Ufdah!

We've been busy, busy, busy. The past two week-ends we were to Minneapolis. The week-end before last, we brought down the pig we butchered and also left Rachel to stay with our Solomon Island friends. Last week-end we had our first Solomon Island Independence Celebration there in Bloomington. There were about 40 people that we served "motu" (stone/earth baked) pork, barbequed chicken, coconut rice, cassava, sweet potato, "island" or Asian yam, taro, pineapple..."evri kaikai blong Solomon nao." Solomon Islanders came from Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, and Florida. Another had been in American Samoa and happened to be visiting at his sister and brother-in-law's in Minneapolis to help with the kids when his sister went back to the Solomon's for a month. She didn't make it but her husband, children and brother did! He is leaving this week to go back to Hawaii and then American Samoa where he teaches Science in the high school. About half of the people there were kids under 14! Of course, when islanders get together we stay up and talk into the wee hours, so we are all exhausted from the cooking, story-telling and, as you can imagine, non-stop laughing. We had a great time.

On the way down to the Cities I picked up Wilson at Camp Wilderness. He was there for the week at Boy Scout camp, as probably the oldest new recruit ever. His scout leader asked him to be SPL (Scout Patrol Leader). When I picked him up I was told by the Area Director that they were very impressed with the leadership he displayed. He had a great time and looks forward to more events and opportunities with the Scouts. I was happy to hear how he stepped up to be SPL and took it seriously, never missing a meeting, encouraging his buddy ( a younger new recruit who has trouble building relationships), and coming alongside the Chaplain to lead the Scouts in morning prayer at the flag. Proud Mama.

Kajsa and Rosie didn't come down with us to the the Cities, but stayed home with Grandpa. Kajsa had her last two games of the season, and now we go to the district championships in Coon Rapids, so I'll be heading down to the Cities again this week-end with her. Wilson's tournament will be here in Detroit Lakes, so Sailasa and he will be here this week-end. Kajsa's team is ranked 1st in their division. Those girls are very excited and practicing hard for their upcoming games.

Well, final confession. The kids haven't done any...any...school work. Rosie read Elsie Dinsmore, Kajsa read Boomtown!, and Wilson read his Bible and Scout handbook (the only books he brought to camp). Rachel didn't bring one book, even to read in the car, and just played, played, played all week! Oh! She just told me she wrote a story. That counts :)

Well, gals. I was really on the ball, "up and at 'em", ate negative calories (well, the food was cooked in a hole!) and ....okay, I'll do better this week.