My dad and horses

It's been FOREVER since I've last blogged. I do apologize. I have taken many blog-worthy pictures in the last 2 weeks, but finding the time to blog about them is another matter.

Today is my dad's birthday. You can read my heart-felt message I wrote him on his birthday last year here.

When we lived in Ouaga, about once a year Dad would take us horseback riding. I LOVE horseback riding. Truly. When I'm riding a horse I feel free, powerful, and my imagination is set loose. Cheesy? Maybe. But, it's true. I think of movies I grew up watching like The Man from Snowy River and Return to Snowy River, Hildago, Black Beauty, The Black Stallion, National Velvet, etc. (As a side, if you have not seen The Man from Snowy River or it's sequel, you now know what you're doing this Saturday night.) When I think of horses, I think of "untame America." I think of England, where I am a much-sought-after lady of leisure who goes riding every morning and evening on my favorite horse, while in-between I have tea-time and lessons in piano and literature. I think of all of those "horse" books I read growing up. I think every American girl goes through a "horses are my favorite animal, can I please have one" phase.

Anyway... I deviate...

Dad would take us horseback riding once a year in outside of Ouaga on skinny horses and it was a blast. Every summer's highlight. What a special treat -- what a special dad.

Yesterday, several of my housemates and I were invited to go horseback riding. As the weather has been beautiful, we jumped at the chance.

 Doh rode Cash.

 I rode Dude and then Cash.

I am rather sore today.
So utterly completely worth it, though.
Thank-you, Standerwicks, for the invite. You made 4 girls VERY happy.

Dad, I thought of you so often while I was riding.
Oh, and I made sure to tell all of my students that today was your birthday!

Melissa, Andrew, Erika: True of False - Dad worked at a ranch 2 summers where he did "real riding."

a little bit of lately

What a crazy few weeks it's been. When I'm not writing lessons or thinking about lessons or dreaming about lessons, I'm planning more lessons. Seriously. BUT, I have been able to snap a few pictures of some of the things I've been doing in between.

A week ago Saturday was a beautiful rainy day--the kind of day where you want to stay in your pj's, drink hot chocolate, and read Little Women. Instead, Doh and I decided to make some jasmine tea and sip it on the front porch. Lovely. Then, in the evening, we decided we should go ahead and go out in the rain. Why not? We're still young. We can afford to do frivolous things like that, right?! I was really excited for an opportunity to wear my rainboots again!

I have to say, watching the beautiful rain here has made me think about the devastation the rain has brought to Niger. Keep praying for Sahel Academy and all of the local people whose lives have been severely impacted by the flooding.

This past Saturday (yesterday) I took a mini road-trip to Olathe (KC) to have breakfast with a dear MK friend, do some shopping, and then have lunch with another sweet friend. What a treat! It rained all day in KC. You couldn't ask for a better morning; sipping hot coffee inside Panera, catching up with friends, watching the rain pour down outside. 

This is Becca. 

I've always called her Einstein. 

It's a long story. 

We grew up in Burkina Faso together. 

Yes, she has dreadlocks! 

After a full day in Kansas City, I returned home and made a huge monstrous batch of granola. The house smelled wonderful. The granola, although a bit dark (the kitchen light wasn't working--not as convenient baking in the dark), is delicious. I think I'm set in the breakfast department for a long time. This afternoon I made oatmeal white-chocolate craisin cookies for the Inner Bean coffeehouse. yummh! (Doh and I had to sample them to make sure they were adequate to serve.) I should have taken pictures, but I didn't want to make y'all jealous!

family map

Tomorrow morning my parents leave for Niger, which means that our family will once again be on three different continents. No matter how many times I do it, saying goodbye never gets easier. I love my parents. Last night as I journaled before going to bed, I wrote down the following blessings.

- I'm blessed to have a dad who holds my hand as he prays for me.

- I'm blessed to have a mom who is my best friend--who knows me best, who speaks truth, who gives hugs of comfort, and who always listens.

- I'm blessed to have a dad who still loves to take care of his princess!

- I'm blessed to have parents that still always tell me they love me.

- I'm blessed to have parents who have made the Lord their Greatest Good, their Constant Stay, their Redeeming Hope. 

Starting tomorrow, our family map will look like this:

I think I just might go cry now.

Taylor's Best Vacation EVER !

Sunday evening Erika was at work and I was going crazy all alone in our big beautiful country house, so I decided to meander down to my Uncle Gordon's farm. As it turned out, U. Gordon, A. Terrry and Taylor were just about to head out on a drive and invited me to go along. 

What a treat! 

Who could say no to that? 

We piled into the car and headed off. 

Purpose of the drive: to give Taylor the vacation of his lifetime.

First stop: Burns. 

Taylor had never been. 

Of course, Aunt Terry had to document this historic moment. 

(I'm so glad you brought your camera, A. Terry!)

We took our time exploring the thriving town...

...soaking up every moment, right Taylor?!

Then, it was back into the car for more driving and sightseeing. 

(Please take time to notice the name on my 'football' jersey!)

Do you see the rainbow? 

(Erika, do you remember that movie we used to own about the kids who went looking for the pot of gold underneath the rainbow? Has anyone else seen it?)

We had great times in the car. 

I sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Say my Name, Say my Name.

Taylor introduced me to everyone's farm that we drove past and made up recited names of creeks and ponds such as "Turtle Pond" to impress me. 

U. Gordon gave fascinating history lessons and was a true Tour Guide. 

A. Terry captured all of the memories on camera...or tried to. We had to convince Taylor.

Some of you may have noticed a certain object in the back seat between Taylor and myself. It's my gun that Taylor begged me to bring along!  :)  Just kidding!

We saw a deer on the trip and I had to kindly remind my dear (ha!) cousin that 'twas not the appropriate season for such activities.

Last stop on Taylor's best vacation: Potwin!

I told U. Gordon that we needed to stop at the next Starbucks. 

He agreed with no hesitation. 

Too bad the closest one was 30 miles away.

I commented on all the "pretty houses"  and Taylor on the "sweet bins." 

I now know where everyone lives, who used to live there, what changes have been recently made, where A. Terry had her first Bible studies, and whose fields look the best (ssshhhh!).

I'm pretty sure it was the best 2 1/2 vacation hours of Taylor's life. 

It ended with him bringing me home on the four wheeler. 

Perfect end to a perfect evening.

Boot Camp -- Dorsch style!

After living 5 months in a country where it's culturally inappropriate to leave the house in shorts or tops with no sleeves and where there are no indoor fitness centers, I have been trying to take advantage of the country roads and get back into a running routine this summer. Tuesday morning I woke up with no desire to go running. Well, actually, I wake up most mornings with no desire to go running. I really despise the sport. Running with a purpose, aka soccer, is logical. I've told you in previous blogs about my undying love for the sport. Simply running, however, is not enjoyable. This particular morning I was especially unmotivated. I decided, therefore, that I would set up workout stations to rotate through and my mom and sisters were going to join me. 

(It took a little convincing.) 

These were the stations: jump-rope (don't be deceived--it is a workout), squats with weights, lunges, and running stairs. After rotating through each station multiple times, we worked our abs and glutes together. I think our abs got most of their workout from us laughing so much.

The next day we were sore. 

Very sore. 

I'm looking forward to doing it again!

No, I'm not being sarcastic.

If I had been thinking, I would have taken a picture at each station. We took a before picture, but were too tired to even think about taking an after picture! Oops!

a July summer evening

Sunday evening Mom and Dad wanted to take a "little walk around the yard" and this is what ensued...

"Ando, use your muscles and pull out some of those big weeds in the garden." -- Mom

"Lindsay, go get your keys and we'll check the oil in your car." --Dad

Finally! My chance to prove to mi padre that I know how to check my oil! 

 "You should always keep a rag in your car." -- George S.

Thanks, George!

 Thumbs up for successfully checking the oil.

Unfortunately, the oil was very low revealing there are still problems with my little Leo. 

His days in the automobile hospital are not over. 

(FYI: Leo is short for Napoleon--Conqueror, Champion, Hero.) 

The last part of the "little walk around the yard" was this:

Just  for kicks, here's a picture taken randomly that cracks me up!

Playing in a Giant Sandbox

Last Saturday some friends and I headed off to the sand dunes that are just on the outside of Niamey.

 We had bought schwarma's and were hoping to have a picnic, but the wind kept flinging the dust all over us, our picnic blanket, and our food.

Despite the annoying wind, we had fun performing crazy stunts off the dunes. 

Once you fall down, though, you wouldn't believe how hard it is to climb back up to the top.

The sand is so deep!

This little boy was having just as much fun as we were...if not more! 

Who says you need snow to go sledding?

Of course, you cannot not go to the dunes without staging a water bottle commercial!

So close...and yet...so far! 

(Bonus points if anyone can name the song title where those lyrics are pulled from!)

A few more sights from our expedition:

 The Niger River in the distance--this is with a lot of zoom.

 Aren't my friends beautiful? 

And finally...

...a picture of what happens when you roll around in Sahara sand.

Who needs to go tanning when you have the Sahara desert?

By the way, did you know that "dune" is the first big word Sarah, plain and tall, learned when she was little?