love these nights too. Ian will drag out his Bible man costume and light saber and challenge the big kids to a fight on the lawn. The girls love to sit by the bonfire with the big kids or jump in on a game of Scrabble or Apples to Apples.

We love our job! Where else can you hang out with kids and play games and call it work? :)

Fall Colors

I miss seasons in America. I especially miss the crisp fall air, the leaves turning color and slowly dropping to the ground, the outings to the pumpkin patch, the apple orchard, and of course.....apple cider and donuts!

HOWEVER.....I really can't complain too much. After all, we get fall colors too. They are just more brilliant and well...different! Every year at this time, we get the "short rains" (the "long rains don't come until May or June) and we get some vibrant colors.

the beautiful yellows and golds of the acacia trees...

the lovely lavender of the Jacaranda trees...

the red bottlebrush tree and the green cactus...

close up of the Jacaranda....

the ever-blooming bougainvillea bush... 

that comes in so many different colors...

and back to my favorite...the Jacaranda!

I am so thankful for the beauty around me!