I bought myself a new camera for Christmas...

I bought myself a new camera and have been trying to take more pictures as of late...

This is a girl in our village who has been hanging out with Ashley and I lately. Her name is SoyBye.

These are a couple sunrise photos I took recently.

Ashley and her little friend Fahtamata.

Sali told me she was going to go get water for me at the pump.

Our world map mural at the school coming along...little by little.

New Happenings...

Just a short update on new happenings: (in no particular order)

• We successfully had our parents here for the holidays, and we are proud to say none of them got sick!
• We are starting a new year in Mali with a positive outlook, and researching what the heck we are going to do when we come back home. This is a scary thought.
• We have given up on our cat, he is undomesticated and we keep trying to domestic him, he is a lost cause as a house cat. We might try for cat #3, who knows.
• I just finished reading The Poisonwood Bible, a book about a missionary family in the Congo. This is by far the best book I have read in Mali. It is Historical Fiction, which I love. The author writes very descriptively and better than I could ever describe our time in Africa. I recommend it to everyone who wants to see or understand a little more of what we experience here or just cause.
  
• We found out my sister Aubrey and her husband Clint, will be having a little boy in May. We are excited for baby Wright #2, our first nephew.
• We are now planning a trip to South Africa, the next thing to look forward to. We will be meeting up with some friends from back home and are very excited. Joe informed me the other day that South Africa has over 100 McDonalds! That alone is worth the trip, who needs to see elephants and lions!
  
• I am applying to grad school and scholarships for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education, I forgot how tedious this is.
• Joe is looking at jobs for when we get home, he has a different idea everyday of what he wants to do. That's why I love that boy!
• We started a map mural in our village school. We are in the process of painting it. I hope this will show the teachers at the school how beneficial visual aids in a classroom can be.
  
• We are caught up on all the new Office episodes. We are very proud of this.
• We are now on our 19th month in Mali. We still marvel at where we live and the experience we are having.

Happy New Year to All!!!!!!!

And the sun sets...

On New Year's Eve we celebrated Joe's 30th birthday and said goodbye to our parents. Joe and I both feel so blessed to have had family come and visit us this year. My brother, Bubba came last Christmas, my sister Amy came in the fall, we got to meet my Dad in Senegal, and now my Mom and Joe's parents. What an amazing year. Everyday as the sun sets God continues to be faithful in our lives, and we pray for His direction in the year to come.

Jerry, Sue and Mom-Kalibombo is just not the same without you! We love you. Thanks for an amazing time and for your endless love. We are counting down the days until we get to see you again!

Our first dinner out together at Savanna.

Our first day out on the town in Bamako.

The last night, waiting for the hotel shuttle.

And to my wonderful husband, I love spending each and every waking moment with you(literally, as we have no where else to go except a hut). I look forward to the many other journeys ahead of us and loving you for the rest of my life. I love you!

It doesn't look like this guy, will be settling down anytime soon, bring on the next 30.

December 31, 2009, Joe's 30th birthday, in Mali, West Africa with family. Who would have thought?

Parents Visit (pics # 5)

Meeting the guys that I work with at the traditional medicine center in Bandiagara.

The traditional medicine that is made from the traditional medicine center that I work at.

A wing of the production facility at the traditional medicine center...the bags are filled with leafs, roots, and barks used to produce the medicine.

The streets of Bandiagara...Muslims don't eat pork but Christian tourists do...yummy.

Ashley checkin her email at the hotel Kanaga in Mopti.

Debbie, Jerry & Sue coolin off in the pool at the Hotel Kanaga.

Jerry & Joe hiking in Dogon country.

Doobers climbing up to the ruins.

The Dogons are famous for the doors they make and this is one of them at our hotel/campamant.

The sinks at our hotel/campamant.

Our beds set up on the roof of our hotel...best spot for watching stars and staying cool.

Ashley is always happy when family is around.