Thanksgiving Day

November 22nd.

Betrand and I were invited to the Froelichs - Lani and Larry's home. Poor Aaron, he was at work in Texas. They didn't even get them some turkey at the rig site!! I said that if I were their manager, I'd have had a litte more imagination...and compassion...for them who had to stay there during Thanksgiving. Anyway!! So he couldn't come. The party was great fun, though. Some 15 people were there from all over the place, and we had a lot to eat, chatted, played games, learned about our different backgrounds....it was great!!!


Elena made the gravy for the turkey!!:-)
There's David Harju, he's a Baha'i friend, and beside him is Hyancinthe. He's from Benin. Then of course you know Betrand.

Aaron, Lani said that this scoop of butter squash was just for you!! She was sad you couldn't be there.
So much good food to eat!!!
Anne, Lani and Elena prepare to dig in!!

Switzerland and London

September 2003 ~

I had to put these pictures on here so that I don't lose them because it was a memorable trip for me. While I served at the Baha'i World Center in Israel, I took a vacation in September of 2003 to Switzerland with my friend, Yasmin. After 5 days there, she returned to Israel while I continued to London to visit my cousin, Romero. I found Switzerland absolutely beautiful. At the time, Aaron was courting me from the U.S., and I told him that we'll have to come together to Switzerland on our honeymoon. We are still planning that trip for one of our wedding annivesaries.

My cousin, Romero (left), and his friend, Otang.
London Bridge.
SWITZERLAND ~ I happened on this Ghanaian's store in Montreux and was pleasantly surprised.

You could go almost anyhere in boats. We were hosted by a Baha'i friend in Montreux. Montreux is a beautiful touristic town along the Swiss riviera. Fortunately they speak French there and we could find our way around.

With Yasmin on a boat to Chateau de Chignon.
The Olympics museum in the city of Lausanne. It is humongous and absolutely gorgeous. You can find just about everything there since the inception of the Olympics.

Up on the mountains. I can't tell you how beautiful the climb up there was. We were on a special kind of train....I forget was it was called. But the little villages we passed through on our way up were breathtakingly beautiful.

At Chateau de Chignon
In the cellar

In the gallows

Birth of Baha'u'llah Celebration

Birth of Bahá’u’lláh - November 12, 1817.
We celebrated it on Sunday evening, November 11.

It was a really special day. From start to end...it was special...as it should be. There are three communities in our cluster: Fayetteville (where I live), Springdale, and Rogers. Rogers took care of the Birth of the Báb, while Springdale and Fayetteville were to organize the celebration of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh. Our Bahá’í Center in Springdale is closest to the Marshallese community, and the LSA there is made up entirely of the Marshallese friends. As you can see from the pictures, they did a great job of decorating the Center for the Feast.

This year, many new things were added to make the program exciting. After devotions, the story of the life of Bahá’u’lláh was read by everybody. I mean, it had been broken down into very small portions and everybody, even the children, had a part of that story to read. The reading sheets were all organized so that the story was read chronologically. The youth and children loved it...I guess they felt honored to be asked to read the story too. Everyone paid attention. Everyone eagerly awaited his/her turn. It was awesome. We also had lots of music in English and Marshallese, a flute recital, lots to eat, and we played the White Elephant game. This game we titled "The Joy of Detachment". Numbers were picked and people came up when their numbers were called, one at a time, and received a gift. But somebody who preferred your gift could come up to you and take yours in exchange for his or hers. That didn't happen much, except among the children's gifts, because everyone was so happy with their gifts. Everyone brought and received awesome gifts. I had such a great time at the celebration. The non-Bahá’í friends who attended too had a really good time.

Aaron was also home so he attended. He's not in the pictures because he took most of them [which explains why I am in so many!!:-) No, the truth is that I helped coordinate the program]. Well, I hope you enjoy the pictures. I wish I had taken some pictures in the room where we ate. There was lots to eat.



The Marshallese friends are very good musicians and artists

Betrand is mighty pleased with his gift!! He looooves chocolate!
The Marshallese friends continue to entertain us.

Back home. I love this dress cuz my mom made it specially for me. She made one for Aaron too. Thought I'd take more than one picture with it.