It's been ever so long since I've been able to sit for a spell and chew the fat with you! The people around here absolutely adore doing just that. The fattier the meat the better; sometimes it's ONLY the fat they chew... and chew... and chew.

Ah well, onto more important other things- like the great things that have happened this last week, and the not-so-good. I'm generally an upbeat sort of gal, and like to see the brighter side of things, so we'll start with those.

We now have a teammate- the first Westerner to work with us since our first teammates left 4 years ago. We are more than thrilled and quite excited about what this will mean for our mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. For just a few moments humor me, as I expound upon what that means. Most of you who are reading this know exactly the isolation and lonliness we at times feel here. Aside from a few Peace Corps workers and one other American man who married local (none of which we have much in common with) there is no one here to share our lives with in our own language. Of course, we do have many local friends, but none of them understand deeply our longing and need for fellowship with other English speakers who understand our sojourning in this place. We are also thankful to have someone who knows how to dial an internation emergency call to our medivac folks if the need arises. Auto accidents are horrendous and frequent around here, so the skill of contacting outside help does exist.

So, last Sunday, a wonderful woman who has lived right here in our country for about 8 years, but in a different city, has come to join us in our work!! Rejoice with us in Spirit, if you will!

On a lighter and much more purely fun note: We've made our room reservation for my next year's ladies trip to Disney World!!! I am so, so, so excited for this trip with the ladies! A very close friend, whom I've known for about 20 years and a brand new friend that I've become very close to online (and have actually met once) are all going to the House of Mouse for a week next September! WOOOHOOO!! We booked the free dining promotion, so for about $1,200 I can have a week of acting like a 5 year old again just with the gals!! Laura, if you're still reading this, it's still not too late to join the par-tay!!

Now, that very news really helped pull me out of the funk I've been in all week. Utilities have been CRAPPY!!! this week. The power is going off for more nights than staying on, and today was the 3rd day in a row, we were without water. Can you say greasy hair, and stinky pits?! Gag me! We are all very thankful that it just was turned on again, and so thusly cleansed. We are not at all happy with the onset of the situation this fall, the season things tend to be iffy at best. Thank Heavens for oil lamps and good books we can read aloud in the evenings. But all the oil lamps in the world don't fill an empty cistern!

School has started again at SteppeSister's Learning Academy; time is short as you can well imagine. With 2 in high school, 1 with significant LD issues and 1 who's exceptionally bright, my days are spent amongst books, craft materials, DVD video lessons, pencils, erasers and bribery bobbles (stickers and coins do wonders in teaching a reluctant child to learn his multiplication tables!), and the days fly by so quickly. Fridays come so fast, and before we know it, it's pizza/movie night once again.

So, there's the low down on why I've been unable to be so regular here, sharing my life and times with you. Next time, I hope to have some pictures uploaded to the computer from the welcome party we held for our new collegue on Monday.

Until Then,

Your SteppeSister