Tour Glory.

As I write this I have totally abandoned my steadfast plan to unpack, return emails, do copious amounts of laundry, review and revise my to-do list and in general recover from a week away from home. Instead I’ve plowed through two heaping and glorious pieces of gluten free quiche that Jer made while in my pjs and subsequently climbing into bed. I lost the ambition pretty quickly.

Really, I just want to talk about the tour and remember every hilarious and wonderful moment on the road.

There are so many things I feel deeply and profoundly grateful about this past week. Here they are in the best way I can lay them all out.

Whit and I got the chance to traverse what is surely one of the most beautiful places in the country- and it’s all along the 5!!! The 5 North is decidedly different from the 5 South. It is green, lush, mountainous, and just plain gorgeous. And while the 5 South leads to a place I hold so dear, the drive to LA is NOT a picturesque experience. I was in awe the whole drive at the view. The road continues to be a place of wonderment for me.

I was able to see friends I have not seen in years. First stop in Redding, my old friend Jessica Fletcher appeared during sound check. I haven’t seen this amazing gal since middle school. We were two singing peas in a pod back in the 6^th grade; we wrote our own stellar tunes, performed ‘That’s What Friends Are For’ in the school talent show, and made honor chorus together. It was such a delight to see her beautiful face and meet her fiancé and get to see her little sister. The glory of reconnecting with old friends is really unparalleled. Even after all these years it felt like we still shared so much.

Then we hit Eugene and two pals from my freshman dorm days came out to support the show- Jess and Phil. (They’re married! I love that I knew them when we were all little freshies and they ended up getting married!) And of course, Eugene has become synonymous with Mr. Silas Valentino. My baby brother who has somehow managed to grow almost a foot taller than me and into a strapping young lad full of whit and humor. I could see the moment the Ducks came in, Silas had brought a whole brigade of U of O friends and they were all as kind as could be. The next day he gave Whit and I a tour of his dorm and his school and my heart was as full as it could be. To see him so settled, so happy and so inspired, I just felt so proud. Not like I had anything to do with it, but even after all these years he still feels like my little baby bro, and I still worry about him and cluck over him more like a pseudo parent than a big sister. He is so in his element and I know I can rest easy.

In Seattle I saw an old pal from middle school days (yay Ross Parker!!) an old highschool pal and musical accomplice (yay Eliza!!! who by the way graciously opened her house up to Whit and I for the night!! Can’t wait to hang out again girl!!) and the Mullen family. Molly Mullen and I were in kindergarten together and became the best of pals. We both eventually moved out of the Bay Area, her to Washington State and my family to central California but we always stayed in touch. Even still it had been many years since we’d seen each other. When she walked in the door with not only her brand new husband but her parents, I nearly peed my pants with excitement!! It was such a special couple of minutes getting to reminisce about the days of our youngest youth when we would play house for hours, make our little brothers participate in our outlandish and uber dramatic homegrown plays that ALWAYS took place in the ‘olden days’, and feverishly read The Boxcar Children series. To get to meet her hubby and hear about her current life and then see her parents who were always so dear and kind to me- it was such a full circle moment and just so heart warming.

I totally fell in love with Portland. It didn’t hurt that we were staying in THE cutest house with the coolest, hippest couple ever. Cara went to college with Whit and she and her hubs showed us such a great time and put us up in such amazing and cozy digs. They live in this adorable and quaint neighborhood right down the street from not only an immense and dense and perfect park with 40+trails, but also from a bustling main street chalk full of sweet little coffee shops, restaurants and the like- all with no sales tax! We drank some truly superb coffee, made use of as much of those 40 miles as we could and just took in the city and day dreamed about bringing our boyfriends there one day because they would both love it so much too. I hurried through my book (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo- so good but I definitely had TWO nightmares involving being kidnapped and shot in the head. Not so awesome) so that I could get started on the new Donald Miller book Jer gave me for Christmas. I just felt like I had to get to reading it given I was in Portland and all. Funnily enough this one is about being on the road and learning how to want only what you need, to ask the WHY questions and not the HOW, to be happy with what you already have, to feel good enough in the face of a world always telling you you are lacking in someway. It’s been a pretty powerful read, and a perfect companion for a girl on the road- and on tour at that.

We played some really great venues, met some amazing and supportive people and sang our hearts out. We learned a lot of things along the way like booking a gig on the night of SuperBowl Sunday is not the wisest thing to do if you want a crowd. We hauled all our own gear and ran our own sound if necessary. Every place we played was so receptive and kind to us and we are definitely making plans to return to all of them in the coming months. I especially want to give a shout out to Forza up in Seattle and their whole incredible team who just made us feel so welcome and so cared for. We really feel so, SO lucky to have met you guys.

We pulled into San Rafael about 2am this morning and were greeted by a giant sign of congrats, balloons and flowers everywhere from Jeremy. Honestly, I know it was only a week but I feel like I’ve written about three new songs in my head all about the missing and the distance. Shoot, what can I say.

I made it to my classes today and despite being pretty worn out and at times delirious, I felt like I was still buzzing from some kind of adrenaline and energy that we actually did it.

To Whit I would like to say, you are a dear friend, an amazing, talented and profound artist, and a pretty awesome travelling buddy. I will never forget this little adventure of ours.

Thank you to everyone who hosted us, showed us around their cities and came out to see our shows. Big thanks to the Groligs for their help in times of need J

Thank you so much to everyone who sent us off with well wishes and prayers and everyone who received us with smiles and open hearts. I feel so thankful and so excited for all that is to come.

A Quick Update!

Just a quick hello and an early Happy Thanksgiving!!!! Did I ever mention that I really love this time of year??

Jeremy and I had an AMAZING time in LA last weekend!!! It was such a beautiful couple of days, perfect weather and glorious reunions, although it most definitely felt too short. Thank you so much to everyone who came out to Genghis!! I had such a blast and just reallllly appreciate all your support…Natalie thank you for singing with me and Jamie thank you for your fantastic cameo!!!! J

The calendar year is winding down but I do have some cool shows on the horizon. The Santa Cruz house concert scheduled for this coming Saturday (20^th) has been postponed fyi!!! I’ll let you know when it gets put back on the books!!! BUT you can still come out to the following gigs!

Sunday November 28^th: Yoshis in San Francisco 8pm, $7

http://www.yoshis.com/sanfrancisco/jazzclub/artist/show/1578

Saturday Dec 4^th: House Concert in San Francisco!

To RSVP please email pearcecreative@gmail.com

Sunday Dec 19^th: Hotel Utah in San Fran!!!

Sharing the night with Utah Girl and Christopher Dallman!!!

http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=3292165&pl=utah&REFERRAL_ID=TW_ADD_EDP&sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4ce1782ed53a4d47%2C0

Lots of stuff brewing for next year so stay tuned!!! And in the meantime I wish you all the gloriousness of the season and the happiest of holidays!!!!!

Love love love, Keeley

Sundays Are Magic

It is rainy and cold this morning. Jer and I are in our cozy little den, we turned the heater on for the first time ever in our new place and we are enjoying the warmth as football plays in the background and we are both at work on our computers. It’s kind of an amazing Sunday so far.
Life is good. I am feeling really nostalgic and honestly desperate to let everyone I know reallllly understand how much I value them. I’ve been reflecting quite a bit on the mosaic that is my life, all the bits and pieces that have come together and fit perfectly to create who and where I am today. It fascinates me how life works out sometimes.
Here is a slice of some of the things rolling around in my brain and my heart :)

~I’ve been getting so so excited about our trip to LA next month. It will be my first time back since we moved and I realize now that it has been quite a long time. Between our trip and then trying to get settled and get work etc., time seems to have been moving at an inconsistent pace. I haven’t had the time to sit back and just miss LA. I’ve missed people of course, but have not exactly been wistful about our old place or neighborhood or rituals. I feel that now and I can’t wait go back and soak it all again. I’ve been thinking a lot about MI and everything I learned, all the chances I had to grow as a singer and as a writer, the people who believed in me and pushed me into uncomfortable but necessary places, the friends I made in my classes, the people who played with me. There are some whom I never even saw again after our program ended but I think of them all the time. It was such a good time in my life, one I will never forget and one I will always, always be so thankful for.

~I recently had the chance to reconnect with an old friend from my Bakersfield elementary school days. We both liked to sing and wrote songs together that sounded like we were 12 going on 30. I remember one particular tune went like this:
“Do you think it’s fair that I’m all alone
and you are off somewhere?
Do you think it’s fair that you don’t care so
I’m stuck putting the pieces together”
I mean, did we even know what we were talking about? Who can say, but we sang it with gusto. We also sang ‘That’s What Friends Are For’ for our 6th grade talent show and apart from singing in church as a kid; it was really my first time singing in front of a large audience. My heart STILL skips a beat when I hear the harmonica start that song off on the radio because I remember how nervous I had been to perform, and because I have such fond memories of my pals from 6th grade. I’ve stayed in touch with some of them and it’s really amazing to see how their lives have unfolded. It’s an honor actually. I feel a closeness to them I can’t properly articulate. They remind me of an old and distant chapter in my life, but also of an inescapable and deep-rooted part of myself and for that I am indebted to them.

~I started teaching music. I have had a lifetime of experience working with kids and years and years of playing music, but I’ve never really combined the two. It’s been one of the most challenging things I’ve taken on in a really long time. Last week I literally couldn’t sleep the night before one of my first classes. It’s a good nervousness though, a stretching, as Jeremy keeps reminding me. I’ve had a pretty poor track record when it comes to bowing to self doubt but I’ve been surprising myself this time around. I am equipped to do this. It helps that I know a lot of teachers who offer up excellent advice. It helps that I’m getting to teach a lot of Christmas music and it helps that Jeremy sends me text messages every time I’m on my way to class that say, ‘You have everything you need’. (Is he amazing or what) I’m letting that sink in more than I ever have before. I DO have everything I need. I’m new at this yes, I’m scared of messing up yes, but music is my life and sharing it comes naturally when I just let it go. It actually feels kind of full circle in a way, I remember so well the music teachers that touched my life, from Mrs. McGrath in the 4th grade to Bob Schleeter in high school to Deanna Walker in college and so on and now I have the chance to maybe give some of that back. Speaking of Bob, I’m working with him a few times a week in his chorus class at Marin Academy. Talk about full circle, right?
In addition to this new frontier, I just realized that I’ve gotten paid for every show I’ve played since we moved up here. Of course, it’s not about the money AT ALL, but seeing that it was my goal to support myself with musical endeavors only, it feels kind of good to be able to say I’m a semi-professional performer right now :)

And so another week begins….thank you to all my friends and family and everyone who supports me…I feel so so thankful every day for everything I have been given and I’m just trying to deserve it all.
Best wishes for a cozy rest of the month and a glorious Halloween!!!!K

Relocation

September 1^st. My first official month begins as a San Rafael resident. Granted, Jeremy and I have been back from our trip for a few weeks now, but those weeks were filled with moving and unpacking and organizing, family and highschool reunionizing- now it feels like we are truly getting settled. Exploring the neighborhood, trying out the local cuisine, going to farmer’s markets, oh yeah- and job hunting (more on that later).

There are so many things I love about being back. Just last night, Jeremy and I walked to 4^th Street to get froyo and we ran into Sarie (my sis). Last week my dad called me on a whim to go hear someone speak at the community center with him and this afternoon we had a last minute lunch together. Earlier this week I picked up my little cousins from school. It is so nice to be close to my family again.

This time of the year is beautiful here. Apparently it’s been an unseasonably cold summer but let me tell you, it’s going out with a bang. It’s been really warm the past few days but warm in just the right ways. The sky seems a piercing blue and it stays warm even when the sun goes down. Everyone is outside soaking in what is left of the summer magic before fall sweeps in. I’ve been doing my best to take Jeremy on all my favorite trails. So far we’ve done the Dipsea Stairs and beyond, Mt. Burdell, Indian Tree, Phoenix Lake and I’m pretty sure we found a trail down the street from our place that will eventually lead you into China Camp although we didn’t get far enough to find out on our first expedition. The trails here are so glorious and magnificent and this nice weather makes it all the more inviting to be outside. The air is clear, the views are breathtaking and never ending. These are trails I’ve loved for years and yet to see them through someone else’s eyes makes them all the more magical and special. I feel like I am constantly reminded about how beautiful it is here just by seeing the wonder on Jeremy’s face.

We have been so blessed. Our summer was so ridiculous and liberating and amazing and now we are here in this lovely house with a dishwasher and a huge garden in the cutest neighborhood – it just doesn’t make sense. The other night I was talking about all this with John Buckley (Sarie’s dad) and explaining my discomfort at how lucky we have been and he said to me ‘This is just a great time for you to really practice your gratitude”. And he is totally right. Whether or not I deserve all this good stuff is kind of besides that point. I have it right now and I just need to be overflowing with thanks every minute that I do.

Fall has always seemed like the most hopeful season to me, which is probably counterintuitive since really things are getting ready to hibernate and change colors and ultimately go on hiatus to brace for winter. Maybe my internal calendar is still synched up to the school year, but fall has just always felt like a beginning to me. And it does right now. Jer and I have given ourselves a month to try and get jobs in something we REALLY want to do. For me, that is of course music. So I have until October 1^st to see what kind of musical life I can make for myself here. This includes everything from giving music lessons to playing shows to playing house concerts to- well, I’m still brainstorming. (any ideas??) But I’m excited to give it my all and just be brave.

Big News

This past March marked two years since I moved to LA. This is crazy to me. The other day I found my long lost Marc Cohn cd and immediately popped it into my cd player and my car was enveloped with the soundtrack to my life of two years ago. I was obsessed with that record, I listened to it for most of the cross-country drive from Nashville, for most of the two months I was in the Bay Area before I moved to LA, and for most of the first spring I was here. It’s true that a ‘melody can bring back a memory’ (what! what! Clint Black). I was very nostalgic thinking about how daunting this place had seemed, what a long road seemed to loom before me; all the excitement and uncertainty. And now, LA too, has become home. I have found my niche, I love my neighborhood, I’ve become a way more aggressive driver, I have amazing, inspiring friends and a magical man- I am settled.
The gifts and the blessings I’ve received by moving here have been huge and numerous. Moving to LA was never something I had in my plan for myself, but as I am reminded time and again, sometimes you have to throw your OWN plan out the window and take a leap. It’s about that time for another one of those.
Jeremy and I are moving up to the Bay Area this summer! I almost can’t believe it’s really true, and it still astounds me that I’ve spent a good portion of my adult life waiting for a sign about when I could move back home and I come to LA and fall in love with a boy who has wanted to live there for awhile. One of the many reasons we are meant to be. We aren’t totally sure yet which city we’ll live in, be it San Francisco or Berkeley or even somewhere in Marin, just that this is our next adventure. I am so excited to move home and be closer to my friends and family up there, to breathe the air and hike all the trails and sit up in the Headlands and watch the Golden Gate Bridge.
Of course, this is also very bittersweet. As I said, I’ve come to love LA in all its crazy glory, but most importantly, I love all the people who have come into my life while I have lived here. Every teacher and classmate I had the privilege of meeting while at Musician’s Institute, everyone I’ve worked with at Hugo’s and the kids I’ve tutored, my family and Jeremy's family I’ve gotten closer to, the new friends I’ve made and the old ones I’ve reconnected with, it will be so, so sad to say goodbye to you.
A special thanks to Natalie Metcalf and Danny Byrne whose friendship and musical companionship have made an indelible mark on my heart and brought me so much joy. Getting to play and sing with you during my time here has taught me so much and I hope you’ll be up for taking some trips to the Bay for a show or two here and there :)
Before the big move, though, Jeremy and I are going on a fantastical road trip that has had a few incarnations of its own. What began as an idea for a month long camping expedition turned into something of an interactive mini-tour with blog posts and picture and video postings. We are still planning on lots of camping and sightseeing, but I’m going to play some shows along the way; the way being: all across the country. Everything is still in the works now but I’d love any input from you if you know of a cool venue in your city or if you’d like to host a house-concert or something, we are up for all ideas. In addition to all this, we’re also going to be raising awareness about Children of Strength, the non-profit so dear to my heart that supports a community in need in Kenya.
(http://www.kilimambogo.org/)
Stay tuned for more details about the road trip/tour and where we will land afterwards, and in the meantime I will be soaking up all the little bits of magic springtime in LA has to offer. Thank you for your continued support!!!

Home Again Home Again

It is a cold, windy morning up in the Bay Area and I'm in my parents house all by myself. It feels weird. Usually, this house is bustling with numerous people, voices laughing, music playing, kitchen appliances whirling. Right now its just me and my thoughts.
I drove up to Novato yesterday by myself for the weekend. I think some of Jeremy's road skills have rubbed off because i got up here pretty fast. the drive was smooth and even pretty, sections of the 5 covered in green grass, a blue sky stretched across the miles. at one point right after Harris ranch when i had been plugging my nose for 5 minutes to avoid that cow poop smell, i looked up and saw the most beautiful bird formation I've ever seen. they just looked so perfect, so natural, it looked like a painting in the sky.
I'm re-reading this book called An Altar in the World by Barbara Taylor Brown. i read it when i first moved to LA almost 2 years ago, but felt compelled to read it again, and I'm so glad i did. I'm obsessed with it. i feel like she is speaking right to my heart. and i feel like I'm in college again because I'm voraciously underlining passages as though i need to memorize them. every night i read Jeremy my favorite parts and we both share a thoughtful smile as it sinks in. this stuff is goooood. her first chapter is all about reverence and paying attention to everything around you and noticing God in all the small stuff. I have been really bad at that as of late, but decided to challenge myself to remembering after reading her chapter. This bird formation seemed a perfect example. On an otherwise boring drive I've driven 800 times, this glorious little reminder of nature and of a power greater than myself appeared right above me and caught my attention long enough for me to put my own humanity in perspective.
since being home for about 19 hours or so now, I've been trying to soak in all the things to be reverent about, and thankful for, about this little trip so far and my childhood home. here is what I've come up with so far:
1) in addition to the birds on the drive, i also found a live recording of a show Danny, Natalie and i did in LA at the beginning of the year. it sounded so good. not me, but us, the sound quality, the harmonies, the guitars, i felt so inspired. and so thankful to have such dear friends who will share their gifts with me. On stage you can get so caught up in the moment, and not really pay that much attention to the the whole picture. It was seriously awesome to hear each nuance Danny played to complement what I was playing, or how smoothly Natalie and my voices blend together, and even just hearing the audience laugh, it just all felt so special. The magic is really in the details.
2) my little brother Silas. he is the only birdy left in the nest. and to boot, my parents are off in Kenya right now. Silas is being 'taken care of' (i mean, he is 18 but still....) by Johnny Ratzlaff, a family friend for as long as I can remember. Johnny has been more like an uncle to me, present at every holiday and birthday, present at every family tragedy and celebration- truly, he's family. Last night the three of us had dinner together and it was so fun. We were all cracking each other up and telling stories and just enjoying the company. Silas did his fair share of making jokes and making fun of everyone, especially Johnny who pretty much brought his own kitchen to my parents house for the weeks he's living here. Neatly lined up on the counter is a George Foreman, a popcorn machine, an oil mister for said popcorn, and an assortment of nuts and brownie bites and of course a big bottle of Crystal Geyser flavored water that is Johnny's calling card. I was really bummed to miss my parents on this trip home, but this initial scene of catching up eased the sadness a bit. I made a mental note to soak in his care and generosity as he grilled us each a chicken, one by one, in his G.F. and to appreciate the person my little brother has grown up to be- ever clever and witty, conscientious and kind.
3) my dad's little quirks- he's not even here and still his neurotic preferences make themselves known. last night before going to bed Johnny and I spent about 10 minutes staring at the thermostat. My dad HATES using the heater. This is a difficult thing because this house is an icebox. Merilee reminds me every time I come home to bring extra layers because 'You know how your dad is about the heater'. It was really cold last night and Johnny and I were trying to decide if we should keep the heater on through the night and if so, at what temperature, and if not what temperature we should keep it at in the remaining hours of the day. Even though I kind of dreaded the thought of climbing into a chilly bed in a chilly room, I couldn't help but chuckle inside at my dad's stubbornness. And in the end, although his energy rules (no washer/dryer/dishwasher until 6pm, no lights and appliances left on etc) might cause annoyance from time to time, they are all rooted in his deep commitment to the planet and the conservation of it's resources. That inspires me.
We decided to err on the side of caution and turn off the heater. It was nice to feel like a piece of him was here guiding us to make the right choice. Also I'm pretty sure that even half way across the world he would have some way of knowing or has a hidden camera over the thermostat and will watch hours of endless recorded footage when he comes home to catch any culprits who tried to cheat when he was away.
4) After an appointment in Southern Marin earlier this morning, I was driving back home as the rain really started. There is this little decline on the 101, you don't even feel like you're climbing before you get to it but right by the Civic Center in San Rafael it looks as though the whole world is welcoming you as to start to descend. It just opens right up, the hills look so refreshed and bright and green even against the grey of the day, the road carries on before you but even the highway looks majestic winding on ahead. It's a sight that I've always loved, always waited for on the drive home from the airport when I lived in Nashville, it's when my heart fills up and I feel like I'm home.

The weekend has barely begun and there is quite a lot of goodness in store for me, lots of people to visit and hug and catch up with and many more things to feel thankful for and to pay a deeper attention to and be reverent of. I look forward to all the chances to do so and hope it only becomes more and more a second nature. I'll keep you posted on that :)

Kenya

Fall is on it’s way, or so I am wishing and hoping. Has it already been a year since I started this humble blog? So much of my life is so very different in only a years time. The record is finished and out in the world, I’m almost done with school, (this Friday!) I’m getting ready to move again- this is an entire separate story but let me just say Cleon I love you and have loved every minute there and my roommates have been so amazing and like family and I will miss you. And where I am going? Let’s just say Jeremy and I spent Friday afternoon picking out paint swatches and taping them onto his wall. Crazy. Glorious. Right.
I feel a lot more grown up in even a year. I don’t know what that means exactly, maybe I just feel more at peace with what is to come, maybe even more excited. Today on my way to school I bumped into a buddy of mine from a songwriting class and we got to discussing our post grad plans. He said he was moving to Seattle and I said I was staying here and we chatted about music and love and inspiration in the 5 minutes we had like we really had 5 hours, but his words struck me. He told me that the biggest thing he’d learned is that you have to go out and experience life. Music can’t be your all day, every day thing. It just hit me as so true. Sometimes I get scared I’ll never write another song or that I’m getting too old (I hate myself for that one but I have to be honest) or that I’ll never sell as many CDs as I need to and then I just have to stop and remember that none of that is what its all about. I don’t want to write or sing out of fear or a sense of obligation. I want to do it out of joy. Write when I have a story or something to say, sing with reckless abandon and free- spiritedness. Enjoy every moment in my life right now and let all the collective experiences soak into my soul and plant fodder for something creative. So that’s my current goal. Thank you Mr. Wilkinson for your wise words.
I’m playing a ton in these next two months, a lot of acoustic shows and weddings, and then something really special at the end of October. As most of you know I went to Kenya 3 years ago with an organization that my parents are heavily involved in called Watoto Wenye Nguvu. (http://www.kilimambogo.org/) This October, Danny, Natalie and I will be heading up to the Bay Area to play at a benefit concert for this organization through Hope Walks. (http://www.hopewalks.org/index.php/marin-ca) I am so excited to have the chance to do something to help support the children and community that had such a huge impact on my life those few years ago. I’d encourage you all to take a glance at the websites and to come out to the show if you’re up in the Bay Area on the 24th! I’m also pasting this email that I wrote when I first got back from Kilimambogo that kind of outlines my experience and gives a brief summary of what I learned.

“I've been trying for some time now to get the juices flowing and sit down and write out a nice email to everyone and shed some light on my trip to Africa. I've been waiting for the perfect words to come, my favorite memory to recall, the most influential person I met. I've gone over my journal looking for excerpts to share and even my pictures hoping for one to say more that I can. But it's not that easy.
Since returning to the US I've been trying to wrap my mind around the whole experience and figure out how it all makes sense- how is it that my every day life can exist in the same world as the kids I met in Kilimambogo? How can I make sure to remember every last thing I learned when life here is no noisy and distracting? What can I do to start making a difference?
I don't know the answers to these questions yet, and maybe I never will, but that is what's been on my mind ever since I got back to bills and mirrors and emails and tabloids and an endless supply of water.
What follows might be a bit discombobulated (sp?) and stream of thought-ish, but-Here is what I do know- the people I met in Kilimambogo were without a doubt the kindest, most generous and humble people I've ever met. The children have a light about them that is almost indescribable. They are so polite and outgoing, and they sing and dance unlike anything I've ever seen. They know how to celebrate and praise without hesitation or reservation, and they truly use song and dance as gifts. Everyone knows all the words to each song and all the moves to each dance, and there is no shyness or being bashful, they give everything of themselves with passion and excitement. We were all moved to tears several times to see them dance and hear their voices, it was nothing short of pure.
The social situation in Kilimambogo is devastating. AIDS has decimated the majority of the population of adults ranging from mid twenties to mid forties/fifties, leaving vast numbers of children orphaned. The organization I went with is called 'watoto wenye nguvu' meaning 'children of strength' and their mission to account for every orphan in the valley by making sure they have a guardian to care for them (usually a grandmother, great aunt, or relative/family friend of some kind) or providing them with a place to live in a group home run by the organization. WWN also strives to connect each orphan with a sponsor from the US who helps to provide various necessities, health care, nutrition, schooling etc.
Schooling is a tricky situation- primary school (our equivalent of about 1 or 2 grade to 8th grade) is free, but nursery school ( pre k-) is not free, however it is mandatory in order to be able to progress to primary school. secondary school (high school) is also not free. what happens as a result is that there are a lot of kids who are left alone all day long while their guardians work, there are a lot of much older kids starting primary and secondary school or not being able to get further education beyond 8th grade. Another project begun by WWN is the building of the area's only public highschool.
A feeding program has been in the works at all the primary schools in the valley and for many children this is their only meal. When I was there, the feeding program was under a lot of stress bc the food prices have increased by about 70% due to severe drought.
The land in Kenya is just the way you would imagine Africa to be. We visited the Serengetti and it was like the backdrop to 'The Lion King' The sky is piercing blue and hugely expansive, the dirt is red, the vegetation a mixture of colors somehow despite the drought. I was constantly amazed to see such beauty when I would take a moment to put my head up and look around.
We were not there for very long. With all the travelling time on either end, we were really only in Kilimambogo for about a week. WWN is still a fairly new, still developing organization with lots of work needing to be done on the structural end. There were various frusterations and confusions in the midst of trying to organize and plan. I know there is a long way to go before it is completely smooth sailing. But there are good people with gi-normous hearts over there who really REALLY love the kids they are working with.
All the kids I met were unbelievable and I would have packed them in my suitcase if I could have. Ya'll know I'm obsessed with kids anyway, but I'm telling you, these kids were just magic. They taught me a song in Swahili and would drag me around and make me sing it to every single person they knew. ( i think they were really amused to hear a 'mazungu' (white person) try to sing swahili) One night after dinner they had a dance party right there in the dining room and they showed Emi, Elizabeth and I some moves. They had a great laugh at our efforts. i was repeatedly mistaken for being 15 or 16 years old (im not joking) and i was told i was very old for being 23 and not having a husband or a boyfriend. (i almost peed my pants i was laughing so hard) They loved our long hair (every child has a shaved head) and created many an interesting do from braids to buns. They held our hands and sat in our laps and clung to our legs. they have all seen the worst of life- all forms of abuse, drugs, being sold as slaves, rape, losing every relative to AIDS- and their strength is undoubtedly present in the maturity, compassion, and warmth of their faces. i was inspired to be as brave as them.
So that's all for now folks, I'm sure there will be more to say as the weeks progress and I process more of what I have learned. I am so very greatful for the opportunity to go and so thankful for the friendships I have made. Thank you for thinking of me while I was away and keeping us all in your prayers!!
I am reading this really great book right now that will probably do a much better job of inspiring you than I ever will- its called "The End of Poverty" by Jeffrey Sachs. If you need a book to read this one is really really a page turner.
soooo much love to all, xoox-k”

There are some typos and some grammatical errors I know, but I remember rushing to write this when I first got home so I could just let everyone in on the trip and try to illuminate the situation over there. I can’t wait to have the chance to go back. Thank you so much for taking the time to read it now if you got this far in the ole bloggy. I’m off to a little rehearsal, may the rest of your September days be filled with chilly, cozy mornings and the eruption of those fall colors that are truly cause for celebration.