A Year Later, More Goals to Achieve

Brenda and Becky are settled into their American life. Brenda continues to attend high school and is diligently working toward earning a diploma! Yes, a diploma! She is completely dedicated to her education. She studies hard, has an incredible attitude and is fearless. She prides herself in getting good grades and meeting or exceeding the expectations of her teachers.

Days, weeks, months, seasons seemingly pass more quickly now. Often there is little news to report. We have made great strides setting a "norm" with these two lovely ladies.

But it's time for another push. A new wave. More efforts to realize what many of us American born citizens take for granted. Transportation.

Boise Idaho is not known for its public transportation. Currently, our downtown is ripped up as the city redevelops its transit.

However, for now buses run infrequently and slowly. No night routes, no Sunday routes. It doesn't exactly lend itself to providing someone the opportunity for convenient and available transportation to and from work or school. Brenda and Becky suffer greatly due to this inconvenience.

The good news is that because they both attend public school the Boise Schools bus them to and from school. But this is not sufficient in the summers. Brenda now has to figure out how to get Becky to childcare across town from her school, and then arrive at summer school classes by 7:30 am. We are not sure how this can happen without getting Brenda a car.

When she first arrived to the USA, the Agency for New Americans provided her a course in driver's training and secured her a drivers license. She can drive, but just lacks the vehicle.

Anyone out there know of an organization or individual that can help us round up a car for her? It would literally be life changing. Comment here if you have ideas. Or feel free to contact me directly.

emilymail74atgmaildotcom

Throwback Thursday - Easter 2014

I've got a lot of catching up to do, but for now I'll post about Easter. This year we had a beautiful sunny day to enjoy Easter. Of course I used this opportunity, with everyone "looking sharp" as Brenda says, for a photo shoot. This year B & B knew all about hunting eggs. We gave them ample egg hunting opportunities in 2013, so they were pros this time around.

Brenda is a Poet!

Last month a poem that Brenda had written at school was published in a local poetry book by The Cabin. She was honored as an author and was asked to come read her beautiful poem at a poetry event at the Esther Simplot Performing Arts Center. What an honor!

(on another note: How do pictures look when I post them from my iPhone?) Does anyone know how I can make these images larger? They post small like this when I send them from my phone.)

TO BE A WOMAN by Maisara Brenda Matata age 20

Every day

I brush the hair of my little girl

and worry:

school worry

learn worry

not fast enough worry

tomorrow worry.

I'm still a woman. 

I'll always have 

plenty to do. 

I take my girl to school.

I think of her all day

while we are apart. 

I walk to get my daughter. 

WE go home and close the door 

on the worry.

Our proud author.

She has another poem that is even more personal and heart wrenching. It's about her life in Uganda. I'll check with her first before I put it on the blog, but guys - she is amazing.  

Someone loves school.

I've been the worst blogger. This one will be quick but it's something. 

Brenda is excelling in school. She works so hard. She's faced some difficult health issues recently but refuses to lay low. 

I am so proud of her. Here is a sample of an exam she aced in health class. 

Halloween and Thanksgiving Updates

Brenda is NOT a fan of Halloween! She does not appreciate all the zombies, monsters, blood, and general evilness that abounds in October in the USA. Going to stores was upsetting for her, and she avoided the holiday as much as possible. She just doesn't get it and I don't blame her. It's weird.

Becky however is not so anti-halloween. She was excited to be a princess and the Clements family set her up well! She looked lovely. I added a couple of finishing touches to her princess outfit because she looked through our dress-up box and wanted to add the wings from Brooklyn's first Halloween and a shiny necklace turned crown on top of her head. She was a beauty! We took her out with our kids for trick or treating and they all made a huge haul! Lucas and Becky turned in a little sooner than the bigger kids since their little hands were frozen. We enjoyed a few groups of trick-or-treaters at home while we sorted through their candy.

Brenda and Becky went on their first road trip for Thanksgiving. They traveled with the Clements family to rural Idaho (Burley, I think) and enjoyed a huge family gathering. The big news Brenda shared when I talked to her last night on the phone was that there was, "SO MUCH FOOD!" and she liked the "biiiig chicken" they enjoyed going to the movie Frozen.  Becky has gone to the movie theater before with Grandma Susie and my kids, but this was Brenda's first movie theater experience.

Now that Christmas decorations are going up all over town Brenda is ecstatic! She loves Christmas lights and the different decorations popping up in yards. She said, "They put dead people in the yards but now that is gone and it is all lights. I don't like the bodies but I like this. It is good."
That sums up her impression of our holiday decor. It's so fun for me to see it all through her eyes.

Today I'll head over to their place after school and make sure everything is in line for December. Brenda is really responsible about making sure bills are paid on time and the first of the month is always when she gets everything paid. I hope to see if she has any extra in her account this month for her to buy Becky a Christmas present. I know she would enjoy having something for Becky on Christmas morning. It will be an exciting month, as this rings in the one year mark of their arrival to the United States.

It's been a wonderful year!

We're Schooling Now

Brenda is doing really well in school. My blog posts have been less frequent because with my career as a teacher and Brenda now a full time student, our lives have gotten crazy busy! I'll try and do better at keeping things updated because her life here in the United States continues to amaze me. She is challenged and impressing her teachers with her dedication and progress. It really is a miracle that she is doing what she is doing. Can you believe that she is here, in school?! A year ago she was a refugee in Uganda with no idea that her life was about to transform. And now she'd doing this...

She received her first report card and received all As and a B. She says Physical Science is really hard so she got a B. She is feeling great about her work and everyone around her is incredibly proud of her. 

Thanks again to all the people that reached out and donated money to support her during the school year. (And those that will continue to give!) Without the support of others she would have been working in housekeeping, struggling to make ends meet with no options for the future. We are still a few thousand dollars short of supporting her through the entire school  year, so if you are able to donate it will still make a difference. 

Donations can be made directly to Brenda through me. 

Becky's Birthday in America

In our family we eat cake for breakfast the day after someone has a birthday. This morning in particular Brooklyn is loving that tradition and loving that Becky is a part of our family now. 

Becky turned six on Sunday, September 1. The morning got off to a great start because for the first time in four months Brenda did not have to work the weekend! I went to pick Brenda and Becky up for church and they enjoyed seeing the friends they had made last spring in our congregation. After church we went back to our house and had a special birthday lunch with a few friends and family. The food was kid friendly - pizza and baked mac and cheese with fruit salad and veggies. Becky was most interested in the mac and cheese but this was only after I mentioned that we had to eat lunch before opening presents.

 Since my kids are all big kids now we made sure there were some little girls at the party to share the fun. Penny, Flower, and River made Becky's party perfectly full of fairy loving friends.
(And look at those lovely faces! Who says Idaho doesn't have color? You just have to look a little.) 

As promised, once we finished lunch Becky opened the first birthday gifts of her life. Unlike her mom Brenda, she didn't have to wait 20 years. However, it still seems like birthday presents should be a part of life prior to age 6. We are so glad we could be a part of both Brenda and Becky's first American birthdays this year.

Once Becky got the green light she dug straight into the nearest gift bag. We all laughed and slowed her down a bit so those that brought the gifts could see her open them. She was very polite, thanking and hugging everyone that gave her special things. She is now stocked up on Tinker Bell fairy toys, a great outfit for fall including boots and a warm hoodie, a Webkins and other toys, and a pale pink outfit to wear to her most exciting present of all - a year of dance classes!

Cake and ice cream were served after Becky blew out her candles. All out at once - may all her birthday wishes come true!

Becky and Brenda have really become an integrated part of our family. They are such a blessing in our life and in the lives of everyone who meets them. What a fun day! Happy birthday Becky! We look forward to many wonderful years ahead.