Q & A Concerning Dale's African Adventure

While Dale is traveling in Kenya and having a mighty fine time, the boys and I are holding down the homefront.  In response to the numerous questions we have received, a decision was made to respond to those questions here.  Questions have been selected randomly from the question box located on my desk.

Q.  Tell everyone how your handsome sons are taking care of you while Dad is gone.

A.  First, that wasn't a question.  Second, I think, though I'm not certain, this one may have come from one of my handsome sons.  Regardless, my handsome sons are taking great care of me by letting me know how needed I am to do laundry, make dinner (or provide funds for dinner), get them out the door in the morning, etc.  Whew!  I sure am glad I'm not here alone!  :-)

Q.  Are you afraid while Dale is gone?

A.  Hmm.  Not certain what there is to be afraid of.  My two big dogs will not let anyone enter the house.  My very big God is always looking out for me.  A certain hunter is letting us babysit his favorite shotgun.  Three strong (and handsome) men are making sure I'm doing okay.  In fact, two of those men have even offered to stay home from school during the day just to keep me company.  Can you believe how sacrificial they are?  Seriously, there are many, many people, plus God, looking out for us.  We're fine.

Q.  Um, what exactly is Dale doing in Kenya?

A.  Well, that's a great question.  Dale works for Helix Architecture + Design, a company of innovative and skillful people who are passionate about sustainability and meeting people's needs.  David, a high school and college friend of Dale's, has a non-profit organization, Affecting Change International, and is deeply committed to meeting basic human needs throughout the world.  Together, they are working on re-purposing out-of-use shipping containers to house self-contained village centers to be used in remote and/or impoverished locations.  Education, medical attention, communication, clean water, sanitation--these are basic human needs that, when met, can change people's lives.  If you can change people's lives in one village, you can change the world.

For better, more professional descriptions of what is going on, check out these two websites:

http://www.helixkc.com/   The anticipated blog posts from Dale may have to wait until he gets back as he is having difficulty with wifi connectivity.  However, if you want to take a gander at some of the other great projects and great people associated with Helix, take a look.  (Be sure to check out the PEOPLE section to locate my favorite architect.)

http://www.affectingchange.org/  Here you can see some of the work ACI has already done as well as what their plans are for the future.  Check out the media section where you can find pictures of the presentation materials Dale and David used when addressing the InfoPoverty World Conference at the UN in March.  Plus, the model concepts and pictures are just plain cool.

Q. Is Dad bringing back gifts?
A.  I'm beginning to see that the question box has been used for personal gain.  However, the answer to that question is that Dad coming back home safely will be a wonderful gift.  If he happens to bring me a walking stick and some great fabric, that's just a bonus.  By the way, Spencer, I'm not certain he will be able to clear customs with the lion you requested.  You may have to settle for a hat.

Q.  Can a guy from the Mid-west really change the world?
A.  Absolutely.  He certainly changed mine.

What a Wonderful World

I've been humming my favorite song all day.  What a Wonderful World was written for me, I just know it.  It was certainly written for a day like today--beautiful blue sky, nice temperature, low humidity (a gift in August in the midwest).  And I just found out one of the writers of my favorite song, George David Weiss, passed away. 

I think the ability to write songs is such a gift. I am not a songwriter.  I wish I was.  For some reason, on those rare occasions I've tried to write a song, it comes out very 1st graderish with every line rhyming:

I'm so in love with you,
Thank God you don't have the flu.

Okay, not quite that bad, but close.  Regardless, it's easy to see why I appreciate good songs.  The ability to express what others think or feel or go through to the point where it spurs them into action, or to tears, or just makes them smile is a gift.  Not everyone has that gift, but I can certainly appreciate those who do. (And, for the record, I am so in love with my husband, and I really am thankful he doesn't have the flu.)


What a Wonderful World

I see trees of green, red roses, too.
I see them bloom for me and you.
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue, clouds of white,
Bright blessed days, and dark sacred nights.

And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky,
Are also on the faces of people going by.
I see friends shaking hands, saying "How do you do?"
They're really saying, "I love you."

I hear babies crying,

I watch them grow.

They'll learn much more

Than I'll ever know.

And I think to myself, what a wonderful world. 

I think to myself, what a wonderful world. Oh yeah.

Rest in peace, Mr. Weiss.  It really is a wonderful world.  Thanks for the reminder.

Happy Birthday, Dale!

I am the president of the Dale Duncan Fan Club.  Not an easy task.  The guy has lots of fans.

My dad, for example, loved Dale more than he loved me.  He thought Dale was incredible.  In fact, if Dale would have professed a love of country music, my dad would have deemed him perfect.  What Dad did believe, however, was that Dale is perfect for me.  My dad was right.

My mom, who met Dale before we even started dating, thought he was perfect as well.  When I called to tell her we were dating, I could hear the smile in her voice from 1200 miles away.  She loves Dale and thinks of him as one of her children.  She recently gave Dale something that had been my dad's.  When Dale suggested that maybe one of the sons should have it, she told him that one of the sons does have it.  He loves my mom.

Dale is helping raise 3 of his biggest fans.  These boys are blessed to have such a great father.  He loves them.  He listens to them.  He helps them.  He works hard to provide for them.  He defends them.  He corrects them.  He even lets them beat him in video games.  Isn't that right, Dale?  You are letting them beat you, aren't you?

Dale has some fans at work, too.  It's really hard not to respect someone who works so hard, who knows so much, and who is so helpful and patient.  He enjoys helping other people do their best.  He celebrates the accomplishments of others, and he doesn't throw people under the bus.  Plus, his knowledge of 70s rock music trivia is pretty phenomenal.  Who wouldn't love that? 

And Dale is a pushover when it comes to little girls.  Nieces, little girls I've babysat, little girls in restaurants--they could ask him for anything, and Dale would say yes.  God, in His infinite wisdom, gave us sons (and they were hard enough for Dale to say no to).  When it's Girl Scout Cookie selling time, well, let's just say I've learned to budget for Dale's inability to say no.  (Secretly, it's one of the things I love most about him.)

I am amazed at how difficult it is for me to adequately describe this guy I love.  Let me try it this way:  Dale has a good soul.  And he's the best person I know.

Happy Birthday, love of my life.  Thanks for being born.