January 31: Kito

Trying to capture the quizzical look on this dog's face when he wrinkles up his forehead and tries to figure out something that puzzles him...

He's another of the pets that help to make this house a home!

January 29: puppies at Porchs!

Sheba, the mama dog, is doing very well after delivering 9 healthy puppies on Sunday! This is her second litter, and we are glad to be able to visit puppies without having all the mess ourselves!

January 27: Bailey and PoohBear

just for fun, these are a couple of the pets that help to make our house a home!

January 21: Dakar Rally Sunday!

Sunday was one of the coolest days ever!

I'm HOPING that Dave or Jacob will write more about it... but until then, you can read what I wrote on my photo-blog Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

And Dave took many more cool pictures which you can look at here!

If you'd like to read more about the Dakar Rally, here is a good place to start.

January 20: Dakar Rally Saturday

Dave, Jacob and I went to the Meridien Hotel this afternoon to see the arrival of the Dakar Rally motorcycles, cars, trucks, drivers and support crew-- who have been trekking across the Sahara desert for two weeks in this annual off-road race!










It's very cool to see the vehicles, the drivers, and all that goes into this amazing race--up close.














Dave says you need to know that "this is what's underneath the hood of Robby Gordon's Hummer. (the engine is in the rear.")

January 16: Attaya with Nassir (another vacation flashback pic)

around sunset each day, we'd find joey and cara talking with Nassir as he made attaya. they enjoyed the conversation, in a mixture of french, english and wolof, as well as the attaya!

January 16: Rugby on the beach (vacation flashback photos)

Joey is loving rugby at his college, and he taught the group to play the game (in a very elementary fashion, of course! ) joey was a great coach, patient with everyone, he helped us all enjoy the game!

Decker Update: Happy New Year!

I know this is a little bit late for a Happy New Year email! But today was the first day back to school for Jacob, so it feels like the beginning of another season-- I hope that counts!

January 15: Jacob at home

January 12: Friday night bonfire

We had a fun Friday night bonfire with our good friends.


Jacob and Ellie each made attaya, and are getting quite skilled at it.


Mom is practicing taking photos in different kinds of light...


and even the dog wanted some of the attaya!


By the end of the evening, with coals dying down, (and not to mention caffiene pumping in our veins...) we were very thankful for the blessing God has given us of good friends and peaceful times together!

January 12: Jacob and Mitch

these guys have a lot of fun together, finding adventure in their lives on a regular basis. it's always fun to hear their latest plans, and they always manage to have something exciting going on!

January 10: Softball practice

In the afternoons, the guys often go up to the school for soccer or softball. Today Jacob's team had a practice, and Coach Dave helped them to get ready for their game on Saturday.

January 8: Attaya

Up on our roof, with a little charcoal burner, and a little tea pot, we make attaya. Roof are flat here, and we bring up beach-mats to sit on.
Joey has been the master-attaya-maker of the family, having learned from his MK friends the real Senegal way. Attaya is served in three rounds, the first very strong and bitter and sweet, the second and third progressively less bitter and more sweet. It's a social custom here, and if you start the first round, it's considered rude if you don't stay until the third round is finished.





These pics were taken on Joey's last night here, before returning to college, as he helped Jacob learn to make attaya. Our friends' boys are learning as well!

January 8: Attaya pictures from the past

Joey learned to make attaya during his junior year of high school, our first year in Senegal.






and during his senior year, we enjoyed very much when he prepared attaya on the beach for us!