Firsts

Gifty going to reading program (to help her learn to read), Slip N'Slide, Gifty's 11th Birthday, First Pony Ride, First Baseball with new friend Megan Chai.

St. Louis Zoo, Visit to the Arch, Largest Candy Store Ever, Metro

St. Louis African Arts Festival

Gifty at School

Both girls were tested at Washington Elementary for placement in the Fall. This is Gifty's first experience at a computer learning game. The testing showed great deficits in their learning and there is a long way to go but the teachers assure us that they will do fine.

I have been too busy cooking, cleaning, teaching essentials of living to the tribe to post more often. In fact, I have been too busy to snap pictures.

Gifty at Dentist/ A Cold Day 78 degrees

Hot tub/ Ft. Smith Air Show/ Kettle Corn at War Eagle

Gifty Learning to Ride

Sister, Amanda, assisted with teaching Gifty to ride a bike. Amanda has been riding several years. Great fun was had by all.

Picture of John

Honest, there are few pictures of John. Here is one of he and I (going to a funeral in Bolgatanga). The dress I have is traditional funeral attire. I'll try to do better in the very near future. The girls are still in sensory overload. More tomorrow.

Day 3

New Room, Glued to TV with Patch Dolls

Day 2

Walmart and Swingset. They loved both. First toys (dolls). Sorry no video at airport. We were all TOO excited bu the memories will be longlasting.

Airport

Arrival To America

Mandy and I arrived at the airport at 2:45 PM since the plane was due at 3:14. Luckily we have one picture of the new family descending on the escalator to the row of waiting cousins holding signs and flags. They were very happy to have landed after 2 days on the airplane. John admits that he had not slept in 4 days because of excitement and traveling. Once here we set off to sister, Gwen's house and the girls showered and changed clothes and somehow found the first swingset they had ever seen. Their cousin, Meagan, showed them how the swingset was intend to be used.
Gifty complained that her ears really hurt on the airplane and was ill on the way from the airport to sister, Gwen's house.

Coming to America

The girls said goodbye to their grandmother, Apogbire, on Tuesday morning as they boarded a bus to Accra. "pobire" doesn't know how old she is (John's mother). She was one of 5 wifes of John's father. She had 5 children including John, but the 2 oldest boys are deceased (one being Gifty's father). John is committed to his village and has not abandoned them but will help them by continuing his business efforts exporting shea butter. It is a 2 day trip to get to the capital where the three did finally secure their visas. The girls had to wash their clothes before they packed them in a backpack. The dresses they have on they manufactured out of a one yard piece of material. The dresses they have on in the "wash day" picture I took them from Walmart. They will arrive in Little Rock on Monday and will be met by my family waving American flags, carrying red, white, and blue balloons, and my daughter has some new clothes for them to wear. I will post pictures on our return to Fayetteville on Wednesday afternoon. Check back next week.

At a Bus Stop north of Kumasi: First Peanut Butter and Jelly on Bread

April 15, 2008

I expect the girls to arrive into Little Rock on Monday, 4/21. But until I have pictures for that I will post some other pictures of the girls in their village. Gifty Apaama Agana is age 10. Her mother died when she was 4 weeks old and her father died when she was 6 months old. Gifty doesn't read, does not know her ABCs, the days of the week or the months of the year. She is a very sweet child and eager to learn. She is in school in Bolgatanga. Amanda Apogbire Agana is 12 years old and is John's (my husband) daughter. Her mother died when she was 4 years old. Gifty and Amanda are cousins. So, the girls have no recollection of a mother figure. Amanda can grind peppers and tomatoes for sauce and she can start fires for cooking. She is inquisitive, bright eyed, brave, outgoing and very athletic. She runs like a gazelle.

April 14, 2008

My friends, colleagues, students, and family have encouraged me to Blog. So, I will attempt to share with all of you the wonders that 2 little African girls will experience as they leave their small village in Bolgatanga, Ghana, West Africa to come live with their new mother (me) in America. Now I have 3 daughters as you can see from some of the pictures.