Little of This and That

Over the last month we have realized that are departure date for our visit to the States is coming really fast.  Mark and I have both had lots of little and big things we need and want to get done before we leave.  We are making huge progress on our "to do" list and managing to keep up with daily things as well such as school for the kids.  Brit and Luke have both committed to working extra hard these past few weeks and they have set a goal to finish all school work that is due between now and December 16th (when we were officially going to break for Christmas).  They have done extra lessons each day and it looks like they will be able to get it finished before we leave.  We have 11 school days left.  We are proud of them and we will enjoy our break.  Once we arrive on the 20th we will be Dallas for a few days with Bruce and Diana.  Then off to San Angelo for Thanksgiving with Cary and Stephanie (along with Bruce and Diana).  Then in December off to Florida with Bob and Gayle to see Ken and Nancy, read about them here. 

Last week Mark, along with the help of Doug and William put up a carport so that the bakkie (our truck) has some protection from the African sun as well as the rain and occasional hail we get.  Mark and the rest of the guys (along with Debbie) went to Mozambique for the Annal Pastor's Conference this week.  Luke also had a swimming Gala last week and he finished 2nd in 3 events, back stroke, breast stroke and free style. I have been busy sorting through pictures for presentations in the States, working on updates for the website with Nathan, and trying to cook extra food and freeze meals for Meriam, Jankie and Josh (he came to serve with the mission one year - he's from our sending church, PaulAnn BC),  to have while we are gone.

Luke is on the far right lane

 I forgot to take a picture of the finished product.  Oops, but it is really nice to be able to park both cars under it and bonus it provided much needed shade for the guest bathroom and Brit's room. 

We have this HUGE tree in our back yard that is right next to our fence and it hangs over into the neighbors drive-way.  This tree is beautiful for a few months of the year but the rest it is a real mess.  It is also right next to our sewage line and the man-hole, which we are always having trouble with.  Even the city tried to tell us it was the cause of our sewage always backing up because of the roots, only when they came to dig up my line in the back yard they found it clear of roots.  Well, the neighbor really gets the worst of the tree as this time of year it gets these little yellow flowers and for a few days it looks like snow as the pollen (I guess that is what it is) falls from the tree.  THEN THE BERRIES come.  They are pretty until they fall and most end up on her drive way which makes a huge mess.  Her driveway is even stained from them.  Last week she saw Mark and asked him if he was going to take this tree out.  We did mention to her that we wanted to last year and we even got a quote from a "tree man" to come and remove it and a few other problem trees.  Problem is he wanted R1500 to do it and we just didn't want to spend the money on it.  Monday, Jankie was here working in the yard and he was trimming a few trees and started to trim that one.  Today, he managed to continue trimming, which meant he had to become like a monkey and climb.  Made me nervous he was going to fall but he kept telling me he is fine.  Eventually both kids and Meriam were outside watching and helping.  He got all he could down today and on Tuesday when Mark and Josh are back from Mozambique he wants to get the rest down.  I am sure the neighbor was HAPPY when she came home from work and noticed the tree is coming down just before the berries come. 

I am grateful that Jankie was willing to tackle the task of this huge tree.  Next week after we take the rest of it down we will load the wood on the trailer and take it to Jankie and Meriam's house next week. 

Well, that is a quick look at a few of the things we have been doing the last few weeks.  We will update next week with pictures and reports from the Pastor's Conference in Mozambique.