I've postponed Judah's birthday party which was supposed to have happened tomorrow afternoon. He's still sick this morning with tummy discomfort and shuffles around the house moaning, asking me to bring the puke pail to wherever he settles down. Alas. Lord, give me patience... and heal Judah's body please!

Despite the bummer of not having the party on his birthday, i'm somewhat relieved to be relieved of cake and cookie duty just now. I'm thinking of having a slow day of baking only gingerbread cookies and doing some rejuvenating before the hosting really begins. I'm realizing what the host of canker sores in my mouth has been painfully aware of for a week already - i'm stressed about having so many people in my house! ACK! Although i'm looking forward to having my family here to spend time with them and have them see where/how we live (or, see how things have changed in the 4 years since most of them have been here) and excited to go on vacation to Vakona Lodge and Le Petite Traversee, i'm nervous - i think - about having so many people in my house and the 'logistics' that it will entail: Feeding 6 extra adults, juggling the hot water tank use, and - perhaps most important - the clash of cultural sleep habits. ha. Is it just me or do other Madagascar inhabiting vazahas have visitors who have trouble adapting to living according to sun-time rather than clock time? Or is it just me who is so protective of my sleep? It would be silly if we were all together in the same house but half of us are still on a different time zone than the other half. Ach. I suppose i tend to stress about things that have the habit of sorting themselves out.

It's hot. And the air is heavy. Just the kind of weather one wants for baking Christmas cookies and birthday cakes.

I've been sewing again today. <sigh> I think i'm ready to put ye olde machine away in the storage room for a few months - i've gone sew crazy in the last few months doing gifts and decorations and preparations for guests that i reckon i'm ready for a break from bending over the desk trying to peer under that foot to ensure that the seam is going just so and is aligned just right. I've a mind to sit on the deck for a WHOLE DAY! and read my book and eat... something tasty knowing that all my decorations, cakes and whatnotall are ready for Friday, that my gifts are all finished and wrapped under the tree, that the days of December are all methodically planned for what we'll eat and what we'll do and all that. But it isnt. And i'm (almost) ok with that.

Judah was forced to go to school today for the morning (7:30-11:30) by his mean old mom because yesterday he stayed home (due to his night time vomit) and larked around with utter glee like he was on holidays. Being sick at home from school, in my experience as a child is NOT SUPPOSED TO BE FUN! Harumph! So today he went, although he complained of a headache and had a mildly hot forehead. In my defense, I did say that if he felt terrible he could ask the principle to call me and i'd come pick him up. When i did arrive at school at the end of the morning he was participating as normal. The girl who comes along on our school drive, however, tattled on him that he had been crying in class. Shame. But when i asked him why he told me that yes, he had indeed been crying because he felt bad, but that he didnt want to go home because he wanted to make me proud. Isnt that enough to break your heart? Ach. And now at 3pm he's still sleeping on the couch since he went there to read books right after lunch. Shame. Poor little guy. "Sickness be gone!" i say.

I'm hoping to go to a Christmas cookie exchange with a bunch of missionary women friends this coming Monday - hopefully with my mom if she's feeling up to it after 35 hours of traveling the night before. I'm supposed to bring 3 dozen of one kind of cookie. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Well, enough of a coffee internet break. Back to the sewing machine!

Josh has gone away on a 2 night overnight... exactly as Judah, Asher and i are coming down with puking stomach aches. blah. I tease Josh sometimes that he gets to go on overnight retreats/vacations without us on a regular basis. This particular time, in fact, he's going camping with a tent! Doesnt that sound exciting?! Last night after the bible study women left my house i came up and asked whether it was in fact barfing i had heard while we were discussing downstairs. Josh told me that Judah was really sick, as opposed to just pretending like i thought he had been - and then i made the comment ti Josh that he was lucky to be going on a 2 night 'vacation' while i was stuck at home sick, with a sick and pukey kid on my hands and another sure to get sick within the day. Josh claimed, however, that he would rather trade places with me. Hm. So perhaps camping in the desert of Madagascar isnt all the fun it sounds like. I think mostly he's not excited about not washing for 3 days and being hot and sticky the whole time because there's not easy access to water where he's going. Anyway, this morning finds me better, but Judah home from school, although i've threatened to drive him in a few times already because he seems to act pretty un-sick at times. sigh. Asher also has come down with the stomach flu, alas. I'm just hoping that the bug will have left our house before Judah's birthday party and certainly before my parents arrive on Sunday night. It would definitely be unfortunate if my family all arrived and immediately fell to the might of the Madagascar stomach flu. yuck.

It was first advent yesterday. I had no idea. No cues outside or at church... <sigh> I suppose it's past time to get out the advent wreath.

 
This is at the Raphia. Those are the boys and the orchids sitting up in the frangipani tree. One more thing to add to the 'i love the Christmas season (aka summer!) in Madagascar" is the scent of frangipanis in the air everywhere you go.
 

Below is what i thought would be one of the better photos... but i had the camera on video mode. I have a lot of these "photos" which i think are rather Harry Potter-esque. Moving pictures, you know.

 
 

Friday is Judah's birthday. I've re-hung the birthday banner and was reminded of a simple card idea from a cousin's blog, and the picture in the book we've been quoting every time we see the banner on the deck flip-flapping has such fun flags in it... so i thought i'd whip some up for the party too. I not-so-subtly pointed out to Josh yesterday that i have made so many decorations and whatnot from things we already have or things i could get for free, like the bamboo poles that the gardener cut down for me from the back road. Dont you reckon that's a reason to be able to spend some money at the Christmas Bazaar? Haha.

I've been waiting for this for a long time! ha. Cant wait until we all can sit quietly together and read our own books as an evening's activity.

I dont know if the previous photo of the agapanthas with Judah in the foreground really conveyed the size of these flowers. Their flower heads are as big as my own and they're taller than i am!

Asher's party.

Last Christmas Judah got a harmonica, together with a "Learn to Play Harmonica" book, which came with a CD of audio instruction. The other day i pulled out that book and he was keen to listen to the CD so that he could learn to play. Knowing the kind of kid he is i made sure to clarify to him that listening to the instructions would not make him an expert harmonica player, although the subtitle of the disc does say, "3 Minutes to Blues, Rock, Folk, Country, Classical, and Celtic Harmonica!" Wow! I know that he thinks he can apply himself to any given task for a total of 3 minutes (or less) and if he doesnt get it straight away then he's bummed and gives up. So i looked him straight in the eye before putting the disc on and told him that learning to play would require a LOT of practice, that he wouldnt know how to play straight away, and that he shouldnt think he would be an expert on the first day. Wouldnt you know it though, after listening to the first 5 tracks with 65% focus he was annoyed at the time his lessons were taking and gave up entirely. bah. But i thought it was great fun, since the disc also supplies background music for the 'riffs' that you learn. Maybe seeing his mom tear it up on the stage with his harmonica will inspire him to try again soon.

"iiiiiin, two three, out, in! two, three, four..."

I was thinking of this encounter this morning while i was reading the Word and doing the homework for the Beth Moore study we're on just now. Often we think that we can become spiritual giants just by asking for wisdom and then sitting back and hoping God will 'apply it' to us and then, voila, we are so in tune with the Almighty that we can see with clear spiritual sight, hear with clean spiritual ears and have the insight and wisdom to make amazing decisions and discern mind boggling spiritual truths. Ha. That kind of wisdom and clear sensibility, most assuredly, comes with focused discipline and applying ourselves, alongside the imploring of the Lord for his guidance and blessing and the searching of His word for the direction therein. Seeing others who are further along on the spiritual road than i am, who have experienced God in ways i hadn't yet imagined, are great incentives for spurring me on in my own study and prayer life.

Going through last year's blogs from this time of year i came across my list of "hot diggities" of the Canadian Christmas season, listed no doubt because we were finally enjoying a Canadian Christmas after a few years celebrating in hotter climes.

In order that our readership not think there's nothing good (other than the warm outdoor temps, which seemingly all Canadians think is the epitome of well-being) about celebrating Christmas on a tropical island i will attempt to make a list of "hot diggities" for this locale... if i can think of any. haha. I will say that i much prefer celebrating Christmas in Canada, and i'm not ashamed to say so either.

Great things about the Christmas season in Madagascar though, include:

- the almost complete absence of Christmas commercialism. It does appear at the grocery store in the form of gaudy over sized tree decorations and hideous garland, but the materialism that is rammed down throats in Canada is almost non existent here. In fact, you can shop for Christmas gifts and whatever else you need the day before and mostly feel like it's any other day of the year. 
- the lack of hearing the same Christmas songs ad nauseum. (is that a positive?)
- fine, i'll say it although through gritted teeth: the warm weather. I do confess i prefer white Christmases to hot and green ones. I'm trying to look on the positive side though so... i enjoy sitting outdoors during the day and basking in the perfect 24C on the deck, listening to the tropical birds chirp in the trees while my children play outside without having to don heavy winter clothing.
- outdoor birthday parties for rambunctious birthday boys! using the pool! using water toys!
- the ability to push aside the cultural things that seem to be inseparable to Christmas in Canada: Christmas music, shopping, gifts and parties, decorations, all the 'fun' things that have turned over the years into obligations, family gatherings, etc. and really focus on the simplicity of the Gospel message for this time of year.
- the excuse of hot weather to not bake hoards of Christmas baking that wont possibly get eaten. and the fact that i only have a fridge freezer that will soon be full of Manitoban Pork Sausage (Woot, woot!)
- the ability to see first hand how less fortunate people are living and celebrating the season, and the opportunity to bless them abundantly - giving to them directly rather than through an organization.
- the ability to learn first hand how other cultures celebrate Christmas and the freedom to try new things instead of doing this the same every year because it's always done that way.
- BBQing 'beer can chicken' for Christmas dinner. yum.
- fresh fruit (mangoes, litchi, bananas, passion fruit, etc. etc.) for Christmas breakfasts.
- Christmas dinner out on the deck. so nice!
- sitting fireside... outside! with shorts and a t-shirt... eating Christmas cookies.
- Going swimming every day during Christmas holidays. And/or spending a chunk of Christmas holidays at the coast.
- Celebrating God at Christmas with people from many different countries and cultures, united in one faith.
- no icy road driving. no warming up vehicles (although our neighbours both do this for 15 minutes prior to ever going out on the road because apparently it helps the vehicle drive better if it's warmed up from it's standing 25C temperature...) no getting stuck in snow drifts in -30C.
- power cuts giving candlelight a whole new significance and meaning. - the excuse therefore to have many candles all around the house.
- the cultural and familial freedom to create our own family traditions for holidays.
- no real tree to remember to water...
- no hockey games to battle for the attention of my husband. haha
- early mornings with glorious sunshine (as opposed to dark mornings and early nights)
- an abundance of fresh flowers outside and in.
- a lack of Christmas events to attend, which means the events that are planned are attended by everyone we know, thereby giving a great excuse for socializing.

Anyway, i know it's not even December, but since we'll be lounging at the beach this Christmas holiday and lounging with the lemurs in the rain forest as well i reckon i wont have as much time for Christmassy blogs this year. Besides that fact, i hear in Manitoba these days everyone is already feeling Christmassy since there's snow and cold weather. Thus, my blog entry wont seem as out of place as i feel currently writing it.

Further to Christmas blogging, however, i'm hoping to arm-wrestle my brothers, their wives and my parents to write guest-blogger entries so you can get a visitor's perspective of life and Christmas here on the Red Island. I'm wondering whether i'll need to offer incentives to get them to do so though... any suggestions?

11 more days until Judah wakes up to find his Grandparents in the next room.

Today my baby turned one. This last weekend he had a miserable time of it - puking and having high temperatures, but today he woke up well - although rosy cheeked. I reckon the sickness was due to teething. WE had a lovely fety kely on the front drive so that the day guard, who opens the compound gate for cars going in and out, could also come. It was a lovely day but, as is usually the case with outdoor parties at this time of year, the candle wouldnt stay lit long enough to blow out. oh well.

Here, above, is Mme Fanja giving Asher a gift from the three workers (Mms Fanja, Irene, and Mr. Solo the gardener). It was such a touching gesture for them to get something for him, but it was a significant sign of their love for him. They gave him a small handmade wooden car.

I made a birthday banner - whipped it up in an evening - and it was a festive decoration if i do say so myself. Yep. That was my favourite part of the party i think. haha. You can see it at the top of the above photo. Those are from left to right, Mme Fanja, Mme Irene, and Mr. Solo.

We gave Asher the Little People farm set and school bus i had bought off of Rhonda before she left the country. He was thrilled with it and giggled every time someone pressed a button that made a sound. I remember Judah bouncing his bum in baby-dance fashion to that music when he was about Asher's age.

The adults were also quite enamoured with the toy. It was fun watching them all explore Asher's gifts.

 

I made the 4 layered "Milk Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake" that i made last year September long weekend to celebrate not being in Student Life anymore. haha. It was very rich though and i still have a sugar headache. 

Here Asher is saying, please can i just skip the cake and go back to playing with my new toys?!

Group Shot. That's the day guard, Mamonjy, holding Asher, and Jade, the girl next door, on the left of him. (but isnt that banner nice?? haha). Mamonjy asked for a copy of the photo, so we will make it a party favor for everyone.

It's my party blog so i can post photos of my banner if i want to.

Judah is coming home from school and boys club these days with all manner of Christmas paraphernalia, which of course is appropriate for this time of year, just not really appropriate - in our minds - of this time of season. ha

 

Instead of snow causing mental seasonal cues for the approaching Christmas season we have heavy rainfall and the litchis growing larger.

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This is one of the pics that goes with the last post, where the boys are all inspecting the garden while the rain is falling.

last week i went to the market public in Talatamaty to get some fruit and look for sewing notions. i always forget how great it is to shop at the marche public - all the mounds of fresh produce at a ridiculously low price, great things at the stalls to find and bargain for, and, this time, the opportunity to practice my Malagasy. the vendeurs at the marche public in Talatamaty are much more patient with my Malagasy than the fruit sellers nearer to our house and they helped me out a lot as i attempted to bargain in Malagasy. anyway, i found these brilliant fuchsia flipflops there and got them for 3000Ar/$1.50.

This is our backyard this last week. The beans are growing, as are the spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, dill, summer savory (maybe), grass and flowers... (happy sigh)

i would make the same golf green statements about our front yard lawn if i could. it's still a shame though that if we sit on the grass everyone can see us. It's like we live in Canada or something. haha

 
Those are the two farthest developed agapanthas we have in the yard just now. they are, as you can see, taller than Judah by a good foot and a half.

Yesterday we had another heavy downpour, timely in that it was during the day when the gardener was still here, so we could observe the rain where it cut away at the dirt here, or pooled in low places there. We've done a pretty good job of the garden though and there arent many places to fix up.

this is the lavender that someone imported illegally into Madagascar from SA. I have since inherited it and used legally imported rooting soil to coax a dozen plants out of the one.

Josh just made home made noodles this afternoon. we just ate them with our second to last link of manitoban farmer sausage. yum. Josh is the master of noodles.

Josh keeps getting phone calls from random people giving updates on the coup or whatever is going on. They are unsettling interruptions in an otherwise relaxing day.

Except that Asher has a high fever and garfed all over me this afternoon right before i was going out to a ladies tea. I do confess that i at times enjoy when my children are so sick that they dont mind sitting with me most of the day while i rock them and cuddle them. But sick kids are not fun in that it causes anxiety and sleepless nights. <sigh> Judah has been a caring older brother though, which is sweet to see. After supper he was singing Asher 'bull - byes".

There are two large Superman wrapping papered gifts atop the bookshelf nowadays. The new superman decked box appeared this afternoon and was immediately noticed by an insatiably curious almost 5 year old. As we sat down for supper and Josh began the prayer for the meal "Thank you Lord for the beautiful day..." Judah interupted with a note of thanks of his own, "and thank you Lord for the new superman present!" haha.

Ha two blogs in one day and no they are not both Joc's.

I just thought it might interest some of you what was going on in the rain forest on Wednesday while the rest of the country was either voting or instigating a coup attempt.

After finishing off the desperately needed repairs to the runway in Sahakevo we went back with Heli-Mission to go fetch our two Bobcats.  It was an enjoyable if at the same time very tiring day but was a lot of fun and interesting to say the least.  I am always amazed and impressed how our two missions are able to assist and help each other out in such measurable ways.  Sahakevo is now a fuel storage base for Heli-Mission since we can now bring 3-4 drums of fuel in for them at one time.  On the way down to help our with the sling loading that is exactly what we did.  We've also completed some basic living quarters and storage for those who have to overnight there and for the medical teams that will be visiting the village next year.

Anyhow on to the interesting bit.

Here is Remi the designated hooker upper doing just that.  I have to give him credit for standing underneath a hovering helicopter while being dexterous enough to get the hook put on just right.
 
I also have to give huge credit to Beat, the Swiss pilot who has to hover within about 2 feet of someone's head directly below him while remaining still enough that the guy can hook up the load.  Pretty amazing skills being showed off here.

And then the pilot must follow the directions of a ground guy so that he lifts the load straight up until it's off the ground to avoid dragging the equipment on the ground and damaging it as well as increasing the potential for the helicopter to have problems.  Really quite extraordinary piloting skills that were a pleasure to watch.

Patrick Keller the other MAF pilot here who also happens to be Swiss, kindly volunteered for the sometimes dusty job of directing Beat from the ground.  Good on you Patrick:)

Below is what I consider a pretty good team that together is enabling the most remote people in Madagascar to be reached by the Gospel.  It's really a pleasure and honor to work along side these guys.

 

Today we evacuated Judah from school because they told us to. bah. So, one and a half days of school attendance this last week. Great for him, undoubtedly.

Anyway, apart from that we have not much else going on. The hangar was closed down today for the same reason. It's strange this time around that the crisis is occurring just 2 minutes down the road from us rather than downtown where it didn't affect us at all last time. It's also strange how, despite the proximity of 'danger' this time i'm feeling way less uptight about it than i did last time. It could be because last time nothing much came of anything on a personal level. Hopefully a similarly unaffected result for the JRPletts this week and those to come because we've got parties to host, cake to eat, presents to open and play with... and then family to welcome.

Judah is starting to read these days. It is at the same time thrilling and aggravating.
Asher is starting to give kisses. This is only lovely, not aggravating at all!

We went to Weldom to pick up some shower heads/hoses for our house and #5 and found light fixtures on sale... so we got 2 to replace the hideous chandeliers that the house came with. I will consider it a miracle, however, if they are easily installed and work thereafter. (i confess, i am a pessimistic purchaser when it comes to anything involving electricity/wiring in this country).

The "mango rains" are back again after a few weeks of very dry weather. The rice fields are surely suffering from this lack of rain we've had. We're anyway happy for the rain for the cool down it provides at the end of the day. As i write this i'm hearing the approaching thunder increase in volume as it nears us. I was just outside taking photos of my beautiful garden, and now 5 minutes later the sky is dark and heavy. Loving thunderstorms just now!

I'm quickly going to post this before the rains shut my power (and the internet) down.