Day 847. I went to bed just after midnight. At first there were no kids in bed with us, but it wasn't long before first one and then the other one came. At 6 o'clock Randy got up to refill the milk and give it to Sammy who was crying, but as soon as he had opened the door, the cats were inside our room. I'm the only one who can get them out, as they follow me expecting something go eat. However, Emmy was already up and the ruckus also woke Tammy up. There was no more sleeping after that. When they got up for good just after 6:30, I had no choice but to get up as well. Emmy carried the catfood to the kitchen, where I gave it to the cats. Then I started making breakfast, while Randy gave them new diapers.
After breakfast we cleaned them up and dressed them and then went to the living room to read a Bible story, followed by opening the advent calendars. Instead of going to the back to work, I got the kitchen and dining room table for us all to make Christmas cookies. Amadou left to get us some butter and flour in the neighborhood shop, and by 10 am everything was ready for the kids to come over and make the cookies. I had already made the two batches of dough to roll out and cut the cookies out of.
All our resident kids came over as well as a few of our non-resident kids. I got them all to wash their hands, and we got right started. The older kids already have experience and sovereignly took over from me, putting all the dough together and rolling it out again to cut our more cookies. Tammy and Emmy were there at first, but soon left. Margit was watching her church's service on the phone, and they went to watch a little. Then Bakary and Sarata came over as well, and they started playing with them. They were having lots of fun, and some of the younger kids left the cookie-making to play with our kids. Sammy was also having fun, finding a new friend in Sarata. It's a shame that she's in school all day every day and has no time to come over during the week.
At one point they took Tammy and Emmy outside to see the sheep and chickens. They just love going outside. Randy took Sammy and also went outside with them. They didn't stay too long, as it was hot.
The closer they got to finish making the cookies, the more kids left to play. Soon they were going round and round again, pulling our kids on their carry-on dogs, which they love.
At 11 am I pulled away to make our soup, basically just throwing all the ingredients into a pot. But I also had to put the cookies into the oven, get them out, and put the next batch in. And take pictures.
By noon the soup was ready, most kids had already left, and we said good-bye to the remaining kids. Our kids had been so busy they didn't snack the way they usually do, which was good, as they FINALLY all ate everything on their plate, including Sammy, who gets less in the first place. I wished they'd always eat like this. They also had a yoghurt, though they started playing with it before it was all gone. And Emmy was especially cranky. I took him straight to the bathtub, which he enjoyed, and today Tammy was fine with it as well. Yesterday she had screamed, when I washed her off in the bathtub, but today she had no problem with it.
We dressed them all again, and then it was bedtime. It was 12:40. Tammy and Emmy gave us such a hard time again that they took our patience all the way to the limit. It was 1:35 before they FINALLY fell asleep! I went to work - for the first time today as I had had no time in the morning - but got so tired that my eyes kept closing. However, knowing we'd be gone in the afternoon I pushed myself to keep going instead of lying down next to the kids for a short time.
When the kids raised up early, I quickly reacted and lay down with them, and they both fell asleep again, and I was even able to get back up after a few minutes. Just after 3:30 I decided they had slept long enough and woke them up - all three at once. None of them wanted to eat, and Tammy was extremely cranky and wanted me to carry her all the time, which I could not do - physically, and because of what I had to do. I dressed them all, and we were ready to leave early. Randy got Sammy to eat a little, but the others didn't want anything.
Just before 4:30 we left the house and walked to the car. Moussa, our driver, had come in today just to drive us to town and back. Margit sat in the front, while we were in the back. I had Tammy and Emmy for most of the time, and Randy Sammy. They were all looking outside with interest, at the many cars and motorbikes and people. There was a lot of traffic, even though it was a little better than during the week. I'm glad we left when we left. We got to the mission close to the city center just after 5 pm. Moussa let us get off and parked nearby, waiting for us to come back out.
We went into the courtyard and up the stairs and found the big room, where the Christmas service was going to be held. I was curious how many missionaries I know I'd meet. We have not had any personal contact with anyone since the kids were born, and now we were finally gonna be able to show them off. However, it turned out that only one good friend I've known a long time was there, and that was it! That was surprising to me.
We went into the room and found some chairs in the last row. It was right in front of an air condition, and it was blowing really cold. They must have turned it off later. My old friend came over and greeted us and each one of the children. It was so great to see her again and talk to her!
At 5:30 the program started, and it lasted 90 minutes. There were Christmas songs and specials and a bunch of kids played the Christmas story. Sammy was rather cranky, but we took turns to try to keep him happy. They were skipping dinner, but we had snacks with us, Sammy eating the most. I had Emmy on my shoulders for a long time, and then Tammy for a long time, so they could see the play really well. You could tell that they were getting a little tired and impatient. As the end was approaching, Emmy kept talking about getting back into the car.
At 7 pm the service ended, and as I didn't see anyone else I knew, we headed to the exit. We used the bathroom, and went back down the stairs and out on the street. We didn't see Moussa anywhere, but it was already dark. Randy started walking down the road a little and soon found him and the car. We got in, and off we went to go home. It wasn't long before Sammy got cranky, but we still had a long trip ahead of us before getting home. I did everything I knew to cheer him up. Emmy got cranky at one point, but got over it quickly. Tammy stayed interested in what was going on outside to the end.
We were all glad, when we pulled into our center. Amadou had to move the sheep out of the way for the car to pass and park, and he also helped us get the kids into the house. They still wanted to eat something, and so we put them into their chairs, and they each got to eat a yoghurt. Then I first took Sammy to clean him up, and we put him to bed, and then Tammy and Emmy went into the bathtub and had fun in the water for a while, before we got them out and ready for bed.
By 8:20 they were in bed, but not ready to sleep - except for Sammy. I lay down with them at first, but it wasn't working, so I got back up. By 8:40 Tammy was asleep, and I thought Emmy as well, so I got up and went to the kitchen to get something to eat. But then I heard crying. It was Emmy. I had left too early, and he was up again. It was a challenge to get him back to sleep, and it took until 9 pm, before I succeeded. THEN I was finally able to eat and get back to work. And I've been so tired, I have been struggling all evening, falling asleep while writing. It's time for me to join Randy in bed until the first child comes to join us.
I have so many pictures tonight that I'll work on them tomorrow and add them later.
