Flakes Around the World

Apparently a couple of days ago the girl we ditched in Benin made it back safely to Nigeria and she is happy and well. Thank goodness so we can wipe the guilt off our hearts.

That picture of Jaron is sooooo adoreable! That's a great idea to put it in his scriptures.

I am so worried for the day that my kids ask to dress up like African rebels and say, "if only I had an AK-47 to complete the outfit."

A couple in our ward that is retiring planned to serve a mission as soon as they got back to the States. They were then called to come right on back to Lagos in July as the mission president. Please let us distance ourselves enough from Lagos before retirement age so we are not called on a mission to come back here!!!! The sad thing is I'm sure the church won't sit them up as pretty as Exxon did. They are definitely good sports and said, "i would have been disappointed it if had been anywhere else." Hmm . . . . .

Yesterday was our 6 month anniversary here - only 30 more to go!

Jaron vs. Jared. I would like to see that match up, but I guess I really wouldn't, because I'm sure our sweet future missionary would get whooped pretty hard, and might not recover enough to serve his amazing mission, baptizing million. The cost would be too great.
Lucinda

Lucinda, Mom is right - no kid is that good. In fact Jared said that other day that he wanted to dress up like Stalin so he could destroy all his poitical enimies (ie Joel and Natalya) - i guess we watch too much history channel. I can see that Jaron and Jared are headed down different paths.

Oliver

That was Dad's description. I thought Jaron looked so cute. Thanks for writing that up Lucinda. I knew our grandchildren were valiant, but this is ridiculous. Love Mom

I would love to see Natayla. Everyone that has seen her recently has told me how cute she is. I love the purple flower picture.

Jaron surprised me yesterday morning when he woke up and kept asking to wear his white church shirt. I tried to persuade him to wear his white polo shirt instead, but he persisted, so I did as he wished. Then he said he wanted his tie on. I thought this was a bit odd, but since it's only kindergarten and he wont get teased, I didn't really mind too much. He then put on his nice black pants and shiny black shoes. And said, "Mom I don't really look like a missionary, though, because I don't have the black shirt on top (suit jacket)." So I found his sports jacket that he didn't know he had, because it's been stored at Grandma's house until recently. He got this huge smile on his face, and ran into the bathroom to part his hair. It was fun seeing his excitement. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall in his classroom, because I'm sure he said a lot of things that made his teacher smile (she's LDS). When he came home from school he told us to all sit on the ground so he could teach us a discussion. He told us some stories about Jesus.

At lunch time I asked Jaron, "What do you want me to fix you for lunch?" He replied, "I want to eat what missionaries eat." I told him that depends on were the Lord sends them to serve their mission. In Japan it could be raw fish, in Mexico it might be burrito, Spagetti in Italy, etc...He seemed satisfied with a ham and cheese sandwich. He then wanted to know all the rules missionaries follow. I told him some of them, and that a lot are up to the Mission President's decision. He said he doesn't want to watch movies anymore, but he would make an exception tonight because his dad wanted to watch KARATE KID with him, and movies he watches with his dad are special (maybe his mission president would allow that movie). When Justin came home for lunch he asked Jaron, "Where do you think you are going to get called on your mission?" Jaron replied, "Probably somewhere Spanish. Or maybe Japan."

I told Jaron I wanted to take a picture of him because it would be fun for him to look at when he serves his full-time mission at 19. He could tape it to the inside of his scriptures, so that every time he saw it he would remember how when he was 5-years-old he couldn't wait to serve. He seemed to really like that idea. I couldn't help but laugh when he insisted on looking up the way he did when I took the picture, even though I kept saying, "Look at the camera, Jaron." It's almost like he's looking at angels, HA! He says he wants to dress up once a week like a missionary to go to school. We'll see how long it lasts. Every morning I never know what to expect.

I wrote too much detail, but it's for Jaron's journal too. I know you're all thinking Lucinda's gone crazy with the blog HA!!! (evil laugh) And no one can stop me! Well, maybe David can.

these purple flowers are filling our whole side yard. natalya picks about 100 of them everyday, but there never seem to be any less of them. she is so sweet. she asks for "opameal" for breakfast everyday, and is crazy for pink. she loves to dance around and hold the baby. i wish more of you could know her.

the 2nd picture shows oliver taking delivery of another couple of desks which we then delivered to the orphanage.

Okay, I'll try this again. I haven't been able to read the blog for 3 weeks. It was so fun to read your blogs and see those darling grandchildren. I had a great time at Taylor and Shelley's. It was wonderful to have Lincoln and Siobhan there. And Dad - he did every dish for one entire week. I have never appreciated a big house as much as I did then. The kids were great. I got sick the second day there and had a terrible cough the whole time (which I gave to Spencer). I went to the doctor today and got some serious drugs to get rid of it before India. I have amazing children, grandchildren and in-laws. How can a woman be so blessed? I am sorry I can't take Dad with me to India - these separations have to stop. From now on, it's both of us or no one. Well, I guess that's not true - but I wish it were. Levin - did the 19 year old ever get back to Lagos? I can't believe Melanie is coming to Lagos. Happy Birthday Marietta! Love Mom

We are having such a great time with Lincoln and Siobhan and their children. I bought Ethan the shirt he is wearing that says "Part Irish, All trouble". These kids are so cute.


 
 
 
 

Preston and Ethan are obviously witnessing and angelic presense which we are not privy to.







Happy birthday sweet 15!

 
 
 

 

Lucinda,

I know I'm not an "original" so my opinions don't matter on the blog, but I loved your blog. Especially since we don't ever get to talk to anyone on the phone. I like little every day stuff too.
Melissa

I loved those pictures Amber. The picture of natayla and ryan asleep together was adorable. And I enjoyed the report from Levin, and Melissa. Melanie called the other day. I'm so glad she's going to visit you guys.

Most of you will find this entry boring so go ahead and skip it, but I thought I might occasionally post some of our little everyday events. Jaron got to watch his long awaited movie with his dad, Indiana Jones edited last night. He loved it. He took a long nap yesterday in order to stay up late and watch it with his dad. After the movie it was barely 9:00 and Justin was ready to turn in, but I could tell Jaron wasn’t. So Jaron and I stayed up and played with his Styrofoam 2 foot airplane he bought at the dollar store on Monday (best dollar we ever spent). I let him lie down between Justin and I, which he was extremely excited about. Jaron whispered over to me, “Mom would you like me to give you a massage.” How could I resist. Jaron’s small five year old hands tried to massage with all of their strength (which didn’t seem like very much) my feet, face, back, legs, hands, arms and even hair and head. I couldn’t stop thinking about how he has grown up so much, and it doesn’t seem like very long ago that he didn’t even exist on the earth. He didn’t seem to get tired he just kept asking if he could do a different area again, and again. It was amazing. Part of his reason may have been stalling to not have to go to bed (smart technique).

Justin was putting Alena to sleep a few nights ago. One of my favorite things is listening to the children’s prayers to see what interesting thing they are going to say. Justin told me afterward the funny thing Alena said that night. “And everyone was fighting and I was fighting too, and I fight with them sometimes, and sometimes Jaron gets in trouble and I get in trouble too, In the name of ……..Amen.” Then she got up from he knees turned to Justin and while shrugging her shoulders with her palms open said, “I just said that because we are all humans.” Justin was dumbfounded. I don’t know if she knows what that expression really means, but she used it so well. It made me laugh.

I know this isn't the usual entry on the blog, but this is what my life is made up of, nothing to grand but lot of little experiences that are notable to me, so I thought I would share them for a change. I hope everyone else will take the time to give us a window more into your everyday lives and the cute things your kids are doing since we are missing it. Thanks

Lucinda

Here are just a few more details about this past weekend.

1. It is true, the Brazilian restaurant made everyone sick - so I guess we can say it was at least authentic (as I was really sick the only time I went to Brazil). But the grilled pineapple was the best I have ever had - they dipped it in cinnaomon!

2. The border with Benin was a fiasco. It was all of us diplomats and then one friend of a diplomat who did not have a multiple entry visa into Nigeria. She just figured she would bribe the border gaurds. Well, she met the one honest Nigerian who would not take a bribe. So then they tried to bribe more people. It is now a huge headach for our Embassy security people, one of whom interviewed me yesterday to find out what I had witnessed regarding U.S. government officals trying to offer bribes. I can just say I was glad that I had absolutely no part in it. But anyho, back to the story. So the armored suburban escorts at the border had to leave to make it back to Lagos by nightfall. So all us diplomats had to leave this 19 year old white girl at the border - gave her some money and she had to arrange to get to the Nigerian embassy in Benin, get a new visa, and somehow get back to Lagos by herself. Hmmmm

3. Melissa is working so hard on this COLA report and her commisary job. But her commisary job has its perks, she brought home a 12 pack of A&W for me!

4. And it is true, Melanie is comming. We are going to show her a great time since I am sure she will be our only visitor.

We will try to blog some pictures.

Hope everyone is having a great time

Levin

I am waiting for motorpool so I guess I'll make good use of my time.

We went to Benin this last weekend. This was our first trip away that I was actually excited to get back to Lagos. We had a few problems when the girl we went with wanted to bribe the border peeps to let her friend (American, but not diplomat) back into Nigeria. She only had an entry, not re-entry visa. Let's just say I am glad Levin doesn't work in teh Consular section. All the people we were with work down there and I think there are a few bad feelings floating around now. The beach was great (if you take out the topless lady, gosh I hate the French), and Levin got sick. So did all of the other people in our compound that we had a Valentine's Dinner with Friday night at a Brazillian restaurant. It looks like I am the only to escape! The only thing I didn't eat was the cake so I don't know . . . I also got the funny lettuce at the salad bar - the kind that tastes like weeds that I normally hate. It was a mistake, but maybe a blessed one.

We have our first (and probably only) visitor planning to come! Yea!!! We are so excited. Melanie Beal is coming! We love Aunt Claudia even more now, it was her idea. The only problem is that I'll miss some of her visit because I'll be in England and then making up my absense by working more hours at work. Why couldn't her spring break have come all those months I was home bored all day. Oh well, it'll be nice for Levin because now he won't have any days home alone in our house.

Melissa

Kids dressed up for Indian dress up day at school, the almost perfect picture of all the kids in their Sunday clothes, Ryan the Rajhastani, our lovely garden, and how I found Ryan and Natalya when I came into check on them last night. I told Natalya that since she and Ryan would now be sharing a room, that she needed to take care of him... I guess she thought that meant that she needed to be right next to him at all times. So sweet.

aloha,

I have not blogged in forever, we have a seirous problem, we never take photos. But we are having such a blast with Taylor and Shelley. They are on Kauai now but will return on Friday. We love having visitors so much and it makes us appreciate hawaii more. We really hope we can get Dad and Mom out here soon and we want Lucinda and Justin! In one of Moema's classes is a black girl who is a descendent of Green Flake, I think I am going to go up to her and say "My Great -grandfather owned your Great -grandfather".



Ally

Hotel Lagos always has a big vacancy sign hanging. No snow - ever. And if you come now you can avoid rainy season. And we'll throw in free meals with your hotel stay - and maybe if you're lucky a free car chase.

Melissa

Give us Hawaii, or India - or even Nigeria!

Isaac took pictures of what he thinks is the foot print of Bigfoot. you be the judge. I think he does have the pictures to prove it. We are all sick here except him. Throw up galore! Go Romney! JaL