kayte will change the world...

days for girls
i think this is one of the more powerful acts of service i have ever performed.
it touches me on a fundamental level, woman to woman.
the idea that we can intervene in a young girl's life -
and change the outcome.
and to never again take for granted that which is so readily available to us.



making re-usable sanitary napkins with their kits is essential to these girls.
(for religious/blackmarket/coercion reasons - our disposable options will not work)
this simple act allows these girls to go to school and work
on the days they have their periods.
it gives them their days back,
sometimes their opportunities, their options...

just know that days for girls is saving lives.
it is a tool for intervening at those critical moments in a girl's life.
our dear friend, kayte, has been invited to accompany the founder to africa
(ALL OVER AFRICA)
and she has a few short weeks to raise the money for the trip.

kayte is a college educated world traveler who has discovered her passion -
women's rights and women's issues.
she is about to embark on a journey that will define her life from here on out.
i am so proud of her.
we need more women like her, who challenge conventions -
who will change the world for our daughters.

kayte has started the second california chapter of days for girls -
and i couldn't be more proud of her.
so, in wanting to see her fulfill her dreams
and wanting to support such an amazing program -
please click on the donate button in the top left corner and do what you can.
i'd love to see what kayte can do in africa,
and what we can learn from all the experiences she will be bringing back with her.

ps: remember the second thursday of every month -
days for girls sewing night.
go, go, go.
you don't have to sew,
there's lots to keep you busy.

every day is a new day...

and i never know what's she's going to be wearing.
today was particularly sweet
with the addition of the old lady pearls.

love her.
and him,
for being so uncomplicated.
shirt, short, shoes with a fight.
that's my boy.

ps: i've been kid free for a few hours -
(thanks aunt melinda)
and i was able to run to the bank,
drop off a bunch of important mail at the post office
and went to the grocery store.
now i'm sitting here pinning salads -
trying to figure out which one i should make
for relief society tomorrow.
anyone follow me on pinterest?
any suggestions?
any strike your fancy?

baby annabell pics from yesterday...

the top two were my favorites,
and the bottom two were just too funny.
she definitely knew when she was done.
too cute.

luke looks up from his dinner last night -
"i'm thinking i'm going to grow a beard."
and then goes back to eating.

when gramma and papa are away...

the grandbabies will play.



kiss baby leila for them.

while i was still snuggled up under the covers this morning,
i hear luke come in and sneak in the bathroom with his dad -
who was just getting out of his shower.
this is the conversation that followed:

L - why do you always sleep naked dad?
D - i'm getting out of the shower, luke. privacy please.
L - i just totally had a funny thought. what if you got up in the middle of the night and you were naked and mom got up in the middle of the night and she was naked and she ran into. she would scream and jump back and go, "oh no you're naked"!

and then he left the room, laughing and laughing
at the funny little scenario playing out in his head.
nick was laughing as well.
i was laughing, just under the coveres
and don't think for a second my heart
didn't stop half-way through that funny little monologue -
who knew where a kids mind could go with two naked parents in the middle of the night?!

this girl...

she cracks me up.
she also dresses herself.
you never know what you're going to get.

do you know what sucks?

some of the coolest things happen in my life,
and for the sake of professionalism, i can't talk about them.
sigh.

but on a i-can-talk-about-it-note -
nick and i had our uscis appt this morning fresno
and have two more documents to notarize -
and since we are officially gladney approved as of last week -
once cis approves us,
we get to go on the waitlist.

this is the thing we've been working towards for the past year.
i feel a weight lifting, if only for the moment...
but i'll take what i can get.
and when i have the energy to write about this process
and all the hoopla going on around our program - i will.
but for now, just know that we are insanely close to the waiting part of the game.

and to celebrate we went to fasika and had lunch.
this is a local ethiopian restaurant and it was amazing.
it made me want to get home and get my teff starter going -
injera mastery is a must.

so, here's to really cool things we can't talk about
and to our family growing when and where and how it should
and to good ethiopian food.