Dresses for Rwanda

I have some pretty remarkable friends here in Bend. One such gal, Beverly Karitis (who reminds me of my good friend in Roseburg, Pat Dicks) saw a program on making dresses out of pillowcases for girls in need in Africa. Since she is a doer and a sewer, she got right to work, enlisted more friends, and I am now the proud deliverer of 96 dresses to Rwanda when I go with Amy in July. They were all proud of all their work, as you can see from the dresses that Beverly hung on her front porch to greet us that last day of work. Also, please notice the snowflakes that are fallling around us - it's the first of May!!

I think these gals (Sidney Reynolds, Sheryl Shoaf, Beverly Karitis, Betty Melrose and Shelley Seidenverg - pictured) had a great time getting together, cutting the dresses, putting pockets, lace and trim on the dresses, and just being with friends. They are truly remarkable women. In addition, Merrily Graber, Dorothy Dougherty, Mary Long, and Fran Jarnigan and her mother, Maybelle, put in many hours to help get these dresses ready for their trip to Rwanda.

I shall be a happy camper when I deliver the dresses to the two schools Amy and I will be visiting and working in, and have promised to take lots of pictures! I am truly blessed!

Beverly already has us working on her next community project!

The Zoo, OMSI and Bugs

While Amy went off with Leo to Eugene to run in the Eugene Marathon, the troops were called in! Nana and Papa arrived with ants to paint, a trip to the zoo (complete with train ride - much to Max's delight), and a day at OMSI (where we watched Sea Rex - much to Colin's delight!)

The grand kids are of an age where everything is so much easier - the big kids dress, bath and feed themselves. We just have to cart around and sing to Max (Puff the Magic Dragon is his current favorite.)

We had a great four days with all three and cheered Amy on during the race - the wonders of cell i-phones! She cut her personal best in this race by twenty some minutes. I'm told that that is phenomenal! Whether this will be her last marathon will remain to be seen.

You'll see us knee deep in insects (Adi's particular subject for learning this year), and birds at the zoo (that is Colin's second trip into the bird house!) I think he could have stayed all day.

We love watching Max trying to be just like Colin and Adi being the mother of them all!