How much Leigha LOVES Andi!

        The other night Leigha and I went for a secret mission at Paul Cates Stable. Or as we refer to it as Leigha's second home. We absolutely love this barn and all the opportunities it gives to it's riders. The responsibilities of tending, cleaning, and caring for the horses are skills that will bring her joy for the rest of her life. While we were there i took the opportunity to capture her in the gorgeous evening light. She was missing her horse after one day of not seeing her. Andi is not really her horse, someday she will own one, i'm sure. She does love Andi like she is hers though! In Leigha's heart she will love that horse forever.

 

                            

A School is Where Imagination Grows

     My three bio children start their new year at school tomorrow. They are very excited to see their friends and get back to learning. It's probably more the friends than the learning. Their sister. Ina, is still on break for her year in Cameroon. I'm sure that I will be posting and sending new first day of school pics to family and on social media. Today, though, I was praying for Ina and the children in Cameroon. While children in this country receive free public education, in many countries education is not free for all. Ina and her center mates are sponsored by Americans but many of the children in Cameroon do not have the privilege to attend school. This is one of the great things that Shaping Destiny does for the children in the villages surrounding Batibo, Cameroon. (Here is the link about sponsoring http://www.shapingdestiny.org/sponsor-a-child/)   While I was visiting Ina I had a chance to see her school and Head Mistress Ms. Mary. I love these picture! The simplicity of the school, the saturation of colors, the beauty of the landscape where these children learn and the love of Ms. Mary are fostering the imagination of these children's growing spirit.

Image 1. Is the home of the 3rd & 4th form Teacher

Image 2. This is the elementary school. It is the equivalent of  k-6 grade.

Image 3. This is Ms. Mary, the children's Head Mistress. She is strong, fierce, brilliant and amazing! She has to be to grow these children and give them a future filled with knowledge. In her community she is an elder and is very well respected for the work she does. I talked to her a little bit about her role in the lives of these children. She feels privileged that God has entrusted her to this mission and she takes it very seriously. She carries the strength you would expect from someone who holds the title of Head Mistress. Even while sitting in her home and eating granuts I did not want to cross her.

Image 4. The sign explains that this school is certified by the Cameroon government to run providing basic education the the children in the village that can afford to pay. The P.S. stands for Protestant School of Batibo in the village of Guka.

Image 5. Some of the paintings on the walls of the school. They learn in English and French is also taught.

Image 6. The 3rd & 4th class form rooms

The Knot She Will Remember.

 

     

 I love Babies! It's as simple as that. I see them as God creating little drops made in the image of him. In America we feel it is so important to spend money on these elaborate baby carriers. This simple way of carrying a child using a few yards of fabric and a simple knot. When in Cameroon I was absorbed in photographing the relationship of a mother and child. The idea that the child is part of their mother forever is beautiful. A small treasure that she holds close until the child is big enough to be on their own. A bond created between a woman and her child that is love. The baby is tied, bound, to the mother until the mother is ready to release the knot that holds them together. As we go through our adoption of Ina (what I will call her in any public form but it is not her name) I have been aware that we were never destined to experience this contact together. She was another woman's baby. Another woman got to hold her close, she was bound to another, who got to love her, and care for her until it was time for Ina to be mine. For this other woman, Ina's birth mother, I am grateful, jealous, but very grateful. I am beholden to this other woman for the knot of love she was able to give Ina as a baby. I am in dept to her for teaching my child love. For teaching Ina the bond between a mother and child.
     While visiting I had a conversation with Ina's Auntie Jackie, the woman that is the caregiver for the center. I wanted to know what was an important custom, tradition or sight that I should incorporate into our family. I really would like Ina to remember the culture of her birth country. Jackie said there were only a few things that the center children would really associate with their culture. The fabrics and the mother carrying her baby on her back were what defined woman in Cameroon. This is what I would like Ina to remember, love and cherish. I have lots of pictures of this but I did buy lots of fabric too. Leigha and I are ready to play dolls with Ina and practice carrying them on our backs!

Boys Will Be Boys

           Just as I was starting to miss my crazy, fun loving boys I ran into these hooligans. After meeting these boys I wasn't missing mine so much, they were just like Santiago and Everett. These boys were being quite rascally and then I asked if I could take their snap. We had so much fun snapping. If you look beyond their poverty and into their eyes you can see how amazingly awesome these boys are. Just like all boys.