Happy New Year from the Deckers in Dakar!

October 30-November 1: Senior Outreach

Dave and Jacob took off Friday after school for a weekend of work, play, and reaching out to villagers in Senegal with most of the DA Senior Class and sponsors. It was a great experience for them, and Dave took some wonderful pictures. Click to see more of them on flickr or more yet (with captions!) on Dave's facebook album.

October 23: Harvest Fest

The Dakar Deckers were all involved in the 2009 Dakar Academy Harvest Fest Down-Under! Jacob ran a "chicken chasing" booth with one of his friends, which seemed to go over well with the little kids. The bigger kids had fun when the chickens escaped from the pen! I clipped the wings of one rooster, hoping to keep him in the pen, but he managed to jump out anyway. Dave kept busy grilling, relieving kids at their booths so they could get a bite to eat, and selling drinks... while I walked all over the campus helping out and troubleshooting as needed. We had a great time, and we're all tired out now that it's over! We feel privileged to be senior class sponsors, and love working with these students!

October 5: scenes from Liberia

Dave arrived home on Friday afternoon, so glad to be back on his scheduled return-day! This is not something we take for granted when traveling around West Africa!

His trip went well, with many hours of talking and listening to team members. Please continue to pray for their leadership needs! (The acting director is leaving earlier-than-planned because of health concerns.)

He was able to be part of a "men's night out" with the SIM'ers there... they brought sandwiches to the top of the Ducor hotel and got ice-cream afterwards.

He also got to visit with some of our many Liberian friends-- who are the reason we love Liberia so much!

June 17: in the village

During our visit to Kaffrine, Corey took us out to the village where he's working. We enjoyed meeting some of his friends, and seeing some of the realities of village life.

March 7: Team Party

After all day of soccer and volleyball games at school, we gathered the softball players to celebrate our season. Coach Dave and Coach Bruce gave certificates to each player to commemorate a great season, and we enjoyed a slideshow of season highlights!

February 26: Twenty seven years!

Twenty seven years has gone by quickly! We have been blessed by God's goodness in our lives-- three wonderful sons, the privilege of serving Him in West Africa... we look ahead with confidence in Him for our future!

December 25: Merry Christmas!

We had a great day, a turkey dinner at Bruce and Julie's, followed by dessert and carols at Mark and Leigh's!

Blessed Christmas to you all!

December 9

Sorry for the long absence. Life has been full and busy and I haven't quite gotten back into the routine of updates and blogging...

Getting started again... at least with some pics. Here's a photo I really like of Dave and Jacob, taken by a friend last Saturday at one of the softball games.

September 19: surprise visit!

Dave was blessed with a great surprise on his way back to Dakar from his conference in North Carolina. His time in the Atlanta airport "just happened" to be at the same time as Danny, Leah, Alexis and most of Leah's family were travelling to a wedding in Ohio! Dave only had a few minutes with them, but those few minutes were sure special! God is very good to give us these surprise gifts!!!

Happy 23rd Father's Day, Dave!

Dave has been a great dad to Danny, Joey and Jacob over these years! Today is the first Father's Day with none of the boys at home... Jacob is in the same country with us, but at the beach for a few days with some friends.... We are both blessed to be the parents of our boys-- and I'm thankful for the father our heavenly Father has given them!

Remembering Dad on Father's Day

Remembering Dad on Father's Day, originally uploaded by MaryD SN-MN.

On Fathers Day, I'm thankful for my dad. He died almost 17 years ago, but I still miss him! He was a great dad to me, and a great grandpa to Danny and Joey. He would have loved to be a grandpa to Jacob, Lilly, Maggie, Jack, Luke, Jennifer, Paul, Anna, Matt, and Stevey too! The center picture in this collage is from Father's Day in 1990, his last "good" Father's Day with us. (The next Father's Day was pretty sad, with him ending up in the hospital and dying the following month...)

Although I remember him on many days, today is special-- and I just want to say Thanks, Lord, for the great dad and the many great years of him living on earth as my father!

(i know some of these pics don't fit quite right... but it's the best way i could get it to work!)

May11: N.H.S. Induction

We enjoyed being with Jacob at the ceremony as he was inducted into the National Honor Society!

Christmas Eve family photo

Christmas Eve, originally uploaded by MaryD SN-MN.

fifty and fabulous

fifty and fabulous, originally uploaded by MaryD SN-MN.

(Thanks to sister Tracy for the great collage!)

Happy Birthday again!

Happy Birthday!, originally uploaded by MaryD SN-MN.

This is the one-year photo of those same twins... too cute not to share!

October 31: Happy BIrthday!

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These twins, pictured here at age 6 months, turned 50 today! We love them, and wish them many blessed returns! (Know who they might be?)

prayer card

prayer card, originally uploaded by MaryD SN-MN.

And the family picture has been made into a prayer card! (With the help of a graphic-designer and photoshop!

August 20: Family

Family Picture August 20 (1), originally uploaded by MaryD SN-MN.

It's been so great to have Danny with us for these past weeks. He is returning to Miami tomorrow, and we will miss having him here! But we are excited for all that he is returning to in Miami-- including a very special girl and the return to full-time college.

July 24: enjoying vacation

We are still enjoying vacation time at the cabin, with a few visitors and lots of fun in the water! Here's Dave teaching our nephew the fine art of "tubing"!

more pictures from the cabin are online here

enjoy!