Tuesday, August 28, 2012

W'apow mu e, 

 

Our power went off first thing this morning.  It seems to be a Ghanaian tradition for the power to be off on my birthday.  When we were in Ghana six years ago, my birthday was the official start of "load shedding."  The power was off for 12 hours, on for 24, off for 12, on for 48, off for 12 for months on end, and it all started on my birthday.  When we called the power company this morning, they said that it would come.  When we called this afternoon, they said that it was load shedding.  It did come on a couple hours earlier than they said it would.  So, it was off for ten hours total.  We are hoping that this stretch of "load shedding" won't be quite as extreme as it was a few years ago.

The kids presented me with the cards and things that they had made for me.  Gilbert and Danny watched some type of a craft show, and they both made me a medal.  Gilbert made  a silver medal using the plastic band which came off of the paper box, aluminum foil, and a plastic lid.  Danny brought his in to measure to see if would go over my head.  His was a "gold medal" made with paper and masking tape.  Danny's birthday card was full of treasures too – a rocket, a train track, and some notes.  Bonnie drew inside her card and told me what each thing was; I never would have known what all it contained if she had not enlightened me.  Gilbert wrote "I love you" with a highlighter and was afraid that I wouldn't be able to read it; so, he wrote it in pencil underneath.  

We went into town for lunch.  We went to Planters Lodge.  Danny sure eats a lot for a five-year-old.  He had a bowl full of fries.  Gilbert said, "Mom, three seconds ago Danny's bowl was full of fries, and now they're gone!"  Joe ordered some pizzas that we could take home for supper.  While we waited for the pizzas, we went outside to take some pictures.  The landscape is very pretty there.

We headed back home for nap time.  I am feeling much better.  As long as I get a nap in, I can make it through the day.  

After naps, I helped the kids do some puzzles.  Bonnie brought a puzzle out first.  Hers was just a twenty-four piece puzzle.  Gilbert brought out a 100-piece puzzle.  Danny brought out seven puzzle boxes.  Joe saw Danny's stack and told him to do them one at a time.  That could have been a catastrophe!

We had our pizza for supper.  Joe made an angel food cake.  He also made whipped cream.  We found some canned strawberries to go on top for those who like strawberries.  After cake, I opened my presents.  The kids helped Joe put the presents in gift bags this morning.  I was surprised that they were able to keep it a secret all day!  I got a sauce pan and some hangers.

Then, we played a game of Sorry.  Danny won.  Bonnie was so sad that she lost.

I had several birthday calls and lots of birthday greetings.  Thank you to everyone who made my birthday special!

 

Nantsew yie!

 

Joe, Laura, Gilbert, Danny, and Bonnie