Sabaki River

My parents have been here. My dad could only stay for a week, but my mom stayed a little longer. She just got home yesterday.

To make sure they knew where they were, they got to experience Kilifi water problems (complete with hauling water), getting hassled by traffic police who want someone to buy them a cup of chai, and Mom even went through a 24-hour widespread (seems like it started in western Kenya and spread all the way to the coast) blackout with us. We fed them good food, took them sightseeing a bit, and hung out together a lot.

We took a little excursion the day after they arrived. Dad had read online about a cottage on the Sabaki River. It's supposed to be a good place to see birds, off the main tourist path.

We found the owner's phone number and reserved the cottage: 2 rooms with private bathrooms for $30 (USD). As we were settling in to our rooms, Rodgers sat and talked with the owner (also called Rodgers). As is custom, they asked about each others' names, thus found out who their respective family members are, and determined that the owner of this cottage is (my) Rodgers' uncle!

In the evening, once the sun wasn't so hot, we walked down to the river, near the ocean. We saw some birds and lots of cows.

mural at the entrance

the rooms are on the first floor, the family stays upstairs

on the road

mangrove shoots

flamingos at the ocean were a welcome surprise!

Nate collected tiny crab pincers

trying to watch birds with Grandpa

Then we went back to the cottage for chicken stew and ugali. They don't have electricity, so we went to bed early. 

Rodgers and my dad went back out the following morning, taking a different route, and got to wade through silt up to their knees. It was quite the experience! Since their shoes were no longer wearable, we headed home after breakfast. 

Nate 20 questions, age 4

1. What is your favorite color? red 
2. What is your favorite toy? McQueen car
3. What is your favorite fruit? grapes! (with a jump) 
4. What is your favorite tv show? Ninja Turtles! 
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? popcorn Popcorn is a lunch? Yep! 
6. What is your favorite outfit? McQueen shirt and Mickey Mouse shorts 
7. What is your favorite game? Candy Land 
8. What is your favorite snack? ABC snack (little cookies shaped like letters) 
9. What is your favorite animal? horse 
10. What is your favorite song? Siku Ni Hii (This is the Day in Swahili)
11. What is your favorite book? McQueen 
12. Who is your best friend? Don!
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cheerios 
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? to run! Fastest like Don! 
15. What is your favorite drink? trocopical juice (mix of tropical fruit juices)
16. What is your favorite holiday? my birthday!! 
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? my blankie and my animals and my covers and my 2 pillows 
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Donuts is my breakfast!
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? my cake Just cake? Pizza and crunchy chicken and my cake
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to drive a car and I want to be a fireman because I have a helmet. I'm a superhero — look!
and with that, he was off...

praying for our kids

A few months ago, I read a blog post on a moms of boys blog (The MOB Society). I don't remember what it was, but I related to it, as a mom of boys. I started following their Facebook page.

A lot of the things posted apply to both boys and girls, actually, but there is a related page called The MOD Squad, which is for moms of daughters. MOB discuss all aspects of life with boy children in the house - from practical tips like effective ways to organize a Lego collection to daily devotionals to read with your kids.

Right now, MOB is encouraging its followers to choose 1 verse of scripture to pray for their sons all year long. Rodgers and I chose Jeremiah 9:24.

but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.

Our prayer is that Nate and Ben come to know and understand God.