Happy (Belated) Birthday...

So..it was a CRAZY week...but an AMAZING one!!

On Saturday the 12th Mom and older sis Peg came out to spend a week with me to help celebrate the BIG 40 that I turn this year--seems incredible that the same irresponsible immature me is 40--but its true--the numbers don't lie...they helped turn my house into an adult domicile, took on the daunting task of cleaning out my car, went on a voyage north to Canada (where I introduced them to the wonders that is the Alaska Marine highway System, Canadian cider, Loonies/ Toonies and, in mid April..it snowed on us significant amounts...) They also got to help start the organization/ painting and all-around fun that will be the start of the new home of the Creating Place---ahhh--remember how fun it was to move your home?? well, it's even funner (is that a word?) to move a business, I tell ya!! Then to top it off, they threw me a party complete with my favorite foods--I love family, ya know???!!?!

So we had a grand ol' time, them putting up with me wanting to go running all the time and wanting more protein (worked well with them wanting to get in all the fish they could handle!! peg--however--didn't get in enuf "touristing"--it's a hard time of the year, tho', not much open yet---kinda like a teaser...) All in all, everyone behaved/ enjoyed/ partied themselves nicely and it will be a birthday to remember for a long long long time--thanks for all the wishes and to all my marathon supporters--I am still running alot (9 miles is the record--I finally got to run outside--was invigorating!! I am soooo looking forward to the race!!)

Thanks everyone--luv ya mom and piglet and look forward to our next paintaton!!

The other beni of my trip

so--the other added benefit of my trip was I got to see my sister Holio and bro-in-law Tim as well as pooch Dusty and much loved niece Alyse!! She is 10 months now (time has flown!!) and is happy happy happy! energetic, fast-crawler, LEFT HANDED (yeah!!) and just a joy to be around!! I had a relaxing time on the Habecker homestead and really enjoyed my time there/ wish I was closer to them. Thanks Guys!!

ps doesn't she look adorable in her Easter dress? thanks auntie Peggy!!!

My favorite pics from Africa...

So, I was able to find the cable...and download some of my favorite pics from the trip.

So enjoy!!

Out of Africa

Greetings to all...I tried to delay this a couple of days after returning so that I could up load some pics, wow you with some portraits of the warmer continent, but alias, I can not find the cable to connect my new camera to the computer to upload pics (and the home computer/ Internet isn't working--alas, it's always something...wait--a cable you say? sounds like a new camera? why yes--that was the beginning of the trip--nimrod that I am--left my right arm (as I refer to my favorite implement, my camera, that is, as) on the plane--never done that before. Hopefully never will do again. So the two days visiting sister Jo, broinlaw Tim and baby Alyse (who is SO cute, fun, happy, and--amazingly LEFT HANDED!!) had to run to best buy and get a minimal substitute...which worked ok. Sigh. So--do have some cool, awe inspiring prints, some amazing stories, some moments that have changed me forever--it was truly the trip of a lifetime and I am sooooo thankful that I was part of the group that went/ really appreciated who I was with and Who I was working for/ with...met neat people, saw and treated things I've never seen (or treated ) before--some without interpreters!! so, soon you all will probably get more details, info, pics from me...just wanted to let you know that I made the (long) trip home in one piece, loved (almost) every minute of it, appreciated your support, thoughts, prayers, help and really got to think alot of who I am/ who we are, appreciate where we come from...etc. I really really appreciate having such a great base of family, friends like you all around me and am thankful everyday that I am living the life I am....I should be giving more praise on a daily basis to God and you all, so forgive me for not doing it sooner. You all rock. Thanks.

Greetings from the wqrmer continent

Hey there everyone
greetings from Africa...able to get brief time to send a quick message out am here, all is fine and great!! Love Senegal so far, the people Ive met; the team from texas is sweet, starting clinics today (played yest with kids more info later) sorry abt this typying french keyboard i am nervous abt numbers, what we will see but all is hunky dory love to you all
hugs and kisses african amy who is not sunburned but hot and still hydrated
ps trip over tons of cramps never felt like running so much in my life!!!
make sure mom sees this!!

Things that improve with age...

So I got a shocker yesterday....the first time I've ever been told that something physically on my body was better DUE to my age...how totally weird and strange does that strike you? "Oh--that ____ has improved due to the fact that you have gotten older and more mature". Now--I'm use to hearing that with--what? wine, right? and guys (well, that's when I did have guys to hang around--before I gave up on them). Let's see- what else improves with time--uhm--oh yeah--puppies (not so hyper), I guess some aged cheeses, right?, your understanding of your parents perspectives, your ability to handle things like criticism (some people, that is), uhm--long-term mutual funds, traditions, --what else do you wanna add here? It's just something that you don't think about when you refer to your overall physical being (seems like always fighting aging affects, gravity,etc). Time is a great ravager/ destroyer of these things...

oh--what was it, you say? why--it was my eyes!! first time ever, since the first time I got glasses in (what was it? second grade??) that my prescription WENT DOWN instead of up--here I was thinking that the fuzzy's were due to needing to up the script and lo'behold, I needed to back down--blew me (and my opthomologist) away!! cool!! (yeah for carrots--right??!?!)

bytheway--what happened to this month??