Update...

Greetings friends and family,

We have now been in Dine Bikeyah for 9 months, since July 2010.  Now in March, we are happily settled.  Not that is without issues; in fact, right now we are stuck in Flagstaff most of the time, due to issues with our truck battery and possible other complications with the truck.  But that is not getting us down.  We leave with the college in a little over a week for the annual trip.  This year we will be going to Gallup, NM and helping out at many churches in the area.

We have just a little over a month of this college year left.  For the summer, Rob is thinking of working at Broken Arrow Bible Ranch. I am looking for a summer job, to catch up on school bills and put Rob in good shape for next year.  Late July and early August we are planning a quick trip to Kentucky and Kansas to visit supporting churches, prior to Rob returning for his second of four years.  I will be finishing up a few classes, then doing distance learning.

Prayer Requests:
* For the truck, that it wont cost much to repair.
* For both of us to finish out the college year well.
* For the Navajo youth we work with in Kayenta, while we are gone.

Needs:
* Rob - Good projector with computer hook ups.
* Me - Bicycle for Flagstaff travel (cut on future gas expenses)
* Gas Funds (with rising costs, travel is harder and needs greater)

Blessings all!

Wiic'ita

Wiic'ita means, as close as we can tell the tattooed people, and today is translated Wichita.  Wiic'ita was the northern camp of the Kitikiti'sh, who were called Wiic'ita by neighboring tribes, and Quivira by Coronado and his men in 1541.  As early as that, 1541, the Kitikiti'sh were already settled in their summer homes, at the conecting of the Little and Big Ar'Kanazi Rivers (Arkansas, said in Kansas as Ar'kansas, which is closer to the correct Ar'Kanazi).  The first settlements here were the grass lodges of the Kitikiti'sh.  By 1870's Wiic'ita became known as Wichita, or by it's nick name "Cowtown".  And was a major stop on the Cimeron Trail of the cattle drives.

To this day, Wiic'ita is the largest city in Kansas, having quickly surpassed Topeka and Kansas City, KS (not to be confused with Kansas City, MO, which is larger).   Know still as the "Cowtown" and also as the Air Capital of the World", as it has more airplane plants than any other city in the world.  These days, Emerald City Expo, a steampunk festival, is held here, in part at the Historic Wichita Cowtown Museum; many of who's buildings date to the 1870's and 1880's and were moved to this site for preservation. As well, the Great Plains Renaissance Fest and Sedgwick County Zoo are not to be missed.

There are so many more neat things to tell about Wiic'ita, as I grew up here, but those must wait for another day...

No Battery and Coming Rain...

Last summer, I traded my beloved 1984 Ford F-150, Tsalagi, with my Dad, for his 1997 Dodge Dakota, Gypsy.  Thursday, I went out to pick up food for our weekend trip to Toh Di'neesh Zhee (Kayenta), but Gypsy would not start.  I checked the connections, but they were tight.  I jumped her, but she did not jump.  So now, we have to get a ride in to the shop and prayerfully, they honor the warranty, and trade us batteries.

The truck being down, has us walking about town more, and for the first time in our 9 months here, I am beginning to feel like I am beginning to know our neighborhood.  We live in Sunnyside, which is in east Kilinidi. We are just a few blocks from our grocery store, a short walk to the barber, a long walk to the indoor Farmer's Market, and long walk to wal-mart.  Even more fun though, we are a short walk to Big Lots.   Soon, I will go hunting for parks, so we can spend more time outside.  I am looking for seeds for our garden, and trusting the spring rain that is coming will melt the snow on the raised beds.

How I long at this time of year, that I had a good bicycle.  My last bike, Meg, had to be left in Shikaakwa when we moved.  I so miss the wind in my face and the puddles spashing under my wheels.  That, and with the cost of gas these days, I could sure save alot...

Coffee, Rugs, and Shades...

Early spring, and we have been settled in a one bedroom apartment for 9 months.  Wow!  It has been a while since we were on the move.  It is hard to believe, or get use to having a place this big, and a WHOLE lot harder to keep it clean.  With spring here though, we went to get some nice roman shades and a rug from World Market. When not on the road, World Market is one of my top shops to visit. With so many styles and choices it was not easy but quickly we settled on the Kimono Rug and the Henri Floral Roman Shades.  Now with new rug down in the living room, the old plain rug under the dinning room table, and the Henri shades up with the cool spring evening air blowing in, it is starting to feel more like a home than just a temp apartment.

Back at home, we settled in for an evening of coffee and home work; this past week was mid-terms and with having been ill the weeks before, we are still behind on homework.  Blah!  But, as soon as this last paper is done, we are planing to watch Iron Man 2.  Yes, it is good to be home... at last.

Shikaakwa

Called Shikaakwa, meaning wild onions, by the Mihtohseeniaki and Illiniwek, but it became known as Chicago, a mispronunciation of the original name for the place.   Based on Lake Michigan, it has always been a natural port location, and remains such to this day.  After the devastation of the Chicago Fire of 1871, the city rebuilt to become now in 2011 the third largest city in the USA.

In my journeys, my husband and I settled for 14 months in Chicago, doing inter-city and homeless ministry.  We dwelt in an old 1920's hotel in Uptown Chicago, and were a short walk from Graceland and Saint Boniface Cemeteries.   It is well worth touring on foot the cemeteries, to see up close and personal the lasting monuments of Chicago's history and periods of architecture.  If shopping is your thing, check out the Unique and Salvation Army thrift stores and the shops of Little Thailand, Little India, and Chinatown.  Lakeshore's bike paths are a joy, and the Lincoln Park Zoo, which is free, is a blast, but for two travelers with a heart left in Dine Bikeyah, Shikaakwa is no place to stay for long.

Kinlinidi

Called Kinlinidi, meaning many homes, by the Dine, but the pioneers called it Flagstaff after the make shift flag staff they made out of a tall tree in 1876.  Nested in the remains of a ancient volcano at a height of nearly 7,000 feet, a tent city was formed in 1881, and by the coming of the railroad in 1882, it was officially a town called Flagstaff. 

It is this dreamy little mountain town is where I have settled down for a time, as my husband attends college here.  Flagstaff is the home of NAU, as well as some small private colleges, like the one where my husband attends.  I love going downtown and shopping at all the unique shops, with bicycle shops and camping stores everywhere around town, and about as many antique shops to explore, I adore this town!

Snow...

Here I sit in the scared mountains surrounding Kinlinidi.  I have been snowed in all weekend, with over two feet of snow, and a horrid cold on top of that.  Ahh, such is the life of a steam gypsy.  Soon a friend should be able to rescue me and I can get out to get cold meds at last.  Ran out prior to the roads being good enough to get out.

I have been settled for nearly 8 months now, not traveling more that a weekends trip from home.  I am getting restless.  Even when I was a child, we traveled more than this.  But it looks like I might just get to graduate with my certificate this May, at least that is the goal.  Then some travel this summer, a job, and saving up for more traveling.  ^_^  With what my journey-task is, this should not be a surprise.