Last Days

Saying goodbye is probably one of the most difficult things in life.

Here are some pictures from our last days in Guidan Roumdji and our villages.

Melissa will be returning for a second term but I will not. That is one of the hardest goodbyes of all - and we haven't even really said goodbye yet. We're not only partners and co-workers but we are best friends and like sisters.

Here's a picture of us in our house after we packed up everything that last day.

Here's one last picture of me with our dog, Jake. I'm going to miss him a lot and I know he'll be lonely without either of us there these next two months!



Here is a picture of me on our last day in my village. My friend wanted a picture of me inside her house. If my face looks red - it's because I was crying a lot that day!!

Here are some kids posing for one last picture.


And here is a picture of Melissa and I with another good friend.

Creative Christmas Decorations

So each year we have to be very creative around here when it comes to decorating our house for the holidays. We've discovered a great little decorating tool that has been helpful to us both years for Christmas - colored electrical tape!!

So this year we have two "Snowpullos" (Snow Fulani).

As you can see, the Snowpullo man has a staff over his shoulders and is wearing the traditional Fulani hat.

The woman is pounding in her wowru and carrying her baby on her back.



Here you can see me "helping" our snowpullo woman to pound her gawri so that she can make chewtam.

And here Melissa is helping our Snowpullo man to herd his cows. And Melissa is doing this while trying to watch her own "cow" named Jake!!

Christmas 07

Here are some pictures of us at Christmas this year. It is the last Christmas that Melissa and I will spend together for a while since she is returning to Africa and I'm staying in the states. We had lots of fun celebrating and decorating for the holidays this year!


Here is Jake in his wonderful Christmas bandana. (He wasn't as thrilled about having it on as we were!!)



This is our tree - thanks again to our parents for sending us the tree and ornaments!!



Here is Melissa and I at Baker and Gail's. Aren't we adorable?!?

And here is Melissa and I again in our house wearing our Christmas skirts.