What a difference a year makes! Last year right around this same time, Joyce and I were crying our eyes out saying goodbye to Alyssa at the airport. Of course we did NOT bother wearing mascara! We knew putting her on an airplane bound for the Door of Hope in South Africa would produce a stream of water works. I actually did uncharacteristically well. Joyce, uuummmm . . . that’s another story. Once your baby, always your baby, regardless of age. (We rarely post photos of ourselves. This straight out of bed in the morning photo is such a treat.)

I started by saying a year makes a difference. Yes, we are once again preparing for Alyssa’s volunteer work at the Door of Hope. The difference is we all know this is her calling. We all know that she will be safe and happy while in South Africa. And yet, some things stay the same. We won’t bother wearing mascara when we head to the airport again this year.

Alyssa graciously spoke to the children at our church about her time at the Door of Hope and the devotion she has for the babies for which she cared. ( I say graciously because Alyssa does not do public speaking!)

After she shared adorable photos of the babies, our Children’s Church made hand print bibs for the babies at The Door of Hope. All of the children got to select their own design.

Miss Enigma made a cheery orange fish and of course MacGyver had to make-up his very own design, a happy yellow butterfly.

A flower blooming with finger petals and a finger print stem.

This hand print sun just makes me smile! Good morning sunshine!

Sweet, sweet, tiny hand print heart.

Yes, my heart feels a little twinge and my eyes feel to the brim when I think of saying goodbye to Alyssa . . .

But then my heart fills with a smile, knowing that a little hand just like this will soon be wearing the little hand print heart made by a child here in South Texas.

It’s a big, big, small world! What more can we want for the world than a bunch of little hands here in America praying for a bunch of little hands in South Africa? There is Hope . . .

You can follow Alyssa’s Big Huge Life Change from the beginning.

Life with Jeannine

In a few weeks, we will once again head to the airport, cry big tears and put Alyssa on a plane headed back to South Africa. When Alyssa began her trip home from South Africa last summer, she knew that her volunteer work at The Door of Hope was not done. She knew that God was already calling her to return to South Africa to care for oh-so-sweet babies waiting for their forever families.

My friend Marianna has blessed our family with books and music from South Africa. We treasure these gifts and it is quite fun to hear the kids sing along to Beautiful Me and The African Alphabet, especially the Baobab Tree! The accents are too darn cute! When Alyssa made her first trip to South Africa, the kiddos and I began seeking out additional books from South Africa. I have long wanted to post books that celebrate life in South Africa. As Alyssa gets ready for her journey, it seems like the perfect time to finally post children’s literature about life in South Africa.

You’ll want to begin by getting to know author Niki Daly. Niki Daly is a South African author-illustrator whose picture books highlight the everyday life of children. He has many books told from the perspective of children living in South Africa. I like his books because they aren’t books “about” South Africa. They are books about every day life in South Africa. Instead of being a tourist in South Africa, we get to stay with real families in South Africa. We get an authentic experience. Much better than the prepackaged tourist trip!

• Niki Daly Authors Page
•  Niki Daly Blog

We also have 2 FREE printable books featuring photos taken by Joyce on Safari in South Africa!

I Went on a Safari

Look Close, Look Close on Safari!

Some day I will make this trip to South Africa up close and personal. Until then I’m busy reading!

Life with Jeannine

Of course, here in South Texas we are familiar with farms. Farms with things like tractors, cows, horses, chickens  . . . lions . . .  Wait lions? . . .

Toto, I have a feeling we aren’t in Texas anymore. We might not have lion farms here in South Texas but while in South Africa Alyssa had the unique opportunity to visit a lion farm.

The Lion Farm is a refuge for rescued lions. Just look at that adorable face?

Now that’s not something you see every day. Simply amazing.

Just imagine an up close and personal encounter with a lion cub.

So how do you play with a lion cub? Very carefully. Alyssa describes the lion cubs as giant naughty kittens that like to pounce, wrestle and bite. You know just like your average, playful, house kitten. Just add big claws and teeth!

Surreal is Alyssa’s one word description of her Lion Farm experience.

I can only imagine. Much of my trip visiting Alyssa and The Door of Hope in South Africa can be summed up as surreal.

What is your surreal experience?

Life with Joyce

In honor of the Lion Farm, our Book of the Week GIVEAWAY is Lion’s Lunch? by Fiona Tierney

We have two FREE printable books for your Zoo Thematic Unit:

1. I Went On a Safari
2. Look Close, Look Close On Safari

Join me on Safari!

Life with Joyce

Look Close, Look Close,

 What Can You See On a Safari?

Print this book FREE: Look Close, Look Close On Safari

Look close, look close. What do you see?

I see a zebra.

Look close, look close. What do you see?

I see a lion.

Look close, look close. What do you see?

I see a rhinoceros.

Look close, look close. What do you see?

I see a kudu.

Look close, look close. What do you see?

I see an elephant.

Look close, look close. What do you see?

I see a giraffe.

Look close, look close. What do you see?

I see a warthog.

Look close, look close. What do you see?

Can you see a hippopotamus?

Head on over to win the Book of the Week GIVEAWAY: Starry Safari by Linda Ashman

Zoo Theme Unit with learning ideas for reading, writing, song adaptations, math, art and centers.

Sharing this week at:

Adventurez in Child’Rearing (11/8/12)

I wish I could take every child I know on a safari! It is simply a magical experience. Well come on . . . join me on my safari . . . (you’ll find a link to the FREE printable guided reading book at the end of this post) .

I went on a Safari

I went on a Safari. What did I see?

I saw a giraffe eating leaves.

I went on a Safari. What did I see?

I saw a monkey hiding in a tree.

I went on a Safari. What did I see?

I saw a white lion resting bravely.

I went on a Safari. What did I see?

I saw a warthog eating on his knees.

I went on a Safari. What did I see?

I saw a mother zebra and her baby.

I went on a Safari. What did I see?

I saw a rhinoceros walking quietly.

I went on a Safari. What did I see?

I saw a kudu listening closely to me.

I went on a Safari. What did I see?

I saw a hippopotamus wadding carefully.

I went on a Safari. What did I see?

I saw an elephant looking right at me!

Print this book FREE: I Went On a Safari

We’re also GIVING AWAY: One Muddy Pool by Liz Graham – Yooll

Next week we’ll be back with a theme unit on Safari and Zoo Animals. See you then!

Life with Joyce

Sharing this week at:

Mama Smiles

Adventurez in Child’Rearing (11/8/12)