Ben's Guitar

This pic was Sunday Morning, August 16th at Dakar Academy church service.

Hilary & her good friend Jessica. Happy to be together again.





So I did get Ben a guitar yesterday. We got directions to this guitar shop. Taxi'd down there and actually found it with not too much difficulty.
Guitars were not cheap. Ben wanted an electric like he has back in Lansing. But they had 1 like that with amp for 350,000 cfa or $700. A bit too high for my blood. There were acoustic/electrics for about half that. But still high for me, and he really wanted electric. So I told the guy we'd think about it. In front of the shop out on the street, this other guy says he can help us. So we follow him to another shop, and they have this nice Stratercaster copy. They started at 250,000, but ended up selling for 150,000cfa or $300. So I was ok with that... Ben still doesn't have an amp, but he can practice with computer speakers for now... I told him I don't want him to practice guitar with headphones.
Ben is very happy. So here are a couple pics of the new guitar. His old one that was here was very warped when we came back. So we'll sell it pretty cheap to someone Fredi knows.

Well that is the news for today, anyway...
Tom

Hilary's dorm tour

this is the address for Hilary's video tour of her dorm room.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iASMauQsPPE


Hilary & I went out last night and had Hawaiian pizza. Ben was with dorm guys, playing guitars and singing away! We could hear them from down the hall, and then outside their window. He's a perfect fit for his dorm.


This is the Walkers, Ben's dorm parents.
Pray for them.

Ben dorm room tour

Ok, Lisa said the video at the bottom did not come out for her, so here is the youtube address so you can see it if its a problem for you too...

http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit?ns=1&video_id=bw8l9drwMRg

This was Ben last night after school in dorm during free time. 7 kids in his dorm, with a nice couple the Walkers as dorm parents. Very family atmosphere. Dave Walker, the dorm dad plays guitar, as well as 5 of the 7 kids... I believe there are 4 or 5 guitars in the dorm. I'm hoping to get one for Ben, but if I'm not able to, he will still have access to one.

Ben & Karlin, roomies

Hilary, sitting outside at lunchtime.

Boys in Ben's grade. Karlin sitting on right side of Ben. Corey, two seats over, USA shirt.

Jim & Ramona were so kind to host us.... Nice pizza supper too... :D

Ben has settled in so quickly... almost faster than Hilary did with the girls she already knew for 4 years. Ben is rooming with Karlin Ellenberger who was at ICA with him when they were 3 yrs old. He has another boy, Corey Timberlake who again was at ICA, as well as JJ McComb, but JJ is on furlough this year.... Its almost like a 10year toddler reunion party.

Family Pics

All of us. My son is not holding a hamster that is a new new puppy!


Me, My wife, my little guy.

Hilary, her prom pic from last year, and messy mud night. (In case you think she's prissy. ) :D