Separation

Joseph said to me: "Remember how the house was so empty after Baxter (our dog) died?  You'll probably feel like that again after I go to college."  His comparison made me laugh.

I had to sit alone in church today.  Someone was definitely missing. 

It felt a little like when Baxter died. 

More Vacation FUN

Flying & swimming were great fun, but seeing the cousins was GREAT FUN.

Dancing with Avery

Kicking with Mallory

Slowing Emily down every chance he got

Everyone who has asked G about his vacation has been treated to his stories about "my Emily."

And, of course, Joseph got into the act - everything from beading to drawing.

Good times.

More Vacation Fun

In addition to flying on "my airplane," G also loved swimming.

And loved swimming.

And loved swimming!

Career Training

Our future pilot LOVED flying to Foh-dah.

G vs Privacy

We've been learning about "privacy" lately... that sometimes people (read: Mama) need a little privacy.  G is very interested in the concept.

We practice. 

"G, Mama is going to use the bathroom.  I will be out in one minute."

"You need privacy?"

"Yes, I would like a little privacy.  Thank you."

I close the door.

I am alone!

Except for the little voice that is clearly coming from a small person who is lying on his stomach, face pressed up to the crack under the door.

"Be safe in dere...."

"Don't be locked in dere...."

"I can see yo bottom...."

Interested in the concept... but not quite grasping the concept.

Brothers

Joseph has been babysitting G on the days when Mr. Jim is away.

The house is a mess when I get home.

I can live with that.

Are you aware?

I read about life in Haiti and wonder... do Americans know what our neighbors are facing?

Here are a few facts from a recent radio interview with Dr. Paul Farmer, United Nations Deputy Special Envoy in Haiti.


DAVIES: How many people are still without permanent homes?



Dr. FARMER: The estimates right now are that there was a peak at 1.3 million in the summer and fall after the quake, that as many as 800,000 are still without shelter all these many months later. And of course this is a reflection not only of the destruction of the housing stock, some estimates have 225,000 homes destroyed, but this huge number is not simply a reflection of what got destroyed in the quake.

It's also a reflection of very poor access to housing for poor people in the urban areas of Haiti that has been a longstanding problem....

DAVIES: Right, and we should mention, that 800,000 is out of a country of, what, nine million, right?


Dr. FARMER: Right.


DAVIES: Right. Now, a cholera epidemic erupted in Haiti last year. First of all, just explain the illness for us.


Dr. FARMER: Cholera is a waterborne bacterial disease that causes very distinctive, explosive watery diarrhea, and it can shrivel a very healthy person, kill them in a matter of hours. It's really one of the few infectious disease emergencies that we see. It's also, of course, a public health emergency because it's spread through poor sanitation.


DAVIES: Well, let's talk about them, the state of health conditions and particularly the cholera epidemic. Is that under control?


Dr. FARMER:   ...  I would say that the epidemic is not only not under control, but it sort of exploded on the scene like a bomb, causing some hundreds of thousands of cases. Again, there's poor reporting capacity in Haiti, so we're not sure how many, and you know, upwards of 6,000 deaths. Again, that's probably an underestimate on both scores: the number of cases and the number of deaths.


Are we aware?

Is our awareness evidenced by our action?

The Fruit of Summer School

I debated before I sent G to school in his new shirt. 

I didn't want it stained.  But I assured myself: It is Summer SCHOOL, not Summer Camp. 

Away he went.

And came home with -permanent?- marker streaked across his belly.

Enjoy with me the new - stained - shirt.

(Stinky photo.  It's worse than it looks.  Trust me.)

At least I got the satisfaction of knowing that his creative side was being challenged.

It's worth the sacrifice of a new shirt for the production of a masterpiece.

What's the significance of a shirt compared to the expression of artistic imagination?

In case you're wondering - That's really it.  The small green streak on the paper.... that's the complete art project.  Thank goodness they sent that one home for display.


And - in case you care about important things - G's right eye is being patched each day in order to force the strengthening of his left eye.  Thanks for caring.

Morning Announcement

The last few mornings when G has woken up, he's scurried out to find me, and announced:

"TA DA!"

Apparently he's somewhat confident that I'll be happy to see him.

The Epitome of Wonderful

Monday I said to G: "Something exciting is going to happen tomorrow!"

G came right back with his best guess: "Missah Jim is gonna come?!?"

Yep.  That's as good as it gets around here. 
Mr. Jim coming to our house is celebrated daily by all.

Our Second 4th

Nothing is our first holiday with G any more.

Love that.

I owe you one