It's the Little Things

I have been on a granola kick for the past several weeks months. 

I love granola. 

About once a month (sometimes more often), I make a big batch of it and eat it every morning for breakfast. 

Scrumdiliocious!!! 

I have yet to get sick of it. 

I love the smell of granola flooding the house when I bake it. 

I like trying new recipes, too, but lately I've been making the same one because it's simple and makes a smaller amount.

I love writing notes on my bananas and my roommate loves taking pictures of them. 

The picture is from her.

It makes life so much more exciting!

The other night, as I was about to brush my teeth, my roommate told me I'd better not use my toothbrush as the plumber, who had been there earlier to work on our sink, had said on his way out, "I would clean the toothbrush. I might have spilled some stuff on it." 

GROSS!!! SICK!!! NASTY!!! 

Since my toothbrush was reaching the end of its lifetime anyway, I threw it away and went to go ask for an extra one from one of my roommates. I live with 4 girls...surely one of them had an extra unused toothbrush on hand. 

Not so. 

It was very late. I was very tired. I had no toothbrush. 

I resorted to plan B.

Rest at ease. I made an early Walmart run in the morning. I bought a new toothbrush and a spare...just in case the plumber came back. 

Like I said...it's the little things...

Somebody Loves Me

This year, I received an incredible surprise on Valentine's Day. I had parent-teacher conferences in the morning, during which time one of the school secretaries told me I had a phone call. (I had a moment of panic, thinking something had happened to my parents in Africa.) Upon picking up the phone, I discover it's a local florist who had a Valentine's surprise to deliver for me, but wouldn't be able to make it to the school in time. She needed to know where she could deliver them in the afternoon. Well, that certainly sparked my curiosity. I had NO IDEA who had ordered flowers for me. Several hours later, back at the house, I heard a knock on the door and was given these:

Aren't they GORGEOUS?!?!?!?!?!

I LOVE THEM!!! 

They came with a card that said, "Happy Valentine's Day from Uncle Gordon, Aunt Terry, and boys." 

The referee valentine that you can see in some of the pictures came in the mail from Uncle Gordon. He wrote a nice little note, which included some French! 

Super impressive, Uncle Gordon! 

(Did Troy teach you that from his travels?)

I was so surprised by all of it.

I felt very special. 

Very appreciated. 

Very loved.

Thanks, Uncle Gordon.

I also celebrated the day with some chocolate covered strawberries made by Sherlynn...

...and some Jungle Speed with the roommates. 

We were too engrossed in the game to manage a picture.

The next morning I had the day off, which was lovely. 

I spent some time reading the Word, sipping on coffee, writing in my journal, and admiring my beautiful surprise. 

 Thanks again, Uncle Gordon.

Christmas is about family ... or is it?

The question in this blog's title was one that kept coming to mind all throughout December as I prepared for my first Christmas without my parents -- and with only half of my family. With my family spread across three different continents during a time when songs with lyrics such as "Oh there's no place like home for the holidays" are being played everywhere, it was easy to once again question the concept of home. However, I couldn't get over the fact that Jesus left His home on Christmas morning. He left His comfort and His Father. If I think the US feels far away from Africa, imagine what Earth felt like compared to Heaven. A simple thought perhaps, but one that helped me put Christmas in perspective. Christmas is sacrifice. Christmas is love.

So, here's a little glimpse into my 2012 Christmas.

Andrew flew into Kansas City and he, Erika, and I spent a fun 24-hours in the city. We went to the plaza, did some shopping, drank some coffee, ate at Pizza Hut (It's a Christmas tradition), enjoyed the pretty lights and being together.

We met up with some special cousins on the Dorsch side. Thankfully, Andrew had a GPS on his phone, so we were able to navigate around KC pretty well...just just a few turn-arounds. Andrew navigated; I drove; Erika prayed. The plan was to meet the cousins at Starbucks, but when we pulled up to what Andrew's phone called Starbucks, we were a little confused.

Thanks to Cassie's expertise in navigating over the phone, we ended up at the right Starbucks soon after. What a WONDERFUL time of catching up. I love these people.

We made Christmas goodies. A lot. Erika got a little sprinkle happy.

Christmas day-Eve, we road-tripped up to the great land of Western Kansas to spend Christmas with my Grandma.

We played LOTS of Pinochle -- a family card game. Erika and I were partners the whole time and I think we won 9 out of the 13 games we played. Right, Grandma?! She wasn't especially happy.

 But deep deep down inside she still loved her granddaughters!

We had a beautiful white Christmas, but it was bitterly cold outside. Despite the uninviting conditions, Erika and I put on whatever coats and gloves we could find and headed out into it! We were literally traipsing through the snow. Isn't that a fun word? Say it: traipsing!

 This is called "planking", right?!

 You're never too old for snow angels...I hope.

 These are for my daddy.

 Isn't she beautiful?

 (Guess who gave her that super cute headband?)

I try to stay away from putting anything school-related on the internet, but I just couldn't help showing what I did for my French 3 and 4 students. In honor of La Fête de St. Nicolas, I had them bring a shoe to put under the tree, but didn't tell them why.

Then, on the day of the holiday, they had a surprise waiting for them! I don't know who enjoyed it more--me or my students.

Most of the remainder of my Christmas break was spent at my Aunt Terry's. 

She (and her whole family) made Christmas very special for the Dorsch "orphans."

I was very blessed this Christmas.

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.