Spring

PICTURES in the post below!

 

We had so much fun having Ron and Jasmine visit us recently!   Ron was able to find the end of the cave we have been exploring and carried me on his back (while I tried to support my weight on the cave walls) to get there too since he was wearing the boots!  Forthcoming back surgery bill is on me.  We have really missed their crew this year - especially at holiday time!

We had quite the end of year.  Soon after I last wrote came a string of unbelievably vicious parental emails to all parents mostly against the interim director who has graciously stayed with us through everything.  There was also a call to boycott the PTA elections because the school did not see the need to follow the 96 pages of Moroccan parliamentary electoral law for PTA elections.  And on and on it went,  And then came the Annie performance.  That seemed to be a turning point followed by several other positives on which the year ended.  The school hired a new director so we hope and pray things will improve next year.   

Kendra had a lot of fun in Annie. I discovered that a musical is way more work than a regular play.  I had a bit part and also ended up in charge of costumes which was both good and frustrating. It was really fun for us to share the experience of working on the drama together. As I was putting on her stage makeup, Kendra protested loudly saying, "Stop!  You're breaking my environmental beauty!"

Katrina ended the year with a report on Iceland.  For the international potluck our class had, we made Kliene - an impossible-to-make pastry that involved pulling a side of a dough trapezoid through the center.  And the girls have now enthusiastically declared that Icelandic music is their favorite!  We may have one of the few ipods in the world with an "Icelandic folk music" play list.  In case you are wondering what exactly that sounds like, think Celtic music with the addition of the ominous sound of vikings who are coming to force everyone to make Kliene. 

Gerald has had a much better crop of students this year, so all hope is not lost.  Yesterday they wanted a class picture with their professor before he gave the exam.  I suppose they figured the smiles would be before and not after!  He has spent most of the summer session juggling interviews (several profs just up and left), thesis presentations, and doubling of a lot of classes so that he can make it to the reunion. 

And thanks so much for praying us through the rabies situation! The girls were able to finish all vaccinations in Morocco because Gerald was able to get a refund for our canceled flight which we used for a later flight.  That is also why we have separate itineraries both coming and going!

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