Folks in our life

(I'm headed home for the summer soon and while I am THRILLED - it will be hard to leave these sweet people you are about to meet)....I started this post months ago and decided now's the time to submit it. 

This is a post I've debated about writing for awhile now.  There are A LOT of people in my life right now, really good and wonderful people who I am grateful to know.  The folks that will be lifetime friends once our time here in Accra is done.  But, those are the people you probably expect.  There, is, however, another group of people in my life that have become very consistent and present figures to me. Daily, weekly, monthly, but the same people.  I.HEART.THEM.  They are amazing and kind and hardworking and joyful and resourceful and they treat us well.  They are like our family in a far off land.  

 I don't want to portray them in any other way but as hard working people with the best hearts who really DO help us.  I also don't want to portray my life as posh and easy.  The folks I am about to introduce you to do help make our every day life much easier, and I do not take it for granted.  I want you to know them and get a glimpse into my life here and the people I interact with. It's important to me that folks get my whole scoop.  So here it is  - and here they are:  

Meet Felicia

Felicia came to us via our predecessor. She is with us every day and anytime we need her.  She is our housekeeper/nanny/jack of all trades/ house manager and my right hand gal.  She knows what she is doing and how to make it happen.  And she LOVES my kids!  Drew is her sidekick as they spend the most time together, but she is also a friend to me.  She singlehandedly makes my life easier.  When I look ahead to my life without her, I want to cry.  

Meet Noel

Noel also came to us via our predecessor and boy do we feel LUCKY!  He is our cook.  He works for us part time - we share him with another family, and it is fabulous!  Not only does he cook amazing food but knows how to make everything to include homemade bagels and crepes that are to die for.  (maybe this is why I've lost no weight even living in Africa). Besides being able to cook, he is a sweet, good hearted man providing for his large family.  I give Noel all the credit for the non-issues we've had with any food here.  A big part of it is preparation, cleaning it properly, etc... and he knows how to handle it!

A picture I will treasure 

Meet God's Willing

Yes - that is her name.  Isn't it great????  She is the 'auntie' in the duo that comes twice a month to give me and my friends mani/pedis in.our.house.  Love her!  And love how she keeps my feet from being permanently stained black (it's so dirty here!!)

Meet Patience

The second part of the mani/pedi duo.  Patience also gives the BEST massages.  She also comes to the house to do that.  What??  

We also have consistent faces to guard our compound gate, and a gardener that is ever present.  And I do see the same people at my shopping spots, etc…but I'll highlight them another day.  Today it is just these four.  Love them all! 

A little glimpse into our world.  

I'll be scarce on the blog over summer......but back in August.  

A Visit to the King

Our women's group was invited to a very special event by the Queen Mothers - the 15th year celebration of Ashanti King Otumfour Osei Tutu II being on the stool!  It was an honor and an opportunity I'm glad to have been part of!  I may not have the chance again.  It required a plane trip to the city of Kumasi (on a  small plane) and HOURS in the hot sun with HOURS of super loud yelling and drumming BUT......still worth it in the end.  A unique experience for sure!  I snapped a few photos of the day - I feel like as most things living here - a photo does not do it justice - but I hope you'll get an idea of the tradition, dress, and amazing colors!!  This was one of those GRAND affairs that brings everyone together in the city and surrounding villages - and they take it very seriously! Traditions go as far as what type of 'gift' you must present the king.  In the suitcase, we carried schnapps and whiskey (by request).  :)  Enjoy!

ladies group with our Queen Mother host, Nana

Botswana (Chobe Game Lodge)

We spent just two nights at the most amazing Lodge - in the middle of the Chobe National Park.  Chobe is known for its large population of elephants, with over 45,000.  No chance you would not see one.  In our short stay, we did a sunset cruise on the river, one super long game drive, and two early morning game drives.  I feel so lucky that we saw everything the park offered except for the leopard (Chase was most hoping to see this).  I just picked a very small sampling of some of my favorite photos.  We literally could have reached out to touch most of these animals.  But our HIGHLIGHT of the trip were the lions.  I had told myself the chances of seeing any were very slim ( I was actually most obsessed with the hippos).  Anyway, we got the call from a fellow tour guide that a female lion had been spotted walking down one of the roads and sure enough, when we got there, she was literally walking right towards us.  We followed her as long as we could, watched her drink, in hopes that she'd lead us to the pride.  Eventually we lost her but awhile later, another call, saying she'd been spotted again.  We got there in time to view her and several cubs heading towards the river.  By this point, I feel like we've hit the jackpot.  The day was almost done and we got yet another call saying the entire pride of 9 lions (2 females, 7 cubs) had been spotted.  We almost didn't turn around because I thought there was no way we'd get there in time.  Wouldn't you know the entire pride was lounging by the river with not a care in the world?  That's when I cried because I just couldn't even believe how perfect the day ended!  Wow!  So looking forward to more safari experiences!  It was the perfect 'test' safari for us with two small kids - they were great and it was such an amazing family trip! Something about being in nature trying to 'look' for things was super relaxing and exciting all at the same time!  

One final note:  I almost wanted to become a bird watcher - we saw the most amazing birds as well.  Spring Break trip = better than imagined!  

Chase took this photo - he was super proud of it!

lots of warthogs - look how they eat on their knees

enormous croc

elephant digging for food

sweet baby

hippos - they're huge

Saw a herd of 200 cape buffalos

The elephants were always in large groups

one buck for all these females - what?

Sighting no. 1 - she was hot and thirsty

look how the giraffe bends down to drink

hundreds of baboons came running from every direction (this was our first clue they were nervous) and sure enough, lions came into view not much later

second sighting:  cubs

hippos in the water

African Fish Eagle - saw this bird (in pairs) so many times - just beautiful

my favorite tree

final sighting

amazing!

second sighting - cubs playing

my crazy kids thought it was the coolest!  

another shot of the entire pride

Our amazing (and sweet) tour guide Neo - wanted to bring her home with me